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[aaronjb]

Knowing (by reputation) how you drive and how a friend drives his Ranger (sideways, all the time) .. you'd probably have the same problem in one of those

It was a proper hoot to drive, though. Seeing as Nissan are still ducking* me around with the delivery date of the X-trail (it was meant to be mid September, it's now 31st October - my dealer hasn't told me but I know from another dealer it's due to a shortage of engines from the Ren/issan engine plant) I'm still tempted, it's even the same price per month with half the size deposit (which would get eaten by the increased fuel costs )

[Field Marshal Dr. Opti]

He'll either keep his Omega or buy a cute little Mazda MX5. 


Pink seems to suit this car nicely.

[Broomies Mate]

Lets be honest, anyone who can keep an Omega on the road but crash a Focus needs a few lessons in how to drive.

A Focus, even in ST form is a very easy car to keep on the black stuff.  The Omega, is not.

I am with you though, I prefer a RWD when things go 'a little bit wrong'.

[chrisgixer]

Plus, I'm sure with even a nano second of planning stupid boy pike TB could fill up on his way to or from work and avoid using petrol until the next working day

Only with a detour in rushhour traffic, it generally adds about 50mins to my journey (its about 3 miles out of the way) as opposed to about 20mins at BP (mainly because they are retards and would rather stack shelves than take payment).

However, Mrs TB has no options for filling, except Morrisons that is currently about 90 mins detour in rush hour traffic (about 4 miles each way).

There is a rumour that the really expensive BP on A5 just north of MK stopping LPG as well. Are BP pulling out, or at least rejigging which ones sell LPG?


So buying a thirsty petrol, then paying for conversion, in the hope that more LPG stations will open is looking less attractive than a good diesel at the moment.

Nip out at lunch time.

[TheBoy]

Plus, I'm sure with even a nano second of planning stupid boy pike TB could fill up on his way to or from work and avoid using petrol until the next working day

Only with a detour in rushhour traffic, it generally adds about 50mins to my journey (its about 3 miles out of the way) as opposed to about 20mins at BP (mainly because they are retards and would rather stack shelves than take payment).

However, Mrs TB has no options for filling, except Morrisons that is currently about 90 mins detour in rush hour traffic (about 4 miles each way).

There is a rumour that the really expensive BP on A5 just north of MK stopping LPG as well. Are BP pulling out, or at least rejigging which ones sell LPG?


So buying a thirsty petrol, then paying for conversion, in the hope that more LPG stations will open is looking less attractive than a good diesel at the moment.

Nip out at lunch time.

For both of us, that's not an option, as both of our places of work have insufficient parking.

Believe me, I've been through all options to keep a decently sized petrol engine car, but if you have to waste excessive time and mileage to fill, its viability falls right off.

[TheBoy]

Lets be honest, anyone who can keep an Omega on the road but crash a Focus needs a few lessons in how to drive.

I disagree - not about that I need lessons, we probably all do now. The Focus is miles better than the Escort it replaced, but is still an awful handling car that simply cannot consistently be placed inch perfect on the road, whether dry, wet or slippery. And not just my Focus, all Focus'

I grew up with FWD, and certainly owned more FWD than RWD, so this isn't an anti FWD rant. Most FWD cars handle, errr, like a FWD car. Its just the Focus (and Escort) that is so rubbish...  ...including the latest.

[chrisgixer]

Lets be honest, anyone who can keep an Omega on the road but crash a Focus needs a few lessons in how to drive.

I disagree - not about that I need lessons, we probably all do now. The Focus is miles better than the Escort it replaced, but is still an awful handling car that simply cannot consistently be placed inch perfect on the road, whether dry, wet or slippery. And not just my Focus, all Focus'

I grew up with FWD, and certainly owned more FWD than RWD, so this isn't an anti FWD rant. Most FWD cars handle, errr, like a FWD car. Its just the Focus (and Escort) that is so rubbish...  ...including the latest.

Focus and Mondeo are generally accepted as good handling cars. Something I have found to be the case with the ones I've driven. No problems here. ...no really. Precise, holds good corner speed, feeds back well, stable.

Each to their own and all that but no idea what TB is on about with this.

[chrisgixer]

So this diesel then. I'm guessing will be front wheel drive? So that will mean a manual on reliability grounds of course.

As budget will mean used, with the best and most reliable mileage already gone, an auto would be risky.

[omega3000]

Just has to be a cheap and cheerful Monaro then 

Listen

[Field Marshal Dr. Opti]

Just has to be a cheap and cheerful Monaro then 

Listen

No such animal in my experience.

The Monaro holds it's value better than any Merc.

[Sir Tigger KC]

Just has to be a cheap and cheerful Monaro then 

Listen

No such animal in my experience.

The Monaro holds it's chavviness better than any Merc.

Fixed!   

[TheBoy]

So this diesel then. I'm guessing will be front wheel drive? So that will mean a manual on reliability grounds of course.

As budget will mean used, with the best and most reliable mileage already gone, an auto would be risky.

If FWD, it will always be a manual. FWD auto is just wrong.

If RWD, not overly fussed if auto or manual, though since the demise of the little Rover, I'm missing my regular manual "fix". I get to drive other members' cars, but they are somebody else's pride and joy, so you can't drive them as hard and have as much fun.

[Broomies Mate]

Lets be honest, anyone who can keep an Omega on the road but crash a Focus needs a few lessons in how to drive.

I disagree - not about that I need lessons, we probably all do now. The Focus is miles better than the Escort it replaced, but is still an awful handling car that simply cannot consistently be placed inch perfect on the road, whether dry, wet or slippery. And not just my Focus, all Focus'

I grew up with FWD, and certainly owned more FWD than RWD, so this isn't an anti FWD rant. Most FWD cars handle, errr, like a FWD car. Its just the Focus (and Escort) that is so rubbish...  ...including the latest.

You have driven some shitters then - The Focus is one of the best handling small hatches FULL STOP.  In fact, I'm struggling to thing of another hatch which handles better..... nope, still cant think of one.

[chrisgixer]

So this diesel then. I'm guessing will be front wheel drive? So that will mean a manual on reliability grounds of course.

As budget will mean used, with the best and most reliable mileage already gone, an auto would be risky.

If FWD, it will always be a manual. FWD auto is just wrong.

If RWD, not overly fussed if auto or manual, though since the demise of the little Rover, I'm missing my regular manual "fix". I get to drive other members' cars, but they are somebody else's pride and joy, so you can't drive them as hard and have as much fun.

...and, as an after thought, no dicking about changing clutches with an auto.


Depends on the software and shift quality of that particular model though. Test drive?

[D]

The current and previous gen Focus handle extremely well as standard. To call them poor means either the particular car was wonky or the driver has supernatural handling requirements. Requirements that normal ordinary folk don't have on normal roads in this country.

As standard, my previous gen (2009) Focus ST handled much better than the Elite or MV6 I have. But torque steer was an issue, which the Omega doesn't suffer from.

Possibly the only FWD that handles better currently, is a Golf R. Dull, but clinically precise.

More recent Phaetons fall into the £265 tax bracket. Certainly a reasonable Omega replacement candidate.