Farage NEW PM

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Originally Posted by Graham Breeze

In the late 1960s/early 1970s FIAT used a lot of Russian steel (Italy being the most communist-oriented country in western Europe at the time) as part of a general cosy relationship between FIAT and communist regime car makers. So FIAT built car plants in Russia and sold the machinery that produced the Lada and the Polski FIAT, etc.

This eventually destroyed the reputation of FIAT, Alfa Romeo and Lancia for being other than rust buckets in countries where it rained - and in the case of Lancia led to its complete withdrawal from the UK market after the calamitous Lancia Beta.

Why do I remember? Because in my youth I had a bought-from-new FIAT 124 which was written off, when less than 4 years old, because of internal corrosion.

There is Swedish steel, Russian cheese pretending to be steel and whatever the Chinese choose to sell us steel.

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I do remember their reputation for rust. However, in 1985, or so, I bought a Fiat Uno from a lovely Irish couple who lived in Swanage, Dorset, with some 15,000 on the clock. In a bid to reverse their reputation, Fiat embalmed all of their cars in waxoil - quite a pleasant smell. That little Fiat went on to accumulate just under 200,000 miles before I gave it away, gratis, to a friend, and it lived on for a good few years afterwards. This was despite having an in-line 'tin' device, (the name of which I forget) in the fuel line when they phased out leaded fuel. The 'tin' increased the octane level. At the time, I heard about this device at a VW Beetle owners club meeting and the designer had used them during WW2, on the GB spitfires, sent to the USSR, as the Russian fuel had poor octane levels. You see, Russia again!!

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Originally Posted by Mossdog

I do remember their reputation for rust. However, in 1985, or so, I bought a Fiat Uno from a lovely Irish couple who lived in Swanage, Dorset, with some 15,000 on the clock. In a bid to reverse their reputation, Fiat embalmed all of their cars in waxoil - quite a pleasant smell. That little Fiat went on to accumulate just under 200,000 miles before I gave it away, gratis, to a friend, and it lived on for a good few years afterwards. This was despite having an in-line 'tin' device, (the name of which I forget) in the fuel line when they phased out leaded fuel. The 'tin' increased the octane level. At the time, I heard about this device at a VW Beetle owners club meeting and the designer had used them during WW2, on the GB spitfires, sent to the USSR, as the Russian fuel had poor octane levels. You see, Russia again!!

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FIAT did sort themselves out - but for a car to fail its first MOT as effectively scrap...! Even the garage was astonished and looked up the build date to check it hadn't been stored in a field for a few years before registration.

Anyway for the last thirty years I have only driven a Mercedes. You can always trust German engineering. Ha ha!

https://cdn-uks.imagedelivery.space/...?fm=webp&h=600

Bahco, the world's best shifter, made from swedish steel.

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Originally Posted by mr brightside

https://cdn-uks.imagedelivery.space/...?fm=webp&h=600

Bahco, the world's best shifter, made from swedish steel.

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When I started work in 1966 I was issued with one of these, I still have it and it still looks like new.

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Originally Posted by Graham Breeze

You can always trust German engineering. Ha ha!

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just not their emissions data

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Originally Posted by Witton Park

just not their emissions data

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Ah yes. So could all you Mercedes, et al, owners form two queues:

- those that scrupulously studied emission data before choosing the same make of car that Hitler paraded around Paris in, believing that their stonking diesel engine would be doing good to the planet, and,

- those with an eye to the main chance of compensation who will protest that they feel betrayed and are not just opportunistic hypocrites and that the issue is about principle and not about money and greed. Not at all. Oh dear me no.:D

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Originally Posted by Graham Breeze

Ah yes. So could all you Mercedes, et al, owners form two queues:

- those that scrupulously studied emission data before choosing the same make of car that Hitler paraded around Paris in, believing that their stonking diesel engine would be doing good to the planet, and,

- those with an eye to the main chance of compensation who will protest that they feel betrayed and are not just opportunistic hypocrites and that the issue is about principle and not about money and greed. Not at all. Oh dear me no.:D

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In 1980 our college lecturer explained the fallacy of clean diesel and health issues with particulate emissions, do you think that would preclude me from winning a claim? ;)

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Originally Posted by Steph

In 1980 our college lecturer explained the fallacy of clean diesel and health issues with particulate emissions, do you think that would preclude me from winning a claim? ;)

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Absolutely not.

I am confident any avaricious, mendacious, opportunistic ambulance-chasing lawyer will advise you that being intelligent, well informed and of sound mind and in full control of all your critical intellectual faculties will not be the slightest hindrance to your taking your rightful place at the front of the queue for the money trough.

I will save you a place:D

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Originally Posted by Steph

In 1980 our college lecturer explained the fallacy of clean diesel and health issues with particulate emissions, do you think that would preclude me from winning a claim? ;)

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I'm tempted to buy an old EV just so I can scoop up some £££ when the 'truth' finally dawns in a decade or so.. :)

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Originally Posted by Mossdog

I'm tempted to buy an old EV just so I can scoop up some £££ when the 'truth' finally dawns in a decade or so.. :)

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I collected my new car two weeks ago. It runs on petrol.

Of course I can only drive it at night because it lacks the green "look at me I'm holier than thou because I'm saving the planet" splodge on the number plate.:(