Conference terri::cars_uk

    Colin, why don't you drive it to Geneva so I can have a test ?

    
    Patrick -
    
    
    For the last couple of years that would be a normal thing for me to do.
    No longer, 'cos I leave on Friday. In GEO Tuesday, so I'll stop by &
    say cheerio.
    
    I'll be very sad to leave this Notes file. Anyone got a way in over
    Internet.......
    
    
    Colin

    Re .0
    Colin, I don't know about the Lancia Cloverleaf @ Basingstoke, but I've
    not heard very good reports about Volvo Cloverleaf....I hope someone
    else can be a little more positive.
    
    Jackie

    
    Well, have driven the Dedra for a couple of hundred miles now. Have
    just used it for my Exit interview trip, & company car driving looks
    like being a lot of fun in the future.....
    
    Very quick (been chipped to 210bhp). Twitchy, & a bit restless in heavy
    traffic. Slightly over-geared for my liking, but not that bad. Some
    turbo lag, but easy to anticipate. Very comfortable & refined -- long
    way different from many Italian cars I have owned in the past.
    
    Spoke with the previous owner in Sun. She was very cross that I bought
    it at auction for several thousand pounds less than she expected, based
    on a leasing company quote to her! 
    
    
    Auctions can be very good places to buy, provided :
    
    	- a. you have a fair degree of mechanical sensitivity, & can spot
             the less-obvious nasties
    
    	- b. you are catholic in what you are looking for. For example, I
             could not have gone to the auction to buy a Dedra -- there's
             less than 200 in the UK. I went to buy a quickish saloon or
             hatchback, 150bhp+. Plenty of choice -- 4 Granada Scorpio
             Cosworth's, 4 Senator 3 litre 24v's, plenty of BMW's & Merc's.
    
        - c. you must go to a couple at least beforehand to understand
             what's going on.  800 cars go through Blackbushe on a 
             Wednesday -- they take over 2 & one half million pounds a
             day -- in cash!!! If you don't really understand the car
             trade, take someone with you who does, & watch & learn.
    
        - I've bought Alfa Romeos', Lancia's, Audi's in the past from
          auction. No regrets........
    
    
    Bye,
    
    Colin

    
    I can only agree with what Colin said about the Dedra Turbo.  The only
    thing that isn't so great about it is the fuel consumption and the loss
    of traction sometimes when accelerating out of corners (need to gear up
    to keep the revs below the turbo cut-in point or the wheels start
    spinning badly!).
    
    Chris.

    Alternatively come down a gear, keep the revs up, and the engine will
    be a lot more predictable if you 'feed' the power in.
    
    I imagine (not that I've driven one).
    
    :-)

    
    re:.7
    
    True, but the power delivery is a bit too binary-like to be able to do
    that I think (or is it my foot that controls it like that...not really
    certain which!).
    
    Chris.

    I drive a FIAT Croma turbo and find the best way to both stop unwanted
    wheelspin and add stability/reduce understeer is to left foot brake.

    
    Ah...passive traction control, doesn't cut in until the driver really
    wants it to!  The Calibra V6 I had had selectable traction control,
    which slowed the car down a little, but if pressed the button to switch
    it off, well...you had to wind the windows down due tyre smoke inside
    the cab!
    
    Chris.

    >            ...you had to wind the windows down due tyre smoke inside
    > the cab!
    
    Is this a car or driver related problem :^)
    
    Clive

    Knowing Chris, the latter :-)

    
re:.11
        
    Going on past experiences and Silver Rover 827s I reckon I didn't clog
    the V6 as much as you did your 16v!!! =;*)
    
    Chris.-'scuse-the-in-joke-with-my-old-housemate.

    
re:.12
    
    Don't get all Alan Partridge with me Dan!
    
    C.

    Arf!

    
    >>    A world of difference as I'm sure you'll agree :^)
    
    To avoid a crap rathole -
      
    
    Yep.  I mean, I didn't get caught for doing what I did!  (and it wasn't
    on purpose...honest...despite what you lot think of my driving!!!!)
          
    =;*)
    
    C.

    Clive - You lucky lucky lucky bastard :-) 
    
    paul$waitingforpolicestop4toseeclive

    re. Clogging
    
    I prefer the term "razzing the knackers off it" ..... but I agree with
    your views. Chris is a boy racer beyond belief, particularly behind the
    wheel of :-
    
    	i) Renault 19 16v's
    	ii) Mondeo 1.8's
    	iii) Corsa turbodiesels
    
    :-)

                                  
    Blimey, Clive.
    
    A greater escape than Steve McQueen managed! 
    
    126.5 MPH and a 40 quid fine and only 3 points!?!
                               
    Mark (Who regularly exceeds this with no fear of retribution...except
    when the MIL's in the car :^) ).

    Pfaaa, only 126.5 ?
    
    ;-))))
    
    Cheers,
    Dan
    
    
    You V.Lucky person

    
    re:.19
    
    You forgot about that wonderful Frontera, Dan...!  As for the 
    Corsa, can't imagine what you're talking 'bout!!
    
    re: Mr Summerfield's brush with a fatally wounded license.
    
    I still think driving at that speed on UK roads is dangerous beyond
    belief (for consistent speed over several 10s of miles) 'cos other
    people can't see you and don't think there could possibly be anything
    approaching at that speed; so just don't take enough time to look for
    you...
    
    No further comment, we've argued the arse off that subject before!
    
    
    Chris.

    .19 ...
    
    iv) Supra Turbos.
    
    Engine health went rapidly down hill afterwards - but there's no proof
    the two events are linked ;-}
    
    paul - not letting him anywhere near my 300zx
    
                    

    Thank God I didn't let him near the Rossa. I know it can make 8000 rpm
    or thereabouts, but I'm sure Chris'd see it to 9..... :-)
    
    Cheers,
    Dan