Samsung Galaxy S8

[Bob Williams]

Release date and details:

https://tinyurl.com/hsr9weo

Nintendo Switch:     https://tinyurl.com/zufenzy

Haven’t read it all myself yet.

When the Thought Police arrive at your door, think -
I'm out.

[The Duke]

For the first time since the Game Cube, Nintendo has peaked my intrest with the switch. My 9 year old in January asked for one for Xmas so we will be getting one eventually.

Probably. Really depends on the reviews and, big and, how good the Nintendo network subscription is. As at £40-60 a game, they have to offer something akin to the PlayStation Network.

Also £300 is a big ask in today’s world.  I recall the ds2 being about £120 we had about 6 of them all form Game, paid for 2, their £20 for 3 years unlimited warranty paid for itself MANY times over.

So time will tell. But I think it may be too expensive to be a big hit. I’m really torn on it. But my intrest is definitely peaked.

[Jason]

I have two on pre-order, arriving next Friday. Two in case one doesn’t turn up. Also Zelda: Breath of the Wild.

[Bob Williams]

Brexit and the fall in the GBPound has continued to make stuff produced outside the UK, expensive to import. Not meant as political comment, but fact. Today I booked my Motability C-Max in for its first MOT and Condition Report photographs, in preparation for my next lease, the Hyundai Tucson.

(Condition Report decides if I get £250 cashback from Motability)

The Ford dealer asked why I was not taking another C-Max. Love to, I said, but the 2.0 TDCi is no longer listed and the 1.5 is too high a deposit, besides which I didn’t want a 1.5, it’s an emasculated 2.0 liter. They got somewhat shirty about this, so I asked them to consider corresponding with all UK Ford Motability dealers and complain to Henry Ford that Motability sales are down because the cars are made outside of the UK. So is the Tucson, says they. Yes, says I, a long way from the UK, so how come I can get what is a better car for less money? Silence.

It makes me wonder why some goods manufactured outside the UK are more expensive than similar goods from another country of manufacture.

When the Thought Police arrive at your door, think -
I'm out.

[The Duke]

is the Tuscon Nail on Bob? have you seen the Peugeot 3008 GTline, its a looker, and a hell of a car. dont know if its on Mobility, but i took to the wife to see one, and its the first car she actually liked. its so modern, with out sticking fake carbon or brushed steal everywhere, clever seats and all models come with a similar set up to the Expensive Audi i cockpit.

my wife is ambiguous to all cars, she just isnt bothered or wowed by them, our friend has a rang rover vogue, its very nice, wifes like “mha” , but she sat in the 3008, usually she just peers in, and hints to hurry up, she got in this, poked around it, then got in the back and the boot. while is sate playing with the awesome i cockpit. the middle spec there GTline is all you need.

 

[Bob Williams]

I looked at the 3008 Steve, my titchy missus (4’9″ of determined opinions) could not get into it and I cannot lift her! She hated it and TBH so did I, the auto box was notchy and I did not like the cabin. We can both get into and out of the Tucson more easily, although still a bit of a stretch for SWMBO. As she says though, at her size and with her own spinal problems, the Tucson was the best compromise. What we both liked about the Tucson was the smooth and comfortable ride, which is one of the main considerations with our problems. A saloon or a hatchback is a complete no-no, we cannot enter one at all and if we got into the seats, we would need a block and tackle to get out!

I joke about SWMBO, but this is a choice that must suit both of us, as you will understand. Personally, with my attitude towards money, I would probably wind up with a big 4WD (I had a seat in a Hyundai Santa Fé and loved it) but my missus is the effective financial brake that I need.

Santa Fé – OOOOH BIG and SHINY: –

B-) :yahoo:

EDIT: The only Suitable Peugeot now listed is the 5008 – £2,200 just for the manual, no auto listed. The others are the Bread Vans  :negative: (Partners)

When the Thought Police arrive at your door, think -
I'm out.

[The Duke]

I don’t think 5008 is out till may ish, and the autos are later in the year. I like the 5008 and the Santa fe, but I have a dislike for big cars for the sake of them, though I’m mellowing on that front, given now it isn’t just Chelsea tractors, I really hate a posh 4×4, it makes no sense.

Suprised you didn’t like the inside of 3008/5008, probably the first car I’ve been wowed by since the launch of the DS5. That thing was 5years ahead of everything in terms of interior design. That includes mercs costing 20k more. Now 5 years on alot have caught it up.

