Yelkcub

That reminds me of a college lecture who asked us when I was a bit younger if we sit on the brake or get biting point at traffic lights. The class was split approximately in half. We asked him what he did and he said that he did neither but took the car out of gear and used the handbrake. It was some time ago but perhaps he had a point.

Atlantic Xpat

I can recall doing an advanced driving course donkeys years ago where the advice was to put the handbrake on rather than sit holding on the footbrake. That way if you are hit from behind there is no possibility of your foot coming off the brake and you shooting forward out of the junction into the path of the oncoming juggernaut! Similarly, when turning right across a carriageway, don't sit there with your wheels turned already as if hit from behind you don't want to be catapaulted across the carriageway into the path of said oncoming truck.

Yelkcub

That's what they also told us at the speed awareness course that I attended last year (in lieu of getting 3 points for doing 35 in a 30 mph zone).

Jingsamichty

You forget (or ignore?) the downside of cheap fuel.... people start to feel comfortable with monstrous vehicles , and with building subdivisions with zero consideration for public transport. For example, I live in a typical modern development of detached homes, and I swear that I have neighbours who have never crossed the end of their driveway on foot. The idea of walking to the neighbourhood school or supermarket is a completely alien concept for them.

And let's not get 'holier-than-thou' about this with Brits, because most of them are lazy bastards too... if fuel prices in the UK were at Canadian/US/Middle East levels, people would use their cars more, or choose to live further away from their work.

Atlantic Xpat

Forget cars, some years ago in UK I had a boat which was fitted with a large johnson (fnar fnar) outboard of 1987 vintage. Designed in the era of really cheap fuel, this 150HP V6 2 stroke could consume Tesco's finest unleaded at a truly prodigious and frightening rate. Rising fuel prices would have put paid to that but fortunately the thing expired and we replaced it with a more modern fuel efficient unit.

iaink

Likewise, a neighbours offspring had a prodigious mercruiser, even ten years ago (50c/liter?) it used to cost in excess of $400 to bring the 100km or so from Kingston to Trenton! Running a boat is a sure sign you earn too much money!

Alan2005

I've owned a couple of ski-boats. They both had 6L inboard engines, fortunately they'd been converted to LPG so it wasn't too expensive even though the 80L tank wouldn't last very long.

Oink

Johnson now make an incredibly fuel efficient two stroke engine these days. Worst I ever encountered was a bit of a shagged out Yamaha 115hp tw-stroke that would cost about $70 an hour.

Atlantic Xpat

My last boat was this:



200hp Outboard, 60 gallon fuel tank. Solent to Channel Islands in about 2hrs and 70 quid.

Atlantic Xpat

Oh yes, Ficht RAM injection and all that good stuff. Merc's version is Optimax and Yam's is HPDI. Plus of course most large outboards have also gone 4 stroke.

The old school carb'd V6, Variable Ratio Oil (VRO) injection outboard was powerful but as I say thirsty? Not half.

Alan2005

That's actually not too bad. Still, I'm done with boat owning - if I need one in the future I'll rent it.

Atlantic Xpat

Yes, A modern 2 stroke outboard on a RIB will burn around a litre a mile which isn't too bad. Particularly if you get some friends together to share the fuel bill! Sadly, boat ownership went by the board after moving to Canada, fuel cost or no fuel cost.

Oink

I'm with there. A big black hole plus moorage. Luckily enough HID's brother has lots of boats so there's never a shortage of one to whip about on English Bay and Howe Sound.

el_richo

I'll bring a few tinnies in exchange for some of that.

scrubbedexpat091

I paid around 2,400 a year in BC for full coverage up to 1 million, 500 deductible. 10 years experience driving, accident and ticket free.

In Alberta it was 50% cheaper then BC.