I am visiting the motherland at the moment. I haven't been here in 5 years and I haven't spent more than one day here in 15 years. I came in on BA First fom JFK (didn't see SP though) I am currently in the Farnborough area and spent last weekend and will spend this weekend in Dorset.

So, here are some impressions. There are some very nice cars on the road, RRS, XF, Mercs, BMs Astons etc. Cars are very cheap here. Used cars seem to be worth nothing much. Your number plates are huge with big writing. The roads are a little crowded and it takes a while to get anywhere. Your speed limits are more sensible than ours (yes, really). You have almost as many speed cameras as we do. Its a lot more multinational than it used to be. The countryside is green and still lovely. You laid on some nice weather for me this week. Most Brits are pretty friendly. BA is still a good airline.

I drove a couple of hundred miles in the old man's FFRR last weekend, mainly country driving. The 3.0 TD6 is a rough old thing but it gets up and going eventually. The 2.7TDV6 in the RRS is a paragon of smoothness and quiet in comparison.

While the handling of the FFRR isn't exactly sharp, it is very comfortable and does go around the corner eventually. The monocoque construction makes it feel lighter than the RRS somehow. It probably weighs about the same but bumps are certainly absorbed slightly better, the RRS feels like its ladder on frame chassis in comparison. The FFRR TDV8 would be a brilliant car....I might start saving up! Gone - 2008 Stornoway Grey RRS 2.7 TDV6
Gone - 2009 Buckingham Blue RRS 2.7 TDV6
Gone - 2010 Alaska White RRS 5.0 V8 Aspirated
Gone - 2017 Chawton White RRS 5.0 V8 Supercharged
Current - 2010 Java Black RRS 5.0 V8 Aspirated
Current- 2024 RRS P400 SE Dynamic

Last edited by BKHK on Wed Jul 08 2009 1:24pm. Edited 1 time in total

BKHK wrote:

I am visiting the motherland at the moment. I haven't been here in 5 years and I haven't spent more than one day here in 15 years.

Just give it a another week or two BKHK the novelty will wear off

puts coat on and awaits flak from fellow poms  Another Pommie Bar Steward down under

MY20 Defender 110 SE P400 Eiger/Ebony
MY10 3.0 RRS TDv6 Fuji/Ebony/Anigre

BKHK wrote:

Most Brits are pretty friendly.

you must be joking  
L 405 2013 FFRR 5.0 SC
--------------------------------------------------------------
WINNER - 2009 �Best Avatar� Award
WINNER - 2009 Comedian Of The Year Award

BKHK wrote:

While the handling of the FFRR isn't exactly sharp, it is very comfortable and does go around the corner eventually. The monocoque construction makes it feel lighter than the RRS somehow. It probably weighs about the same but bumps are certainly absorbed slightly better, the RRS feels like its ladder on frame chassis in comparison. The FFRR TDV8 would be a brilliant car....I might start saving up!

And....a family bag of Minstrels is a good meal replacement....why can't we get them in Oz?

Angel, no one is as nice and friendly as you Germans  Gone - 2008 Stornoway Grey RRS 2.7 TDV6
Gone - 2009 Buckingham Blue RRS 2.7 TDV6
Gone - 2010 Alaska White RRS 5.0 V8 Aspirated
Gone - 2017 Chawton White RRS 5.0 V8 Supercharged
Current - 2010 Java Black RRS 5.0 V8 Aspirated
Current- 2024 RRS P400 SE Dynamic

 
L 405 2013 FFRR 5.0 SC
--------------------------------------------------------------
WINNER - 2009 �Best Avatar� Award
WINNER - 2009 Comedian Of The Year Award

BKHK wrote:

And....a family bag of Minstrels is a good meal replacement....why can't we get them in Oz?:

Scroll a little down this page...

http://www.treatsfromhome.com.au/category3_2.htm

Mail order, or you can go to the shop on Collins Street, I was there last week getting some Colemans mustard amongst other items!!

No Irn Bru - what a hopeless website if you are an expat Scot  2020 Pangea Green 1st Edition D240 New Defender 110 is here and loving it
2018 Melting Silver Mini Countryman PHEV - soon to be replaced
2015MY Corris Grey SDv6 HSE Dynamic, the best car I have ever owned, totally reliable only a cou0le of rattles in 3 years, now no longer in my care
Also in my garage is a 1996 TDi300 Defender 90 County HT made into a fake CSW

Tim in Scotland

I think you are on the money with your comments on FFRR vs RRS and some of my experience may well be obscured that the driving in the UK is so different, one has to drive a car in the UK while our roads don't demand so much driving ability and involvement.

2nd Rower....you are a legend for finding that website, it has saved me stuffing too many bags in my return suitcase!!

.....Stonehenge neds to be moved or the A303 made into a dual carriageway all the way..

No country has a monopoly on stupidity and stupid people

Question: Is there really a camera for every sign?