The origanal DS5 had a couple of huge issues, a terrible auto box, weak launch engines, and a rock solid drive with out the ‘sporty’ fun.

Atm Ive been suffering with my back since Xmas,  I got the auto as it was a compromise for my left leg, but these last few months, just getting out hasnt been fun.

[The Duke]

All the above about being fed up with my car is all but forgotten. Couldn’t sleep last night, so went for a 6am drive along what has to be one of the best driving roads in the UK. The A549 is 19 miles of shear joy from Abergele to Llanwrst.

It has one slight issue, I burned 1/4 of a tank (approx 130 worth) driving “briskly”  down it, but defo worth the £20 in fuel.

I will miss this car when I go back to owning an adults (sensible) car.

If your ever down this way sear h that road out. Steer clear Sunday afternoons as it’s always full of bikers trying to avoid fools like me.

Nice way to kick off a Sunday. Sadly today I have to fix the 3 leaks in ones roof that Dorris saw fit to leave behind. Once the kids are up back to being a responsible adult.  :negative:

My new feed just surfaced this article on the 3008 for anyone interested

http://www.appy-geek.com/Web/ArticleWeb.aspx?regionid=4&articleid=87432267&source=clipper%2B

[Bob Williams]

The night trips you take made me laugh: I do that about 3 or 4 times a year, when I have one of my bad days and have to sleep during the day. I can be out of it for anything up to 12 hours, wake again at some stupid hour and know that it might be 24 hours before I can sleep again. So, whether it’s day or night, I get in the car, turn up either the Stones or Creedence Clearwater, and drive. My favourite drive is the A153 between Louth and Horncastle, over the Linconshire Wolds. It’s a brilliant drive: bend after bend, steep hills up and down over the crest of the Wolds, twisting and turning all over the place. I love it. I try to avoid it when the bikers are at Cadwell Park, though. If I wake after 3 am, I drive to Mablethorpe and park up on the Sandhills, overlooking the beach. Then I wait for the sun coming up over the North Sea. If it’s a clear sky in the East, it makes the hairs on the back of my neck stand up. If it’s cloudy over the continent but clear here, the sunlight spreads across the top of the clouds into every color imaginable. Makes me glad all over again that we moved here. You might see that same sun going down over your mountain, Daffyd bach! :yahoo:  B-)

One of my mates here is a Huge 6’2″ ex-Anglian Regiment CSM, with a big belly and a pot leg from a wound in the first Gulf War. He had one of the first 3008’s when it came out and loves it. His missus and all the kids are big, so it suits them. Although the kids are all gone now, he still wants the new one on his next Motability lease, about 15 months after mine. He is disappointed that the new 3008 is no longer on the Motability list, but I pointed out that the 5008 is available, at £2,780 deposit. He will look at the next 5008 when he is due, but like me he cannot afford anything over £1,000. That’s where I always set my limit and he does the same. I think it’s wrong that these prices are passed on to Motability customers. Many of us need a higher seating to make it easier getting in and out, and all those have gone up in price. Maybe I would look at the new 3008, but (a) it’s not listed by Motability, so I can’t have one, and (b) at that deposit, I will not break my £1,000 limit. The Tucson is within that limit and leaves me enough to get some bits and bobs, a boot liner and seat covers.

When the Thought Police arrive at your door, think -
I'm out.

[The Duke]

The 3008 is here for £1199. Is this the same mobility scheme. Or are there more than one?

That’s not an auto, but even though they have autos listed there, I’m not sure they are actually out yet.

I don’t know how the scheme works, but won’t these upfront costs drop as the car gets older and the desirability factor wears off. At the point, there isn’t a “cheap” car, that offers what this does, so give it 15 months, and you friend may bag one for a couple of hundred.

The 5008 bob hasn’t even launched yet. Pencilled in for may, but the 3008 was 6 months late. With the autos still not for sale.

The only issue I’d have with the 3/5008 is t+ere is alot of new tech in them, so the first batches may be a bit ropey. Your mate may be in a good position, and let the beta testers get the first lot.

[PlaneMan]

That’s the right scheme. IMO the 3008 is way to much money, on Motability or otherwise. It’s almost Audi money.

It may well be a very nicely made car and be very good but it’s still a Peugeot. That’s going to be a big hurdle to a lot of people.

[The Duke]

I hate badge snobbery. Also on my travels this morning I went to a vw (tigan) and audi (q3) to compare, they are not even in the 3008 ball park,they both have catching up to do. Also went to to ford (focus RS+ Fiesta ST200) also Renault (Megane and kadjar or what ever the bigger of the two Renault SUV are).

