Conference terri::cars_uk

There seems to be a lot of talk about the 600 being the British BMW.
This seems strange considering the part Honda have played in the 
design. Apparantly the Honda engine had to be used as the Rover
engine wouldn't fit under the bonnet! I think Rover are currently
working on their own engines for the 600 and 216.

If it is to be the British BMW, it needs to be more British
and less well equipped for the price!



	Ian

Just been for a test drive in a 620 SLi at a local dealers in LEEDS.

I have to say that I was both suprised and extremely impressed with the 
car. I am not noted for my love of Rover cars but the 620 is an 
extremely good car. It handled well, was very smooth and seemed to have 
acres of space in the cab. 

Only thing I didn't like was the lack of RDS radio equipment but that is 
more of a niggle than a complaint.

This car is definitely on my list when my current car comes up for 
renewal. I should add that I have 2 Kids and tow  a caravan so that I 
need a fairly meaty car with loads of room for pushchairs etc.

I would certainly recommend anyone to have a drive of a 620 before they 
make the mistake of ordering a BMW (you want wheels, now we are talking 
optional extras) 3 series.

IMHO a b****y good car

Malcolm

re -1

>Only thing I didn't like was the lack of RDS radio equipment but that is 
>more of a niggle than a complaint.

Are you saying that Rover are not supplying an RDS radio as an option
in the 620 SLi or that it does not come with one as standard. Certainly the
rest of the Rover range has Philips RDS radions as options.

	Dave

What are the advantages of RDS? I have RDS in my car now, but I don't see any
advantages over what I had before.


	Ian

Isn't it supposed to be useful if you travel a lot in the UK,
and want to listen to the same radio station all the time, but
the frequency of the channel is changing.

Here in France it would be VERY useful since the frequency
tends to change every 100kms or so, and it's a real pain
trying to find the channel again when you do loose it.

The Auto Express back-to-back of the Rover 620 Sli and it's equiv. Honda said the 
performance was allmost identical as was the handling.

The only difference they came up with was that the Honda interior was a bland mix of 
grey grey and more grey. In contrast the Rover interior colours were well balance 
and the wood cappings set it off well.

The conclusion:
If it's your money take the Honda, if it's someone elses then take the Rover.

Richard

    
    A mate of mine who I met on Saturday (a motoring journo) was telling me
    how he'd been given a Rover 6xx to test and how it had ended up in the
    middle of the road with a bus parked over the boot.  Apparently he'd
    parked it on a slight incline out of gear but with the handbrake on and
    the next thing he knew the alarm was going off, it was in the middle of
    the road with a bus in the side of it.
    
    Is this something that could happen to any car, or could Rover have to
    recall their cars like Citreon did?!  Any other reports of 6 series
    doing a runner of their own accord?
    
    Chris.
    
    

    Richard,
    
    We have a deal with Vauxhall (and it's actually a good one).
    
    It's the basic rule of the car scheme that Vauxhalls are cheaper
    because we have a deal with them.
    
    If we had a deal with Rover/Mercedes/Astom Martin/Lada, they would look
    better value.
    
    That's the way it is.
    
    If you want to make comparisons, make them between two non-Vauxhaull
    makes.
    
    Peter

    Richard,
    
    I have nothing to do with car-fleet other than being a customer of
    theirs. I don't have to be as I could opt out of the scheme.
    
    The prices are on VTX, under something like car-fleet, preferred car
    list.
    
    I think it's a good deal as I do a high private mileage and I don't get
    any penalty for that other than having to pay for the fuel. I don't
    believe that I could lease a car under a private scheme for better
    money. In truth I have a Renault, but I accept that the best deal is
    for a Vauxhall. I 'pays my money and has my choice'.
    
    I have no idea about the terms of the Vauxhall (or is it GM?) deal
    except that compared with our other quotes it always looks good. I rate
    that as discount on Vauxhaull, not a surcharge on others.
    
     Anyway, that's all I know, so I'll rest happy in my ignorance.
    
    Have a good weekend
    
    Peter

    
    re .16
    
    There must be more to it than that, or are you saying that after 1 year
    you will hand back the car and it will have cost 2040 to 'hire'  an MX5
    for a year.
    
    Garry
     

    Is this how it would compare to a cost for us?
    
    12 x 170 = 2040
    Insurance=  564
    mileage     820  (Our lease assumes 20K per year)
               ----
    	       3424 
    divide 0.6 5706  (our cost comes from gross income)
    
    How much does an MX5 cost on Digital's scheme?
    
    Andrew

As far as I remember, Digital takes a lease based on your own estimated mileage
at the time of the order.  That is why you commit on the order form to notify
fleet if your estimated mileage changes by 20%...  Did you know that?  (Did you
also know that breaking the speed limit makes you liable to formal disciplinary
action?  That's what your company car contract with Digital says is the result
of use of the vehicle "in breach of any statutory requirement or regulation"!)

Once upon a time, a very long time ago, we actually got quotes that were based
on our estimated mileage - I'm talking ten years or so ago.  Then some bright
spark pointed out that that meant that someone whose job required them to do
20000 miles per year paid more for his car than someone who didn't drive as part
of his job, and therefore did only 10000 miles per year - if you think about
this, the person whose car wasn't a perk but a necessity was paying more, which
is probably morally wrong somewhere ...

That's when they gave us all quotes based on 36 months/36000 miles, but Digital
took whatever looked to be right.  And yes, Digital does either pay or pocket
the difference ...

T

    
    When comparing Lease costs, remember that Dave Barron is a contractor
    and these prices are what his limited company pays - not what an
    individual would pay.
    
    Graham 

    re .21
    
    No, not wrong. I was comparing DEC lease price with the external quote
    as the two are comparable.
    
    However your calculation on the gross salary required to fund such a
    lease is wrong. It omits the VAT that would be payable on the lease
    cost.
    
    Richard.