2 minutes ago, AwaoffSki said:

Because they can.

I have had traditional Suzuki Automatics for 18 years and like the simplicity. My 18 year old one has had the ATF changed once and my 15 year old has not.

 

So i have driven the newer Suzuki , Fiat and Jeep  with the Auto and the Twin Clutch boxes.

The Twin Clutch is a cracker as are the engines they are fitted to.   Leasing i would want one of those.

 

If i was buying as a keeper i think i would go for the 1.6 Petrol and Auto. KISS. 

 

Go on Test Drives.   If there is a Fiat 500L Cross or a Jeep Renegade with the Twin Clutch Box available try them.

I just don’t want to own the more technically complex auto when it’s out of warranty and I don’t understand why the torque converter type can’t do for both.

I’m doubtful that Toyota would ever go the twin clutch route.

Because things move on.

I would have a Subaru Lineartronic over either of them. I like CVT's.

Loved my Volvo 343, Justy Auto, Fiat Punto Speedgear & Toyota iQ CVT.

 

 

Toyota Patents a Unique Automated Manual Transmission - The Drive.mhtml

 

I don't remember it sounding like a hovercraft...

 

Edited 30 March, 20188 yr by AwaoffSki

DAF Variomatic.    Shame Kevlar was not around then or it might have been more successful.   

 

 

Suzuki dumps diesel after sluggish sales
https://uk.motor1.com/news/238735/suzuki-drops-diesel-vitara-scross/

All those dropping them are saying sluggish sales.

None just saying sales dropping from what they were at when we were able to have 'Indoor test results in a temperature controlled building on a rolling road', 

Providing the authorities with the figures which they accepted.

 

No longer can we get away with that and we can not get the emissions low enough in time for later this year!

 

Just had the cars third service done today by Colin Appleyard (Ashton) and it wasn't too bad. I got a loan car, MOT, 3 wiper blades and a quick valet inside and out, for £240. Which didn't seem too bad for a franchised dealer. They want to sell me another car now as mine is coming ot the end of it's 42 month PCP, but as the car is running well, is in mint condition (well no dinks or scrapes) and Suzuki no longer make Diesels, I can't see me changing anytime soon. Plus I'm skint

 

They lent me an Ignis, which was fun. It's plenty spacious inside, yet tiny outside. You even sit quite high up, sort of pseudo SUV height, which is reasonable considering the car is a pseudo SUV. there is a 4x4 version but I had the boggo manual in poverty spec and rather lurid gold paint! It had nearly 10k miles on it, but was rattle free, economical, very comfortable, nice gearbox and altogether pleasant to drive. The only downside is it seems to have the same basic steering set up as my Vitara. It's that dammed electric assistance stuff, which is the one thing Suzuki don't seem to have mastered. Fine in the city (turning circle is great) but horrible on the motorway until you get used to it and even then it is never a particularly pleasant feeling. Decent small car though and I'd be perfectly happy to have one as a 'retirement ' car for tootling around in.

 

Anyhoo, I can recommend Colin Appleyard for good service and decent prices

Tried an Ignis not long ago and quite liked it...   Funky ish inside and out with plenty of room and a good view out for the kids.  It just lacked a bit if oomph with the 1.2...   They should stuff the 1.0 boosterjet in it and it would be a hoot!

I always look forward to your posts on your Vitara as when funds allow I will probably get an S in grey with black roof. 

 

The only downside is I can't get 'Anyhoo' out of  my head for the next few hours! 

Edited 31 May, 20188 yr by Guest
Further information added

I think it was the great Homer Simpson that started the whole 'anyhoo' thing

16 minutes ago, Fin69 said:

I always look forward to your posts on your Vitara as when funds allow I will probably get an S in grey with black roof. 

 

 

 

Obviously the best colour combination  

https://www.autocar.co.uk/car-news/new-cars/facelifted-suzuki-vitara-gets-10-and-14-petrol-engines

 

The current Grand Vitara is way overdue for a big update/replacement.   They are probably ruggedly reliable but that doesn’t mean much these days.  There doesn’t seem to much news about it either.

I didn't know they still made the Grand Vitara. I had the 3 dr version for a couple of years. Capable vehicle but horrendous fuel economy (2.4 petrol). 

Just now, Lady Elanore said:

I didn't know they still made the Grand Vitara. I had the 3 dr version for a couple of years. Capable vehicle but horrendous fuel economy (2.4 petrol). 

