OVER 50's & 60's MOVING BACK TO THE UK.
#8851
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Joined: Sep 2010
Location: Dorset England.
Posts: 676
Re: OVER 50's & 60's MOVING BACK TO THE UK.
I think there are a lot of European cars that have energy-efficient engines and also a high safety record (air bags, crumple zones, etc.). I don't think it's necessary to buy a big gas-guzzler to be safe on the road these days (and the effect of bigger/taller vehicles on pedestrians are catastrophic).
I guess driving here in Indiana is very different to avoiding villagers in a small Dorset town
#8852
Re: OVER 50's & 60's MOVING BACK TO THE UK.
Plus, you will NEVER find a parking space at Tesco's in an SUV ...
#8853
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Joined: Jul 2010
Location: North East Ohio, USA
Posts: 1,913
Re: OVER 50's & 60's MOVING BACK TO THE UK.
The problem with driving here - especially on the freeway (motorway) is that there are some huge trucks (lorries) and in a smaller vehicle it can be very intimidating. I drive a Honda Civic (which in the UK is considered a mid sized car, but here is considered compact - the Honda Fit (Jazz) is considered sub-compact). It can be scary with all those huge trucks around you. I know if I lived in the UK driving a tiny car (such as the Honda Fit/Jazz) probably wouldn't bother me at all, but you don't get 18 wheeler trucks on the roads in the UK - here they are quite common.
#8855
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Joined: Sep 2010
Location: Dorset England.
Posts: 676
Re: OVER 50's & 60's MOVING BACK TO THE UK.
The problem with driving here - especially on the freeway (motorway) is that there are some huge trucks (lorries) and in a smaller vehicle it can be very intimidating. I drive a Honda Civic (which in the UK is considered a mid sized car, but here is considered compact - the Honda Fit (Jazz) is considered sub-compact). It can be scary with all those huge trucks around you. I know if I lived in the UK driving a tiny car (such as the Honda Fit/Jazz) probably wouldn't bother me at all, but you don't get 18 wheeler trucks on the roads in the UK - here they are quite common.
#8856
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Joined: Aug 2010
Location: US
Posts: 4,224
Re: OVER 50's & 60's MOVING BACK TO THE UK.
The problem with driving here - especially on the freeway (motorway) is that there are some huge trucks (lorries) and in a smaller vehicle it can be very intimidating. I drive a Honda Civic (which in the UK is considered a mid sized car, but here is considered compact - the Honda Fit (Jazz) is considered sub-compact). It can be scary with all those huge trucks around you. I know if I lived in the UK driving a tiny car (such as the Honda Fit/Jazz) probably wouldn't bother me at all, but you don't get 18 wheeler trucks on the roads in the UK - here they are quite common.
On the Fit/Jazz. I once responded to a rear end accident that involved a Honda Fit that was hit behind by a Dodge pickup. I couldn't see any damage to the Dodge pickup but the Honda looked like a right off. Pity since it was brand new and hadn't got plates on it yet. The speed limit on this four lane boulevard was either 35 or 40 miles per hour.
#8857
Re: OVER 50's & 60's MOVING BACK TO THE UK.
I understand Don but contrary to what you hear many Americans have changed and are driving smaller cars. All area's in the US have recycling and stores promote resuable bags and have large bins by the doors to put old plastic ones in. Some people are very inventive and make all sorts of products from old tins cans and plastic. Its amazing what they do make. In our area we have the large bins and the two others, one for plastic and glass and one for paper.
Our home runs along a river (if you ever want to buy it) we are not allowed to cut down tree's running along side the river without the towns permission. To burn tree limbs etc. we have to get a burn permit and can only do it certain times of the day. When you get your yearly car check you have to have an ommision test or you dont get your sticker. I do think the US consumes alot of gas but getting to work is not just down the road. My husband use to trave over 60miles a day some of the people he worked with spent 2hours on the road just to get to work.
Our home runs along a river (if you ever want to buy it) we are not allowed to cut down tree's running along side the river without the towns permission. To burn tree limbs etc. we have to get a burn permit and can only do it certain times of the day. When you get your yearly car check you have to have an ommision test or you dont get your sticker. I do think the US consumes alot of gas but getting to work is not just down the road. My husband use to trave over 60miles a day some of the people he worked with spent 2hours on the road just to get to work.
I drive a mid size car, anything too small and I wouldn't stand a chance against all these huge pick up trucks around here, my little Toyota corolla was written off when someone pulled out across the path of my car when Ds was driving, and after than Dh wouldn't get another small car here, so mid size it is.
The US does use a lot of resources but it's also a massive country. Around here more and more people are putting in solar electric and loads have had solar hot water forever.
With smart meters I can see when we use more power and do something about it, so far we are doing really well and staying under the norm for usage.
