Boats and cars
- Thread starter Burt Blank
- Start date
rascal
Forum GOD!
We took our granddaughter to Wellington about 5 years ago ( 30 min flight)to see Annie. The stage show. My wife booked a cheap rental. Granddaughter used to my hilux at thr time and wife's xr8 falcon both big by kiwi ( not Texas ) standards , they bought the wee car around to the front and we got in the car to which missy said " is this piece of junk ours now" we both p$&$$&@ ourselves.
Russ
And it was the smallest one they had (which was why I got it).Wow, that's a big car (compared to your own car).
CD
And it was the smallest one they had (which was why I got it).
I get to pick any vehicle I want from the Five Star Gold lane at Hertz, in most cities. They are mostly Toyota Camrys and cars that size, but sometimes, especially late at night, I find all kinds of interesting vehicles, including big luxury trucks and SUVs. I found a Mustang Convertible once in San Francisco. I pay the same price, so I go big-time.
CD
I always want as small as I can get. I always get irritated when we rent a car at Heathrow, because I think they think they're doing the American a favor by giving me a bigger car with an automatic, when I always specify smaller & stick.I get to pick any vehicle I want from the Five Star Gold lane at Hertz, in most cities. They are mostly Toyota Camrys and cars that size, but sometimes, especially late at night, I find all kinds of interesting vehicles, including big luxury trucks and SUVs. I found a Mustang Convertible once in San Francisco. I pay the same price, so I go big-time.
CD
One year, I flew to Providence, RI by myself for a long weekend, and I was doing it as cheaply as possible, so I had a $10 buddy pass for the flight, and I stayed at a no-tell motel, and my wife got me a super-cheap rate on a car rental using her airline discount, from Rent-A-Wreck (I don't know if they're still in business) or a similar place.
I ended up with a Geo - forget no A/C and no automatic...I'm talking no power steering and it sure felt like no power brakes. The guy kept trying to upgrade me to a nicer clunker, but I wouldn't have it.
I always want as small as I can get. I always get irritated when we rent a car at Heathrow, because I think they think they're doing the American a favor by giving me a bigger car with an automatic, when I always specify smaller & stick.
One year, I flew to Providence, RI by myself for a long weekend, and I was doing it as cheaply as possible, so I had a $10 buddy pass for the flight, and I stayed at a no-tell motel, and my wife got me a super-cheap rate on a car rental using her airline discount, from Rent-A-Wreck (I don't know if they're still in business) or a similar place.
I ended up with a Geo - forget no A/C and no automatic...I'm talking no power steering and it sure felt like no power brakes. The guy kept trying to upgrade me to a nicer clunker, but I wouldn't have it.
Yes, you are the crazy uncle.
The first time I rented a car in London, I had three people with me, and they rolled out a Ford Escort with a stick. I've driven stick shifts all my driving life, but at that time, wasn't sure about shifting with my left hand. Not that it mattered, we weren't getting four people and luggage into an Escort. They swapped it out for a Ford Scorpio -- nice!
I've driven a few right hand drive Jags with sticks since then, and it was no big deal. But, I still prefer to travel first class any time I can.
CD
rascal
Forum GOD!
We had an escort as well,picked up from marble arch. They didn't tell me where the wheel lock nut was though when I got a puncture at a greasy spoon. Luckily someone there told me where to look.
We drove it with no problems for the next 7 weeks.
Russ
garlichead
Über Member
Purchased this TR3 2 yrs ago and said I'd get it road worthy, still haven't done anything except take it around the block a few times a year. I will get to it eventually.
garlichead
Über Member
For the UK, it's those single-track roads that make me want as small a car as possible. That, and some of the parking spaces can be pretty tight.
In the old days, we'd travel with the use of a standard UK road atlas, and it'd be easy to pick out A roads and B roads and avoid the single-track roads, but the last few years, we've relied more on GPS, and that doesn't distinguish. We'd be scooting down a nice A road, or a decent B road, then the GPS would say, "Go left at the next turning," I'd turn, and then the road would suddenly turn into little more than a farmer's tractor path, and the GPS would add, "Proceed on the route for 11 miles," and I'd be some combination of
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."For the UK, it's those single-track roads that make me want as small a car as possible. That, and some of the parking spaces can be pretty tight.
In the old days, we'd travel with the use of a standard UK road atlas, and it'd be easy to pick out A roads and B roads and avoid the single-track roads, but the last few years, we've relied more on GPS, and that doesn't distinguish. We'd be scooting down a nice A road, or a decent B road, then the GPS would say, "Go left at the next turning," I'd turn, and then the road would suddenly turn into little more than a farmer's tractor path, and the GPS would add, "Proceed on the route for 11 miles," and I'd be some combination of
I scared the crap out of my then wife driving through the Lake District on those narrow winding roads with the hedgerows on the sides. Riding in a car over there is worse than driving. As a passenger, you are sitting in what would be the driver's seat in the US, but there is no steering wheel or pedals.
IIRC, we were in an Escort that time -- it was something small and dark blue.CD
CraigC
Guru
In my teens a buddy of mine's father raced boats, powered by outboards as a hobby. I'll never forget the Glastron, Molinari he had with the modified Mercury outboard. He ran it on the lake we lived on back in the '70's. I believe the outboard had a direct exhaust with no muffler system. I remember how that outboard screamed when he opened her up. Roomer was that some of his neighbors claimed they got cracked windows from it.
A friend of mine has a restored 1965 MGB. I photographed it for him a couple of years ago, and we went for a drive and a beer. It is one of the nicest MGs (other than Morning Glory, of course) I've seen.
CD