The Motor Forum

Twelfth Monkey

The fact that I'm separating this from my original thread for the venting of spleen may well point you in the right direction, but anyone care to guess the villain's chariot?

Pulled out of a junction with a degree of lateness to match a Vinnie Jones tackle, forcing me to brake sharply. I had to stop at lights later, and caught up with him as he mercilessly tailgated a 3.2 TT along a 50mph dual carriageway. Less than a car length behind for a mile or so, and often over to one side in order to increase mirror presence.

After the TT took an exit he was left in the overtaking lane, with a vacant nearside lane. Did the reluctant overtakee's trick of gradually pulling over whilst gathering as much speed as possible. It was, needless to say, not enough.

As I overtook, I thought of our little collective (and in particular, Nick's liking of the phrase 'eat my carbons, weenie') and floored it. Au revoir, anus.

So, the car in question?
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"Accident Blackspot"? These aren't accidents. They're throwing themselves into the road gladly. Throwing themselves into the road to escape all this hideousness.'

Blarno · Posted: Fri Sep 12, 2008 4:40 pm Post subject:

I'm gonna go obvious:

A4 2.0 TDi Sportline?
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Twelfth Monkey · Posted: Fri Sep 12, 2008 4:41 pm Post subject:

Nope! Way less likely/stereotypical...
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"Accident Blackspot"? These aren't accidents. They're throwing themselves into the road gladly. Throwing themselves into the road to escape all this hideousness.'

Scouse · Posted: Fri Sep 12, 2008 4:43 pm Post subject:

Was it a Golf TD a' la Alf's tormentor?
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Scouse

Blarno · Posted: Fri Sep 12, 2008 4:45 pm Post subject:

Honda Jazz?
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Arms held out, in the Jesus Christ Pose.

SpecB · Posted: Fri Sep 12, 2008 4:49 pm Post subject:

Subaru Legacy?
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Mark

Humphrey The Pug · Posted: Fri Sep 12, 2008 4:50 pm Post subject:

Vauxhall Agila!
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Mummy, Daddy, Sissy, Sassy Baby.

Blarno · Posted: Fri Sep 12, 2008 4:50 pm Post subject:

It's got to be a SAAB. You never see a maniac in a SAAB.
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Arms held out, in the Jesus Christ Pose.

Colin · Posted: Fri Sep 12, 2008 5:04 pm Post subject:

Almera?

Twelfth Monkey · Posted: Fri Sep 12, 2008 5:13 pm Post subject:

Without wishing to make it too obvious, think preachy.
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"Accident Blackspot"? These aren't accidents. They're throwing themselves into the road gladly. Throwing themselves into the road to escape all this hideousness.'

M. · Posted: Fri Sep 12, 2008 5:15 pm Post subject:

Prius.
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Generic reply key:
1. Happy birthday
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Twelfth Monkey · Posted: Fri Sep 12, 2008 5:17 pm Post subject:

I said without wishing to make it too obvious!

But yep, a maniacally driven Pious. Seen it all now.
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"Accident Blackspot"? These aren't accidents. They're throwing themselves into the road gladly. Throwing themselves into the road to escape all this hideousness.'

Stuntman · Posted: Fri Sep 12, 2008 8:03 pm Post subject:

The owner probably has another car as well. He's a grade-A cock, so his other car is probably a stereotypical cockmobile.
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Drifting through life

Gooner · Posted: Sat Sep 13, 2008 12:46 am Post subject:

He must have had an A4 s-line before and traded down to save on company car tax.
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- Insert clever and/or amusing quote here -

Nice Guy Eddie · Posted: Sat Sep 13, 2008 12:17 pm Post subject:

Did you not wind the window down and tell him to get a proper car before he ate your carbons?
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PR · Posted: Sat Sep 13, 2008 1:20 pm Post subject:

What a cock.

I always enjoy overtaking Piouses by wringing my engine out to the redline.
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DaveGibson · Posted: Sat Sep 13, 2008 2:17 pm Post subject:

You are all assuming that the driver owned / chose to buy the Pious. He might have been driving it under sufferance and his 'cock' driving was the result of frustration from wishing it was something more invigorating.

