Paddynabs said:

THIS. On my way home there is a merge in turn onto the A50. Tonight some tit in a Merc decided to try and block me even though I was ahead of him. I don't even try and be pushy. If I'm ahead of someone I stay ahead if I'm behind then I keep my distance to merge nicely.

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We go out to the east of Edinburgh at least twice a week - sometimes more - to child mind grandchildren so parents can get to work. Our normal route takes us along The seafront at Seafield, which is two lane both ways. When you get to the Portobello end the big roundabout which used to be there has been replaced (a few years ago now) with a 5 way lights controlled junction. The main way continues east as 2 lanes but almost immediately closes down to one with a quite generous distance for people to merge. It is amusing and incredible to watch the lengths, and level of aggression, to which some people will go to cut out the orderly merging process. I've given up going through this junction in the right lane as being in the left lane allows me to smoothly give way to the "mergee" on my right and so facilitate the smooth and peaceful flow of progress.

Maybe it's just my perception but, having driven all over the country during my life (and a lot abroad in my earlier life - but that's not so relevant) I find Edinburgh to be quite bad for "punishing" drivers who find themselves in the wrong lane. I drove a lot in London earlier in my life and found that if you were in the wrong lane, Make a clear signal - indicators and hand out the window - and people would usually let you in with quite good grace. You are much more likely to attract a blown horn or hand gesture up here. Luckily I know the town so well I very rarely find myself the recipient now but often feel embarrassed to see others receive this reaction.

Fed up too with people abusing/ignoring bus lanes to cut you out on the inside at junctions

Had to go to Bristol today, M4 from Swindon. Rather more clowns than usual, both ways. All staring directly ahead, no clue as to what is happening around them, speed varying, with no idea of how that may affect the car alongside.

Got to go to Chippenham for 9am tomorrow. So another excursion alng the M4, this time at peak time. Peak drivers to/from Chippenham sem to be particularly bad.

portland_bill said:

A hospital appointment in Oxford this morning at 10:45.
Journey time expected around 30-40 minutes, so left home at 09:45.
Came off ring road abouot 1½ miles from hospital at 10:17, parked at the hospital at 11:37.
That's 1½ miles in 80 minutes.
Cause- hospital car parks .
Appointment letter suggests using the park & ride. Not easy with a wheelchair.
Next time we'll set off very early and camp out in the cafe.

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Having worked there for 14 years..

I learned a few things..

PM sent

I drove an Audi A4 on Sunday. I really didn’t want to like it, but damn there’s something solid feeling when you hold the wheel. Still don’t think I’d ever get one, but yeah I was impressed. I’m unsure it it’s got anything to do with being an Audi or just a bigger more expensive car than the Panda. AndyRKett are you proud of me? Lol

SB1500: find an Alfa Romeo to take for a drive to remove the german car contamination, lol!

SB1500 said:

I drove an Audi A4 on Sunday. I really didn’t want to like it, but damn there’s something solid feeling when you hold the wheel. Still don’t think I’d ever get one, but yeah I was impressed. I’m unsure it it’s got anything to do with being an Audi or just a bigger more expensive car than the Panda. AndyRKett are you proud of me? Lol

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Very proud

You can’t knock something till you’ve tried it. It can be very hard to explain the difference between one car and another, sometimes you have to sit in it and feel it. There is usually a very good reason for the £10k price difference between cars in the same category made by different manufacturers.

My 2001 A4 Avant 140TDI was a stunning car. 1/2 leather, cruise, sports pack, etc. Sold due to divorce but I always regret not finding a way to keep it.

VW Group cars have a distinct solid feel to them, borne out by their longevity if looked after. My recent acquisition of a 15 plate Fabia feels quite solid. And annoyingly is giving better economy than the Panda. A 12 mile commute, half in slow traffic, 55mpg.

A local company I do a lot of work with had a 7-year old A4 pool car, nearly 200k miles, apart form a slightly saggy seat and a well-worn steering wheel, drove very much like the new ones.

My audi was real expensive on parts but it was a 30000 pound car in 1997. I sold it for a panda and preferred it to my Audi or previous golf.

My brother in law bought a crash damaged 2004 Audi A4. Stripping out the dashboard took an age because it had a torx screw/bolt every 50mm all around. No wonder it was solid there must have been many kilos of bolts on the dashboard alone.

Partner had a hospital appointment today. "Expect 2-3 hours" said the letter.
Arrived on site 9am, departed 2:05pm.
At least with her disabled badge parking was free.

Argh! Only popped into Lidl to grab a few beers for our camper van trip later.





Managed to scramble in from the passenger side. People just don't care anymore.

I blame the red car on the far right, they're right on the line! Of course, the golf could've parked straight at least ...

Eklipze3k said:

I blame the red car on the far right, they're right on the line! Of course, the golf could've parked straight at least ...

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I'd have used another space if I were the silver car, rather than park so badly you stop someone from opening their driver's door! - yes, the red car is also parked badly, though - but there's no excuse for what the silver car has done.

(Also worth noting just how bloody massive a Golf is in comparison with a 'Cento, too!)

Yeah I was thinking that too, the space looks massive with a Cento in it, and then too small with a modern-ish tank. New cars are too damn big, man.

We have an F150 Raptor in the car park. Absolutely fills the space side to side and hangs out at the front.

D

Eklipze3k said:

Yeah I was thinking that too, the space looks massive with a Cento in it, and then too small with a modern-ish tank. New cars are too damn big, man.

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To be fair, my daily driver is a 2016 BMW 520d, which is massive... but still fits in the space.

Yesterday at the hospital, there was a Bentley nosed into a space. The front was almost touching a post, the rear, taking up almost a third of the driveway. He'd parked next to my Panda, which made it look even bigger, or the Panda even smaller.

If you didn’t like Brexit, you probably will now...

[ame]https://youtu.be/J4DhecQQjdM[/ame]

Brexit (hard soft non-existent) wont make a blind bit of difference because -

(1) UK slavishly enforces everything the EU suggests (never mind actually demands)
(2) the internet is borderless so unless the EU erects a China style firewall, their demands will affect everyone**.
(4) the soft left are getting ever harder so its getting difficult for right wing thoughts (good, bad or ugly) to be seen. Though quite why freedom of speech is (allegedly) right wing I really don't know.

** What does the USA have to say about all this?