American Nannying of Drivers.

[Dowding (Work)]

Erm Lazs... who actually lives in the UK? Is it me or is it you. The reason I ask is because I'm starting to think you know more about the UK than any Brit. Your conceitful arrogance is astounding.

You did 1200 miles. Big shrecking deal. I do that in a month. You're no expert by any defintion of the word. A modded car can often look quite unimposing - so-called 'Q' cars - that's often the way over here, especially with the Jap models.

There is a *huge* market for modded cars. You can buy parts and have them shipped to your door - all you do is declare them when you apply for insurance. There is no special license to be applied for - hey, is the US federal government nannying you there? Watch out mate, I hear it's catching.

I've been to 'cruises' where people just spontaneously show up somewhere, by word of mouth, and act like lunatics with their modded (or not so modded) cars. Not my thing really, but they are quite popular - my brother often goes.

Clearly you know nothing about motors. 355 break is not the important factor. 355 break on a car that weighs so little as an Evo is more telling. It lets you go 0-60 in less than 5 seconds. And that's without some monster of an engine which uses a large proportion of it's output just pulling itself. Medium capacity, turbo charged engines are the way to go.

BTW - it was a VW GOLF not a BEETLE. A Mk1. GTi, which is a fun car in its natural form to begin with.

Dents... uh... you have to have your car fixed by a certified shop if it is involved in an accident don't you? Our state says go ahead and just pull the front clip off another car or... drive it like it is if you wish.

Where do you get this laughable crap from? People only take their cars to dealer outlets (who have a franchise from a manufacturer) while its under warranty. After that, anyone who has half a brain take to a normal garage (or workshop) and gets the work done at a fraction of the cost. There's no legal requirement or 'nannying'. Wow!

Face it Laz, you know absolutely zip about the UK, despite your exhaustive, much vaunted visit. And please make your mind up - either the UK is a 'pissant little country' and not worth your time or you are an undoubtable expert on it and its customs. For someone who purports to hold the former view, you seem to spend a lot of time talking about it.

[lazs2]

I can build three cars that will do 0-60 in 5 seconds for what that mitsubissi cost.  We don't have to declare anything.   We can build a car up from a kit.   We can take old cars and modify em and drive em.   Your country makes it a rich mans sport..

How much does the evo weigh?  you didn't say.   Are they the ones with the stupid wing on the back?   They weigh allmost 3000 lbs if they are.... about the same as a 67 camaro but without the character.     My Healey weighs 2100 lbs and my el camino weighs 3700... both will do 0-60 in under 5 sec.   You might even say that they handle pretty well.   I can rfind em both in a parking lot without trying my key in 6 identical locks first.

oh btw... beetles car is a beetle... he also owns a golf.

Are you saying that a car involved in an accident can be fixed by the owner legally?
lazs

[Dago]

It's ok Dago, the dental care jokes are about as funny and original to the average Brit, as the obesity jokes are to the average Yank.

I cannot argue that obesity is a growing problem in the US, and one not soon to be reversed.  I think you will find over the next 20 years it will become a larger problem on a global scale among most developed countries.


Dont try and tell me that dental care issue has been not an issue anymore, though I would be happy to hear that it is an issue improving today.  I have worked with and known too many British to believe otherwise.  It may not seem funny, and it truely isn't, but do you think  Americans are amused to jump in this forum to seem Beetles idioctic ramblings comparing, or disparaging diatribes about, our country?

Take him to task for his nonsense.  Ask him just what is the point of his continuing threads that serve no purpose?  They neither amuse, enlighten or educate.

Would you Dowding or would Beetle be happy if in the future I spent some time submitting threads telling what I though was wrong with your country, its people, government or products?
Would Beetle find this as interesting as his obsession?

No country, no government, no group of people would fall under the definition of "perfect".   All he is doing is running the risk of causing hard feelings.  I dont know if he thinks he is a witty author, relating amusing observations of his life,  He isn't.  He is a bore.

Like Beetle, I have lived in another country.  One with a lot of problems.  I choose to remember and reflect on the positive aspects of it, and my years there.  I don't feel the need to go on the internet and blather on about the issues they have I didn't think up to my standards.

Maybe he should spend some time introspectively to understand where his issues really stem from?

