White Goods

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ESSEXV6ESSEX
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White Goods

Post by ESSEXV6ESSEX »

Following a conversation I had today I thought I'd share this with you and open it up to the floor.

There's no poor old me story but I wasn't born with a silver spoon in my mouth and aspirations of grandeur when growing up. School was a constant destraction from life.. When I left school the choices weren't university or apprenticeships, just a YTS scheme filling whatever gaps there were in the labour market or signing on. So before I left school I did the ground work and got myself a £26.50p,40hr week YTS scheme job at the local Ford dealer, fact is I was 16 going on 14 and a year in having a bike accident that nearly ended my life, I was left redundant, jobless and careerless. Whilst I was at the dealer being a YTS, when I wasn't clearing up anti freeze from the garage floor or following my tutor around like a lost sheep I would check cars in and take rubbings of chassis numbers prior to them entering the workshop. It meant that as well as doing PDI's I would get into an awful lot of newish sporty Ford's. Well I looked on with envy and thought "One Day!" . Well as that day gets closer and having worked all of my life with one single retirement type gift to my self, that being buying one of the latest sporty Ford's as a new car, I can honestly say I look at nothing, don't find anything desirable and it's not going to happen. Gone are the days of the proper Top Gear, Auto Express magazine exclusives and the elitism for the adoration of a new number plate. Cars are nothing more then "White Goods" washing machines with dashboards turned in to mobile phones and engines without any emotion. Drivability is now a hindrance. The Escorts, Capris and Sierras have been replace by Zanussis and Hotpoimts. The number plate system is just a mix of nothingness, SUV's are about as stylish as a Prefab and what's left is just part of a uniformed generic conformed box driven by regulation. The mustang nearly gets there but a 5.0L V8 or nothing, who wants the 3.0L, it is hardly choice compared to an RS COSWORTH, XR3I, XR4X4 or Capri 2.8i the list goes on. Even then its a Pastiche car anyway which goes some way to prove this point history teaches us the future is always the past without imagination.

So in the end the dream of what I once thought achievable has been hammered. The car industry lacks excitement, PCP allows anyone to be Champaign Charles's on Lemonade money and designers have worked out how to please an audience of deaf people using the four four rhythm of the bass drum with the guitars of Status Quo. Status Quo is an ironic way to end.
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stevemarl
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Re: White Goods

Post by stevemarl »

Same situation as you! I keep promising myself a S1 Elan or something, or some kind of Cobra (replica) would that not fill your needs? I agree there`s absolutely nothing new now that`s of any interesst: as you rightly say, `white goods`, which I find very depressing - I too remember when cars were a big, big deal. . (Don`t get me started on music...)
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Re: White Goods

Post by D366Y »

stevemarl wrote: Fri Jun 26, 2020 10:14 pm Same situation as you! I keep promising myself a S1 Elan or something, or some kind of Cobra (replica) would that not fill your needs? I agree there`s absolutely nothing new now that`s of any interesst:
Have to agree really - not much released now that excites me...
If it's going there are at least three Lamborghinis I want (Muira, Countach, Aventador) I want, and if I win the lottery to be able to afford one I pray to god they don't handle like washinf machines :lol:
A wise man once said... "you can never have too many capris - buy another" :beer:
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Re: White Goods

Post by mjcapri »

D366Y wrote: Fri Jun 26, 2020 10:39 pm Have to agree really - not much released now that excites me...
If it's going there are at least three Lamborghinis I want (Muira, Countach, Aventador) I want, and if I win the lottery to be able to afford one I pray to god they don't handle like washinf machines :lol:
I can’t say I’ve driven any of those Danny but I have driven a Gallardo and I’m afraid to say it did handle like a washing machine! Joking aside I found it numb and under-steery when pushed, in fact it was a typical sporty VAG product in that respect.... It sounded good though I’ll give it that. God only knows how a Miura handles, I think they were scary even by ‘60s standards! :lol: I don’t suppose that’s what owning one is about though. I’d go for a Diablo personally as that’s the model of my childhood, although I prefer the cleaner styling of the Murcielago.
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Re: White Goods

Post by andyd »

The V8 Mustang is the only new car I would want to buy, but they are so big they hardly fit in any uk garage, so would have to block our already quite narrow driveway and who knows when the tax on that car will rocket :spank:

Had 2 Focus ST and did consider a Mk2 RS but decided to get the Capri instead. It's fast enough, keeps up with modern traffic, insurance/tax isn't sky high, and something nice about driving a car without any real technology.

