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VOLVO XC90
Very few SUV reviews, you’ll find, contain the word “anomie”.
#1 - Mr Bingley, with respect, he who puts faith in auto transmition alone has never watched a ute left in “park” roll into a dam.
Posted by mr creosote on 2007 01 04 at 08:19 AM • permalink#3 - I was always a fan of the V8 in the Range Rover and Discovery, then I got a diesel disco. Am now a fully paid up convert to the stinky-oiler brigade. I still love the roar of a good V8, but I’ll be buying diesel from now on.
Posted by mr creosote on 2007 01 04 at 08:42 AM • permalink#2 No, I haven’t seen that, I must admit.
Posted by Mr. Bingley on 2007 01 04 at 09:13 AM • permalinkThose roof racks are no good at all. I can’t put my ladders on that setup.
V8’s are old hat - an electronic fuel injected turbo charged common-rail direct-inject diesel engine is the way to go with petrol prices being what they are these days. Then again the extra cost of these engines kills the advantage of their higher fuel economy.Ask yourself, “What would someone from Berkley with anti-Bush, antiwar, pro-Gaia bumperstickers drive?” to get your answer, gentlemen.
You’ll find the answer at zombietimes (as reported via LGF, Hot Air and at a few other conservative/libertarian blogs).
http://www.zombietime.com/concourse_of_hypocrisy/Posted by andycanuck on 2007 01 04 at 10:53 AM • permalinkWhat’s the equivalent term for a car whose odometer measures kilometers?
Mileage.
It’s one of those quirky metric/imperial leftovers, in the same manner a seven year old kid will ask you how tall you are and expect an answer in feet and inches, despite having no idea how long an inch or foot actually is.
‘Ask yourself, “What would someone from Berkley with anti-Bush, antiwar, pro-Gaia bumperstickers drive?” to get your answer, gentlemen.’
I’m from Berkeley (originally), I drive a 4runner, and if I ever get a bumpersticker it will say: “Will trade lefty blood for oil”.
Posted by Dave Surls on 2007 01 04 at 01:37 PM • permalink#7 Tim B.
the park mechanism in an automatic transmission is surprisingly flimsy. A manual car left in gear is more secure than an auto in “park”.
Nonsense. The park mechanism might be surprisingly small but picture something about three times as strong holding the wheels (since it is geared down by the final drive). While it’s flimsy compared to a manual transmission’s gear teeth, it’s easily strong enough to hold the stationary vehicle, and far stronger than engine compression which you’re relying on to hold the manual.
Not to say that auto drivers shouldn’t use the handbrake, but it’s far more important that manual drivers should.
#9 RCM: Mileage in kilometres
Don’t listen to Dan. The total on the odometer is spoken of as ‘Ks’, pronounced kays.
It’s a bit tricky because, when speaking of odometer totals, ‘86 Ks’ means 86,000 kilometres.
It really should be said as ‘86 K Ks’ because K is short for kilo, (thousand).
Thus, when some petrol-head like Tim says he is ‘doing a hundred and twenty kays’ his speed is 120 kph, not 120,000 kph.
We still use the term ‘mileage’ but generally only when referring to fuel consumption. The ‘mileage’ is then measured in litres per 100 kilometres.
Hope this makes it clear for you.BTW, you metrically challenged people should really spell it ‘kilometre. Metres are units of distance and meters are measuring thingies like odometers.
Shifts are brilliantly slurred.
Like the speech of this reporter after a few rollmops and schnapps.
This car grips the road like I follow an argument.
The performance was more hearse than hirsute.
The instrumentation is sufficiently modern to confuse the geriatrics who buy Volvo.
Oh, wait - they’ve all handed in their licenses by now.#9,11,16
That’s in Au. Re: U.K., believe “mileage” is one of those terms banned by EU mandate. (They probably want people to use “kilometrage” (pron. kee-low-meht-RAZH).)
I say lets go back to the good old Anglo-Saxon standard of furlongs/hogshead.
Posted by Old Grouch on 2007 01 04 at 05:45 PM • permalinkRebeccahH : It’s not that small but my mum’s Toyota Kluger is pretty sweet. You can’t really take it offroad, but it’s great for hauling doodads and people around. Fuel economy is not bad for such a large engine.
I don’t think they’re called Kluger in the US though. Perhaps “Highlander”. I’m not sure.
Oh and I should point out that my sister has a RAV4, and I wouldn’t buy one, although the new RAV4s are nothing like the old ones. (i.e. the old ones were compact, the new ones aren’t).
The reason I wouldn’t buy one is it’s underpowered for freeway driving (2L engine) and it’s broken down a few times already. Maybe the new ones are better, but I’d rather have the Kluger/Highlander instead.
A CRV might suit you but I think they’re a tad underpowered too. Fairly economical, though.
I have a Datsun 1000 Coupe, circa 1969.
I do not own a 4WD, nor have any fascination with them.
I think that other things are more important.
Posted by the-invigilator on 2007 01 04 at 08:27 PM • permalinkDiesel is really only practical if you’re doing big mileage continuously- a lot of people have fallen for the high mileage that oilburners get, only to find their running costs are higher when they only toddle around town. A diesel pulls a shitload of amps to crank over and heat up glowplugs, and you generally need to do at least 20kms straight up from a cold start to boot the battery back up; if not, a battery will last 6 months tops, and they’re huge, and subsequently expensive. diesels also need servicing a lot more often than petrol, and filters are generally more expensive. That said, they’re great if you’re doing a 100km commute; my former blog partner spends half his life on the Brisbane/north coast road due to operating out of two hospitals, and he’s just bought a Golf diesel turb and swears by it.
