[Venom XR]

Cos Venom S/XR is on the motorways in a 16V 2.0 Mondeo!

I'm gonna get into trouble with work, no one approved a hire car vehicle upgrade... But I asked for a sporty, manual Mondeo or Focus...

*Hertz chick* Oh, we have one manual 2.0 Mondeo left?

*me* Thank you!

Iron Maiden + 110 mph up the M40 = heaven - why can't Sydney drivers to drive on motorways like they do here??

Why don't cops pull me over when I pass them at 95mph?

There are bugger all Vauxhalls (GM) on the road, but ****loads (and I mean, ****loads) of new, or not-that-old Focus' and Mondeo's about. Ford definitely dominates over GM here - but they love their Euro cars.

There are more Audi's on the road than BMWs (but typical for Europe).

People in the UK also like VWs, Peugeots and Renaults.

They don't like Nissans and Toyotas much (counted 2 Primeras and 3 MR2s - whereas I saw at least 6 Audi TT Coupes.)

I saw one Subaru WRX.

I'm over here due to last minute, ad-hoc decision making by my employers.

I'm severely jetlagged - landed at 6:30am this morning, then drove from Heathrow Airport to Dudley near Birmingham, thus the motorway drive. I had 3 pints of smooth ale for lunch, and coupled with jetlag is messing me up a bit... (I love the beer here)

Gotta got arseholed tonight to reset the body clock. An int. travel trip - when you land overseas, stay awake as long as you can, then get DRUNK! Great jetlag cure, and it's fun while you're doing it.)

I've noticed people seem to think Euro Fords have a better build quality. I dunno... if there is, it's very minor. Take little things... it might have electronic driver seat adjustment (minor adjustsments, you gotta do it the old manual way to convert from short-arse to tall-bugger seating...) but it doesn't have a boot release button/switch!

Oh, and personally, the rear-ends on the new Focus is kinda ugly! Cos the indicators/brake lights are up high like
Jap cars, means it looks like a butt-shot of a big-arsed chick. The black cars hide it well though, they look best.

Oh, and Brits don't drive many white cars like we do, lotsa black/red/blue/green/ugly brown, and tonnes of silver cars!

Will continue this thread with lots of mostly meaningless observations, with a few Ford insights mixed in. Only here for a week, then Singapore for a week so when I'm there, only expect updates on how bad Singaporean Toymotor cabs are...

 

[Mr Sparkle]

Interesting stuff mate! Keep up the tales, all good! BTW keep an eye out for any XR's, apparently there is a rather small handful of them over there.

 

[XLR8]

they do have a few xr's over there but not the same...

XR2i is a fiesta

XR3i is an escort

xr4i is a sierra

hey venom, look out for the Escort RS Cosworth.....O YEAH!!!

 

[FM]

You lucky bastard!!.. I was hoping to do the UK report in Aug/Sept but you beat me to it!!.. Lets us know any good pubs and stuff to call in on fella..

 

[XR_Strider_GuY]

Yeah interesting news, keep us updated. Good time to leave australia and get the summer in UK not very warm i bet.

 

[Aussie Pete]

A friend is over there at the moment. He took his HSV GTS with him - keeps bit**ing about the fuel costs but loves the attention he gets!

 

[Venom XR]

Ford Man, the bulk of my driving here will be Heathrow->Dudley->Airport, with a bit of local fanging around to make use of the fuel of tank I got in the car.

As for pubage, etc - I'm more or less restricted to the local stuff which is right next to work/hotel. However, as far as pubs go, the UK has ****loads of them, and the best advice is to look for those who brew their own stuff, you can find some amazing beer that way!

EF_Guy, it's actually warm here! They haven't had rain for 6 days, and it's a major news item. Was about 26-27 yesterday, maybe 24-25 today since there is a breeze out.

Pete, I could imagine that, a big HSV Commodore or Tickford XR would make quite an impression on the roads here.

 

[Paul E]

Yes to pass on secondry roads you have to pull into a hedge right on the side of the road.To let each other past.X.R BIG car there.Cops pall you over more for dangerous driving rather than speeding.

 

[Big Block Ford]

Too good Venom.Do you see many Cosworth's on the roads.Looking forward to the updates

 

[HSE2]

Lucky guy. Look forward to reading more of your experiences.

 

[Venom XR]

they do have a few xr's over there but not the same...

XR2i is a fiesta

XR3i is an escort

xr4i is a sierra

hey venom, look out for the Escort RS Cosworth.....O YEAH!!!

I have now spotted both the XR2i and the XR3i. Yet to see an XR4i, and haven't seen anything with a Cosworth badge on it yet.

Have seen quite a few Cougars over here too.

 

[HSE2]

Are you planning to go on any tours through cars plans while you over there. I wouldn't mind going through Cosworth, Jag and TVR.

 

[Venom XR]

I would like to, but I leave early on Sat. for Singapore, and work is keeping me very busy. I definitely want to come back here one day for a England->Scotland->Ireland tour, and those that you mentioned would be good to visit (in addition to all thr breweries )

 

[THE DOCTOR]

I definitely want to come back here one day for a England->Scotland->Ireland tour, and those that you mentioned would be good to visit (in addition to all thr breweries )

take me with you, I'll carry your bags. I know where to go in Scotland. (hangover memories coming back).

 

[FM]

take me with you, I'll carry your bags. I know where to go in Scotland. (hangover memories coming back).

I leave for that exact tour on Aug 21st... hehe..

 

[THE DOCTOR]

Wart...

 

[FM]

6 weeks.. including England, Ireland, Scotland, Wales and two nights in Paris for the girls..

 

[THE DOCTOR]

rub it in...

 

[Cobra]

There are bugger all Vauxhalls (GM) on the road, but ****loads (and I mean, ****loads

my mate at ford said that fordeurope are not selling well right now... so that comes to me as a supprise. How can you like that beer there? Last time I was there the beer was as warm as darwin in january

 

[Venom XR]

According to the guys at work, the range of cars I saw on the Monday morning has a lot of company-vehicle traffic, which explains the large amount of Fords on the road.

I'm driving back to Heathrow tomorrow morning (Sat.) so I should get a better idea of the brand mix.

I woke early one morning, and as is habit, flicked striaght to the sports channels (sky sports 1,2,3 and euro sports). What should I see, but highlights of Hidden Valley! I don't think the commentator (pom) watched the whole race beforehand though, coming up with such pearlers as "Langham (sic) is in the pits, and isn't stopping for tyres or fuel, that should save him some time!!" - when he'd come in to remove the strip they'd forgotten on the pit stop he'd recently completed!

Speaking of motor sports, watched the Rally UK series last night. Made up of 'kit' rally cars, the odd VW or Vauxhall with the bulk of the field being Peugeots or Fords. Not the Focus either, but the Puma! In rally trim, these things (for a small car) look awesome!
Bugger Ka/Fiesta/Focus/Laser/etc, lets get this one into Oz!

As for the beer, I love it - stouts, ales, REAL bitters, porters, etc. The temp depends on the pub. Some of the new, 'chain' pubs have cooler beer, your old average suburban pub has the warmer stuff, but you can find some good tasting obscure beers that way. Only the lagers are cold, and frankly, when you can drink tonnes of that stuff at home, why drink it here? Last time I was here they have a 'blue' Guiness, which was chilled rather than room temp, but as I've not seen it this trip, it must not have caught on. They've got Fosters on every 3rd/4th tap and lots of the poms drink it. I've been drinking John Smiths Smooth ale, and Firestone ale mostly.