Yes, it’s the main reason I couldn’t even consider it.........we would describe it as an old nail.

I read somewhere that (I presume due to Suzuki’s small budget) that there was to be a significant update late next year.

No details, but desperately overdue, and then it would certainly be of interest.

Looks like the news items I've read in the usual places (Autocar, Autoexpress, Carscoops etc etc etc) point at a small tweak. A bit of softer plastic here and there and a colour display in the dash (it's not much bigger than a smart watch really :D) as well as the ditching of the ridiculously economical diesels for the OK petrol engines. The slight tweak to the front looks good imho and I gather there will be some new colours as well. Oh and they have added even more kit to it, such as lane departure and sign post reading on the SZ5 (it's already got standard  radar cruise control) 

 

I'm still very happy with mine, Superb in the snow and very economical to run in every way so far  

Re Diesel engine option, I imagine the small budget is responsible for it’s demise.

Probably because it's a Fiat diesel I think and they are worried about diesel gate. I was working up in Carnoustie a couple of weeks ago and averaged over 60mpg for the week! I've never done that over around 800 miles or so (includes around 600 miles of motorway) in any car I've owned previously (I've owned many diesels)). Currently averaging around 18 mpg in my BMW

2 minutes ago, Lady Elanore said:

Probably because it's a Fiat diesel I think and they are worried about diesel gate. I was working up in Carnoustie a couple of weeks ago and averaged over 60mpg for the week! I've never done that over around 800 miles or so (includes around 600 miles of motorway) in any car I've owned previously (I've owned many diesels)). Currently averaging around 18 mpg in my BMW

Bosch seems to think their latest technique will enable clean diesel well into the future.   Might be a bit too late though.

It seems to be for our blinkered government :( 

 

I was on site with a load of electric golf carts, around 120 I think (might have been slightly less) and they run on 48V of batteries (4 x 12v or 6 x 8v apparently). I asked the guy in charge how much electricity does it require to charge these little things up, especially bearing in mind that they struggle to do more than 10 miles. He looked at them and said, well it's 2 per 16amp feed and overnight we need a 3 phase supply to ensure that we have them ready to go for first light. Now that was 2 medium sized Aggreko generators. Just think of the carnage or lack of it, if we tried to run the country mainly on electric vehicles. There isn't a cat in hells chance we could charge everyone's car. Diesel is far too useful to consign to the bin because a bit of reactionary Euro thinking. Solve the problem and give us our derves back......grrrrrrrrrrr 

Poor Amanda,  

My fairly largish C4P (now unavailable out here sadly) is averaging ~ 55mpg imp using a ‘crap’ cheap 10% ethanol blend and on a current cost/mile basis it’s the equal of a diesel version without the rubbish ancillaries.

I wouldn’t mind an Evoque diesel though.........a bit of a sucker for them.

Amanda, 

 Donald Trump has lots of Golf Carts at Trump Turnberry where the BMW Golf Championship was held and BMW Car Launches.

Many more get brought in for events as when the Open was there last.

There is a huge flag pole, but not a single wind turbine though or use of solar, or any battery storage facilities to charge Carts or Cars from the many Wind Farms and Turbines surrounding Turnberry. A distinct lack of EV charging other than the 2 chargers at Girvan 6 miles away.

Trump International Aberdeen with a Power Storage Unit within 2 miles from the 11 turbines just offshore might make more use of Renewable Electricity which is plentiful in the area if people choose to take advantage of it.

No point all those billions spent building the potential of using it and paying to not produce the electricity because there is no storage or the National Grid do not want it.

 

A Wind Turbine or 3 at Carnoustie which was talked about for the wind, and at every other seaside town or golf course makes sense yet Planners & Councillors and the public object to that happy that their electricity is produced near other peoples homes and locations.

 

It is a pity they never put you up at the Hilton Dundee and rented you a TESLA or just borrowed a demonstrator, Nissan, Renault or some other for a week,

there are plenty sitting at dealerships in Dundee or at John Clark Car Commercial compounds & plenty fast chargers around.

There were plenty 'John Clark Cars' VIP BMW's and others hitting it back and fore and to the airports, green is to use the Electric / Hybrid BMWS, and others as Courtesy  / VIP transport, even Teslas and others.

Not as though BMW are not involved enough in the Golf Tournaments including their own championship.

 

Did you happen to notice all the Wind Farms / Turbines as you drove North then South again?

