China Romance
General Discussion and Useful Links => The Campfire => Topic started by: Willy The Londoner on May 02, 2013, 07:34:56 pm
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Yes Gents. Even I have come to a point where I need help. I think I have had a complete breakdown.
We spent the whole day on Tuesday at the motor show. Then Wednesday we went out and about around various car showrooms and finally settled on ordering a new runabout car.
I can just see myself driving around, maybe picking up the odd young lady waiting forlornly at the roadside! Cruising down the sidewalk and occasionally driving along the street itself.
I had my mind set on a VW Jetta but the lady sales assistant took me on a test drive and on the way I received a great blow job.... I do mean from the cars A/C as it was a really hot day.
But seriously I think I have gone too far with this purchased.
We are awaiting delivery of a General Motors vehicle.! Yes an American car albeit one built in China but still basically American. My only consolation would be if GM is not making any profit so that at least I cannot be accused of helping the US Economy.
Is there any hope for me on the downturn in my beliefs!!!
But on the serious side forget the make, forget the size of engine, the miles per gallon or the color. It's one really good point is that it has a great horn to honk.
Willy
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I think the title of this thread answers the question for you Willy.
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First Willy saying that you need help is the first sign of improvement.
Unfortunately for you, you will help the American economy BUT don't worry. Our new health care policy will eat up all of the profit. You will only be helping Obama, Nancy Polosi, Harry Reid, and my all time favorite "Butt Buddy Barney Frank."
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Don't they make some kind of device for Barney...so that he can't get any? Oh that's right...he'll enjoy it immensely, and after how he stuck it to millions!
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Willy I htink I told you LONG before you got the car that you needed help!! ;D ;D ;D :o
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Does the horn work? It's the most important thing a car needs here.
Well when it arrives are you going to drive up here? There are some great elevated toll roads in Guangzhou so you don't have to drive with the riff-raff, and you get a better view.
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Does the horn work? It's the most important thing a car needs here.
As anyone who has been here will know that the horn is the most important part of the car. I did note that almost everyone who came into one of the various showrooms I visited when buying my car did not lift the bonnet (hood) but they got into the car and blasted the horn.
Willy
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If you ever get car problems there are about 4000 vehicle repair shops between me and the nearest metro station. I should go out and take more photos, it's total chaos over there but fun to watch.
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I am curious about parking in your neighborhood, is a parking space included with your home or will you park on the street? I know residential parking spaces in many cities are at a premium price. Many home realtors offer parking space as an added amenity to entice consumers to purchase their homes!
Regards, Robert
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We have underground parking available in our complex. Keeps the car out of the hot sun in the day and when it wet you stay dry when you get in or out at home.
Plenty of parking here as Zhongshan is still a small city with wide road and few cars at the moment. Right outside our complex we have car repairers, the Goodyear dealership and the hand wash merchants.
Willy
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Willy , I may have missed what you actually ended up buying , a pre 2000 Mustang would have been nice , the girls you would entice and no need for a bowl of rice , but you would have added a lot of spice , regards Sujuan and Robert .
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My step son wanted me to buy Chevvie Cruze. But that is no longer my thing. So I settled for something that I could actually fit into to. The Chinese cars really are made for short people.
But the passenger seat fold back very nicely!!!! 8)
Willy
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See the USA in a Chevrolet. ;D Kind of has a nice ring to it. :P
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Here is a good model for you Willy! It has a roomy passenger cabin for you and passengers! You will be comfortable cruising the expressway and also has the potential to make money for you also. You can open a taxi/tour service in your area to keep you busy and add some extra RMB's to your retirement portfolio. ;D You can offer car tours of the city to all the Yanks visiting your region. ;)
(http://bestsellingcarsblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/DongFeng-Mini-Van-China-July-2011.jpg)
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Seeing that Willy doesn't really want an American car I thought I might suggest one... or two. :P I will include pictures.
Car number 1: A simple but functional and will rhyme with Willy. His Hillbilly car.
Car number 2: Seeing how traffic in China can be somewhat cumbersome vehicle number two, being a small improvement on number can can be a great asset for you.
Please notice that both cars have the necessary horn for China. ;D
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I had you figured for an Aston Martin Man Willy...dont spoil the image and buy some cheap rubbish !!!!!!
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David, you calling American cars cheap rubbish? >:(
Dem's fighting words!!!!!
Another jingle; You can trust your car to the man who wears the star...
Anyone but an older American, can you tell me what oil company that jingle is from?
And yes Vince that means you can't answer. I know you already know it.
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Easy one. I heard that jingle all my childhood years.
T---CO
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Maybe I should have said anyone under the age of 40.
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Hell I could tell you even what TV show it sponsored.
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Who was the long time spokesman for this company?
I'll answer that with just initials BH & his club.
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I saw a Bob tail cat yesterday. I Hope it didn't see me. ;D
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David, you calling American cars cheap rubbish? >:(
Dem's fighting words!!!!!
I once (quite recently) had the "pleasure" of owning a Jeep ...it was the top of the range Overlander and was brand new........
I have also owned many, many different breeds of cars from BMW M3 to real old Fords and the like.
This Jeep was a nightmare, in 10 months had 11 recalls for safety related Factory fixes, had 4 "unsheduled" roadside breakdowns and lots of pieces simply fell off...both outside and inside.
So from my (limited) experience, yes, it was rubbish...but it was not cheap !!!
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Wow, David... your experience is completely different from mine. I have 3 cars, my oldest is my Jeep. It was born in 1993. It still runs great and I still drive it all the time. It has over 300,000 miles on it. Also have a Mustang and Fusion Hybrid SE. I use the Hybrid for long trips, the Mustang for fun, and the Jeep is still my regular, around the town, vehicle. I love my Jeep.
