Nice People Thread No. 14, all Nice and Proper

michaels

vivatifosi wrote: »

Sound advice there from hjd.

I have nothing to add as I have spent the past 18 months procrastinating over new cars. Still, the old girl keeps running and passing MOTs, so not in a hurry.

Despite all the industry hype I suspect it is still greener to keep using an old car than scrapping it and getting a new one.

Generali

michaels wrote: »

Despite all the industry hype I suspect it is still greener to keep using an old car than scrapping it and getting a new one.

I suspect that there's a moment when an oil burning old lannie becomes an environmental liability. For a tiny Japanese tin can from the early 90s I suspect that the economics would send it to the scrap heap long before environmental concerns.

Speaking of the environment, it's been an absolute scorcher here today. After a cloudy start it just about touched 38C and even now, at 6pm, it's 34C. Gutted that I forgot to replace the dead BBQ that we binned as now I have to cook indoors. We've got lamb chops marinated in lemon, garlic, oregano and olive oil (by me in a lemon, some garlic and so on not in some bloody gloop). I'll be off to Bunnings (B&Q) to buy a cheapie, prolly this:

http://www.bunnings.com.au/jumbuck-4-burner-hooded-bbq-with-hotplate-and-grill_p3180371

only with a side burner so I can cook stuff that needs a hob that's a bit more delicate than meat 'n' veg.

kabayiri

michaels wrote: »

Kids internet settings?

Our old isp router let you set different internet access times for every connected device so I let DD1 connect for 30 mins in the morning an hour after school and an hour after dinner on her phone.

The new one's router does not seem to have this functionality. Anyone know of other ways to control this?

(And no, can't use the old router for the new isp as it is locked with no hack according to google and have tried adding the old router as an access point but the access restriction settings only block its internet not the whole network)

https://www.opendns.com/home-internet-security/

There you go. You could use something like this. They have been around a long time. I first set it up here ages ago (feels like it, anyway).

Your router configuration pages have a location to change the setting to use OpenDns.

(*In the interests of balance, I'm confident there are others which do similar jobs)

kabayiri

zagubov wrote: »

I've just had the pleasure of parking the new car in an unfeasably small space. I never had the skillset for parallel parking, so I now feel like a more accomplished driver.:D

Always puzzled that it was part of the US driving test way way before we ever included it in ours, what with their huge parking lots compared with our titchy ones.

DW's car does this automatic parking.

We've never tried it. Tbh, we didn't even know it was on the car, a friend has a similar BMW and told us.

I doubt we will ever use or try it.

kabayiri

Spirit wrote: »

...
OH likes BMW. I am undecided. I did not want new as I wanted to avoid the hit of depreciation but I could imagine keeping Keeping the Bmw or Merc long term.
...

Interesting point (I hope). From one of our biggest leasing companies in UK, it was often *cheaper* to lease the Merc/BMW with leather over the cloth equivalent.

There was a simple reason for this : the residual on the leather model was so much better. This is down to the fact that used buyers expect a car with a quality badge to have certain "basics" like leather, and they shun cheaper variants.

I'd get leather if you choose either of these two marques.

lostinrates

Spirit wrote: »

Oh and I went out to look at cars for me today.

We were out from 10.am until 4.30 and /i have shortlisted 3.

Hyundai IX 20- 6 months old < 2000 miles.

BMW 2 series Grand Tourer or active tourer- no used yet as too new a model.

mercedes B class- new/possibly used


Went out resolute that function was the main criteria, Automatic and possibly electronic handbrake. After looking today other essentials were firmed up. Rear view camera, leather upholstery, heated seats.

The leather is easier to deal with when a wet dog has been resting his head on the seats, heated seats because I am soft and like them, the camera because it was surprisingly useful.

OH likes BMW. I am undecided. I did not want new as I wanted to avoid the hit of depreciation but I could imagine keeping Keeping the Bmw or Merc long term.

Hyundai is very good and the mse option. Apremium brand will not make me a better person but they have refinements that lessen my difficulties in moving freely, and I felt a bit more like my oldself in them. We are paying cash and I am questioning why I feel uplifted by them. And why this shallow "soft" issue makes me willing to spend more than double the hyundai cost.

Vanity?

I'm not sure. As you might remember we upgraded to a very old luxury version of same class of car we've had last two times.

