http://www.motorcarforum.com/blogs/ MotorCarForum.com forum and Blog for the car MotorCarForum.com Community discussion forum and blog dedicated to the car enthusiast of today en Thu, 08 Jan 2009 11:46:17 GMT vBulletin 60 http://www.motorcarforum.com/images/misc/rss.jpg http://www.motorcarforum.com/blogs/ http://www.motorcarforum.com/blogs/joy-slx-12/ Mon, 15 Dec 2008 22:39:07 GMT There was a time when the world was full of happy order and structure. When car makers performed a world service by putting a simple set of hierarchical trim badges on the back of their cars. Vauxhall and Ford each varied little from the simple L, GL, Ghia and 'S for Sport' pattern. Back then you knew where you - and your neighbours - were on the order of thing simply by the badge on the back of their Cortina.

Ford and Vauxhall were the masters of the boot badge ouevre, with clever (and ultimately inexpensive) detailing enabling the trained eye to identify a r0-styled GL from a steel-wheeled L or chrome-stripe CD from a chrome stripped LS. The plush seats, electric rear windows and radio cassette were barely enough to justify the 20-30% extra price. Yet this relatively unsophisticated system was hugely successful, not least in the fleet market where few sales managers could resist lowering a tinted window and smiling as they parked their Ghia next to their sales executive's lowly L.

This system really began in the 1960s and served car companies and customers well throughout the 70s and most of the 80s. Things started to go awry in this well-established order when Vauxhall and Ford clearly got a bit bored and let some marketing people loose. Gradually the strict boundaries became blurred. The L became the LS and LX. GL became GLS or GLX. Ghia became Ghia or Ghia X. The boundaries between poverty, middle class frippery and luxury started to blur.

This system was honed and developed for the middle classes as an unsophisticated but hugely pernicious sort of social ordering and motivational tool. If you had a L you wanted a GL. If you had a GL you were better than those with an L but not quite up there with the rarefied ranks of Ghia, which represented a sort of draylon-n-fondue level of almost-attainable decadent luxury.

For those middle classes aspirants who managed to break out of this cycle of badge booty there was the opportunity to swap a Ghia for a Jaguar. The Jaguar XJ6 and Rover SD1 were for people who had gates on their drives and a downstairs loo.

At around the same time the Germans came along. BMW and Audi started to offer alternatives to Ford and Vauxhall that didn't need trim-based boot badges - just whacking the Bavarian propellor logo on the four rings of Audi onto a car was enough to say you'd crawled from the suburban swamp and made it. Vauxhall and Ford responded by making their model ranges even more complex. Along came Zetec, Titanium, Titanium X, Life, CDX. All these variations made the humbling pecking order in the cul de sac just too difficult to work out.

In their own way Audi and BMW try to work a simila trick, but it is all a little too subtle. Chrome grille and twin exhausts? That'll be your six-pot BMW rather than a humble four cylinder. Except if the middle manager in question has decided to option-up his humble 316i, as many do. And take the badge off the back. What good is that to the neighbourhood?

I can't help thinking though that when Vauxhall and Ford started to lose their way and began broadening their trim options from the late 1980s onwards with GLS, Titanium, Ghia X, Diplomat and other such nonsense, it coincided with an increasingly complex and confused world. A little piece of society crumbled when you stopped being able to strive and judge off the back of a boot badge.

Today the world is more complex. Just owning a BMW, whichever one it may be, is to own a Ghia. Buy with care and remember to tick the 'delete boot badge' option and your 316i can look to all intents and purposes like a 330. Which is a bit pointless really isn't it?

Although our world and our choices and decisions are more complicated in many ways, in some senses they are also simpler. L, GL and Ghia were daft. After all, who needs faux-wood and leather when vinyl seats that stick to your legs are just as good? Maybe in these straightened times we'll enjoy the simpler pleasures and austerity of an era before all this stuff came along. Maybe we'll buy cars because we just like them. We'll buy the engine and interior specification that we want. We'll buy Mondeos because they're better than Audis and Seats because they're VWs that are cheaper than VWs. Brand and badges are daft. What matters is how good the car is. And what lasts are good cars, not the badges on their boots - the Jaguar XJ6, Jensen Interceptor, Alfa Romeo Spider and Morris Minor were just good cars. Not great brands. ]]> gje99 http://www.motorcarforum.com/blogs/joy-slx-12/ http://www.motorcarforum.com/blogs/about-buyagifts-driving-days-driving-experiences-11/ Tue, 11 Nov 2008 09:39:43 GMT About BuyaGift's Driving Days and Driving Experiences