Dago

[Kieran]

Erm Lazs... who actually lives in the UK? Is it me or is it you. The reason I ask is because I'm starting to think you know more about the UK than any Brit. Your conceitful arrogance is astounding.

Actually, this is a very good point- now if Beetle would understand the reverse is also true (that is, we live here and know better what is best for us) we wouldn't be having this(these) discussion(s).

[Dowding (Work)]

Dago - have I been disparaging of the US way of life at any point? Have I agreed with Beetle? Have I started any threads in Beetle's style?

I never have. A long time ago I questioned the US love of firearms, out of curiosity more than anything else. I might criticize US foreign policy, but that is a fair target because it affects me (directly or indirectly); since the UK's foreign policy is inextricably intertwined with that of the US, I must be anti-UK if I am anti-US.

Of course Americans are going to counter Beetle. But when Yanks counter Beetle by spouting bollocks, half-truths and damned lies about the UK you are damned right I'm going to respond irrespective of the thread title. Or who started it.

By sneering at the UK to get at Beetle, they are insulting all of the more patriotic of us Brits. That's right, patriotism is not a US monopoly.

Frankly, I couldn't care less about how Americans live their lives. I'm sure it's a great country and has many positive things to offer. Just like any country.

As for dental care. Honestly, I never came across this 'bad teeth' thing until I started reading this board. I look at my friends, and I've got to say that they don't seem to have much of a problem. It seems such an alien thing.

Obesity is a growing problem here (pun intended).

I can't answer your questions about Beetle's motivations. I don't know him. I suspect it is badly screened admiration, to be honest.

Laz - if you are involved in an accident, you should inform the insurance company if a third party is involved. But there's no law against doing repair work on your car. Providing it's not un-roadworthy.

I don't know how much the Evo weighs. But it's seriously lightened from the standard. 3000 lbs sounds very heavy to me. I'll find out, and let you know.

[Wlfgng]

at least I don't regularly see American drivers with berets and driving gloves  
ok.. maybe in SF but not here

[Wlfgng]

But there's no law against doing repair work on your car. Providing it's not un-roadworthy

but there is a law saying all accidents must be reported...

and one that says don't spit on sidewalks...


etc

[krazyhorse]

dmn fun thread:rolleyes: ,  a side note to the drinking and driving, we have quite a few Brits living in our area,and you always get the occassional Brit who after drinking at his favorite pub  decides time to go home, now i think that in these cases the poor guy must really be hammered, he pulls onto the highway to head home, mind you split lanes. and he's driving the wrong way up the interstate. this happes more frequently than folks realize, even though "nanny" has posted a sign saying WRONG WAY:eek:

[Kieran]

Dowding-

I don't blame you for getting tired of the comments. Understand the bulk of them were attempts to get Beetle to see the nature of his "crusade". Your reaction to the stereotypes of Britain probably mirror mine to Beetle's view of America. This is why I have placed comments in some of my remarks to him that they were not focused on your entire country, merely Beetle.

Most rank-and-file Americans couldn't care less how folks in the UK live their daily lives, and certainly wouldn't attempt to tell them how to do it better.

[Dago]

Dago - have I been disparaging of the US way of life at any point?

as the obesity jokes are to the average Yank.

But then again, only the latter has any real basis in fact.

You were saying?

I don't blame you for getting tired of the comments. Understand the bulk of them were attempts to get Beetle to see the nature of his "crusade".

Bingo!  Kieran he hit the nail on the head.   Maybe we just find Beetle to be an assnine bore, and want to give him a little back?

Don't like the dental jokes?  I don't blame you.  Don't want to see negative things put up about your country or your countrymen?  Welcome to my shoes.

Want to hear some more? Want to hear the ones about how you could be speaking German today if not for the US?  Probably not.
Shouldn't be said anyway.
 
I honestly dont care to get into this type of crap, but I am just too damn tired of an bellybutton like Beetle making so many stupid comments about my country.  

I like England and the English.  I think English women are gorgeous and the British have made historically so many contributions to the civilized world and society I dont know that they could all be counted up.  My ancestory is half British.  The English make great stereos, and much of modern music today is a result of the UK influence.  

