Family Vehicle?
- Thread starter Paul_B
- Start date
Yes, but if you are driving at 1500 revs in 5th gear on a motorway or 1500 revs in 2nd gear on a b-road the position of the foot is the same.
But you would be doing it for longer on a motorway i think is his problem...unlikely to be in second for long on a b road
You must be correct there.
The solution is to overtake a lot. Vary the speed. Find the speed where foot is comfortable. Maybe 100 Mph.
I always test drive the car or model I am interested in, not only to test functions but see how I like to drive it. Have only bought 5 cars unseen and undriven.
Turned out well, but an ex MOD 2.5 n/a Diesel was much slower than expected. Had no 0-60 Mph figures
Did not do 60Mph unless it was on a steep long downhill!
It is important to take the potenial buy on a long drive. To much money spent to do othervise.
The solution is to overtake a lot. Vary the speed. Find the speed where foot is comfortable. Maybe 100 Mph.
I always test drive the car or model I am interested in, not only to test functions but see how I like to drive it. Have only bought 5 cars unseen and undriven.
Turned out well, but an ex MOD 2.5 n/a Diesel was much slower than expected. Had no 0-60 Mph figures
Did not do 60Mph unless it was on a steep long downhill!
It is important to take the potenial buy on a long drive. To much money spent to do othervise.
I agree with u...the amount of times i take foot off,down to 50ish,drop it in 3rd then boot it to avoid such things
Good for the engine too.
Most people do not realize an engine needs to be run at high revs from time to time, to get the oil pressure up, decarbonize and so on.
‘Italian tuning’.
Most people do not realize an engine needs to be run at high revs from time to time, to get the oil pressure up, decarbonize and so on.
‘Italian tuning’.
I learnt that when i was young...a friend had an astra gte..he had an injury and couldnt drive for nigh on a year,his dad used it and pottered around in it and it died ( injectors)
That is something that pi$$es me off with automatic gearboxes, theygear up so the engine only goes a couple of hundred revs over the idle.
I know, it has to do with the emission requirements, but it ruins the engines.
My garage queen has a so called F1 gearbox, it is a sequential box,an originally manual box with added electro hydraulic auto function. The auto mode can be switched off to manual ( paddles).
In Auto mode it is virtually impossible to go over 2000 revs. Only the kickdown will take it up to around 6000 revs.
What is the point?
A problem like he experiences with the pedal position is a bit strange, I wonder if the pedal assembly is wrongly fitted?
Imagine a short lady with tiny feet!
I know, it has to do with the emission requirements, but it ruins the engines.
My garage queen has a so called F1 gearbox, it is a sequential box,an originally manual box with added electro hydraulic auto function. The auto mode can be switched off to manual ( paddles).
In Auto mode it is virtually impossible to go over 2000 revs. Only the kickdown will take it up to around 6000 revs.
What is the point?
A problem like he experiences with the pedal position is a bit strange, I wonder if the pedal assembly is wrongly fitted?
Imagine a short lady with tiny feet!
No issue but seating position and high position of pedal at legal motorway speeds was my exactly comfortable at first. The Astra was almost pedal to the metal at times or at least not as high. The issue was a mix of reasons part of which was the high pedal position. Not that much of an issue just not comfortable at first.
Got cruise control but never tried it. It's kind of doesn't suit me. It's like those parking systems where you let the car park for you by giving the car control. Just think how bad I'll be when they're all autonomous!
Noticed someone selling Japanese import vans in a restaurant carpark recently and they look decent and not bad prices. It got me thinking again.
Does anyone have a view on which brands / vans are best? Choice seem at the carpark and elsewhere are as follows.
Mitsubishi delica 2wd and 4wd
Mazda bongo 2 and 4wd I think
Toyota Alphard
Toyota estima hybrid (petrol / electric)
Nissan Elgrand
Honda equivalent the name of which escapes me
Also, if there are 2wd and 4wd drive options that are similar price, spec and standard, which would you opt for?
Most seem to be auto gearbox and 2.5ish or 3.5 litre engine (one option is 2 litre I noticed). Thirsty I reckon especially in 4wd.
Does anyone have a view on these options and the drive option too. Worth it or is it just better to get a similar sized UK option even if that means older, lower spec or higher mileage?
Does anyone have a view on which brands / vans are best? Choice seem at the carpark and elsewhere are as follows.
Mitsubishi delica 2wd and 4wd
Mazda bongo 2 and 4wd I think
Toyota Alphard
Toyota estima hybrid (petrol / electric)
Nissan Elgrand
Honda equivalent the name of which escapes me
Also, if there are 2wd and 4wd drive options that are similar price, spec and standard, which would you opt for?
Most seem to be auto gearbox and 2.5ish or 3.5 litre engine (one option is 2 litre I noticed). Thirsty I reckon especially in 4wd.
