Manual or auto
pickups again
- Thread starter cropmaster
- Start date
- Location
- NSW, Newstralya
err, my 1995 Range Rover has 360,000 km on it & we will be setting off on a few thousand km round trip towing a camper trailer over Christmas
I have no concerns or worries
- Location
- NSW, Newstralya
Quite a high proportion of UK electricity comes from renewables now, plus the nuclear power is always there and fuel costs next to nothing, so might as well use it.
It is in regions like Australia, where the majority of electricity is generated from coal, that it makes little sense.
On the other hand even so, there's a lot to be said for moving emissions out from concentrated city areas and instead control it in centralised but more isolated areas where scrubbers are used before sending it up high chimneys to drift over mainland Europe instead of over us.
from a farm point of view in Australia, there is no reason you shouldn't have a bank of solar panels on every roof or stand alone, & effectively power everything from that
I am looking forward to the days of electric tractors
Cowabunga
Member
- Location
- Ceredigion,Wales
So am I. Maximum torque from zero revs. The simplest of transmissions. Near zero noise. What’s not to like? I’m seriously considering a Hyundai Ionic as a first car, which has a realistic range of 200 miles, which will get me to Cardiff and back without recharging, while retaining my Diesel Honda for longer distances.
ollie989898
Member
It’s sheer lunacy to make all vehicles electric, yes in big cities it may make sense re emmisons but only if all that electric is from hydro or wind. Otherwise a lot of energy is lost down the wire and your carting round a big heavy load of batteries. Also the stuff they make these batteries out of is very toxic in itself hence most come from China where human life is expendable and the EA and DAFTA don’t exist. I just can’t see how it’s going to be either economical, practical or environmentally sound.
I bet there some big money being spent by the companies that invested In this technology to lobby governments and do clever maths to show it works
Battery powered passenger cars, doing less than 200 miles a day, its a no-brainer. As battery and lithium production ramps up they will get cheaper and the cost per mile is rough barely a third of internal combustion. That technology already exists.
Power stations, even those burning coal, have far better emissions controls than anything your car has, and the efficiency in battery charging is about 90%, with electric motors being even better. Your car doesn't even manage to turn 50% of the energy in it's fuel into motion. That is where the electric drivetrain scores big.
- Location
- S E Glos
We've looked at electric cars several times. With solar on the house we could run it very cheaply but the lease payments on the batteries always blows the argument out of the water.
Cowabunga
Member
- Location
- Ceredigion,Wales
Who charges lease on batteries seperate from car lease or car purchase? Nissan had the option once upon a time but gave up on it years ago.
- Location
- Dumfries & Galloway
Buy a new one and see how you get on.
I've seen more RRs broken down or on recovery trucks on motorways than any other vehicle
Auto
- Location
- Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk
And you're missing the biggy which is the way most farmers will get panned for dints and imperfections on the return off contract hire
michael N123
Member
toquark
Member
I changed allegiance from a Hilux 3.0 invincible to the Ford Ranger 3.2 Wildtrack in July. The old Hilux was great but I really didn't like the new one.
Unlike any of the current offerings, the Ford pulls well, especially when towing. Its comfy, drives well, refined and has plenty kit. The only other possible contender in my view was the L200, nice car but I liked the extra power delivered by the Ford as I do a lot of towing. I've not really tested it in real bad muddy/snowy conditions yet and obviously time will be the only test in terms of reliability/durability but so far I'm very impressed.
Unlike any of the current offerings, the Ford pulls well, especially when towing. Its comfy, drives well, refined and has plenty kit. The only other possible contender in my view was the L200, nice car but I liked the extra power delivered by the Ford as I do a lot of towing. I've not really tested it in real bad muddy/snowy conditions yet and obviously time will be the only test in terms of reliability/durability but so far I'm very impressed.
Don’t buy a new ranger as they are being completely overhauled behind the scenes right now. I’m part of a research/test group and we are being showed virtually finished products now. Likewise both VW and Merc are making big alterations as we’ve seen what they are doing as well.
ollie989898
Member
ollie989898
Member
An electric car would have been a wiser investment than solar panels, cutting your electricity consumption is minimal saving compared to the huge savings on fuel you can make with an electric car, particularly for people doing a lot of miles. Plus there is no road tax.
Roger Perry
Member
The Ford Ranger is just about to be re-launched here as a 19 model, will you guys get the same design..?
No diesel being offered in U.S.
No diesel being offered in U.S.
Cowabunga
Member
- Location
- Ceredigion,Wales
We have already got an almost identical design, which is to be further updated with Sync3 and new Diesel engines. A 2.0 in two different power outputs, the most powerful being a twin turbo with more power and torque than the current 3.2 five cylinder. This will be mated with the American 10 speed automatic as an option and replaces the current Ford 6 speed automatic, which just might remain as an option on the lower power diesel.
The Ecoblue engine is interesting because it is meant to be between 15 and 20% more efficient [read 'frugal'] than the current engine per unit of power output. It also has an unique [as far as I know] timing belt that runs in oil. A 'wet belt'.
I don't believe that there are any other really significant changes to the chassis, body, trim or 4wd system from what we have already got.
I would be surprised if any petrol engines were offered in Europe, but you never know these days. It certainly will not be a V6 petrol engine.
Roger Perry
Member
So, the Ford it is then, with the twin turbo.
Cowabunga
Member
- Location
- Ceredigion,Wales
This is the current Ranger we've had for about three years, maybe four, and which is about to be updated with the new drivetrain.
I was approached by a 3rd party who I cannot name for legal reasons I’m afraid. Anybody involved signs documentation agreeing to not divulge what you see which is why my reply above doesn’t go into any further detail. Your not even allowed to talk to the other people doing the same thing as you are doing.
Every time we enter we are searched and have to hand over phones etc for the duration of our stay. The money is very good as well and paid within hours of a visit. It’s basically market research but follows into actual production. VW and Merc are leagues ahead of the rest of the pack presently with what’s coming, and I mean leagues ahead. Ford is hot on their heels though!