The audi’s that come with competing interior to the two new cheap(relative)  Peugeots are 15k more expensive, and still the I cook pit is over £1000 optional extra.

I think the only “reasonable” priced car that comes close to the 3008 is the new volvos, and they are more merc money than mondeo.

To put the 3008 in perspective it’s cheaper than my GTC, even the top spec GT (£32k) is cheaper than the top spec GTC, that in essence is a glorified astra. Or was when it was for sale.

Though for maximum fun Focus RS (345hp) at Llandudno junction ford for £34k, you’ll get no discount on that mind,amazed to see it on the forecourt, someone must of pulled out as they are like hens teeth. rrp is £31k ,so they are marking it up knowing it will sell. Pro all turn out a cheap buy as it should hold its value quote well, so you’ll probably sell it one for £28-30k in 12 months. Not many cars can claim that.

The fiesta ST 200 (195hp) 18k iirc, would be my preference, I’m a sucker for a little hatch back. It would crucify me, but not as much as that RS would. They are not a fun ride. Get an Focus ST (250hp) it has normal(er) suspension for a better everyday drive.

But the audi is no audi price, and it’s way batter than the stuff it’s priced like. The next 2 years will be intesting, as these big oems need to bring the posh kit to the masses, before people realise, they have been duped by badge snobbery all these years. I’ve always preferred a French car over a German.

They are no better, look at the Last 10 years satisfactory rankings. German cars, are more expensive to buy, everything is an option, more expensive  to maintain, to to fix, and to by parts for, plus they are harder to fix your self.

Yes they don’t depreciate as quickly, but when you casually do the maths on the overall cost, the German car is far more expensive. And the drive harshly, BMW call it sporty.

BMW and Mercedes, just sell Mondeo quality cars which isn’t a bad thing, to moral people, but trade on the name of their highest end cars. Tricking prople int thinking they have a BMW. They don’t. They have an cheap imitation of a BMW.

But as now the bulk of Bmws and mercs are around 30k the reality is, they are more longer in the “posh” car game, but sell average cars to average people, pretending they are a pouch car firm selling posh cars.

[Dave Rice]

Not really a car person myself, still an ex-biker (who has finally realised he’ll never get back on one). Our cars are always “practical” as there’s no point in anything else with the Mrs driving ?Hence the choice of a Meriva after the Zafira, but if we ever do move to Cornwall practical will mean something that can go up and down hills and round corners at A road speeds.

B-I-L has a Tiguan and I always thought it was a nice motor. He does a 2 year lease these days, so it’s going to a Volvo XC60 shortly (made an offer impossible to refuse). All he’s interested in is getting the golf bag up to the Cotswold Edge course once or twice a week and others within the West Country and South Wales when the fancy takes. S-I-L has a VW Up to get herself to work and the shopping in.

[Bob Williams]

What amuses me about most people I see on the roads driving a low-end BMW, is their conviction that it is somehow ‘better’ or  even ‘quicker’ than everything else on the road, simply because it is a BMW. Some weeks ago I had a 1-series hanging on to my rear bumper on my way to a roundabout before climbing Kenwick Hill, a long, steep road that leads up to another roundabout and on to a long straight on the A16 as it bypasses Louth. The C-Max 2.0 TDCi laughs at this hill, it just keeps on pulling and pulling and I have easily topped 90 going up there. (Just once, you understand, for research purposes!  B-) 😉 )

Anyway, the blonde person in the BMW (indeterminate sex but long blonde hair) started flashing me as I turned out of the roundabout. I depressed the right pedal in earnest and flew away from the BMW. I turned out at the roundabout along the straight and proceeded at a stately pace towards Grimsby. The BMW caught me up and, having not learned the lesson, again started flashing me. Once again I booted the pedal and flew away from it, but I know this road and I know where the camera is. I slowed before the bend that precedes the camera and allowed the moronic driver to overtake me, with much gesturing of its middle finger. Coming around the bend, I was just in time to see the BMW pass the camera at an estimated 90+ MPH. I carried on at around 50, observing the flare of brake lights ahead as the driver suddenly realised what had ocurred. I followed that car all the way to a long straight further up the A16, where I overtook and waved back, using all my fingers in a slow, majestic, Royal, back-hand wave. B-)

When the Thought Police arrive at your door, think -
I'm out.

