Random Thoughts... [Automotive Edition]

Matt2000 said:
the steering wheel controls
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Has the number of buttons on the steering wheel become some kind of status symbol? I got a Toyota C-HR from the rental car roulette earlier this week and its wheel was covered in buttons (18 IIRC), but this Subaru is even worse.
 
calvinhobbes said:
Has the number of buttons on the steering wheel become some kind of status symbol? I got a Toyota C-HR from the rental car roulette earlier this week and its wheel was covered in buttons (18 IIRC), but this Subaru is even worse.
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More buttons is more better?
 
This sort of thing is the ideal, I guess:

c


Seems to be all the rage since "Drive to Survive" took off...
 
calvinhobbes said:
Has the number of buttons on the steering wheel become some kind of status symbol? I got a Toyota C-HR from the rental car roulette earlier this week and its wheel was covered in buttons (18 IIRC), but this Subaru is even worse.
Click to expand...

Now we're going backwards towards wheels that have no physical buttons, and just scroll wheels.
 
marcos_eirik said:
This sort of thing is the ideal, I guess:

c


Seems to be all the rage since "Drive to Survive" took off...
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I don't see any radio controls. Back to the drawing board! 😂
 
Do first-generation Rover 213s and 216s show up in British scrapyards anymore? There's a 1985 Honda Civic for sale worryingly near me that I am very tempted to turn into the Bucket-mobile from Keeping Up Appearances, and I'd just need front and rear-end bits from a Rover.
 
Labcoatguy said:
Do first-generation Rover 213s and 216s show up in British scrapyards anymore? There's a 1985 Honda Civic for sale worryingly near me that I am very tempted to turn into the Bucket-mobile from Keeping Up Appearances, and I'd just need front and rear-end bits from a Rover.
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Unfortunately I think those are long gone from scrapyards. This shape?

1710406134635.png


Let's put it this way, the one local to me had early 2000s Freelanders a couple of years ago and that was a big surprise. We don't have quite as much space for old stuff to lie around as you have in the US, which is a shame.
 
Although it's been a while since I looked for it... didn't we once have a "Motorsports" forum? I searched but couldn't find it today.

In any case, I thought I'd throw in a photo from yesterday. It had been over a year since I'd competed in an autocross, so I registered for the season-opener for our local SCCA region. I was really unhappy with the course set-up - it was like driving through a forest of pylons. I DNF'd my first 3 runs, as did some other entrants. I'm old enough that I have nothing left to prove to anyone, so I retired the car and helped with timing. So much for that, but a friend (Shane Day) who's a professional photographer was there and took some pics (which he kindly donates to our region). He got a good shot of me on one of the straights, so I thought I'd share it:
RCR_Solo_03.16.2024.jpg

Also, apologies for the crappy taped IDs... I couldn't find my vinyl letters, so I had to resort to painters' tape.
 
SquareLeft said:
Although it's been a while since I looked for it... didn't we once have a "Motorsports" forum? I searched but couldn't find it today.

In any case, I thought I'd throw in a photo from yesterday. It had been over a year since I'd competed in an autocross, so I registered for the season-opener for our local SCCA region. I was really unhappy with the course set-up - it was like driving through a forest of pylons. I DNF'd my first 3 runs, as did some other entrants. I'm old enough that I have nothing left to prove to anyone, so I retired the car and helped with timing. So much for that, but a friend (Shane Day) who's a professional photographer was there and took some pics (which he kindly donates to our region). He got a good shot of me on one of the straights, so I thought I'd share it:

Also, apologies for the crappy taped IDs... I couldn't find my vinyl letters, so I had to resort to painters' tape.
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You're doing autocross? I had no idea you were into that! awesome stuff!. :D
 
I came across a facebook reel where someone prodded and messed around with the plasticky interior of a modern day A class AMG and revved the flatulent 4-cylinder etc. I went into the comments section and found a post:

IMG_1884.jpeg


I’ve no idea what he says but I instinctively know I agree.
 
Perc said:
I came across a facebook reel where someone prodded and messed around with the plasticky interior of a modern day A class AMG and revved the flatulent 4-cylinder etc. I went into the comments section and found a post:

View attachment 3572213

I’ve no idea what he says but I instinctively know I agree.
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IMG_9785.png
 
...is that like a zen riddle?
 
Labcoatguy said:
Do first-generation Rover 213s and 216s show up in British scrapyards anymore? There's a 1985 Honda Civic for sale worryingly near me that I am very tempted to turn into the Bucket-mobile from Keeping Up Appearances, and I'd just need front and rear-end bits from a Rover.
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I've only ever seen them at car shows. I think the last time they were common scrapyard fodder was 25 years ago!
 
So, not to be an asshole or the most terrible bore ever, but you know that April Fools ID3 Harlequin?

1712206206185.png


They fucked up their own color scheme on some of their images. It's yellow rear doors on a blue car. I don't even like the Harlekins but it's the principle of the thing.
 
www.press.bmwgroup.com

Access granted: The BMW M5 Touring comes to America for the first time.

Woodcliff Lake, NJ – April 4, 2024…The prototypes are carefully disguised, but the camouflage cannot completely conceal their character as elite high-performance vehicles. The seventh generation of the BMW M5 has entered the practical phase of its development process. The new high-performance...
www.press.bmwgroup.com www.press.bmwgroup.com

M5 Touring coming to the US for the first time
 
So apparently BP garages in the UK aren't allowed to turn the pump on for a customer if their boot is open. For health and safety reasons, whatever that means.
This includes cars like the Beetle where the filler is in the frunk (froot?) or this Renault, where it is in the engine compartment.

edit: words


View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qQsQfRp24oA
 
Last edited:
Not entirely true.


View: https://youtu.be/vkOFGTEENmU
The argument is that they need to see where you're putting the fuel. If the filler is in the front and you're facing the kiosk, all good. If that Renault was reversed in it would also be fine. A PITA yes, but you would be able to fill up. If you have something like an old Military Land Rover with the filler under the seat then you would have to park in a way that allows the person inside to see what you're doing, or you would indeed be screwed.

Another good reason to convert classic cars to electric.
 
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