Lol! Not as bad as you think Beezle.
Sometimes get over 20 mpg.
But that’s driving like my Nan.
I’d love an S Type R, but nope too bloody complicated for me, i’ve only just come away from starting handles and cart springs… 
Juddian:
I’m intrigued now, driven lots of cars with EPB and every one has been pants.
We have a couple of pool cars at work with EPB, and I’ve driven one or 2 hire cars with them, as far as I’m concerned although it was a bit strange at first, it was just a question of getting used to them, but some others seemed to just take a dislike to them and never got used to them.
I have been told that one of the reasons for cars having EPB is to avoid warranty claims for clutches, not sure if it’s because the brakes operate automatically so no need for the less able drivers to ride the clutch and rev the nuts off the car while trying to release the handbrake or being electronic, handbrake use can be logged and downloaded by the dealer.
I suppose the Volvo and Renault might think the same, especially as it known for some drivers to hold the truck on the clutch using the accelerator pedal instead of using the park brake and putting it in neutral.
muckles:
Juddian:
I’m intrigued now, driven lots of cars with EPB and every one has been pants.I have been told that one of the reasons for cars having EPB is to avoid warranty claims for clutches, not sure if it’s because the brakes operate automatically so no need for the less able drivers to ride the clutch and rev the nuts off the car while trying to release the handbrake or being electronic, handbrake use can be logged and downloaded by the dealer.
I suppose the Volvo and Renault might think the same, especially as it known for some drivers to hold the truck on the clutch using the accelerator pedal instead of using the park brake and putting it in neutral.
I’m rather more cynical and think things like EPB’s, DSG gearboxes and other such things are deliberately designed to ensure cars so fitted don’t last too long and cost too much to fix when they do fail, amazingly used car buyers can’t saddle themselves with fully loaded overcomplicated cars fast enough, good job we’re not all the same.
As for riding the clutch its a pet hate of mine, worse when a vocational driver displays their complete lack of pride in their work with such things, it brings them down to the same level as half wits who really do know no better who abuse cars and vans.
Juddian:
muckles:
I have been told that one of the reasons for cars having EPB is to avoid warranty claims for clutches, not sure if it’s because the brakes operate automatically so no need for the less able drivers to ride the clutch and rev the nuts off the car while trying to release the handbrake or being electronic, handbrake use can be logged and downloaded by the dealerI’m rather more cynical and think things like EPB’s, DSG gearboxes and other such things are deliberately designed to ensure cars so fitted don’t last too long and cost too much to fix when they do fail, amazingly used car buyers can’t saddle themselves with fully loaded overcomplicated cars fast enough, good job we’re not all the same.
I been hearing that modern cars don’t last for as long as I can remember, probably from the time my Dad was getting new company cars in the 70’s, but I buy oldish cars, normally 8 to 10 years old and I like to go for big luxury stuff full of electronics and I don’t have great problems with them, often I buy them for peanuts and keep them for years, I get all the horror stories of how bad they’ll be, but I know people with the diagnostics software and you’d be amazed how cheap and easy they are to fix and what info the laptop will give you and most of the repair work is still normally the old fashioned engine service, suspension, bearings, brakes etc and not electronics.
When I Compare the condition of a present 10 year old high mileage car and the cars my mother had when I was nipper, she seemed to drive real old bangers with disintegrating bodywork and smoky engines and they were often no more than 10 years old and had far lower mileage than the cars I buy.
As for our trucks we’ve had our fair share of electronics problems, but I’ve noticed when we take them to the workshop, not a main dealer, but a proper commercial vehicle workshop, it the younger mechanics that seem have a better understanding of the electronics and are able to quickly diagnose and fix the problem.
And unlike main dealer I’ve been to, they seem to want to fix the problem instead of replace parts until the problem goes away.
Juddian:
As for riding the clutch its a pet hate of mine, worse when a vocational driver displays their complete lack of pride in their work with such things, it brings them down to the same level as half wits who really do know no better who abuse cars and vans
[/quote]
Ditto really does my head in, As does trashing an engine from cold to build up air. I hate seeing lack of mechanical sympathy and some of the worst offenders are mechanics.
Yeah Muckles i’m with you on the older cars thing, ours are 19/16/13 years old and mainly Japanese, thats deliberate cos i believe 90’s designs (even if conceived in the 80’s) made up till about 2005 for some, were the best cars ever made.
You’ve only got to look at the really good 90’s and early noughties cars running round, many makers made models that have stood the test of time and are proving more durable in many cases than the ones which replaced them, especially if they get a bit of sensible maintenance and some rustproofing to keep the tin worm at bay.
They’re not stuffed to the gills with unecessary electronics that has in many cases gone way beyond the competent home mechanic and need serious investment from indies to keep abreast.
Luckily i can’t abide modern cars any more than i can modern lorries, and being in a massive minority (with you for company by the sounds of it 
) means i have been able to pick up and still can choice fodder well cheap thats been well looked after but is too old or unfashionable for most people to be seen in.
Long may this happy situation live…
I will never forget one piece of advice I was given by a friends husband who worked on rally cars. Always let the engine idle for a bit. It pains me when I get in the car with friends and they go from cold to 60 mph in no time at all.
I must admit fella’s, I am with you on the slightly knackered older model’s that require regular maintenance, and have bodywork issues.
Mrs Beaver keeps on going.
eagerbeaver:
I must admit fella’s, I am with you on the slightly knackered older model’s that require regular maintenance, and have bodywork issues.Mrs Beaver keeps on going.
We’ll be checking the Times obituary column this week for the name Beaver… 
I don’t think we’re quite on the same page on cars Juddian, but I can see your point. Personally I like loads of “unessercery” toys in my cars, I really like paying peanuts for the type of car somebody spent £30k - £40k a decade or so earlier, I’m probably lucky in that the job I do means I know good people who really can sort out electrical problems.
I also like modern trucks, but I work with a bloke like yourself who’d prefer a manual and much prefers older trucks, if we have to get another truck for him to drive (I carelessly sold the FH he’d been driving and he finished last year driving a Van and trailer 
) I think I’d be looking for a manual for him, partly because I know he’d prefer it, but mainly to stop him trying to get this hands on my FH.
Juddian:
eagerbeaver:
I must admit fella’s, I am with you on the slightly knackered older model’s that require regular maintenance, and have bodywork issues.Mrs Beaver keeps on going.
We’ll be checking the Times obituary column this week for the name Beaver…
Eagerbeaver you either brave or stupid, and I know which one I’d put my money on. 