Speaking of cars I'm due a new one soonish. Currently have a 2 series BMW which is great so thinking of just switching like for like, although I don't really enjoy the overhaul they've done of most of their lines recently. Quite a lot of them are a mess, plain ugly and don't even look like BMWs anymore. That said, the 2 series, while it doesn't look as good as the outgoing ones, seems to be a model that's survived the aesthetic changes somewhat more unscathed. I'm quite interested in a Merc, the A series saloon which is lovely but won't have the same driving characteristics of a 2 series. The A35 AMG has a superb engine, flies in a straight line and sounds great. So it's probably between a coupe that looks somewhat confused, is less practical, but will drive real nice or the better looking more practical four door that's quick but maybe doesn't drive as well overall. I was interested in an electric car and still would be but the infrastructure doesn't seem to be in place yet to gain the supposed benefits, the cars are still in their early stages, there aren't that many options either and they're all far too expensive in comparison to petrol/diesel/hybrid cars.
Not a fan of BMW or Merc but I'd probably go with the latter out of the two. I've been considering changing my car too, I want to go hybrid next but don't know anything about them. Really lost touch with cars over the last few years.
Same really, stopped caring and wouldn't even be thinking about it except mine is just ageing and I still want to be able to recoup a decent chunk of money on it when I sell it back to the dealership to put towards the next one. I'd more than happily keep the car I have but the mileage is starting to get up there as well. All I can really say about hybrids is they seem very expensive up against petrol engines and for what they are. Fully in favour of electric vehicles but the industry and the government have to sort it all out before it becomes realistic. I think the car industry is in a bit of a limbo state right now as they know petrol / diesel are dying so don't want to commit hard on those, but also know that electric cars aren't fully viable yet. Right now I'd prefer to give my money to Merc I think, but the drive style and feel of a BMW car keeps me interested even if I don't really feel much of a connection with the brand anymore for the above reasons
Just in case anyone wanted to know there is a species of daffodil whose scientific name is narcissus assoanus, so in a couple weeks time when daffodils are in bloom remember you could be looking at assoanuses. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Narcissus_assoanus
Have to agree. Hybrid is the worst of both worlds, hauling engines round and they only exist cos people want to get round some changes and taxes but still want the petrol engine imo. It was a segway into the technology initially and I even drove a rental price once. What a ****ing hateful piece of trash.
Anyone seen the new Highway Code changes around pedestrians and cyclists? Pedestrians now have right of way at junctions so if you’re turning into one, you have to stop and let them cross first. I can see that causing chaos with people starting to step out and cars not stopping, or cars stopping and being hit from behind. Have to say as a pedestrian there’s no way taking this advice, I’m waiting till road is clear before walking out infront of a turning car!! Similarly, if your ahead of a bike turning left, you now have to wait for the bike to overtake you before you turn. Not sure how that makes any sense? I get a lot of drivers will just slow down and turn without indicators, but surely the person in front has right of way and should be responsibility of person behind not to undertake them?
If everyone ignores it’s fine. But if half ignore and half don’t going to cause mayhem with pedestrians potentially walking out and drivers not slowing or stopping. Bike trying to undertake etc. Feel common sense needs to be used. What could cause more damage, a person crossing when there’s no cars, or crossing when there is a car but you have right of way. It’s similar to zebra crossings. Pedestrians have right of way so can just step out, but for safety I’d never do that. I always wait for cars to stop or start to visibly slow as it just makes most sense.
This may be about what we cyclists refer to as the 'left hook'. A regular cause of serious injury or worse.
I don’t and am highly unlikely to ever cycle on roads so I’m very naive on this so happy to be educated. But as a cyclist if you were behind a car turning left, do you think it’s safer for you to wait behind them or undertake them and force them to stop and wait for you to pass? And I know there are terrible drivers out there, but let’s put it into a scenario of a very good considerate safe driver who uses indicators, mirrors etc Hiw far behind does the bike have to be before it’s safe for you to turn left and not have to wait for them? Directly behind? 1 car behind? What if there is no bike but you’ve stopped to let a pedestrian cross at that junction under these new rules do you then also have to check for cyclists coming up your inside past multiple cars?
its total nonsense. Its saying we won't police cyclists or e-scooters so you people in cars you need to let them do anything they like now. Pedestrians are most at risk and a lot of the risk is from lunatics riding various vehicles on footpaths so now to have them step off a path into the face of oncoming all sorts and think that's fine is nuts. They are the ones who will have the worst injury when the accident happens! Its as simple as this. If theres a bike lane then the bike lane should have space to turn left and not be interfered with at all by a car turning left in its own lane. If there is no lane then as a motorist i would advocate blocking off the space so the lunatics cant get down your inside as now you have to pay their medial bills even though they put themselves in harms way stupidly. The worst of all is if the bike is going straight and you are turning left. If theres no bike lane then how stupid would a bike be to lash down the inside of a car indicating its intent. IMO we are will past the peak of civilisation and headed back to trams and pushbikes. its a long way from the image of flying pods whizzing us round in sky cities
in fairness to cyclists theres bad and good in all road users, cyclists are far from the worst in general but there are some absolutely morons in cities I am still of the opinion that all vehicles ought to be registered and some form of insurance required. I am firmly of the opinion that e-scooters are the most ridiculous things going now. no training, no helmet, no lights, no insurance, free for all for all ages. there are now models that can do 60mph FFS. They regularly go 15-20mph and a lot now are up to 30mph. If you do that speed and hit something without a helmet you are dead. I am seeing people one phones, up on paths on them, going against traffic, transporting kids on them etc etc. compared to that a cyclist with a helmet and lights seems so much safer even if they break the lights.
And horses. Got to give them 2metres width and if you can't you have to wait until you can. limited to 10mph as you pass too
I'm actually considering getting a hybrid for my next vehicle, not because it's a hybrid, but because I like the vehicle and its base model comes as a hybrid. Ford Maverick, starts under $20k brand new, not sure if in UK market, its a Small pickup. With 14+ acres, I want a pickup, but all the others on the market in the US are ludicrously big are ludicrously expensive. Not a 4WD version for that base price, but should be good enough on dry days to haul wood to the back so I can build bridges over the creek and haul fallen trees away from the trails. The fact that it's a hybrid for that price and gets the same mileage as my current subcompact car is just a bonus. . Small enough to be my daily driver, but with a bed for when I need it.
This is how it is in Germany. It works fine because everyone's used to it, but as you say until people are used to it, it's probably going to lead to accidents.