DradusContact · Posted: Sat Sep 13, 2008 11:51 pm Post subject:

at last, an excuse to use this:

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Twelfth Monkey · Posted: Sun Sep 14, 2008 9:17 am Post subject:

PR · Posted: Sun Sep 14, 2008 9:31 am Post subject:

M. · Posted: Sun Sep 14, 2008 12:02 pm Post subject:

An interesting article:
http://www.edmunds.com/insideline/do/News/articleId=131741
No mention of damage to any vehicles in the East Midlands - yet.
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1. Happy birthday
2. Congratulations
3.

4. Good luck
5. Buy a mac

'G' · Posted: Sun Sep 14, 2008 12:23 pm Post subject:

During one of my first driving courses, I was forced to brake by a rather uncharming red Ford Mondeo, with no hub caps and an inch of filth on it. Not that that was important, but it does instill a a vivid image of the car and the greasy, left-wing, pornographer who could be very loosely described as driving the poor machine.

I continued to verbally vilify the vehicle and it's occupant and expected the instructor to join. His response was unexpected.

"He could be having genuine emergency." he announced. "He could be hurrying to the hospital, being called to his house which is on fire..."

"So that excuses driving in that way?" I replied.

"Not excuse, no." he answered. "But maybe shows another hazard to look out for, and not to adversely react to. Calm down, he didn't do it to you, so it was nothing personal, so do't have a personal reaction. His driving will be his problem, drive in a way that takes into account of others shortfalls. Okay?"

"Okay." I replied sheepishly, feeling as though I'd only just started to learn to drive. A feeling that allow myself to experience at the start of a driving course, as it makes me more receptive to learn.

On the other hand..... the Mondeo driver was a total greaseball, that should not be allowed on the road.
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"The multiplying villainies of nature do swarm upon him."

DradusContact · Posted: Sun Sep 14, 2008 2:06 pm Post subject:

Yesdterday i saw a:
V A U X H A L L
A S T R A
N U R B U R I N G
16V
ALPINE
IRMCHSTER

At leasting according to all the badges on the back it was.

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'G' · Posted: Sun Sep 14, 2008 7:20 pm Post subject:

Don't you miss those days when the badges on the back of car displayed what options you had on it?

'Automatic' (or Automatique or French cars), 'Twin cam', 'Connoisseur', etc.....ah Halcyon days.
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"The multiplying villainies of nature do swarm upon him."

canadian bacon · Posted: Tue Sep 16, 2008 11:44 pm Post subject:

so did the sierra sapphire chasseur taste like chicken ?
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Dr. Hfuhruhurr · Posted: Wed Sep 17, 2008 8:03 am Post subject:

Humphrey The Pug · Posted: Wed Sep 17, 2008 10:42 am Post subject:

'G' · Posted: Wed Sep 17, 2008 11:26 am Post subject:

That's right and 'Lamda' (or something) on the grill.

Imaging all the luxury options were listed on the tailgate! Aircon-heated seats- comfy bum leather interior....etc.

You'd need another car to put them on.
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"The multiplying villainies of nature do swarm upon him."

DradusContact · Posted: Wed Sep 17, 2008 12:38 pm Post subject:

The first Vectra's had ABS proudly displayed on the back of them as it was quite new at launch on P reg. Its law now all new cars have it i think?
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"him" · Posted: Wed Sep 17, 2008 12:42 pm Post subject:

DradusContact · Posted: Wed Sep 17, 2008 12:44 pm Post subject:

Not sure, but i know the Ka had it as standard from about 53 onwards, as my 02 just missed out on the new engine and abs. If ford are putting it on their cheapest model i assumed it was because they had to.
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Dr. Hfuhruhurr · Posted: Wed Sep 17, 2008 1:00 pm Post subject:

If it is mandatory, the likes of TVR and Caterham obviously get an exemption.

And the obvious status boot badge was the letter "i", though now mostly used to mean "not diesel", as if diesels don't have fuel injection.