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Tyres screeching, chrome exhausts heating to red hot, the attraction of the track is irresistible. Shooting the straights, shaming the chicanes, cutting the corners, rally to the course with everything from go-kart driving days to monster truck days. ]]> stevectaylor http://www.motorcarforum.com/blogs/about-buyagifts-driving-days-driving-experiences-11/ http://www.motorcarforum.com/blogs/driving-experience-days-red-letter-days-10/ Mon, 10 Nov 2008 18:23:07 GMT Give your favourite car fanatic the ultimate driving experience with a high octane motor sport gift. Our adrenaline-fuelled range of driving experiences features everything from Ferrari's to Formula 1 racers. Experience the mind-****ing power and acceleration of the world's greatest sports cars and make dreams come true with our driving days.







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Supercar Driving | Ferrari Driving | Aston Martin Driving | Single Seater & Stock Car Racing | Rally Driving & Skid Control | Off Road Driving | Massive Machines | Kids Driving | Classic Cars | Motorbikes & Quad Bikes | Karting | Driving Thrills | ]]> stevectaylor http://www.motorcarforum.com/blogs/driving-experience-days-red-letter-days-10/ http://www.motorcarforum.com/blogs/Privilege-car-insurance-reliable-affordable-9/ Sat, 08 Nov 2008 17:00:49 GMT Privilege Car Insurance - Reliable And Affordable Car insurance has become an absolute necessity as the governments of nearly all the countries have made it mandatory for owners to get their cars insured. Gone are those days when you could get on without buying insurance for your car. But today it...

Privilege Car Insurance - Reliable And Affordable Car insurance has become an absolute necessity as the governments of nearly all the countries have made it mandatory for owners to get their cars insured. Gone are those days when you could get on without buying insurance for your car. But today it has become an inevitable stipulation for all car owners.


Getting your car insured is in fact a protection for it against unforeseen cir***stances. Suppose your car is involved in an accident, in such a case the insurance company takes care of all the damages. The only need is to present the proper proofs to show your position during the whole episode. If the passengers suffer from some serious injuries then the insurance company also takes care of their hospitalization. The company also compensates you in case your car gets stolen, is caught in a fire or is lost.


Today when life is so unpredictable, having insurance for your car is no more seen as a luxury but an inexorable necessity. Presently the market is replete with hundreds of insurance companies. But unfortunately you cannot trust every one of them. Among the entire lot there are very few, which are reliable and trustworthy. Privilege car insurance a well known integral part of the RBS group is one trusted source that you can blindly count on. With a little systematic planning, you can get hold of one of the best and most affordable plans, offered by this company. The company representatives also help you in deciding as to which car insurance plan is the best for your car.


There are basically three kinds of insurance available for cars. These are third party theft and fire car insurance, comprehensive car insurance and third party only car insurance. Each one of them has its own pros and cons. The company provides you with a detailed understanding about each of them and helps you to choose the one which caters to all your needs. The rates of insurance policies depend on several varied factors which include the age and gender of the car owner, driving record of the car owner, violation history and traffic tickets, type of the car and the location of owner’s residence. Though some of the factors cannot be altered but some can definitely change with time. The main factor which affects the premium rates is the amount of car insurance. Privilege insurance company helps you to choose the best deal after considering all your factors thoroughly. You must avoid the mistake of choosing an insurance company, which does not have a license to provide service in your state.


Because in doing so you may end up facing hurdles when the time comes to file a claim. With Privilege car insurance you need not worry about any such hindrances. You can call or mail or just drive down to the local office of the company and all your problems will be taken care of, immediately. When you choose to partner with Privilege you can be assured of peace of mind as far as your car insurance is concerned.[/font][/size]
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]]> stevectaylor http://www.motorcarforum.com/blogs/Privilege-car-insurance-reliable-affordable-9/ http://www.motorcarforum.com/blogs/free-gas-8/ Wed, 29 Oct 2008 02:04:07 GMT Look at the free video click here (http://freegas2414.blogspot.com/) Look at the free video click here ]]> betts2414 http://www.motorcarforum.com/blogs/free-gas-8/ http://www.motorcarforum.com/blogs/vauxhall-corsa-7/ Sat, 13 Sep 2008 16:14:16 GMT 1999 vauxhall corsa 1.2 16valve.eng man light has been flashing on and off for the last 2/3 days.now on engine reving at 1500 not normal 750.checked all connections/base idle unit/mass air flow,no equipment to read fault codes any ideas.:confused: 1999 vauxhall corsa 1.2 16valve.eng man light has been flashing on and off for the last 2/3 days.now on engine reving at 1500 not normal 750.checked all connections/base idle unit/mass air flow,no equipment to read fault codes any ideas.:confused: ]]> alan f http://www.motorcarforum.com/blogs/vauxhall-corsa-7/ http://www.motorcarforum.com/blogs/Privilege-insurance-6/ Sat, 13 Sep 2008 14:47:00 GMT Privilege Home insurance: Privilege home insurance gives you cover you require at a competitive price. Some of the great benefits offered by Privilege are