I must say that there’s at least one diesel conveyance that I’d consider adding to my garage.
I still reckon that Swedemobile is a ripoff of this critter, which would do to the Volvo what immigrants of no appearance do to Swedish women.#30. Coach
I have been informed by a *ahem* reliable source, namely Wronwright, that re-registering is a relatively simple process.
In outline, Andrea conducts a monthly “meeting” where she considers applications.
Whilst I am not sure of the details or exact procedure, I have seen the checklist of items that you must bring to the ......aaah…well some refer to it as an “interview.” Others call it the “humiliation.”
Now I’m sure there is a good and valid reason for these items to be produced but anyway here are some of them..
1. 20kg of cat litter (easy one - probably for Andreas cat (hopefully)).
2. RWDB biometric ID card (no need for this to match your actual identity).
3. Detailed resume listing all RW conspiracies you have been part of (particularly failures).
4. 4 Pineapples (complete).
5. Shakespeares First Folio on audio cassette.
6. A tuning fork.
7. The completed application forms witnessed by two Innuit chiefs.
8. A deposition signed by one of the aforementioned chiefs that you have witnessed a Polar bear drowning and laughed at the spectacle.
9. 1 Carbon Credit (apparently this is symbolically destroyed during the ceremony as an insult to Gaia/offering to Rove).
Others here may be able to add more detail.
To continue Penguin’s list…
10. This guys head on a plate. The one with the hat and drink in his hand. He’s carrying his wife coffin, he’s also a suspect in his wife death.
30 coach
Andrea?
Gee, already taken
Anyone?
I like this one. We don’t have an Anyone, do we?...:).
coach, is good though.
Done!
Air freighted the cat litter, the pineapples, the first folio, the tuning fork. List of RW conspiracies (including business connections to Mark Thatcher and marriage into Jemmayel family) plus biometric ID emailed. Coincidentally found two Innuit chiefs holidaying at Byron Bay along with tranquillised polar bear all set for ritual drowning. Held moving ceremony in front of other holidaymakers on main Beach. Piccies in Byron Shire Echo next week.
I have a Ssangyong Musso 3.2 (All right, pack up laughing, you lot!) It has actually been an excellent car for the past 7 years. But there’s no denying it’s big and, around town, not particularly economical (although much better than my bro’s Trashcan ... err ... Terracan, and HEAPS better than my mate’s HO-V8 Cheep Jerokee). Back on track—as much as I’d love the OVLOV (look in your rearview mirror), it’s out of reach of my pocket, and still too large and thirsty. And now there’s just me and She Who Must Be Obeyed at home, I need “small”. Enter my new choice of the “littlies”—the latest model Kia Sportage. Same engine as my wife’s 2006 Optima, which gives us 8.5L per 100 km on a country run (about 28 mpg US or 33 mpg Imperial), and at least the impression of “oomph” when you floor it! And I can buy almost 3 of the little suckers for the price of that there OVLOV ...
Of course, that’s being sensible. I just KNOW I’m somehow gonna wind up scratching my head and wondering why I’ve got a secondhand BMW X5 4.8i sitting in the driveway ... and a second mortgage :D
I bought the old bat a Mitsubishi RVR a few months ago, and it’s a hoot. Constant 4WD, but low slung and easy to get in and out of (how many 4x4s actually get off the tar anyway?) It’s a bit of a sleeper, as it looks for all intents and purposes to be another shopping cart, but the scoop on the bonnet is a bit of a giveaway, as is the 3” exhaust poking out the back. It’s basically an EVO Lancer with a twincam 16valve intercooled turbo 2ltr, with a RV/wagon body bolted on- scares the living shit out of bogans at the lights in tweaked up VN Commodores. Fuel economy isn’t brilliant, but the last sprint around northern NSW, with some 200kph cruising returned over 400kms from a 55ltr tank.
#43
At least, the VOVO has a Yamaha-sourced sweet lil’ hi-po V8, would you believe?#33 - Habib, you are much correct about the nasty habits of diesel. Most of my driving until recently was toodling around the country - regular trips of 1000km - 2000km over a few days, so diesel made perfect sense. I don’t drive it around the city that much. The missus does, and she has a lead foot, and she gets atrocious fuel economy. About 50% worse than me in city driving.
The worst thing about diesel is refueling. Most stations have a diesel pump that puts out diesel slower than a tit expresses milk. I get wankers cramp waiting for the tank to fill. You also need to wear a gardening glove of some sort, as useless sods are forever spilling diesel all over the pump handle.
#31 - I have always been suspicious of the RAV4 after reading in a marketing magazine that it was the first car that Toyota did a specifically gay marketing campaign for. Remember the old ads where two RAV4’s drive through some dunes to the beach? Big hint - two guys in one car and two girls in the other. Unless you are spending pink dollars, I’d avoid it.
Posted by mr creosote on 2007 01 05 at 03:55 AM • permalink#47- it also has the habit in the tropics of turning to jelly overnight, thanks to a bacteria which loves humidity. The whole fuel system has to be drained, flushed with solvent and re-assembled. And try buying an injector pump for any oilburner for less than a grand.
I realise it’s heresy, but auto trannies are best with high speed diesel as well- the engine stays in the powerband, and puts out more usable torque/power and is more economical.
I’ve never been a fan of any two strokes.
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Perhaps your anomie is tied to your ennui concerning the parking brake?
And who the hell needs a parking break with an automatic tranny, anyway?