Paddleducks
General => Chat & Off Topic Stuff => Topic started by: Eddy Matthews on April 29, 2008, 07:52:27 AM
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After the death of my Dad, I decided it's time to change cars again. I no longer need a vehicle the size of my current Toyota MPV, so I'm buying a Volvo S80.... It has so many electronic gadgets it will take me a year to figure out how they all work but boy is it nice to drive!!
Regards
Eddy
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Now, how are you going to get all your boats in there Eddy? ;)
Very nice. How does it do petrol wise? Our current family car is a guzzler, was designed for long stretches on the open highway not for around town.
Randy the Dinosaur Soup Man
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Now, how are you going to get all your boats in there Eddy? ;)
Very nice. How does it do petrol wise? Our current family car is a guzzler, was design for long stretches on the open highway not for around town.
Randy the Dinosaur Soup Man
It's a very deceiving car Randy - The rear seats fold flat (split 60/40), and even the front passenger seat will fold flat for really long loads.
It has a 2401cc 5 cylinder diesel engine and will do an average of 42-44 mpg. which is amazing for a large saloon. Just goes to show we don't all need huge V8's :)
Regards
Eddy
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Hello Eddy,
Looks like a lot of thought was put into your selection with fitting your boats being top priority. Like I said before, very nice.
I did notice though, They put the steering wheel on the wrong side! ;) ;) ;)
Randy the Dinosaur Soup Man
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Hello Eddy,
Looks like a lot of thought was put into your selection with fitting your boats being top priority. Like I said before, very nice.
I did notice though, They put the steering wheel on the wrong side! ;) ;) ;)
Randy the Dinosaur Soup Man
I think you need glasses Randy - The steering wheel is on the right side :whistle
Eddy
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Hi Eddy,
Now that I know the front seat folds flat for REALLY long loads :goodnews can we fold it flat for a REALLY long journey on Sunday - if so I'll bring a blanket :vacation
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Hey Eddy,
I guess we here in the States can attribute one more thing to our French heritage. Besides fries and kisses, we drive on the right side of the road. ;D
Randy the Dinosaur Soup Man
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And there was I thinking we'd been Left behind. Or is it simply we are more chivalrous than the French or do we still do combat with lances hanging out the right hand side windows.
Eddy, now we know why you needed to get the Volvo before the weekend, a nice wee drive through the bonnie parts of Scotland to visit your favourite (favorite, for our ex-colonials) paddler, Waverley.
Enjoy the M74 and A82 along Loch Lomond side with all those other holiday invaders :vacation
cheers
Jim
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The A82 alongside Loch Lomond shouldn't be too bad at this time of the year, but even if we do get stuck behind a caravan, it's glorious scenery so who cares if you have to drive slowly?
The A74/M74 is a different story though!! :)
Eddy
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I had had second-hand cars 8, 11, 11 & 8 years old.
As retirement approached, I went for a new Subaru Liberty Outback, all-wheel drive, 6 cylinder.
It is rated to tow 1800 kg.
At the time I bought it, I didn't know what weight of boat I would be buying.
Jessie II on the trailer is 1400 kg; I could have survived with the more economical 4 cylinder model. The car does munch fuel, particularly when towing.
A photo of the car, only a few months old, is in Large Paddler Builds > General discussion (Large), in the Jessie II topic there. It was taken on the day of my first test cruise, near Walkers Flat (SA). One essential requirement was that my car could handle the boat on the trailer, and that was proven. Murray Princess passed while the seller and his son loaded the boat onto the trailer.
Enclosed: a photo when it was only a few days old. I exploited most of the features for which I had bought it, driving through mud chasing paddleboat photos along the Murray, then skiing in NSW, on the roro Spirit of Tasmania III to Tasmania, then through mud and snow-covered roads there. Here it is crossing the lower Pieman River, on the only river punt in Tasmania, nicknamed 'Fatman'. I was on the last crossing of the day; the lonely minor road continuing to a mining town was blocked with a fallen tree. I was able to go off the road, and around the tree, and back on again; then still connected to Spirit of Tasmania (I or II) to Melbourne that night.
Posted as soon after 17.00 (USA PST) as I could.
Regards,
Roderick B Smith
Rail News Victoria Editor
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hope you can find the fuel for that new car Eddy,
its Scottish oil, and you,ll need your passport! but you are going to my part of the country and the inhabitants are friendly, enjoy the trip on the old Lady
Sandy.
ps pleased Bob is going as your interpreter
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Thanks Sandy - Hopefully the fuel situation won't be too bad.... In theory I can do the round trip on one tankful, but I'll topup at the first opportunity once we get to Scotland just to be safe...
