h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Well, you'll all be glad to know that I have dropped the Nodding Dog, after receiving my renewal notice for just over £500....

Considering I run a small car, and have an exemplary driving history, I thought this was rather too much. I did the look round on the net thing and managed to find a policy that has cost me just less than £250 - a bargain.

I popped in at the Nodding Dog site and would you believe I got a quote for just over £200. Spoke with their customer services rep who couldn't explain why, but was going to give me the number of another department, who might be able to shed some light....

I mean: ...
Welcome to MY World.
BWHAHAHA

The interesting thing is.... now I've gone and sorted out a new policy to cover my car, I've gone and sold it and need to sort out more cover now!!



I was supposed to pick it up last evening, but the insurers hadn't got their act together, so I'll have to wait until tomorow morning. It doesn't really matter - I wasn't going anywhere, just to work.



Bassman

Over here, when you buy a car the place you buy it from has you call & have insurance put on it before you leave the lot.
Is it that way on your side of The Pond???

Not at all. They give you the keys and wave you off into the sunset not caring a monkey's if you have cover or not. I don't think it's their legal responsibility.

I didn't even get road tax with this one - you have to have a cover note from your insurance company to get tax, as legally, you have to produce it with all the other paperwork.



Bassman

Well, I guess I'll be in the middle of all that in a couple/few weeks.
I'll be buying a new car. Trouble is ...every new car I've had has been a lemon. Seems like the only good car is one that's been 'broken in'. So to speak.
I haven't a clue what to buy.
My men friends think I ought stay away from fancy cars as I could be car-jacked!
I did have a gang sourrond me once when I was in a new Park Avenue.It's not likeI actually stopped for um...
And I know, if I buy another little sports car the fella's will be picking it up and turning it around making me either: 1.) have a local police man come into wherever I may be & ask me to move my car or 2.) write me a ticket for parking on the wrong side of the street.
The Fire Dept. 'specially pulls pranks on my cars.
And no thank you, I don't care to drive a tank.

Buy a PT Cruiser.... You know you want to, we can swop stories then!!



Bassman

How'd you know that's what I want???A silver one.

I just bought an inferno red Limited Edition. It's fab! I've wanted one ever since I first saw a pic in a magazine and now I've got one. It's a 2.2Litre diesel, they're MUCH better than the petrol ones. Have you had a test-drive yet?



Bassman

Why Bassers, you and I haven't even met face to face, how could I have...Oh, I see what you mean. Nope. Not yet.
I usually buy the 1st car I see. So I'm not looking at any. Yet.

Well, don't look if there isn't a Diesel available!!

When you do have a test drive - make sure you check out all the equipment thoroughly.





Bassman

i heard that...

But...diesel?!? They'er so loud. and can you 'always' fine 'diesel'?
Crap. You ARE just like my father! I outta' just get on the next plane and marry you. Get it over with. Cheese and crackers! Do ALL men involved with areospace/diesel repair ...are you ALL alike?
...*ducks for cover...*why not unleaded petrol? AND DON'T YOU SCOLD ME!

...I meant...can you always FIND ...I really hate when that happens.
I know, I know....*pre-flipping-view* bar.

...I meant...can you always FIND ...I really hate when that happens.
I know, I know....*pre-flipping-view* bar.

I test drove a petrol auto and a diesel manual. The auto box in the petrol was just plain horrible. It made horrible noises when selecting the gears, the car lurched around as well. I had to make sure the handbrake was well applied, for fear of shooting off down the street. I'm comparing this with the auto box on my Vauxhall Carlton, which was a totally different ball game. It was sweet as a nut (as we Brits say...)

The engine was very loud and underpowered, so it had to work hard to shift the car about. All in all, if there hadn't been a diesel around I would have been very disappointed and probably not bought one at all.

The diesel on the other hand is really quite powerful and has bags of torque, so it revs much lower, it red lines at 4500 RPM, which is probably 2000 RPM less than the petrol.

Don't take my word for it, try them all, see if I'm right. At the end of the day, it's all a matter of personal taste.



Bassman

Would you really marry your father....?

I thought you lived in Ohio, not redneck country....

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Bassman

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That's not totally accurate, I've got a bad leg at the moment, so I'm more like this....

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Bassman

I thought ALL little girls grew up to marry men just like their fathers. If they had wonderful fathers, that is. You & my father would have had wonderful looooong talks.

I can't drive a standard. I have the driving record to prove it.
I completey distroyed two cars that belonged to men who
"knew" I could be taught.And if anyone's counting, the car I 'backed' into at the light after stalling the one car repeatedly.
Right in front of the police station. If front of a cop. I finally got the (last wrecked) car to start...threw it in gear, after winking
at the guy behind me (who, btw was a bassplayer), and crashed
full throttle into the guy I just winked at. Behind me.
Although the policemen were very nice.

Standard?

Not a term I'm familiar with. Do I assume you mean a car with a non-automatic gearbox?

That'd be a shame, they don't do a Diesel with an auto box.



Bassman