I just think Beetle is far from the best product ever produced there.

dago

[beet1e]

Lazs.  You're doing what you do best - being a knobhead.  Of course I know that my Beet1e could be "improved", as you put it. Of course you could put in a more powerful motor, doughnut tyres, lower suspension, gullwing doors - and many owners have carried out such aberrations. But that is not why I bought my Beet1e! I didn't want a performance car - I have my sauerkraut rocket for that. I wanted the Beet1e to be as original as possible - a monument to the car that sold in the biggest numbers and had a huge impact on world motoring history! I know the suspension is crap - no MacPherson struts or anything like that. I know the brakes are crap - drums all round with single leading shoe. I don't want it tarted up. At my Beet1e workshop the other day, the guys were working on a Beet1e that a customer had just brought in, and were removing some of those cosmetic "improvements". Those included the extremely naff T-handle gear lever, resembling that of an auto. The customer wanted it to be all original, and I would too. My two concessions have been to get one with a 12-volt electrical system, and multiport 1300 engine instead of the original single port 1200.

Next, you redemonstrate your inability to stick to the point. Dowding corrected your misapprehension that modded cars are not to be seen in England. He mentioned the 355hp power output of his cousin's car, and you just had to seize on that and turn it into one of those "my car's faster than yours" type of national supremacy chest beating discussions. The power output was not Dowding's point. His point was that we can and do have modded cars, though I have never owned one myself. And I am as baffled as Dowding is to know where you get the idea that car owners can't do their own repair work.

More American nannying!
Years ago, I moved into a four bedroomed house with a large back garden and a side passage. Neither the garden nor the passage was lit, so I decided to install some electric lights. Simple enough job. I needed two light fittings, a four-way junction box, a double switch with one switch for each light, a fusebox, about 12 metres of 2-core+earth cable, and a metre of 3-core+earth cable. Most of the work was drilling - holes to take the cables through, and fixing the various bits to the walls. I wired the whole installation and tested it using a circuit tester before I even came to connect it to the mains supply. The 3-core+earth was between the junction box and switch. I even used a tab of red insulation tape to denote where a wire was actually a switched live and not a neutral. The fusebox was for an inline 5A fuse because I was about to tap into the back of one of the kitchen outlets on a 30A ringmain, and lighting circuits have to be limited to 5A. Everything worked. No sparks, no blackouts - I had done everything properly.  

Later on, I discovered that in America, Nanny has decreed that you're not allowed to tackle your own electrical work in your own home!  You have to send for a (nanny approved) little man to do it for you.

[Krotki]

I don't recall Mazda or Toyota, much less Honda as being American Automobiles. Hated driving on wrong side of road.

Krotki, United we stand

[Dago]

Later on, I discovered that in America, Nanny has decreed that you're not allowed to tackle your own electrical work in your own home! You have to send for a (nanny approved) little man to do it for you.

Another completly false statement made by someone who seems to not have a clue.

You can make any repair or alteration you want to your own home.  You can build the house from scratch if you would like, add and addition, or perform any wiring you want.  

The requirements made by virtually all states is the work must be done to code, you need to have your work plans approved, and it must be inspected, sometimes during the process, and at the end to assure code compliance.

Codes are established to protect the safety of the inhabitants.  Who does the work is irrelevant.

Never let the facts interfere with whatever you want to say Beetle.

dago

[beet1e]

The requirements made by virtually all states is the work must be done to code, you need to have your work plans approved, and it must be inspected, sometimes during the process, and at the end to assure code compliance.

Same difference. BTW I was in Chicago when I read that about not being able to do your own electrics. Maybe it was a city law or something?

But Dago, for one who doesn't give a damn about what I say or what I think, you keep coming back for more!

One thing I do know for certain is that in some states (OR and I believe NJ) you can't pump your own gas into your own car. Nanny won't allow it. You have to get the nanny-approved custodian of the pumps to do it for you.

[mrfish]

Originally posted by Dowding (Work)

Nah, you know better. You visited England back in 19XX for 3 hours and 20 minutes and failed to find a decent fight and decided all British women were drunks, and... yada...yada...yada...

Not only are you like a broken record, you are like a broken Barbara Streisand record.
 

lol. "oh look henry they have hamburgers -take a picture!"

the thing about euros in general is that they'll spend 3 months salary suping up a ford escort or something.....yeah it's fast i suppose, but don't you still feel kinda gay in an escort? or a golf? why not just buy a car that's sweet to begin with?