We intend on stopping at Balloch on the way up to see how the Maid of the Loch is doing, and grab a bite to eat.
I have to admit that I cannot pronounce half of the Scottish placenames, so Bob will be useful for that, and also for general translation in pubs and restaurants etc :D
Regards
Eddy
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Hi PD's....& as Eddy notes :hammer ..."I'm...[he] is buying a Volvo S80"..... :shoot...but why does it have three peddals?
My question is....that if our universal GOD :respect & :no1b in the heavens above us wanted us to drive a car with 3 peddals ....he would have given us three BLOODY legs with feet attached :oops
I rest my case :hehe :nahnah .......your most respectful "CONVICT stock" PD member from OZ :beer
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I have to admit that I would have preferred an automatic Derek, but I couldn't get a decent one in my price range, so manual it is....
Of course, if every PD was to send me a donation of £15 towards my "car fund", I could buy whatever I wanted :) Now watch everyone flock to ask for my Paypal account to send money to - Some hope! :picknose
Eddy
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MMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM & Hi Pd's....... :thinking....if each any one our 969 PD members offer UK Pounds 15 to our moderator.........[969 x 15 = 14,535 GBP]
What a SCAM that would be ....he would probably go OFF & purchase steam engine bits & pieces :clap....but I will not be the first to contribute to the EM benevolent fund :nono
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Sandy, We could travel via Campbells of Kilmun territory on the way home on Tuesday but only if Eddy stands the ferry fare across to Gourock ;)
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Sandy, We could travel via Campbells of Kilmun territory on the way home on Tuesday but only if Eddy stands the ferry fare across to Gourock ;)
Yet more Scottish gibberish ;D
Anyone care to translate that so I know what the heck Bob is talking about ???
Eddy
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Quote from: Bob Golder on Today at 03:40:10 PM
Sandy, We could travel via Campbells of Kilmun territory on the way home on Tuesday but only if Eddy stands the ferry fare across to Gourock
Yet more Scottish gibberish
Anyone care to translate that so I know what the heck Bob is talking about
Eddy
Hi Eddy,
I'm not to sure, but I think Bob wants to visit relatives and wants you to foot the bill. He should run for Parliament he makes it so clear.
Regards,
Gerald
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Hi PD's....& as Eddy notes :hammer ..."I'm...[he] is buying a Volvo S80"..... :shoot...but why does it have three peddals?
My question is....that if our universal GOD :respect & :no1b in the heavens above us wanted us to drive a car with 3 peddals ....he would have given us three BLOODY legs with feet attached :oops
I rest my case :hehe :nahnah .......your most respectful "CONVICT stock" PD member from OZ :beer
Perhaps try driving a T Model Ford Derek! Three pedals and none of them is the accelerator! Have to use the dreaded hand throttle.
Here's a statement for you! I have never owned an automatic and doubt I ever will! My feet are fully in touch with their feminine side!!!! (They can multi-task!) :sunglasses
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Well it's 6:45am here in the UK and I'm all ready to go and get my new car..... What the heck am I going to do for the next six hours until it's ready?
It's been like waiting for christmas!! :gift
Eddy
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Oh dear PD's........
Martin ...I think YOU shoud explain this to Eddy Three pedals and none of them is the accelerator! ....& that is before he attempts to drive that WOLVO car thing out the door in 5 3/4 hour time
Eddy....just relax & a cup of :coffee & make a few shavings in the workshop :hammer...but what ever you do... :nono...do not part take in the EVIL ...... :beer...before driving : :goodluck
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Well, I'm now the proud owner of a Volvo S80 - Am I happy so far? You bet your life I am!!
What an absolute delight to drive, the 5 cylinder 2.4 litre diesel has amazing mid-range acceleration for such a big car - I have to keep looking at the speedo to see just how far over the legal limit I am!! ;D
It has rain sensitive wipers, and although I initially thought why? They are great, it started to rain on the way home, so they came on (intermittent wipe) automatically, and then it got heavier and heavier, and each time the wipers just sorted themselves out - Brilliant!
I took it across to show a friend this evening, and it was getting dark when I was ready to come home - I started the engine, and the headlights came on even though they were turned off!! So an extra that I knew nothing about, and to be honest I don;t think the dealer I bought it from did either as it was never mentioned, but it obviously has light sensitive headlights as well - Absolutely amazing!