Hows your Capri resto coming along?
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Re: White Goods

Post by mjcapri »

andyd wrote: Sat Jun 27, 2020 4:57 am The V8 Mustang is the only new car I would want to buy, but they are so big they hardly fit in any uk garage, so would have to block our already quite narrow driveway and who knows when the tax on that car will rocket :spank:

Had 2 Focus ST and did consider a Mk2 RS but decided to get the Capri instead. It's fast enough, keeps up with modern traffic, insurance/tax isn't sky high, and something nice about driving a car without any real technology.

Hows your Capri resto coming along?
The Mustang is nice, I seriously considered one but like you said it’s huge and is too long to get in our garage which ruled it out for me. I’ve tracked one and it’s a decent car to drive, the facelift with the 10-speed box should be even better.

@ESSEXV6ESSEX I think you’re being a bit hard on the poor Mustang, I wouldn’t say the current generation is a pastiche car, whilst it takes a few styling cues from the original I’d say it’s thoroughly modern looking, unlike the previous generation which looks dated and frankly hideous in comparison. And it’s a decent car to drive even by European standards.

My story is similar in that I had set a goal to buy a brand new RS model at some point, I was at uni when the MK2 came out and fortunately got myself into a position to buy a MK3 when they were released. The 12 month wait for the car to be delivered made it feel all the more special and I didn’t change the spec once in all that time either! :lol: It looks like the last RS we’ll get for the foreseeable future so I consider myself very lucky. It’s a great car to own, people like to talk about it at petrol stations etc. so it so it feels ‘special’ in that respect a bit like the older Fords. Performance wise it’s obviously very fast (too fast at times!), on paper over a 1/4 mile it’s more-or-less neck and neck with a Lamborghini Diablo funnily enough (see my previous post). But handling is it’s main strength, Audi and Merc may keep shaving another tenth or two off the 0-60 times on their latest RS and AMG models but I’d rather have a proper drivers car that comes alive on B roads (and has a manual gearbox) than a traffic light Grand Prix winner (although not much beats it at that to be fair). I do very much enjoy owning and restoring old Fords don’t get me wrong, and would love an Escort Cosworth, but the newer ST and (more so) RS models still feel special IMO.
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Grumsum
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Re: White Goods

Post by Grumsum »

I hear you loud and clear, I too had the 280 on my wall as a kid as well as a 911 and then escort RS turbo .....never was a ferrari fan or lambo
Career choices made my posters a reality and then some inbetween...

my cars i have owned at my 53 years of life
Yellow Vauxhall Viva ( first car after passing test Pioneer car stereo from mums catalogue worth more than the car
Green Mini Metro
Red Mk4 Cortina 2.0s (oil gauge used race the petrol gauge to the bottom :lol: :lol: )
Blue Mk 3 Ford Capri 2.0s
Light Blue Mk 1 Ford Escort (wing held on with bailing twine :oops: :oops: )
Brown Mini Clubman
Brown Talbot Sunbeam......I got nothing just hang my head and use the excuse of my first marriage
White Mk 1 Ford Escort Van
Black Ford Escort xr3
Green Ford Capri Brooklands
White Ford Escort RS Turbo
Black Ford Fiesta XR2i
Blue Ford Probe 24v
Grey Grand Jeep Cherokee
Black Ford Mondeo Ghia X
Auralis Blue Ford Escort Cosworth
Black Ford Sierra Sapphire Cosworth
White Ford Capri 2.8i Special
Blue Porsche 911
Blue Porsche 911c4
Silver Porsche 911c4s
Black BMW M3
Silver BMW X5
Silver Porsche 911 turbo
Silver BMW 535D
Black BMW X6
Green Ford Capri Brooklands
Green Ford Capri Brooklands Turbo Technics
Green Ford Capri Brooklands
Blue Ford Sierra Sapphire Rouse Cosworth
White Ford Sierra Sapphire Cosworth
Storm Grey Ford Fiesta ST200
Black Range Rover Evoque Ember
Magnetic Grey Ford Focus RS


......and I was a huge Quo fan back in the day saw them many times but they went off the boil...as did thunder who were a great band

Lucky to still own the brooklands and love the smell of the interior and the way you are connected to the car when driving rest my left hand on the gear stick and my wedding ring rattling through the vibrating......love it

Be well
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Major_Tom
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Re: White Goods

Post by Major_Tom »

ESSEXV6ESSEX wrote: Fri Jun 26, 2020 9:14 pm Cars are nothing more then "White Goods" washing machines with dashboards turned in to mobile phones and engines without any emotion. Drivability is now a hindrance. The Escorts, Capris and Sierras have been replace by Zanussis and Hotpoimts. The number plate system is just a mix of nothingness, SUV's are about as stylish as a Prefab and what's left is just part of a uniformed generic conformed box driven by regulation. The mustang nearly gets there but a 5.0L V8 or nothing, who wants the 3.0L, it is hardly choice compared to an RS COSWORTH, XR3I, XR4X4 or Capri 2.8i the list goes on. Even then its a Pastiche car anyway which goes some way to prove this point history teaches us the future is always the past without imagination.
Totally agree. Some greedy fucker worked out how to turn something which used to be a hobby into a tradable item for everyone and in the process they've taken the soul out of the hobby. My dad used to say, if you put "motoring" on your CV in the 70s, your interviewer might be like "oh I see you're into motoring... what do you drive?
What roads do you like? Which brand of tyre do you use?
What oil do you think is the best for that?" Put it on your CV now and its rare anyone comments at all, everyone has been made a motorist, but a horrible sort of 'lite' motorist. I asked someone what they drove last year.

