dougless

What is really annoying about this and I mean really, really, really annoying, is that some landlord is having their mortgage paid by us tax payers. Which is worse, the couple on 13k worth of benefits, or the landlord having a house (a long term asset remember) being bought for them by us taxpayers. Think about it........

Looks like a Vauxhall Corsa from the back......

Because you have more to give in the first place, so you give. Those with give, those without take. If you wanted a truly pay-as-you go society, look at the policies of the more loony fringes within the extreme right of US politics. I know that small businesses have had a tough time under this Government and for that your parents have my sympathy. This current bunch of clowns, sorry Leaders(!?!) only seem interested in cosying up to big business and don’t seem to care about the bureaucratic mesh that ensnares smaller businesses. If your parents only pay 28p in the £ they are doing well and should be grateful. For an alternative, look at Brazil where there is a much smaller middle class, most of whom live behind locked doors and fences. Money is so tight in Brazilian society that they have day time and evening University courses to maximise on their physical resources. Those with more money study during the day, those with less, study in the evening. Try that Lukus.

This is an extraordinary point of view but I fear it is becoming more common. I agree our benefits system is in a mess but nowhere near as messy as the growing wealth gap that is happening across most of the developed world, especially here in the UK. Think about the current global economic crisis, most of the architects of the mess we are in earned astounding salaries and bonuses; they are the true scum in our society, not some poor ill educated and media obsessed single mum. The people in positions of power and influence knew this crisis was going to happen and the clever ones have protected themselves. We are not in for a good time over the next few years and you should thank someone that we do have a benefit system even if it is out of kilter. If you really want to get steamed up just look at the minority that are ludicrously overpaid in our society, be they media, sporting or ‘Business’ stars; stop knocking the poor and the few benefits they get. If you want a truism, think about this - to judge a society look at how the poorest are treated.

Buy some gold instead and have fun watching the price change minute by minute on the global markets. Currently trading at $830 per oz, tipped by some to hit $2-5000 in the not too distant future. Who knows, but definitely more exiting than premium bonds.

Here is ours, just before it took us to the Netherlands a few summers ago:

Welcome Rindo. My Lupo is still wearing its Slovakian Motorway Toll sticker from this summers trip to central Europe. Your Slovakian Motorways are brilliant but those Czech ones are awful, some of the worst I have ever driven on.

None taken, must be my Southern ignorance about your particular part of Manchester. Curiously, round here in Central Southern England, you can get a house for hardly any more than a flat. We pay less than £1000 for a 3 bed semi with garage, off road parking and a garden.

Looks like a nice flat but I would have thought £800 is a lot in Manchester. Make sure you negotiate it down when your lease is up. If they won’t negotiate and you have been a good tenant, they are fools. Have a good look around as there are an enormous number of vacant flats in Manchester and surrounding cities. Some of those landlords are getting really desperate for cash as most of them have mortgages to pay….one of the benefits of the buy to let fiasco is that we are starting to see falling rents in most areas but especially in the north of the country.

As a ‘late adopter’ to put it in Marketing speak, I have yet to sample the delights of sat nav. I am amazed at how many people have them for a simple trundle round the M25 and yes many people seem to have them in the oddest places. And don’t start me on dangly things from rear view mirrors…. Sat nav’s have a more sinister side IMO, they seem to be eroding peoples ability to read maps, which wasn’t brilliant anyway. Sat nav’s are part of a process that is making us more and more dependent on information technology and all its offshoots. This is becoming very worrying as us Humans are slowly becoming de-skilled in so many areas. Don’t misunderstand me, I am not anti- IT, I am just acutely aware of how dependant we are all becoming on it. The issue of a 26 year old being concerned about ‘new technology’ is in itself very telling. Technological change is happening at such a pace that even someone in their mid to late twenties can look back at how things used to be in a nostalgic way. In my lifetime electronics have gone from valve technology, through silicon based transistors to IC’s and chips. These useful tools are meant to be our servants not our masters.

Taken from here: http://www.vwvortex.com/artman/publish/printer_319.shtml This refers to the special alloy version used for the 3L. The 'standard' 3 pot TDI has a cast iron crankcase but I believe it still has a balancer shaft. I seem to remember reading that to develop the 3 pop motor VW just chopped off one cylinder which gives it an asymmetric inlet tract, not much of a problem for a turbo charged vehicle though.