Regards
Eddy
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Hello all, Eddy it is amazing the little things that make driving a quality car a pleasure and lift it above the mundane. I am delighted that you will enjoy the wee trip to bonnie Scotland this weekend and more pleased that you'll be home again by Tuesday ;D The thing that gets me is the difference in specifications from manufacturer to manufacturer. As you know we had a Mercedes and it didn't have the rain sensitive wipers which I've been used to for over ten years now because we have had this on a few Peugeots. The auto on headlights were a feature on the Merc and also had the get you to the door lights when parking up at night. ? very handy but a bit gimmicky otherwise.
have fun during the road trip ;)
cheers
Jim
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Bob,
Kilmun is just 1 mile along the road from my birth place and if you go there you will find very little reference to the Campbells (of the white funnel steamers), even their old mansion has been knocked down and replaced with "white settlers" buildings.
But Napier's houses and pier is still standing at Kilmun (remember napierian logarithms from school!)
A piece of useless information - David Napier and his cousin Robert, built the boilers for the early steamers on the Clyde and their logo as it were, was to paint their chimneys (later funnels) in red with a black top and hoops. And some of their customers adopted those colours when the ships were built with Napier boilers, hence the connection with MacBraynes, Isle of Man SPC, Port Line , Cunard Line etc.
Sandy.
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Eddy
The worst part of your journey will be the A82 from Tarbert to Ardlui, unreconstructed road from the time of stage coaches, narrow and winding.
As to Scottish place names, you will find all the road signs from Crianlarich to Oban have recently been replaced by new ones including the Gaelic equivalent of all the names, even more un pronoucable than the ones you are talking about
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Sorry Alistair, but its a long way from "Tarbert" to Ardlui, but not so far from "Tarbet".
Us highlanders will keep the Paisley buddies right - no offence Sandy
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Hi All,
12 Months ago I bought a Ford station wagon and the first question I asked was "Could I fit a 6ft aircraft carrier (KMS Graf Zepplin) in the back and after I got some weird looks from the salesman he got a tape and measured. It would fit and so I bought the car and just to keep Derek quiet, yes it is an automatic and yes it is on LPG.
Peter W from the great Land of Oz
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Freedom of the road and two days sunshine forced me to bid and win this.
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/HONDA-GOLDWING-1500-CRUISER-BLUE_W0QQitemZ110258107180QQihZ001QQcategoryZ9806QQcmdZViewItem
Bogs now has 2.75 wings.
Lathe and miller in the trailer, jacuzzi in the top box.
John
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Dear Lord..... :respect... heaven preserve our member BOGSTANDARD as he motors on two wheels around his neighbourhood
Your devoted flock of PD members :gathering from around your world
:hehe & :beer
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;D ;D ;D
Are you Mad BOGSTANDARD or just plain Looney ! You've got to admit it though that it looks lovely and I'msure you'l love getting out and about on it.
Well done sir
cheers
Jim
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At least we know what you paid for it - so when it comes up for sale you can't tell us porkies :porkies
The trailer is great - ideal to haul those steamplants along to the next exhibition :)
Always fancied a Goldwing trike myself, but I could never justify it, or convince my wife to let me buy it! :(
Eddy
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Don't worry lads, there is even a holder for my white stick, the main problem is I couldn't find the crank handle to start it. Now if I could just find my pebble glasses, I might be able to read the manual.
Got a bit of a shock today, called up the insurance agent, and was duly listed as a 'born again biker'. A sure sign age is creeping up on you.
Just got to get the intercom plugged in, and the wife will be able to tell me which way to turn the steering wheel, if I can find it.
I hope this puts your minds at rest. But for a bit of a warning, I will be out on the motorway this weekend, don't know which one yet. Now, do I drive on the right or left?
John
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I hope this puts your minds at rest. But for a bit of a warning, I will be out on the motorway this weekend, don't know which one yet. Now, do I drive on the right or left?
John
Just do what most "born again bikers" do John..... Drive down the white line in the centre of the road! :whistle
Eddy
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Hello Eddy and all PD's.
Congrats on the new car. In case you do the big tour and bring it to Australia, you should know that it is the mandatory rule of Volvo drivers to travel in the outside lane and at least 10kmh below the gazetted speed limit for that section of road in this great country. You will then get to understand why we shout "bloody Volvo drivers" as we get to pass them.
Cheers
Misterbee.