Does anyone have a view on these options and the drive option too. Worth it or is it just better to get a similar sized UK option even if that means older, lower spec or higher mileage?
2WD, big engine and manual.
We have loads of the cars you mention on Island, and they seem to be very similar in quality.
They look very 'generic' and sometimes I wonder if they are not made in the same factory somewhere in S.E. Asia.
We have loads of the cars you mention on Island, and they seem to be very similar in quality.
They look very 'generic' and sometimes I wonder if they are not made in the same factory somewhere in S.E. Asia.
How much does your seasonal driving environment change?
What access do you have for parts and service?
What kind of load space do you get? All the same number of seats?
What vintage are those vehicles? And from where? Thrashed underneath?
Are you needing a daily driver?
4x4 needs pulling power = big engine. When will you need that?
I drive a monster every few days. I need 4x4 for months on end with alpine tires for my snowy winter.
What access do you have for parts and service?
What kind of load space do you get? All the same number of seats?
What vintage are those vehicles? And from where? Thrashed underneath?
Are you needing a daily driver?
4x4 needs pulling power = big engine. When will you need that?
I drive a monster every few days. I need 4x4 for months on end with alpine tires for my snowy winter.
One negative with the so called 'Japan import" vehicles is that they are not rust protected underneath like the majority of Europe/N/ America market vehicles.
Friends have bought, owned and own several. They rust.
Friends have bought, owned and own several. They rust.
One of the main importers does the UK registration and will put a pop lid on or waxoyl treat it for not much. Iirc£350 flat rate to import and get it to UK spec and registered. Then a lid is a grand or so I when I looked and waxoyl something like £150 from memory. So a £5995 2008 or 2010 Alphard.
Some are already treated before they leave Japan. I think parts of Japan can be wet and icy with salt too. However I've only seen some descriptions say its treated underneath. That site does not actually tell you much about the vans except a load of acronyms like PS for power steering, age, mileage, location, fuel, gearbox, engine size and sometimes the engine in it (makers letter codes). Nothing about condition unless you can read the car check report for the auction (in Japanese only).
Age is usually 2000 to 2014 and anything from £4000 - £12000 on one site I've looked at.
I knew the mazda bongo and ford fred are the same but I recently read that Mitsubishi delica was made by mazda too until Mitsubishi started to develop its own. Nissan too was the bongo with a different shell I think. Then after mazda found out the nv200 or nv 220 was being developed in house at Nissan they separated. Daihatsu also had links with mazda. Of course ford owned mazda at one point but sold up after GFC happened. Not before they took the interesting mazda ideas and one of their main designers. I heard the grand c-max took a lot from the mazda 5 such as the middle second row seat that folds into the side seat. A neat design. So I guess a lot of these mpv vans are very similar for good reason. Of course I have no idea if they are all mazda made or that's not true that I read online.
Most of the ones I've looked at tend to be 30000 to 100000 miles for vans typically 2005 to 2008 even 2000 vintage. Overall low miles I think. IMHO anything under 10k per year in cars I'm usually happy with.
This would be our only motorised transport (buses and trains excluded). It needs to fit in height restricted carparks and carpark spaces. Comfortable drive but I'm not fussed by sporty performance. I doubt fuel economy is possible with a 3.5 litre petrol engine and 4wd. I think they do come with 3.5 litre diesel at times but japanese drivers seem to prefer petrol. Family is two adults and a 6 year old. Bikes are hopefully able to be stashed inside with camping gear. It's north Lancashire near the coast so snow and truly bad weather isn't common. It has caused us problems once with our seat car but the previous Astra coped with a lot worse including several cms deep layer of snow using summer tyres. I'd like to say it was driver skill but I believe it was more about the car. Maybe the skinny tyres. They were pirelli p3000 on the drive wheels but a lower spec on the back wheels. All driving on tarmac ranging from potholed local roads to motorways (which can be badly potholed in places too).
I guess we would like more internal space and a place to sit out after walks, possibly fit some kind of camping stove and table to make it a kind of day van.
Would anyone recommend one of those options over the others? Or is there a UK supplied equivalent worth looking at. It seems to me UK spec vehicles that size aren't as well specced out but smaller and more efficient engines.
Some are already treated before they leave Japan. I think parts of Japan can be wet and icy with salt too. However I've only seen some descriptions say its treated underneath. That site does not actually tell you much about the vans except a load of acronyms like PS for power steering, age, mileage, location, fuel, gearbox, engine size and sometimes the engine in it (makers letter codes). Nothing about condition unless you can read the car check report for the auction (in Japanese only).
Age is usually 2000 to 2014 and anything from £4000 - £12000 on one site I've looked at.