I think the most economical UK models in terms of fuel consumption would be either of the Diesels (1.4 TDI or 1.7 SDI). Despite driving my SDI with an extremely heavy foot a few times it has never gone below 53mpg, driven with a little more thought it will give 60+mpg at 80mph and I have seen the high 60’s on a few occasions. The 3L’s are extraordinarily economical BUT their gearboxes and management systems are very complex and they are all getting older. Economy is not just about fuel consumption, a major gearbox problem with a 3L would make it an extremely uneconomical Lupo. And finally, the most economical Lupo would be the TDI Arosa….

Although I understand this sentiment you have to remember that there are approaching 1 million empty properties in the UK. The property scarcity thing is a bit of a myth in my opinion. Secondly, many of our migrant workers will return home as unemployment rises, creating more vacant property. Thirdly, less younger people will move away from home, or will return to the nest as money gets tighter. Fourthly, more people will share houses (or take in lodgers) to reduce their outgoings. Finally, desperate landlords with empty properties will have to start lowering their rents or face financial ruin as this economic meltdown unfolds. As for buying a property now, who in their right mind would want to?

I am afraid that life in the South is expensive but take heart, as this economic slowdown really kicks in you will start to see rents fall as more and more people take in lodgers to make ends meet. Claire, I would think v. v. hard about moving out as the expense compared to living with the folks will be crippling. Just do the washing up occasionally and buy them a treat* now and then, they will love you for it... * wine, flowers, chocolates or whatever the adults in your life like, we're a pushover like that.

Diesels were traditionally used more for city driving because they use so little fuel at tick over, a common condition for cars in cities. Modern Diesels seem to be at home in most situations. My little SDI is surprisingly nippy for a normally aspirated Diesel but requires quick gear changes because the range of usable revs is bit limited. The TDI wins again here with its greater torque and broader range of usable power. However the SDI loopy engine has a shorter stroke than the TDI engine so is surprisingly revy for an oil burner, the SDI gains a little ground against the TDI here. I would also add that good small city cars are equally at home on the motorway as they are in town, especially Diesels because they need less revs for a given speed, a point already made in this thread.

If you look at the schematics for the VW three pot Diesel motor, it has a balance shaft under the crank. Its carried in a sub assembly which is bolted to the underside of the crankcase (I think). I suspect it is the success of this approach that has led to VW now using balancer shafts on their newer four pot diesel motors. I think a three pot 4stroke petrol or Diesel motor without a balancer shaft would be a bit rough. There have been some but they tended to be motorcycles and even most of those use some kind of counter rotating balance shafts. The exception to this would be three cylinder 2strokes which tend to be turbine like in their smoothness.

There is something not quite right about someone who is supposedly bright, good with numbers and well educated to boot, promoting the products that she is associated with. She is helping to impoverish the less well off and less well educated. To me she is a reminder of the selfishness prevalent in the eighties which is coming back to bite us big time in the noughties. Our economy is too dependent on debt and CV is a peddler of debt. She seems to be someone who should know better, shame on her!

I am bit out of touch with the 2nd hand engine market but my guess would be £2-300 with a verbal agreement that it runs. Standard Beetle engines are 1200, 1300 (single and twin port), 1500 and 1600 (single and twin port). Anything else is either not a beetle engine (type 2, 3 or 4) or it’s been modified. The crankcase for the 1200 is different; the 1300, 1500 and 1600 engines all have the same crank case. However, all Beetle engines will fit all Beetles providing the correct flywheel is fitted. 1300 and 1600 twin port engines are prone to cylinder head cracking as they get older. However, most engines are likely to be either 1300 or 1600 twin ports so there is not much you can do about that. If you find either a 1300 or 1500 single port, grab it as they are usually gems, less powerful but much more reliable and economical. Not much you can check when engine is out of the car but try these: Check the plugs, what state are they in? Turn it over, is sit smooth and can you feel the compression? What does the oil look like – Is it clean, does it have any metallic particles in it etc. Beetles don’t have an oil filter so the oil should be changed every 3000 miles or more frequently if it’s being driven hard. Also, a short Beetle engine means that it’s complete apart from its tin wear and ancillary components (generator, carb, clutch, distributor, exhaust system etc.).

