Aacity.net is back on-line

HFM?!?

Mmm. Right. You think that.

You know when they ask "So, Mr Rowdy, any accidents in the last five years?"

Message i.d.:, by author Adrian aka inspired me,

Nice long link. Practically all Dutch traders put their offers in this database.

Never had that question asked. There is a blacklist though.

Try

You'd like the '98 v6 Exclusive for £990... Or maybe the £750 Activa? '97 2.1TD for £1100? Cheapest HDi seems to be nearly £2k, but that is only within 40miles of me.

Absolutely standard question for insurance here. Never mind who was at fault in the accident(s). They need to know.

snip

I must have another look :))

Models built by defunct makers are probably OK. I'll admit to the Morris Minor 1000 gathering woodworm in the garage; one day my health and inclination will coincide enough for me to get it back on the road.

Meanwhile the ZX continues to gather bird-droppings and dents parked in the street, and to reward me with undeserved reliability. If only the neighbours would learn how to park without bouncing off the other cars.

I've long felt a mild urge to have a three-wheeler; I did have two Reliant Regals, in the '60s. The Messerschmitt bubble-cars in the '50s looked like fun. I have seen a 'kit car' trike made with the engine etc from a 2CV.

I seem to be rambling so I'll stop now ;))

Dutch built BURTON

Good-looking cars; I certainly wouldn't mind having one.

I think the one I saw was like their 'Lomax' .

I wish now that I'd thought of something like this when my 2CV was 'written off' in 1981.

Message i.d.:, by author Adrian aka inspired me,

Stupid site want's me to register. In the Dutch version I can click on: Diesel, Manual, Airbag, Aircon,

Called the insurance today. Transferred insurance from the XM to the Xant. They only asked my zip code and the license plate numbers.

The car is a gem. It looks close to new. No scratches and just one tiny dent. The Engine is vivid, much metter than expected. I have had a BX TRD, no turbo, just 1.9cc of raw diesel power with a mind of it's own. "So, you think I am not going fast enough and that's why you push the throttle? Now way, I'll do what I want to do no matter how hard you step on it" Not with this (1.9 turbo) diesel. You push it and it goes faster. You push it harder and it 'll try extra. It acts like a petrol car, unexpected. No clicking diesel sounds in the car. It's close to silent. Less noise as with my XM. The suspension is better as the XM. Less wobbly, just as smooth. The interior is boring (is it a Volkswagen?), the exterior is likable but without the impressive front look of the XM. The XM I had (end '93) looks a lot better. The XM (2.0i) is faster and has more raw power. But the Xant definitely has a smoother ride. Julian was right (in 1998).

Fuel economy should be better and the price of diesel is a lot lower compared with normal petrol. Insurance is lower since new-value is lower (weird) but taxes are higher due to higher weight. I have three months of warranty.

The BOTH likes it. Not sure if that is good.

:-) Now where have you been?

It's refreshing. Please continue.

Only for extended details. You can do a search by make/model/price.

You'll need a postcode - try SL1 4BA (Cit UK's head office...)

Yes, because you've already got a policy with them. But if you were to ring a new insurance company for a quote, thinking of changing to them, would they? They would here.

Lurking in the shadows. Sort of 'film noir' but without the cigarette smoke.

Freedom to roam, eh?

I've seen an amusing re-bodied Reliant, with a small motor-launch shell and fore-deck instead of a car body. It looked as if it was a real boat, until it turned right when the car in front turned left. Another one I see sometimes has no body at all, and has been stretched so that the driver sits on a motor-cycle saddle behind the engine, with the gear-lever between the legs and a long horizontal steering-column, and an old bus seat welded onto the back for anyone daft enough to be a passenger.

Someone recently announced that they wanted to inmport some Indian 'put-put' three-wheeled taxis to ply for hire in the middle of London (we already have a few pedal-powered rickshaws); I don't know if that will ever come to pass. The 'black cab' drivers won't like it.

A TV show in the UK (a series on Channel 5 called "Britain's Worst Celebrity Driver Live!") recently made one of the celebrities drive a 2CV as 'punishment'. I think it was the car they were punishing, although that isn't what they meant. (The show may have been "Road Rage School" on BBC1; I get them mixed up). Bad Driving seems to be the new Cookery on British TV. Some of the driving is really scary; there are some right nutters out there. I, of course, am a faultless paragon of perfection behind the wheel ;))

Even if they don't ask, you're meant to tell them; it's a 'material fact' which 'a prudent underwriter would take into consideration'. I used to be a 'prudent underwriter'.

Message i.d.:, by author Adrian aka inspired me,

Thanks. You are right, prices out here are higher than over there. Does it help if I tell you I have three months of warranty and the car has had service? Oh, and it has the steeringwheel on the right side :-D

Probably.

Message i.d.:, by author Whiskers aka inspired me,

Not sure what a prudent underwriter does but it sounds like a silent job.

Message i.d.:, by author Whiskers aka inspired me,

So you were the man in the black raincoat. I was wondering who that was.

Always :-)

I guess those things won't be allowed to drive out here. You aren't even allowed to change the colour of a car, it doesn't match the papers.

It's the future in that clogged city. Go Dutch! Drive bikes!

We have something similar out here. A so-called hidden camera and the driver doesn't know the recorder is running. Sure, we all believe that. Not. It's a show to attract viewers. I don't believe those shows.

Just like me ;-) Nut sure about Adrian.

Certainly quiet; backroom of the insurance company.

Yeh, all the ones here have it on the right side, too. I thought most cars over your way had it on the left, though?

Do you like the wide-brimmed hat? With the beard and dark glasses I should be invisible.

We can change the 'papers'.

Perhaps our regulations for 'one-off' vehicles are more flexible than yours. The main thing here seems to be that there should be no sharp edges on the outside, and the brakes should be up to a certain standard.

Pedal-cycles have become a lot more popular lately, thanks to the disruption caused by the recent bombs. I don't know how many of those people will continue to cycle to work through the winter - although once you get over the first shiver in the morning, cold weather is better than hot for cycling.

Presumably the participants feel sufficiently rewarded for their humiliation. Some people seem to have no shame.

He doesn't drive a Volvo, does he?

Message i.d.:, by author Adrian aka inspired me,

Right, euh, correct.

Message i.d.:, by author Whiskers aka inspired me,

I thought Volvo drivers are the most boring drivers ever. That doesn't sound like Adam.