Question, what will I get as a punishemnt if I get caught doing between 90 and 100 (mph) on the Motorway by a camera? Gone - 2008 Stornoway Grey RRS 2.7 TDV6
Gone - 2009 Buckingham Blue RRS 2.7 TDV6
Gone - 2010 Alaska White RRS 5.0 V8 Aspirated
Gone - 2017 Chawton White RRS 5.0 V8 Supercharged
Current - 2010 Java Black RRS 5.0 V8 Aspirated
Current- 2024 RRS P400 SE Dynamic

Question: Is there really a camera for every sign? No, the signs in between are where you are meant to stop to take photos of the scenery like some numpties did in this scenic area of Scotland until the council changed the signs slightly and now they are a speed camera sign with the speed limit for the area on it.

Question, what will I get as a punishment if I get caught doing between 90 and 100 (mph) on the Motorway by a camera?
Answer: Not you but the registered keeper of the car (unless it is a rental car then it will be you) will loose their licence / possibly have to retake their test after a period of being banned and attend a road safety awareness course - I didn't think anybody except BMW drivers and White Van Man drove at that sort of speed as they are immune from speed limits and invisible to speed cameras judging by the way many of them drive. I believe for Aussies we clamp their ankles with a chain and ball and ship them back home 2020 Pangea Green 1st Edition D240 New Defender 110 is here and loving it
2018 Melting Silver Mini Countryman PHEV - soon to be replaced
2015MY Corris Grey SDv6 HSE Dynamic, the best car I have ever owned, totally reliable only a cou0le of rattles in 3 years, now no longer in my care
Also in my garage is a 1996 TDi300 Defender 90 County HT made into a fake CSW

Always used my Aussie licence to rent in the UK, and my UK one in Australia hopefully the fine just follows, and it is very useful for hacking down the M4 and M5 to Devon without to undue worry of losing your licence if its a camera offense

TIS, yes you can get Irn Bru at Treats from home, and Tizer believe it or not, which i had not seen in the UK for years  Another Pommie Bar Steward down under

MY20 Defender 110 SE P400 Eiger/Ebony
MY10 3.0 RRS TDv6 Fuji/Ebony/Anigre

Zilch - AFAIK The Tizer brand is now owned by A.G.Barr of Glasgow - the company that makes Irn Bru! When Barr took over Tizer suddenly Irn Bru became available south of the border and Tizer became more difficult to get. 2020 Pangea Green 1st Edition D240 New Defender 110 is here and loving it
2018 Melting Silver Mini Countryman PHEV - soon to be replaced
2015MY Corris Grey SDv6 HSE Dynamic, the best car I have ever owned, totally reliable only a cou0le of rattles in 3 years, now no longer in my care
Also in my garage is a 1996 TDi300 Defender 90 County HT made into a fake CSW

Tim in Scotland wrote:

Irn Bru became available south of the border and Tizer became more difficult to get.

cheers Tim  Another Pommie Bar Steward down under

MY20 Defender 110 SE P400 Eiger/Ebony
MY10 3.0 RRS TDv6 Fuji/Ebony/Anigre

I won't speed that much then

I see lots of camera signs but no cameras? They can't be that well concealed.

I have a renter from Mr. Avis, thought I would get a Vauhall then he gave me the keys to a small C180 Kompressor sedan which when you wind it up goes like the clappers (as they say here)

Zilch....I can't find the old UK Licence anymore and since I don't have a address here there doesn't seem much point in renewing it or getting another copy. Gone - 2008 Stornoway Grey RRS 2.7 TDV6
Gone - 2009 Buckingham Blue RRS 2.7 TDV6
Gone - 2010 Alaska White RRS 5.0 V8 Aspirated
Gone - 2017 Chawton White RRS 5.0 V8 Supercharged
Current - 2010 Java Black RRS 5.0 V8 Aspirated
Current- 2024 RRS P400 SE Dynamic

The numbers of camera signs doesn't equate to the number of camera's. in order to show that the camera's are there for "road safety purposes" (and not just to fleece us of money) they are no longer allowed to be concealed, in fact, they have to be bright yellow so they are ealiry seen.

You're unlikely to get done by a camera on the motorway unless you're in road works where they are average speed camera's not actual, instanst speed cameras as you get on most non-motorway roads.

Far more likely to pulled over by plod in his underhand unmarked car

BTW, agree about the A303.....who wants to see stonehenge anyway It's just big stones in a circle........ Current: I can't say...Oh the Shame!
Gone: 2003 Audi S4 - 340BHP of Fun
Gone: 2005 RRS SE, Silver, Chrome Mirrors, Tinted with a stupid spare wheel!
Gone: Audi A4 2.5 TDi Quattro 180bhp
Gone: BMW 535i
Gone: 1985 Audi Quattro
Gone: Subaru Imprezza Turbo (rubbish)