"It's red." 😑

Same thing's happened to computing. You used to have to know how to use one, you used to be able to disable any background program you wanted, you had control, now they are just running idiot proof consumer trash software that the user has little to no ability to exert control over.

Gosh I can't wait for that calibre of software to be installed in white goods motors, what a great future that'll be.
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Re: White Goods

Post by D366Y »

It is a shame - in a strange way - that nice flashy cars have become too easy to own. I've grown up with it so I've become used to it but anyone can get more or less any car they want on finance these days and I can imagine it doesn't quite give the satisfaction when you can finally afford to buy one if every other Tom, Dick and Harry can afford one on finance plans anyway.

Also agree with your point about them not being as much fun - it's not the same opening up a bonnet and being greeted by a screen of plastic rather than a nice engine to gawk at, and the amount of tech in modern cars mean driving isn't a challenge anymore than pouring a glass of water is, which I think is part of what makes "motorists" or "motoring" a thing of the past at Tom mentioned, which is a shame.

mjcapri wrote: Fri Jun 26, 2020 11:53 pm I can’t say I’ve driven any of those Danny but I have driven a Gallardo and I’m afraid to say it did handle like a washing machine! Joking aside I found it numb and under-steery when pushed, in fact it was a typical sporty VAG product in that respect.... It sounded good though I’ll give it that. God only knows how a Miura handles, I think they were scary even by ‘60s standards! :lol: I don’t suppose that’s what owning one is about though. I’d go for a Diablo personally as that’s the model of my childhood, although I prefer the cleaner styling of the Murcielago.
I've driven a Gallardo as well and thought the same thing - it went alright but it didn't fill me with joy or excitement.... I think the same thing of the Miura, it would be a real challenge but that's the fun of old cars! :drive:
I'd imagine a Countach is like trying to manoeuvre a boat but they just look so 80s and I love it haha.
I'e been driven in an Aventador and I couldn't stop smiling. The V12 in that thing is something else - the power is amazing and instant. Slowly cruising along but then as soon as you put your foot down it just flies, regardless of what gear you're in, and the noise is intoxicating!

There are too many cars in the world I wish I could drive but I'll never have the chance too - fingers crossed I win the lottery and get a chance to :lol:
A wise man once said... "you can never have too many capris - buy another" :beer:
It's me, I'm the wise man.
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Re: White Goods

Post by Mr B »

Other than a Capri the only other cars I'd drive are a '68 Dodge Charger 426 Hemi or a Plymouth Road Runner, not a single modern car made can persuade me to part with my children's inheritance

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Re: White Goods

Post by mjcapri »

This has just appeared which sort of ‘proves’ the point I made previously (check out no.2 on the list):

https://www.topgear.com/car-news/hot-ha ... g24-2019#1

I’m sure everybody would shuffle the order or have some different nominations of their own, but I suspect the little ST would feature near the top of most lists.

The MK1 RS also features at no.7 (but I no longer consider it a modern car!).
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Re: White Goods

Post by Stish704 »

Totally agree about modern cars. Where’s the prestige gone? I remember back in the day, you saw a jag, Mercedes or BMW you knew that that persons must have had a good job or had a few bob.
Everywhere was the usual Sierra of the working man.
Now, everyone seems to drive the German cars. No prestige just sheep mentality. Anyone can buy one, we’ll I say buy, lease is probably more appropriate. Can’t stand them myself.
My wife has a Vauxhall Mokka which she loves. I use my van.
I still get great enjoyment out of my Capri when I get the chance to drive it.
Out of modern day cars there’s nothing I like. Nothing catches your eye like previously mentioned. Perhaps the new Aston? But that’s way out of my league.
Same with vans. They all look the same now.
Be nice for a car manufacturer to grow some balls and produce something different. A new XR perhaps?
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Re: White Goods

Post by Paul G »

Modern cars are all built by accountants, legislation, emission and NCAP results these days so no wonder they are homogenous white goods with a fag paper's difference between them. In addition do they really need this curse which is all the electronics on them?

That said, one new car I would really like is the Alfa Romeo Guilia Quadrafolio. I'd better get a lottery ticket.both to buy and run it!
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