Home Buildings insurance: For the cost of any outbuildings and rebuilding they will provide buildings cover. Along with roofs, walls, driveways and patios Privilege home insurance also provide cover for permanent fixtures like bathroom fittings, kitchen units, and fitted wardrobes. Outbuildings like sheds and garages are also included. Burst or frozen pipes also require cover. Privilege Insurance also offer free Home Emergency Service and get it repaired if the customer has household emergency like storm damage or overflowing manhole cover. They will pay to stay somewhere else if the customer's home is uninhabitable.

Home Contents insurance: Along with possessions in home Privilege Insurance will cover belongings in sheds and garages. They will cover the belongings that the customer take when customer move somewhere like university accommodation etc. They will provide with replacement keys and locks when they are stolen. Contents of freezer are also included in cover. They will replace old items with new ones if the customer makes a claim.

Privilege Cover away from the home: If the customer takes Personal Possessions cover, customer's belongings will be covered outside the home. For financial losses when credit cards are used without permission their Personal Possessions cover includes a cover.

Privilege Breakdown cover: Everyone will get accessed to a first-class service. Privilege breakdown offers options for a selection of cover to match the particular needs. ]]> stevectaylor http://www.motorcarforum.com/blogs/Privilege-insurance-6/ http://www.motorcarforum.com/blogs/direct-line-car-insurance-5/ Fri, 04 Jul 2008 13:13:21 GMT What makes Direct Line a good deal better?

· Up to 10% discount when you buy online
· Named driver no claims discount
· Insure your second car with us and receive a further discount
· Uninsured driver promise - if you're hit by an uninsured driver, we'll cover your excess and it won't affect your no claims discount
· Take the hassle away when you choose our repairer - free collection and delivery, repair work guarateed for 5 years and your car cleaned inside and out

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Click here to get a quote now. ]]> stevectaylor http://www.motorcarforum.com/blogs/direct-line-car-insurance-5/ http://www.motorcarforum.com/blogs/salvage-website-4/ Fri, 09 May 2008 10:50:40 GMT Hi All,

I'm not sure if this is the right place to post, but to all interested in repairing Salvage Repairable cars, please take a look at this site:

www.salvage-car-auction.co.uk

Its very new and will be added to content wise frequently.

Thanks! ]]> AlanSalvage http://www.motorcarforum.com/blogs/salvage-website-4/ http://www.motorcarforum.com/blogs/what-car-3/ Wed, 23 Apr 2008 17:16:34 GMT Hi Guys can you help me :confused: my dad was sorting out his photos and he came across a picture of a car he took a picture of because it stuck out like a sore thumb here is a picture of it (It was taken 20 years ago) Image:... Hi Guys can you help me :confused: my dad was sorting out his photos and he came across
a picture of a car he took a picture of because it stuck out like a sore thumb
here is a picture of it (It was taken 20 years ago)
]]> alpineis4ever http://www.motorcarforum.com/blogs/what-car-3/ http://www.motorcarforum.com/blogs/worth-saving-2/ Fri, 04 Apr 2008 17:25:29 GMT I have a 17 year old Holden Calais, right hand drive, from Australia. I do not see any on the road. It is in good condition. Yet all locals tell me it is not worth keeping, and I should junk it. Please advise. binobed I have a 17 year old Holden Calais, right hand drive, from Australia. I do not see any on the road. It is in good condition. Yet all locals tell me it is not worth keeping, and I should junk it.
Please advise.

binobed ]]> binobed http://www.motorcarforum.com/blogs/worth-saving-2/ http://www.motorcarforum.com/blogs/help-1/ Mon, 24 Mar 2008 15:46:54 GMT got a 1998 avantgarde 280 auto put car into drive went about 6 feet then stoped spining noise coming from rear axle. when car was runing there was a bit of vibratrion. got a 1998 avantgarde 280 auto put car into drive went about 6 feet then stoped spining noise coming from rear axle. when car was runing there was a bit of vibratrion. ]]> jamie58 http://www.motorcarforum.com/blogs/help-1/