I knew the mazda bongo and ford fred are the same but I recently read that Mitsubishi delica was made by mazda too until Mitsubishi started to develop its own. Nissan too was the bongo with a different shell I think. Then after mazda found out the nv200 or nv 220 was being developed in house at Nissan they separated. Daihatsu also had links with mazda. Of course ford owned mazda at one point but sold up after GFC happened. Not before they took the interesting mazda ideas and one of their main designers. I heard the grand c-max took a lot from the mazda 5 such as the middle second row seat that folds into the side seat. A neat design. So I guess a lot of these mpv vans are very similar for good reason. Of course I have no idea if they are all mazda made or that's not true that I read online.
Most of the ones I've looked at tend to be 30000 to 100000 miles for vans typically 2005 to 2008 even 2000 vintage. Overall low miles I think. IMHO anything under 10k per year in cars I'm usually happy with.
This would be our only motorised transport (buses and trains excluded). It needs to fit in height restricted carparks and carpark spaces. Comfortable drive but I'm not fussed by sporty performance. I doubt fuel economy is possible with a 3.5 litre petrol engine and 4wd. I think they do come with 3.5 litre diesel at times but japanese drivers seem to prefer petrol. Family is two adults and a 6 year old. Bikes are hopefully able to be stashed inside with camping gear. It's north Lancashire near the coast so snow and truly bad weather isn't common. It has caused us problems once with our seat car but the previous Astra coped with a lot worse including several cms deep layer of snow using summer tyres. I'd like to say it was driver skill but I believe it was more about the car. Maybe the skinny tyres. They were pirelli p3000 on the drive wheels but a lower spec on the back wheels. All driving on tarmac ranging from potholed local roads to motorways (which can be badly potholed in places too).
I guess we would like more internal space and a place to sit out after walks, possibly fit some kind of camping stove and table to make it a kind of day van.
Would anyone recommend one of those options over the others? Or is there a UK supplied equivalent worth looking at. It seems to me UK spec vehicles that size aren't as well specced out but smaller and more efficient engines.
Smaller engines have to work harder, so I personally would avoid high mileage examples there.
It is a jungle out there. Manufacturers make cars for each other, in various countries with varied finish and quality.
You want luxury and is happy to spend extra, so you buy a Lexus model x
I buy exactly the same car, but it is called Toyota model y. and I gave 25% less for it.
And it can be made in Canada.
It is a jungle out there. Manufacturers make cars for each other, in various countries with varied finish and quality.
You want luxury and is happy to spend extra, so you buy a Lexus model x
I buy exactly the same car, but it is called Toyota model y. and I gave 25% less for it.
And it can be made in Canada.
Round this way there's japanese export fear. "Don't you know no UK garage will service it?" "you'll struggle to get parts and they'll take ages to come in from Japan!"
I've heard that but local main dealers have told me they have no problems dealing with Japanese imports. One Mitsubishi dealer sounded a bit put out that I questioned their ability to service and repair a Mitsubishi vehicle no matter what it was. They are a very good dealer though. Their aftermarket extended warranties are a very good deal. I know ppl who are very clued up on cars and warranties who take that dealer's warranty but no other. Then before it ran out he had 3 years of parts and labour of which the last year was the extended warranty. He got new tyres, new exhaust, new brake pads and other work all under warranty. Don't know how they afforded it.
Car choice is a minefield of options. Too much choice at times. Especially if you have no clear idea of what you want. If you know a focus is what you need then you look for it and possibly an Astra for comparison. If volume and price are the only real criteria you have a lot of options. That's before you learn that the Nissan is a toyota or mazda with a different body shell or the Nissan was a Peugeot until 2008 then it became a Nissan or daihatsu or whatever. Then you find out that a Romanian factory made your French car alongside the Japanese brand you were also looking at. All you can hope for is that a French made French car and a Romanian made French car are made to the same high standards.
I've heard that but local main dealers have told me they have no problems dealing with Japanese imports. One Mitsubishi dealer sounded a bit put out that I questioned their ability to service and repair a Mitsubishi vehicle no matter what it was. They are a very good dealer though. Their aftermarket extended warranties are a very good deal. I know ppl who are very clued up on cars and warranties who take that dealer's warranty but no other. Then before it ran out he had 3 years of parts and labour of which the last year was the extended warranty. He got new tyres, new exhaust, new brake pads and other work all under warranty. Don't know how they afforded it.
Car choice is a minefield of options. Too much choice at times. Especially if you have no clear idea of what you want. If you know a focus is what you need then you look for it and possibly an Astra for comparison. If volume and price are the only real criteria you have a lot of options. That's before you learn that the Nissan is a toyota or mazda with a different body shell or the Nissan was a Peugeot until 2008 then it became a Nissan or daihatsu or whatever. Then you find out that a Romanian factory made your French car alongside the Japanese brand you were also looking at. All you can hope for is that a French made French car and a Romanian made French car are made to the same high standards.
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