[The Duke]

He he, i like to purposfully slow drivers down, that ‘get up my arse’, then pull away when there is a pint they can over take. My wife thinks I’m childish, she is probably right, but I’m not a slow driver, in a safe on, go quick when I know the roads.

We have a lot of 60 raods that 80-90 is acceptable, and every one in half decent cars does, I get a noted when your doing 80 ish, and some own get right on your arse. So I slow down, and given my had loads of diesel totque there isn’t much that will out pull it. So I entertain myself.

Massive pet peeve People overtaking learners. Just thought I’d through that out there. We was all terrible and nervous once. Unless your rushing your wife, kids or dogs for emergency medical treatment, just give them time.

Dave a few years ago, when I had my laguna, not a fast car, but again the 2Litre diesel has loads of torque, so it pulled well, actually it had 350lb – ft to my current 360lb-ft, I was lead driver going to France. My Fil had an aging Zafira, when we got to Dover he said can you slow down a bit. I just thought it old man driving, but later I found out the 1.8l petrol wasn’t happy at 90mph,and id been doing close to 100, driving for a 6am ferry.

His Zafira was a sickly car, the day before my wedding day the timing melt went in it when I was driving it, and it was never the same again.

Is yours the older Shape of the newer? I’ve never been in the newer one (one with a bonet), I must admit, the charm of the Zafira was its van like shape, with less than van like drive. I won’t say car like, but it was decent. I love a good multifunctioning Car it’s why I’m a fan of estates, and even the FIL pope mobile hoe replaced his Zafira with. It’s a complets dog, but it has charm. Citreon balingo, basically a van, all the seats push out and you can hose it out. I love that.

[PlaneMan]

I went looking at cars the other day while waiting for the Royal Mail depot to open.

Seat Ateca is lovely, the Yeti is still a great car, very good offers available as the new model is due next year, the Vitara looks lovely but feels very tinny. MINI, what a joke.

Mazda, Ford, Vauxhall, Honda, Fiat, Toyota, Kia, nothing that would work for me. Lots that almost work though. Ditto Nissan.

VW, the Polo and Golf GT Line and Blue GT look very nice but I couldn’t get in and out easily enough.

 

[Bob Williams]

Tried the Hyundai Tucson Nolan? there is a lot of choice besides that:     https://tinyurl.com/hqdk6kh

I tried out the iX20 before the Tucson, preferred the Tucson as I have distances to drive, but the iX20 is a baby MPV, good ride height and I could get in and out easily. I have problems with most other cars.

Steve also mentions the Peugeot 3008.

When the Thought Police arrive at your door, think -
I'm out.

[Dave Rice]

It was the previous car, a 1.6 petrol Zafira “A” model and 3 years old when we bought it, 13 years when we traded it in for the Meriva.

During that 3 years it got the Mrs to work, the weekly shopping, did the taxi duties for 3 kids, including getting 2 of them to and fro from Uni with all their worldly goods. 3 or 4 times a year there was the trip to Cornwall to see the family or a similar holiday run on M and A roads, usually stuffed to the gills but never any luggage in the cabin – the boot was that big.

10 years total spares cost was 1 exhaust, 1 battery, 3 or 4 sets of tyres and a coil pack. IIRC the total cost of 10 x MOTs was a couple of bushes. As a family car it was absolutely fantastic. The only place it struggled was up and down the hills in Cornwall on fast A roads.

The Meriva is proving to be the same for our now smaller 2 + 1 family (but can take the 2 + 3 on short trips when the “boys” are back) with much reduced fuel, insurance and tax bills. But the petrol 1.4 commuter orientated engine needs real driving on the A roads which the Mrs wasn’t used to. That means you have to use the gear box rather than just being able to put your right foot down. Keeps the revs up and it’s fine but she isn’t used to planning ahead.

[PlaneMan]

Didn’t get to Huyndai, Citroen, Renault or Peugeot.

Renault I know, the others not so much.

Maybe next week.

[Drezha]

I think I’ll be getting rid of my Picanto at the end of it’s PCP (December) – mainly because work are giving me £400 a month car allowance so I can pick and choose. Not sure where to start (though I did enjoy the Ford Focus I had as a hire car one time – Ford Focus Titanium 125 1L according to We Compare the Market when I put the reg in as I managed to get a photo of what it was). Though I think £400 would get me something sportier if I so fancied.

"Everything looks interesting until you do it. Then you find it’s just another job" - Terry Pratchett

[Author]

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