I'd suggest not buying a Ford
and getting something made by Germans
( Vipros. clever got me this far, then tricky got me in, Mon 19 Oct 2009, 9:42, 3 replies, latest was 16 years ago)

^this
specifically a sausage
( djtrialprice, Mon 19 Oct 2009, 9:44, Reply)

I like your plan better than Vipros'
maybe it's because you didn't come across as smuggly.
(Bazongaloid, Mon 19 Oct 2009, 9:45, Reply)

I'd suggest buying a Ford
and not getting something made by Germans.
(beanojam isn't really Ricardo Flange, Mon 19 Oct 2009, 9:45, Reply)

Looks like you know more than Vipros.
How is this?
(Bazongaloid, Mon 19 Oct 2009, 9:47, Reply)

clearly not if he is advocating that course of action

( Vipros. clever got me this far, then tricky got me in, Mon 19 Oct 2009, 9:54, Reply)

Oh, now I'm torn
Ford make sold, pretty reliable and above all popular cars. This means parts are plentiful and cheap and if there is a problem, everyone knows how to fix them. These are all benefits.

On the down side I realise they don't have quite the same kudos as a VW or an Audi and they aren't as solidly built. But I know they drive nicely and both the 1.4 or 1.6 diesel should get over 60mpg, which I like.
(Bazongaloid, Mon 19 Oct 2009, 9:57, Reply)

they do drive nicely that is true
but I find little things annoying with them, like the shit quality plastic they make everything out of, including the steering wheel. that just feels nasty, whereas mine is leather. I don't like the way you have to push/pull/tweak the controls to wash the front and rear screens and stuff and the air vents have very little variation in where they can be pointed i.e. not straight in the face.

with regard to efficiency, they are all much the same I think.
( Vipros. clever got me this far, then tricky got me in, Mon 19 Oct 2009, 10:03, Reply)

The Polo is in a higher road tax band
which I don't like.
(Bazongaloid, Mon 19 Oct 2009, 10:15, Reply)

that's pretty shit
emissions?
( Vipros. clever got me this far, then tricky got me in, Mon 19 Oct 2009, 10:17, Reply)

Yep

(Bazongaloid, Mon 19 Oct 2009, 10:19, Reply)

But i've opened the window
so the air should clear quite soon.
(Bazongaloid, Mon 19 Oct 2009, 10:19, Reply)

how droll

( Vipros. clever got me this far, then tricky got me in, Mon 19 Oct 2009, 10:21, Reply)

I come from a long history of Fords
My parents have had 3 Fiestas, 3 Escorts and a Focus over the years. The fact that they currently have a Peugeot and a Mazda is neither here not there...

I've had 2 Fiestas and am currently on a Focus, having got pissed off with my VW Passat. To be fair though, the main reason it pissed me off was because it was old and decrepid, rather than anything specifically wrong with the car. If you see what I mean.
(beanojam isn't really Ricardo Flange, Mon 19 Oct 2009, 10:27, Reply)

yeah, perfectly reasonable
it's mainly the little things that make me not want a Ford. I'm happy enough to drive them, but to own, I'd much rather have my Seat, for the reasons I went into earlier. It really is much more comfortable and user-friendly
( Vipros. clever got me this far, then tricky got me in, Mon 19 Oct 2009, 10:29, Reply)

Never driven a Seat
Do they make big estates? That's my only prerequisite for a car these days; I have to be able to fit lots of stuff in the boot. That's one area where my Focus unexpectedly trumped the Passat, as the wheel arches don't stick into the boot.
(beanojam isn't really Ricardo Flange, Mon 19 Oct 2009, 10:37, Reply)

they don't make big estates
which is quite shit. All of their cars are hatchbacks now I think. I have the old Toledo saloon, which has a massive boot, but a small boot opening. Kind of stupid, but I've managed to fit 5 guitars, my guitar amp, a snare drum, a full set of cymbals, numerous cymbal stands, a djembe and a couple of bags full of leads in it.
( Vipros. clever got me this far, then tricky got me in, Mon 19 Oct 2009, 10:40, Reply)

ah, that'd be why
none ever turned up in my car searches then ;)

The ultimate test for my car (as I've only had it a couple of weeks) comes at band practise tomorrow when I attempt to get my drummer's kit in it. Should be fine but I always consider it an achievement as his kit looks like this :D
(beanojam isn't really Ricardo Flange, Mon 19 Oct 2009, 10:50, Reply)

now that's a fucking drumkit!
we played a gig on friday night. filling in as support at the last minute as someone from another band had swine flu. Main act set their drum kit up.