There is little doubt this makes me more mobile, more comfortable. I will struggle when we replace. I've grown very used to the extreme comfort.

While its a long jump to a new luxury car I imagine improvements are such that this would make life even easier. I don't have things like cruise control, which I enjoy in another car.

I don't personally enjoy review cameras ( though I have a couple of times had to check my car because i cannot see the back, and would rather reverse further having over estimated length of tow bar) but the idea of a car parking itself when I am tired after a drive is a bit of a nice idea i admit.

The idea is to stay mobile and independent for as long as possible. ypu need the easiest drive ( and park) and the one that gives you best attitude. I'm aware, in my different situation, each car might be the last I drive. If its this one, I'm lucky, glad it wasn't last one really) ...the only thing of course with mine is size of parking spaces on street. Or teeny tiny parking spaces in car parks where neighbours have parked poorly.

lostinrates

kabayiri wrote: »

DW's car does this automatic parking.

We've never tried it. Tbh, we didn't even know it was on the car, a friend has a similar BMW and told us.

I doubt we will ever use or try it.

We tried to test drive it a long time ago when a South African sales took us in a Prius. The thing wouldn't listen to his accent and fir and I were hopelessly in giggles. When I got my voice back the Prius had a fit of pique and just wouldn't park.

Fir was iffy about buying such a stroppy car.

SingleSue

When looking at my motability car, I went for ease of getting in and out, comfort whilst driving (lumbar support as my lumbar is completely beggered), devices to reduce strain on my neck (rear view camera, parking sensors etc) and ease of vision to reduce straining to see.

And a CD player....sounds weird but we discounted one vehicle as it didn't have one, only a storage hard drive, we like to play newly purchased CDs without faff at having to get it on a device first!

The 5008 meets pretty much all of those however, I have to have the seat at the lowest and most forward setting to be comfortable on the pedals, not as much of a problem as it could have been as there is plenty of room in the cabin and I don't feel like I am sitting on top of the steering wheel. Weirdly, it is the first car which feels more suitable to be driving in high heels!

One downside and something which I am going to have to ask about is the boot, I can open it but then can't reach up and close the blooming thing as I am too short and my arms can no longer fully extend upwards (the left one is a complete no no, doesn't even go halfway, right one about 3 quarters), one thing I didn't think to check when trying everything out. It wouldn't have been a problem before as I was able to stand on tiptoes and reach up.

Positives for me with this new car is that night driving is easier and doesn't cause fatigue, think it may be because of the higher position so not getting blinded so much plus also automatic dimming of the rear view mirror in line with light levels. The automatic gear box means less work on my horribly crap left arm and dislocating hips and I can now once again put the handbrake on (electronic handbrake) properly and on my own without dislocating shoulders.

Air con was easier in my old car, still trying to get my head around it to make it work as well in the new car and there is a dizzying array of buttons and switches to press, toggle and slide!

Overall though, I am very happy with it and it has made driving so much more easier and will allow me to retain my independence for a while longer.

ivyleaf

hjd wrote: »

The main criteria is surely your mobility and what makes life easiest for you. Also how you will feel after sitting in it for some time. Everything else is secondary. Try to ignore the badges - if they all had the same badge which one would be best for you?
BTW, there are some of the BMW 2 series tourers second hand on the market. Have to say I sat in one in the showroom and felt very hemmed in - but that's just me. I want plenty of glass for good visibility and as much space around me as possible.

My thoughts exactly

silvercar

One downside and something which I am going to have to ask about is the boot, I can open it but then can't reach up and close the blooming thing as I am too short and my arms can no longer fully extend upwards (the left one is a complete no no, doesn't even go halfway, right one about 3 quarters), one thing I didn't think to check when trying everything out. It wouldn't have been a problem before as I was able to stand on tiptoes and reach up.

When we hired a car in the US, it was fairly standard to have a boot that opened and closed by pressing a button, that doesn't seem so popular over here. OH's BMW boot opens by pressing a button on the key fob but that doesn't close it. Mine has a handle inside the boot lid, but that may still be out of reach to you.

OH claims that some car parks don't have enough room between rows, so even with all the parking assistance that his car offers, reversing out of a bay is cumbersome because the row behind is so near.

I'm actually struggling to find a replacement for my juke. I want a high driving position, automatic gearbox and rear view camera. Nothing too powerful. New or nearly new, max price of around 15k. Any ideas?