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[STEMO]

Just picked the spare up from argos, brand spanker, £112, happy.

[Diamond Black Geezer]

Perhaps not so much an issue when you've got a new/ish car, but I've ended up by the roadside several times in the last 6 months changing wheels over, due to leaking rims. Obviously more of an issue caused by 20-ish yr old alloys, but nevertheless glad I had a full-size spare with me. 

[Field Marshal Dr. Opti]

Just picked the spare up from argos, brand spanker, £112, happy.

My Omega came with a spare so no need to spend £112.

My Signum also has a spare......although some say it will only fit the rear.

[Field Marshal Dr. Opti]

It's annoying that a full size spare is considered to be an 'optional extra' these days.

[Diamond Black Geezer]

Excessively. I agree.

Thing is, when you walk into the showroom all the spangly pretty bits are what people see. They don't realise the air suspension will fail, there's no spare wheel, the boot apeture tapers and is useless, the lamp inits have to be removed with special tools just to change a bulb, that seal can't be changed, you have to take out the whole assembly and replace with a new one, the ride though great for that initial test drive is too harsh and crashy over time. I don't want to wander into 'old man' territory, but there's so many/too many things now which are aimed at less user-friendliness, or deliberate and snide attempts to make servicing/owner-mechanic repair harder.

Looked at some pics of a HC Viva today, and had forgot just how logically laid out everything was, the bootlid was literally as large as possible, allowing the maximum access, the dashboard was reversible for LH/RH drive models (6 years before the SD1 did it) stuff was simple and elegant.

I know the counter argument is 'ahh, Vivas rubbish build quality, I had one it broke down, smelled of cat poo etc etc..' I'm talking about fundamentals laid down at the design and engineering stage. Logical, simple, neat and maintainable solutions. Repair it, not 'undo it and throw it away and screw a new one in' philosophy. 

[Diamond Black Geezer]

And so it looks like I'm not decrying all modern automobilia, look at Skoda, and some of the neat and logical solutions they install on their cars. It's really beautiful, the bootlight unclips to become a torch, hidden storage, umbrellas in the doors, clever bottleholders, all sorts of neat ideas. Clearly the ethos there is 'no-ones going to buy our cars on style and prestige, so let's make them buy because of simply how good/clever they are.' 

[05omegav6]

Just picked the spare up from argos, brand spanker, £112, happy.

My Omega came with a spare so no need to spend £112.

My Signum also has a spare......although some say it will only fit the rear.

Depends on front disc size... That said, the rear is the only sensible place to put it given that all the steering,tractiin and braking happens at the front...

Spare wheel well will take a full size 16" wheel, and probably a 17"... Certainly the Vectra C will in any body shape

[Gaffers]

Did STEMO just sneak in a tyre thread with nobody noticing?

[STEMO]

Did STEMO just sneak in a tyre thread with nobody noticing?

Ermmmmm.......yes. There....I admitted it. 

[Sir Tigger KC]

Just picked the spare up from argos, brand spanker, £112, happy.

I didn't know Argos sold wheels and tyres!    Do they sell jacks and wheelbraces too?   

[STEMO]

Just picked the spare up from argos, brand spanker, £112, happy.

I didn't know Argos sold wheels and tyres!    Do they sell jacks and wheelbraces too?   

When the lady put my number into the 'till' and said "I'll just pop round the back and get it", I did have a slight grin. But she coped admirably, hardly any veins sticking out of her forehead at all. 

[Nick W]

Just picked the spare up from argos, brand spanker, £112, happy.

I didn't know Argos sold wheels and tyres!    Do they sell jacks and wheelbraces too? 

They don't sell cars either. But you could probably pick up a Renault

[Kevin Wood]

Just picked the spare up from argos, brand spanker, £112, happy.

I didn't know Argos sold wheels and tyres!    Do they sell jacks and wheelbraces too? 

They don't sell cars either. But you could probably pick up a Renault

Yep, they do sell lots of nasty plastic things, so possibly.

[2boxerdogs]

I say bring back the spare wheel.......and the tax disc.

.     


And a proper MOT certificate..

[2boxerdogs]

The Merc came with a directional tyre as the spare , manual advises use on rear or front left wheel only !! Why I do not know, have had it changed for a matching Continental.,so can be used wherever.