Dh commutes 50 miles each way 4 days a week. he pays out an average of $70 a week in petrol. We couldn't afford to live where he works and the schools aren't as good and the gang activity put us right off, so he commutes.
#8858
Re: OVER 50's & 60's MOVING BACK TO THE UK.
You could just move all the small cars over I have driven a large Suburban 4x4 until we got the small KIA, still would love to have another. I always felt so very safe driving it, especially on freeways, going skiing in the mountains, etc. I know it is not good for the enviroment, but what a joy to drive.
#8859
Re: OVER 50's & 60's MOVING BACK TO THE UK.
You could just move all the small cars over I have driven a large Suburban 4x4 until we got the small KIA, still would love to have another. I always felt so very safe driving it, especially on freeways, going skiing in the mountains, etc. I know it is not good for the enviroment, but what a joy to drive.
#8860
BE Forum Addict
Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 2,606
Re: OVER 50's & 60's MOVING BACK TO THE UK.
If Rodney is anything like me, a new laptop can be confusing to get up and running how you want. The replacement I have just purchased is a new operating system and i am finding many frustrations.
But maybe a new thread would be ''Waiting for Rodney".
Looking forward to hearing how he has been faring
But maybe a new thread would be ''Waiting for Rodney".
Looking forward to hearing how he has been faring
You got that right Gold Coast, some people make it sound easy but for me (self taught) its not easy at all, we used to get back up discs included now we have to make our own, its not something you want to screw up, even coping DVDs and Cds is a project where as it used to be so straight forward, I just wish the young designers of today would make simpler things for us older people to use, computers still baffle me, always a new Program, the world is spinning faster it seems...
Welcome Gold Coast Mag...
#8861
BE Forum Addict
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 4,100
Re: OVER 50's & 60's MOVING BACK TO THE UK.
You got that right Gold Coast, some people make it sound easy but for me (self taught) its not easy at all, we used to get back up discs included now we have to make our own, its not something you want to screw up, even coping DVDs and Cds is a project where as it used to be so straight forward, I just wish the young designers of today would make simpler things for us older people to use, computers still baffle me, always a new Program, the world is spinning faster it seems...
Welcome Gold Coast Mag...
Welcome Gold Coast Mag...
#8862
BE Forum Addict
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 4,100
Re: OVER 50's & 60's MOVING BACK TO THE UK.
You got that right Gold Coast, some people make it sound easy but for me (self taught) its not easy at all, we used to get back up discs included now we have to make our own, its not something you want to screw up, even coping DVDs and Cds is a project where as it used to be so straight forward, I just wish the young designers of today would make simpler things for us older people to use, computers still baffle me, always a new Program, the world is spinning faster it seems...
Welcome Gold Coast Mag...
Welcome Gold Coast Mag...
#8863
BE Forum Addict
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 4,100
Re: OVER 50's & 60's MOVING BACK TO THE UK.
Sorry for the double post. I don't know how that happened. I was only correcting a typo.
#8864
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Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 2,606
Re: OVER 50's & 60's MOVING BACK TO THE UK.
I traded in my Volvo S60 about 4 months ago. I really liked it, except it was a bit low to the ground, and it used the more expensive gas. When I lifted the hood and looked inside though, it said the transmission was made in Japan, and the car was actually assembled in Belgium!
I suppose I should have said the Swedish know how to design and engineer cars as cars are built just about anywhere, one of my Brother in laws Mercedes was made in South Africa of all places.
Parts made in other countries doesn't surprise me at all most cars have parts from all over the World, for instance the American Ford Mustangs transmission is made in France.
Low to the ground is a problem as we get older, that's why I'm still a fan of Minivans (people carriers) and small SUV's like the CRV and Rav4, slide your bottom right in.
#8865
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Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 4,100
Re: OVER 50's & 60's MOVING BACK TO THE UK.
Hello Mallory.
I suppose I should have said the Swedish know how to design and engineer cars as cars are built just about anywhere, one of my Brother in laws Mercedes was made in South Africa of all places.
Parts made in other countries doesn't surprise me at all most cars have parts from all over the World, for instance the American Ford Mustangs transmission is made in France.
Low to the ground is a problem as we get older, that's why I'm still a fan of Minivans (people carriers) and small SUV's like the CRV and Rav4, slide your bottom right in.
I suppose I should have said the Swedish know how to design and engineer cars as cars are built just about anywhere, one of my Brother in laws Mercedes was made in South Africa of all places.
Parts made in other countries doesn't surprise me at all most cars have parts from all over the World, for instance the American Ford Mustangs transmission is made in France.
Low to the ground is a problem as we get older, that's why I'm still a fan of Minivans (people carriers) and small SUV's like the CRV and Rav4, slide your bottom right in.