I know I am pushing in on this TDI love fest but I would say that apart from the acceleration, much of the TDI virtues are shared by the SDI plus it has a few advantages over the TDI. Cheaper to buy Cheaper to insure than a TDI Same to tax Same fuel economy Larger engine (a 4pot, not a 3pot which requires a balance shaft, see next point) Less complex (no turbo, intercooler or balancer shaft under the crank) Very happy at 80mph (3000 rpm) on a motorway and not stressed at 90mph if you are in a hurry Curiously, at 80mph, if you need or want to put your foot down, it will reach 90 fairly quickly because although the engine is at the end of its very flat torque curve, the power is still climbing. Its optimum cruising speed seems to be around 80mph, at which point its smoothness, available power and fuel consumption seem to come together nicely. Yes it’s more economical at 60mph but its dropping out of its not very extensive power band at that speed so any obstacle; hill, slower traffic etc. become a problem which I suspect would not trouble a TDI. I imagine that in most respects the TDI is the more satisfying car, especially in terms of acceleration, torque and smoothness (the balancer shaft does work well apparently) however my little SDI is still more often in the outside lane than most other cars on the road.

This is my experience of Diesels and driving on the continent. I also find I get much better mpg from Diesels during warm weather over here. Another factor with continental driving is the lower traffic density, especially in France, less slowing down and speeding up does wonders for your fuel consumption.

Hasn’t the Polo Blue Motion taken over the role of the ultra fuel efficient VW in the UK. That is in the sub 100 co2 emission bracket so costs 'nothing' to tax and is ultra economical. I also wish they would bring back the Loop but I think it was just too expensive to make in Europe which is why they have substituted the Brazilian made Fox. Bring on the UP!

Climate control is a nightmare squared on an older car. Nice when its new but something to avoid on an Audi with their dealer charges. Go for a 'simple' A2 or a Loop/Arosa

I absolutely agree, I personally think we pay too little tax, especially compared to our European cousins. However I would still like to see some increases in direct taxes and a consequent simplification and reduction in the indirect taxes we pay. Still I suppose it keeps accountants in work......

Road Tolls will hit the less well off even more than the current messy system we have now. The taxes we pay on motor vehicles are all about slowly and insidiously removing large amounts of money from a population who believes that low taxes are a good idea. Most of the the UK's population are deluded on the subject of taxation and the government seems to like it that way. In my opinion the UK needs much, much higher income tax and to heavily reduce all the indirect taxes we pay. I earn above the average for the UK but pay far more in indirect taxes than I do in income tax, its mad. Indirect taxes off the top of my head: VAT - 17.5%, remember that's on almost everything you buy from your income that's already been taxed! Council tax - around £1200 per annum or more Road Fund Licence £0 - £400 depending on the vehicle Fuel Duty - perhaps around £4-600 for the average driver Airport Tax - depends how often you fly Insurance tax - I think this is 3 or 5%, cant remember Plus I now have to pay for dentistry etc. etc. I would personally be no worse off if direct taxes increased heavily and indirect taxes were reduced. However the less well off would gain proportionally more, which to me seems to the right thing to do. Despite what the younger set here might think, most of us would have been far better off under the tax regimes we had in the seventies than we are today. The exception here would be if you were seriously well off (top 5% of earners) but I don't think we should shed too many tears for them, they will get by.

I would urge you all to have a look at the thread on pfm. VW (and Audi) are getting ‘a good kicking’, quite rightly so in my opinion. There seem to be a large number of extremely disgruntled VW and Audi owners out there in pfm land. This does have serious implications for their long term future. Enough members here have commented on ‘how reliable’ French cars are these days and as an example, my neighbour has switched from Honda to Renault for that reason. Yes, the mighty Honda was unreliable and their customer service was poor. The Renault has been brilliant and not missed a beat, he is already thinking of his next Renault. My families experience with Renault has been the same, good cars with only very minor niggles. The French have come a long way whilst our favourite German cars seem to be treading water at best.