Did you see the Electric Taxis in Dundee, the council Electric Vehicles & private cars or the charging stations in Dundee?

 

Where the Storage is available with big Battery power packs the Renewable Electricity can be stored and used as required.

Vehicles are to be used as storage units as well to take from the National Grid and to feed back into it.

 

Derv is not always necessary for those commuting in and out of Dundee or maybe travelling just shorter distances daily as the charging facilities are being built and provided at public places and work places and free charging and parking in Dundee at Council Car Parks.

As it is even when there is no Golf Open on there can be long times sitting crawling in or out of Dundee to work or to go shopping.

There are trains obviously to and from, bl00dy expensive trains and not everyone whats to be near the bridges / V&A / City Centre when getting to Dundee then use buses.

 

RIP David Young, sadly no longer with us.

 

 

Edited 31 July, 20187 yr by Offski

I was just chatting to a collegue about Caroustie and leccy cars. We were laughing how I would struggle driving fro home to site in one go. Then I would have to find a Charge point after working a 14 hour day and still get to and from it with regards to my hotel. Then after running around all week in it I would probably have to charge it up again overnight instead of driving straight back home after the over night. Instead I drove up and around for the week on one tank of the oily stuff and when I finished the derig I stopped for 10 minutes to fill the tank and buy a sandwich. Still driving around today on the same tank of fuel. I wouldn't have an electric car if you gave me one, except to sell it on immediately and buy a petrol or diesel car instead. Hydrogen car, I like the sound of, electric just makes less and less sense the more that people take it up. I genuinely do not believe that if full electric cars take off in the next few years we  will have the infrastructure for people like me who do longish trips to remote places and after 12-20 hour days working, can be bothered to go hunting a  charge station that doesn't mean even more of our precious down time disappears.

 

By the way. I've driven golf buggies while working at Golf tournaments for over 30 years and i much prefer petrol. Partly because they don't go flat in the middle of the course after only two return trips between main site and the Primary position and also the noise they make helps people hear you coming  I only had two leccy buggies go flat this year, which had to be abandoned, this year (and they were on a full charge every night). I have to say that Turnberry is a stunning place to work though

5 minutes ago, Lady Elanore said:

I was just chatting to a collegue about Caroustie and leccy cars. We were laughing how I would struggle driving fro home to site in one go. Then I would have to find a Charge point after working a 14 hour day and still get to and from it with regards to my hotel. Then after running around all week in it I would probably have to charge it up again overnight instead of driving straight back home after the over night. Instead I drove up and around for the week on one tank of the oily stuff and when I finished the derig I stopped for 10 minutes to fill the tank and buy a sandwich. Still driving around today on the same tank of fuel. I wouldn't have an electric car if you gave me one, except to sell it on immediately and buy a petrol or diesel car instead. Hydrogen car, I like the sound of, electric just makes less and less sense the more that people take it up. I genuinely do not believe that if full electric cars take off in the next few years we  will have the infrastructure for people like me who do longish trips to remote places and after 12-20 hour days working, can be bothered to go hunting a  charge station that doesn't mean even more of our precious down time disappears.

 

By the way. I've driven golf buggies while working at Golf tournaments for over 30 years and i much prefer petrol. Partly because they don't go flat in the middle of the course after only two return trips between main site and the Primary position and also the noise they make helps people hear you coming  I only had two leccy buggies go flat this year, which had to be abandoned, this year (and they were on a full charge every night). I have to say that Turnberry is a stunning place to work though

To coin a phrase Amanda, horses for courses.

I’d happily look after one as a second car.........and nothing stays the same for long these days.

if i ever get to retire and only need to go shopping and the occasional trip to the coast, then leccy makes sense. Hopefully by then we will be running on fusion power or giant elastic bands.

Petrol golf carts with a 6 litre tank are good for up to 250 miles sometimes and electric carts 25-40 miles which suits some only doing 1 or 2 x 5 mile rounds.

Carts for courses and jobs, you do get Electric Golf Carts good for over 100 miles.

 

I would certainly not be doing 400-500 mile trips on a EV with 100 mile range, but then i would not do a 200 mile trip in one.

Done it to try, and it was rubbish. Tried some for local use to see if they were good for 100 miles and they got no place near.

But then i have done 5 times as many miles in this last year on my Electric Bike than i have in my Jimny so put it on a Sorn.

The Electric bike has about the same range as many Electric Golf carts.

Edited 31 July, 20187 yr by Offski