Bobdog

My work here is done

Crappest car I ever owned was a Scoobydoo ... absolute pile of pony poo - never stopped breaking down!

Some people need their little toys, others of us rely on the skills and experience we have acquired ... eh Graham?

The initial 'wet grip' title was enough to get me giggling, and all the subsequent discussion about which rubber is better in which conditions ... that fine balance between sensitivity and security ...

I'm wondering if the 'earth moved' for Graham last night (despite his matrimoanial status). http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-22699004 Dear pedants ... yes, I know, it's a JOKE ... OK?

Interestingly, I've had the Yeti best part of 3 years, and normally by now I'd be getting 'itchy feet' and wanting a change. I've never replaced a car with another of the same, always saw something else to attract me. I do have the 'itchy feet' feel, but each time I contemplate giving up the Yeti ... can't do it. SWMBO insists we're going to have a second dog (flatcoated retriever) when our current 6 month old puppy reaches 2/3 years. At that stage we might need a car with a bigger boot area, and the new Octavia and Superb might come into the reckoning ... but I can't bring myself to make the switch at the moment.

They probably wouldn't let me in

That's what I said originally - could tell by the lack of toys and the rather basic trim that it was low spec.

Ah, well I did have a 'ballsy lump', but I had it surgically removed last year

The Rapid? 5 speed.

And think positively, you'll be able to take up minicabbing!

Oh it was nippy enough for the size of engine. I'd be interested to try it with a more ballsy lump.

... then I get the Yeti back and remember why I bought it. Bucketloads of smooth, progressive power from that CR170. No need to keep swapping gears to make progress (unless you want to, just for the hell of it), that feeling of being really solidly 'planted' on the road, cornering as if on rails (even if with a little lean), the all round solidity of the build and the quiet comfortable cabin. Sorry Rapid, you're quite fun, and you are pretty - but you're no Yeti substitute.

Yeti back in to dealers to have the Haldex oil changed. Why they couldn't do that when they had her in for a service two weeks ago I don't know. Anyway, after I insulted their Roomster back then ("What did you think of the car?" "It's pig ugly, give me mine back"), they've given me a Rapid as a courtesy car this time. I rather like it. Very pretty looking little car. Felt very strange when I first sat in it because (1) the seat is so low compared to the Yeti and (2) the roofline is so low, that I felt a little claustrophobic at first. Got the seat as low as it would go to give myself some headroom, and still had to recline the seat a long way until it felt right ... and then the seating position seemed very 'sporty'. Car nips along really nicely - I'm assuming it's a 1.2 petrol engine. Ran out of puff a little when I really tried to accelerate hard on the open road, but in and out of traffic it's great. Feels very light and nimble, especially at the front end, compared to my Yeti (but I guess the smaller engined Yetis feel lighter at the front than the big diesels), and quite fun along some of the twisty country lanes round here. I've never really thought of the Yeti as a car that 'rolls' a lot, but this little thing corners so flat that by comparison I think the Yeti is going to feel a bit ungainly when I get her back. The trim level is all pretty basic on the courtesy car, but still the inside feels of pretty good quality and I would imagine the 'up range' models would feel pretty plush. I'm amazed at the boot size, it's huge for such a little car, and there seems a fair bit of legroom in the back seats too. Only thing I don't like, and this may also be a factor of the trim level/engine size, is that it sounds very 'boomy' in the cabin at anything above 40mph. It's not engine noise exactly - the engine is pretty quiet - but it's like the booming sound you might hear if you stick your head under water in a busy swimming pool. Overall though, if I were in the market for a small, saloon shaped, car for small rural roads/commuting/town driving I'd certainly have this one high up the list.

Oh, yes, I see, over-sensitive software ... wonder what it thinks of Scunthorpe? Mmm, seem to have got away with that one.

Why has s n i g g e r been censored?

Have you noticed how I've mellowed too? All these references to 'sucking' and not a single s****** or 'Carry On' type quip!

He was the ONLY person on my ignore list. Mmmm ... how do you set up a poll on here? I need suggestions as to who I should ignore instead.

Agreed! :moon:

I'm prepared to haggle, that was just my opening offer!

OK then, I'll give you £50 for her (somebody's got to start the ball rolling).

Aha, watch this space for a forthcoming vision of redness!

Probably not - she's young, bright and pretty. Difficult to believe we're related really.

Of course - she's my cousin!

Mrs Bobdog wants to know where she can buy a set of wind deflectors ... :moon: