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166

General Car Chat / Re: iPace Buying Advice

« on: 27 June 2024, 21:20:44 »

TB is correct that some tariffs are time limited, afaik the two that aren't are octopus and ovo. Both give you as much cheap EV charging as you need, with slightly different strings attached.

One thing I would say is that if you are paying for your own 7kw charger install (and having run two EVs without one I would say it's mandatory for a big batteried car), you don't need to pay for a smart ev charger.

We had one because Octopus paid for it. But the octopus app talks directly to the car to schedule charging and apparently can do the same with the iPace. So we could have had the cheapest basic one going, and had the same result.

Also FWIW we've done 855 miles in six days in the car and no public charging was required. I've charged twice at my work because it's free, but I need not have done. 

167

General Car Chat / Re: iPace Buying Advice

« on: 27 June 2024, 00:38:49 »

I can't speak for the iPace issues (we didn't go for one as the rear space was a tad small for a rear facing child seat). But I can relay direct experience of using Octopus for cheap EV charging as we took delivery of a BMW iX last week via octopus (my employer's salary sacrifice provider).

We had a 7kw charger installed by octopus as part of the lease deal and they were very good. The installation was a week later then they said it would be, but was still done well ahead of the car coming. To compensate they gave me a £30 prepaid card to use for public charging. Nice gesture I thought.

The installation team were great and hooked up the smart charger in a morning (only about 15mins with the electric off). The octopus charging is all controlled through the app, I simply set my desired charge level and departure time and octopus schedule the charge slots. This means you can get more than the 6-7hrs of low cost electricity. For example tonight I'd run the battery right down and need to leave by 0730 tomorrow, so it's charging from 2200 all the way through to 0730. All at cheap rate.

So far, it's all worked faultlessly and if it continues, will be much more convenient than an ICE car for us.

As for the iPace, I did a test drive of almost all the premium SUV/crossover EVs and it was the nicest to drive by a good margin. Not as refined as the iX on the motorway but a better drive in every other respect.

FWIW I think they're a bargain second hand.

168

General Car Chat / Re: Timing belt brands - any good?

« on: 19 June 2024, 16:05:40 »

After having been off to find a responsible adult to talk to, she's come back with a price of £893. 


Now where did I put my spanners 

169

General Car Chat / Re: Timing belt brands - any good?

« on: 19 June 2024, 15:53:42 »

All are good, Dayco are often the Ford OE supplier for such items

Good to know thank you!

I get the savings perspective, but if it's say ~£250 Vs £100ish and your time... 

So I phoned Furrows, who own all the dealers around here and the lady on the service desk initially tried to tell me that the car is chain driven so there is no price for a belt change. At my insistence, she's off to find someone in another department to help her.

I did find out on the call though that an oil and air filter change (plus oil obviously) is £209 or £300 if I want Ford genuine parts to be used. IIRC this is more than JLR wanted to do the same job on the 3L disco. 

To say my confidence in Furrows is low would be an understatement. 

170

General Car Chat / Re: Timing belt brands - any good?

« on: 19 June 2024, 11:27:17 »

Do Frod do a fixed price cambelt change

Interesting question, I don't know the answer to but will find out. The kits mentioned above are all in the £65-80 range, so not a dear doing, even if I fork out £20 for the Chinese version of the fitting kit.

171

General Car Chat / Timing belt brands - any good?

« on: 19 June 2024, 09:59:57 »

Need to do the timing belt on the galaxy over the next few months and I've been looking at what kit to buy. Ford branded is circa three times the cost of any other and seeing as they don't make belts themselves I figure I'm paying for the blue oval box and a hologram.

The available brands I've heard of seem to be
- Gates
- SKF
- Contitech
- Dayco

Are these brands all much of a muchness or are there some which should be avoided?

172

General Discussion Area / Re: Google Pixel 8

« on: 18 June 2024, 11:32:39 »

Does anyone have one?

Are they any good?

In terms of longevity, I have a pixel 6, which still works well a couple of yrs in (battery still lasts all day, which is about the best you can hope for), which makes it the most durable phone I've had since they started coming with touch screens  .

173

General Discussion Area / Re: European elections

« on: 12 June 2024, 08:45:14 »

Thing is, if you don't vote, then you have no right to bitch and moan about the outcome.

Bitching and moaning after the event is a pretty pointless exercise.

I dunno, I'm quite looking forward to bitching and moaning about our shiny new Labour Govt to my lefty mate down the pub. 

Seeing him twist, turn and squirm as he tries to defend the inevitable shit show will be quite amusing! 

TBH you'll have to give it a few years for the 'blaming the last government ' shite to die off. Tbf, the current government tried it well into their second term in power so fair's fair I guess. 

174

General Car Chat / Re: So what have you done to your car today?

« on: 11 June 2024, 19:21:46 »

You can get a Bluetooth audio receiver that plugs into the 3.5mm aux. They work well IME and most modern smartphones allow you to connect to both these and the car's phone-only Bluetooth at the same time.

They generally get power from USB, but you can likewise buy a power adapter for the 12v socket.

175

General Car Chat / Evoque insurance shocker

« on: 07 June 2024, 21:55:49 »

The Evoque is going on 21st June so the 1st July renewal isn't particularly relevant. But given RIAS didn't know, the duly sent the renewal offer this morning.

I was interested to see the number given all the wailing and gnashing of teeth online about JLR insurance of late. Last year's premium was £556, this year... £443 

Part of me wonders if they missed the 1 off the front of this year's premium.   

176

General Car Chat / Re: So what have you done to your car today?

« on: 06 June 2024, 10:24:28 »

Given that when designing mine Ford chose one of those plastic toys children use to make shapes in plasticine as the template, then shipped one such toy with every car as the tool used to remove them, I'll probably buy a set of 20. 

177

General Car Chat / Re: So what have you done to your car today?

« on: 06 June 2024, 00:07:28 »

Those covered wheel studs really are a sh!t idea aren't they?! They're high on my list to replace with something better on our galaxy. Just as soon as I figure out what that is...

178

General Car Chat / Re: So what have you done to your car today?

« on: 05 June 2024, 22:48:06 »

Unfortunately you are correct, these days pretty much all cars are the same in pretty much all respects.

Anyway, I hope we both like it when it arrives, we'll be doing 20,000 miles a year in it. 

179

General Car Chat / Re: Budget Tyres

« on: 05 June 2024, 22:38:37 »

I put a pair of Royal Black something somethings on her Evoque when she ran over a kerb and buggered two up. they were £110 a piece for 20".

A royal black does sound like a make of dildo though 

180

General Car Chat / Re: So what have you done to your car today?

« on: 05 June 2024, 22:31:21 »

Who do you think I am, Opti?!

Anyway, these days some of the older forum members may not survive the suspense  .

We had a BMW iX.

The plan is to go down from three cars to two (keeping it and the galaxy). Made decent financial sense, and it's a really nice car to drive/be in, albeit exceptionally fugly from the front.