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Ford man here, been for decades. Had GM's always some problem from engine head cracks to rear axel snapping at 35 mph. Had a Jeep Laredo 89 I think it was (new) on a wet parkway (freeway, whatever) turn in 4 wheel drive it slid out at 50 mph stopping at a guardrail with a 30 foot drop. Sold a week later. Mazda was good, lasted 8 years.
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I have a Ford, a Chevy and a 1971 Volkswagen Beetle. The Chevy is on blocks while I rebuild the exhaust. The Ford Exploder I just discovered has a blown head gasket. Well after all it has 160,000 miles on it. The VW needs a ground up restoration.
Best auto I ever had was a 1991 Mercury Marquis Wagon. After we got the dealership drunk out from under the hood it was a great car. Bought it new and put 250,000 miles on it. Nothing broke. I had 2 Ford Windstars. They were junk. I owned a 1972 Porsche 928. It was always in the shop and rode like a tank.
But my favorites were always my VW's. Had a 1961 Karman Ghia that I rolled down a portion of Pike's Peak and kept on going. 8)
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My dad had bought a used Chevy Corvair from Hertz... I think in 1960-1962. Ralph Nader had published his Corvair book "Unsafe at any speed? The front would raise up at 65 mph and start dancing. My pop was an engineer at Boeing and had just the right solution! Two cinder-block bricks in the front end trunk! Everyone thought he was nuts! He drove that car well over 350k with just a timing belt and oil changes for 10 more years
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Wow, David... your experience is completely different from mine. I have 3 cars, my oldest is my Jeep. It was born in 1993. It still runs great and I still drive it all the time. It has over 300,000 miles on it. Also have a Mustang and Fusion Hybrid SE. I use the Hybrid for long trips, the Mustang for fun, and the Jeep is still my regular, around the town, vehicle. I love my Jeep.
But yours was an OLD JEEP. 20 years old. But now you can see why the American economy is failing!
They can no longer make a Jeep that is reliable. Gone are the days when Bob Mitchum would ride up as a passenger in one, cigar in mouth reviewing his troops and it never lets him down.
Willy
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Maybe we should not be revealing that you all have never old cars that need a lot of maintenance. Any Chinese women reading this will think all foreigners are as poor as church mice.
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"would ride up as a passenger in one, cigar in mouth reviewing his troops"
Different Jeep company those were Willys jeep. ;D Chrysler bought out Jeep... well actually Chrysler bought American Motors (Rambler) that took over the Jeep production. American Motors was combined by (I think) 3 car manufacturers. Nash, Hudson and I think Packard? Desoto? well one of those from just before my time.
btw my Ford is almost entirely (mechanical) a Volvo.
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Zoot et al
I dont doubt that the original Jeep that won WW II singlehanded (along with John Wayne) was a very fine piece of mechanical equipment...and I know there are many still going strong out threr.
But I am talking about a brand new, 2008 model Jeep Grand Cherokee - Overlander, which cost AUD $74,000 back then !!! It was definately a piece of junk. Got rid of it and incurred a huge loss after 14 months...never again !!
I went back to my first love which is BMW, of which I have owned 16 in the past 28 years.
I just bought my dear wife a beautiful 330CI convertible, which was a useful opportunity to upgrade my own car to a 330 Diesel Coupe...wow, that car has got some grunt !!!!
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Maybe we should not be revealing that you all have never old cars that need a lot of maintenance. Any Chinese women reading this will think all foreigners are as poor as church mice.
Haha... maybe that is a good thing and will reduce the expectations many have. 100,000 rmb dowry? I can't get past that thread. ;)
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Had my first drive around the back streets of the old town of Zhongshan this morning. Those streets sure look wider when you are walking them! But managed to get through without any get togethers.
Went out again this afternoon and found another selection of back lanes. Got more confident this time as I did the whole of the journey with my eyes open, well most of the time.
On the back roads, pedestrians and bikes are the major problem. The wider roads, no problems other than they are full of Chinese drivers and you just cannot anticipate what they may do next without ant signal. However as a driver you become more aware of the bikes and motor bikes and those mechanised rickshaws traveling towards you against the flow of traffic.
I get a break tonight as my wife wants me to take her out for her first drive in the new wheels. I am beginning to wonder why we bought such a large car? No only that why did we bought one with a passenger seat!
Willy
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Well if you ever get this far up remember to keep switching lanes as much as you can.
Bus journeys here are so exciting with so many U-bends and blind corners. There are also couple of routes where we have to cross a couple of lanes of traffic to get to the flyover - that's really exciting :D.
I keep seeing new acts of stupidity - tonight it was a kid cycling down Baiyun's 8 lane main freeway. What made it worse was that the kid was cycling the wrong way, had no lights on his bike and he also had stabilising wheels on the back.
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Well I guess it had to happen sooner or later. The new car received its first minor interaction with another vehicle yesterday. :'(
My wife was driving and someone in town decided to overtake in a newly narrowed road at the same time she had to move out slightly for a motorised rickshaw.
Result was a broken drivers mirror and a slight scratch to the drivers door. She said it was not her fault!!! But a look at the video recorded incident taken for the drivers mirror position of our car and I guess it was her fault mostly. No damage to the other car.
I guess I was really surprised she went 4 months in China without having any such incident. ;D
Mind you the same day she was on to the garage to get it all put back to how it was.
The video recording is something fitted to the car that I did not know about.
Willy