Only one EV charger at home?!

I don't think that any car testing authority would be caught that way again. The engines might be tuned for minimum emissions rather than maximum power, but that isn't cheating, though the drivers might prefer a more irresponsible approach.

I remember being told by 'the hairy one*' of rallying that they spend a lot of money getting an auto shift from 100ms to 60ms.

Over a stage, it was over half a second... ...so lag is not inherent in an auto box.

Don't believe that that is even possible.

Or that either.

Never seen that with any automatic.

Don't believe that is possible.

You need to name the model.

One of the complaints about the transmission in my Toyota is 'but it only has four speeds'. Maybe with fewer choices it doesn't get confused. On long grades it does hunt between 3rd and 4th sometimes but that's easily fixed by moving the lever to 3rd.

You wouldn't always drive a manual in first gear.

My comment was about the claim that it was much more a case of dropping into too low a gear and revving hard to no real effect on the speed of the car.

No automatic would drop into first in that situation.

They are only tailgating because you are not driving fast enough:-)

Followed a split arse the other day with main beams and full horn on for over 6 miles and she never changed lane.

The highway code says you should allow those travelling faster than you to pass.

These days with dash-cams, it you were hit behind in those circumstances the car behind would have a valid claim if your brake-lights didn't illuminate.

If they were working and the likely reason for slowing was the handbrake then you could attract a charge of dangerous driving.

Either way, not a smart move.

I used to do the opposite. Some mk2 Sierras had the outer red lens as both brake and tail light, with the inner being the fog light and some (including mine) had the outer as tail and fog light, with the inner being the brake light. For mine, clicking the fog light switch on and then switching the side-lights on, made it look like I was hitting the brakes to whoever was following too close.

I've often been on a motorway in heavy traffic with somebody tailgating me. I can't go any faster because there is a car in front of me.

I hate motorways.

Andy

Just back from leftpondia. Once you get used to passing on both sides it abolishes the issue of idiots hogging the wrong lane. There seem to be quite a few US driving rules that could be usefully adopted here (but almost certainly never will be).

Tim

In these cases I irritate the f*ck, out of the tailgater by opening up the gap in front of me to 4-5 car lengths. In general, if the motorway gets really crowded I will move over into the 'lorry lane' where very long braking distances are understood, and do my 56mph in a relaxed manner.

Aircon, a good stereo and a pen drive full of my music keeps me entirely happy.

I hate crowded motorways. 3 a.m. and no cars and they are a real pleasure.

I've tried that. It also means that if the vehicle in front does do an emergency stop you can stop gently enough so the idiot doesn't wreck your car.

My car is more than 20 years old. No aircon (it was a dealer fit option, and I should have had it done. When I bought it I had no idea I would still have it 20 years later) no pen drive, just a CD changer.

B roads, OTOH - it's a targa top. We once went on a tour through the Pyrenees, and decided it was about perfect. Enough luggage space for two for a fortnight, small enough to fit down the roads, and enough power to get up the hills.

My wife's little shopping trolley car is better on the motorway!

Andy

In message snipped-for-privacy@news.individual.net>, Tim+ snipped-for-privacy@gmail.com writes

'Left turn on red' (obviously left in the UK) would be one of them.

But what could we offer them in return? I believe the Americans are rather suspicious of alien imports (especially the new-fangled thing called 'The Roundabout') .

Well, they should try this one: https://www.google.nl/maps/@52.0595773,4.727208,119m/data=!3m1!1e3!5m1!1e4?entry=ttu I use that one a few times per week, and it really helps, never a long queue. In the beginning there were some accidents, but we got used to it. Just be sure to take the proper lane when approaching...

Arie

Some parts of the US have had roundabouts, AKA 'traffic circles' for decades.

Yes, I know - but many drivers still can't get the hang of them. Mini-roundabouts don't exist, and they still prefer the 'Four Way Stop'

I think that they were initially against the idea, as the first versions were very different to ours, with cars on the roundabout having to give way to those entering - leading to no end of chaos and accidents.

We have one locally (except that it is give-ways) - it used to be a cross roads, with give-ways on the two side arms and the road without give-ways was no-entry on one exit. Many people missed that it was no-entry and carried straight on. The obvious solution was to place a bollard in that side of the road, but no, the council decided to move the give-ways onto the other road instead, hoping that it would make drivers look harder and think more. However, the residents did not want their give-ways removed, as they felt that traffic would come through faster, so the council instituted a four-way give-way. Now people from two, three and occasionally four directions all stop, all decide no one else is moving, set off and slam to a stop again. It is total chaos.