"him" · Posted: Wed Sep 17, 2008 1:04 pm Post subject:

Dr. Hfuhruhurr · Posted: Wed Sep 17, 2008 1:19 pm Post subject:

Or "qv" if it was a Ferrari

DaveGibson · Posted: Wed Sep 17, 2008 1:37 pm Post subject:

The badge to have on your 60s/70s Triumph was 'Overdrive'.

Dr. Hfuhruhurr · Posted: Wed Sep 17, 2008 1:50 pm Post subject:

Remember those Formel E VWs in the 1980s? With a 4+E gearbox, or if you were really unlucky, a 3+E. BL did the same with the Metro HLE.

Blarno · Posted: Wed Sep 17, 2008 4:41 pm Post subject:

PR · Posted: Wed Sep 17, 2008 7:06 pm Post subject:

ABS has been mandatory on mass production cars sold since July 1st 2004.

Low volume production is exempt, hence TVR, etc.
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Blarno · Posted: Wed Sep 17, 2008 9:25 pm Post subject:

Ah, mine's a 2003. Probably why the 182 Cups had ABS...
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Arms held out, in the Jesus Christ Pose.

DradusContact · Posted: Thu Sep 18, 2008 11:05 am Post subject:

Should be standard too, ive had mine kick in exactly once and i know i would of crashed if it wasnt for it.
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Blarno · Posted: Thu Sep 18, 2008 1:19 pm Post subject:

"him" · Posted: Thu Sep 18, 2008 1:51 pm Post subject:

DradusContact · Posted: Thu Sep 18, 2008 1:53 pm Post subject:

Blarno how big are your brakes? And how heavy is yours?

Mine weights a smidge over the tonne mark iirc and with 260mm brakes with standard pads and good tyres i can kick the abs without too much trouble.
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Blarno · Posted: Thu Sep 18, 2008 1:58 pm Post subject:

I think they're 288mm discs and it weighs 1020kg without me on board. The brakes are sharp and don't lock up.

I suspect I will give them a good caning on the trackday, but I don't drive anywhere near fast enough on roads to warrant really hard braking.
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Arms held out, in the Jesus Christ Pose.

DradusContact · Posted: Thu Sep 18, 2008 2:02 pm Post subject:

Like i say, the abs only kicked in, but i was only doing 40 and it was a full on emergency stop, i was about 3ft from the car in front when i stopped. Couldnt of stopped in that distance without the abs i dont think.
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DaveGibson · Posted: Thu Sep 18, 2008 5:55 pm Post subject:

If anything, DC, ABS lengthens the braking distance. Its main benefit is to allow a driver to steer while braking without skidding.

DradusContact · Posted: Thu Sep 18, 2008 6:02 pm Post subject:

DaveGibson · Posted: Thu Sep 18, 2008 6:40 pm Post subject:

http://www.ukcar.com/features/tech/others/Anti-Lock-Brakes/

"Contrary to popular belief, ABS does not make for shorter braking distances or give you better overall braking performance. It is designed to give you, the driver, steering control of the car whilst braking hard, as you would in an emergency."

PR · Posted: Thu Sep 18, 2008 7:03 pm Post subject:

Dave is correct - a car stopping with the ABS chattering will take longer to come to a halt than one slowing with maximum 'unlocked' retardation.

However, a car with all its wheels locked will probably take a lot longer to stop, certainly on a wet road.

Interestingly, I had to do a full-on ABS stop in the MINI I was driving today, when the driver of the Golf in front of me slammed his brakes on to avoid whacking into a Corsa - that I couldn't see - that was waiting to turn right ahead of us. The anti-lock seemed to kick in very early, and I knew that the car would have drawn up shorter if it hadn't.

I did leave an impressive pair of black lines on the road, though!
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DradusContact · Posted: Thu Sep 18, 2008 8:13 pm Post subject:

Probably an expert pumping the brakes might be able to stop the car slightly quicker with normal brakes compared to abs, but for 90% of the drivers on the road, myself included, instinct is to jam my foot down as hard as i can.
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