Kick drum, floor tom, snare, high hat, crash, ride

that's it.

our drummer did an amazing job considering he is used to a using a standard 5-piece to its full potential.
( Vipros. clever got me this far, then tricky got me in, Mon 19 Oct 2009, 10:53, Reply)

I love drumming
If I wasn't a guitarist or bassist (I've done both in my time) I'd be a drummer. My brother used to have a kit so I could practise at home but it's not so easy now. I have nothing... :(

But I fulfilled a dream of playing drums live at an open mike night a few months back. I got away with it, just. I wouldn't in the studio ;)
(beanojam isn't really Ricardo Flange, Mon 19 Oct 2009, 11:02, Reply)

I am awful at the drums
I just can't coordinate my limbs to work independently and in time.

Fine with fingers working independently. I'm not a bad guitarist and bassist etc. just can't play drums for shit.
( Vipros. clever got me this far, then tricky got me in, Mon 19 Oct 2009, 11:04, Reply)

I reckon it's one of those things you just get
like playing the didgeridoo...

Well, that's what happened to me; it just suddenly 'clicked'.

Or not. Maybe I'm just a jammy bastard...
(beanojam isn't really Ricardo Flange, Mon 19 Oct 2009, 11:11, Reply)

You say that
and I would agree with you in principle, but cars made by Germans are less plentiful and subsequently more expensive than Fords. I was looking at the Seats like you suggested, but they are out of my price range.
(Bazongaloid, Mon 19 Oct 2009, 9:46, Reply)

fair enough

( Vipros. clever got me this far, then tricky got me in, Mon 19 Oct 2009, 9:53, Reply)

The problem with German cars
I believe they are repeteadly coming bottom of the reliability surveys. I know my managers BMW and another manager's Audi are constantly in the garage.
(stimpy, Mon 19 Oct 2009, 9:54, Reply)

But my mothers BMW is never in the garage
and my dads Audi has been entirely trouble free. So now where do we stand?
(Bazongaloid, Mon 19 Oct 2009, 9:55, Reply)

I was more thinking of VWs, Seats and Skodas
because Audis and BMWs are just too expensive.

My car (Seat Toledo SE TDi) is incredibly reliable, efficient and much much nicer to drive, more comfortable, quicker, and less stupidly designed inside than the equivalent Ford Focus. I know this because I have driven both extensively.
( Vipros. clever got me this far, then tricky got me in, Mon 19 Oct 2009, 9:55, Reply)

I'm not going for anything like as big as that though
I would be wanting either an Ibiza, a Polo or a Fiesta.
(Bazongaloid, Mon 19 Oct 2009, 9:58, Reply)

Get a Polo.
If you can't get a DeLorean, get a Polo - that's my motto.
( crackhouseceilidhband Fuck off back to Mumsnet, Mon 19 Oct 2009, 9:59, Reply)

That's a good motto

(Bazongaloid, Mon 19 Oct 2009, 10:07, Reply)

I've driven Ibizas and Skoda Fabias and the old Polos
all good. Not sure about Fiestas. Probably better than Focuses, but still not as nice as the german stuff.
( Vipros. clever got me this far, then tricky got me in, Mon 19 Oct 2009, 10:01, Reply)

You owe kaol five internet pounds.

(PsychoChomp, Mon 19 Oct 2009, 10:06, Reply)

damnit
how did you screw it up?
( Vipros. clever got me this far, then tricky got me in, Mon 19 Oct 2009, 10:17, Reply)

He turned up for starters
and then he opened his mouth and started talking.
(Bazongaloid, Mon 19 Oct 2009, 10:18, Reply)

BA-ZING!

( Vipros. clever got me this far, then tricky got me in, Mon 19 Oct 2009, 10:22, Reply)

I didn't, I got the
"you're a nice guy but..." conversation, she's still living with her ex and it's complicated etc. I didn't do anything wrong as far as I can tell but...
(PsychoChomp, Mon 19 Oct 2009, 10:25, Reply)

how annoying
I think if I were in that situation I'd rather I'd screwed up and messed it up.
( Vipros. clever got me this far, then tricky got me in, Mon 19 Oct 2009, 10:30, Reply)

Yeah, but you think the world revolves around you.
An attractive girl liked me but nothing could happen because of her circumstances, it could be worse.
(PsychoChomp, Mon 19 Oct 2009, 10:31, Reply)

not true
I might be smug, but I don't hold any illusions that I'm important.

you are right, it could be worse. a really ugly girl could've liked you and something could have happened
( Vipros. clever got me this far, then tricky got me in, Mon 19 Oct 2009, 10:34, Reply)