Those "German" style reg plates.

joujoujou · 25-08-2015 01:40PM

dr.fuzzenstein wrote: »

How about Maschienenfabricken Augsburg Nürnberg or Messerschmitt Bölkow Blohm?

Nein!

VEB Sachsenring Automobilwerke Zwickau.

dr.fuzzenstein · 25-08-2015 03:22PM

joujoujou wrote: »

Nein!

VEB Sachsenring Automobilwerke Zwickau.

Pure Quality!

This car didn't have a fuel gauge, you have to open the tank and insert a dipstick. :pac::D

We sure know how to come up with snazzy names for stuff!

CiniO · 25-08-2015 04:46PM

dr.fuzzenstein wrote: »

Pure Quality!

This car didn't have a fuel gauge, you have to open the tank and insert a dipstick. :pac::D

We sure know how to come up with snazzy names for stuff!

Trabant?
My dad had one, and it had normal fuel gauge. It was even electronic with with LED diodes. I think 4 green meant full, 2 green were half, and one orange was low.
Something like that anyway.

spurious · 25-08-2015 04:52PM

CiniO wrote: »

Trabant?

Wasn't the bodywork on a Trabant made out of an almost cardboard like substance?

I remember driving from Gdansk to Westerplatte in a friend's father's Trabant. It broke down half way there.

CiniO · 25-08-2015 04:57PM

spurious wrote: »

Wasn't the bodywork on a Trabant made out of an almost cardboard like substance?

I remember driving from Gdansk to Westerplatte in a friend's father's Trabant. It broke down half way there.

Heh it wasn't as bad as cardboards, but I think it was some kind of plastic anyway.
Very soft.
My dad had one in first part of 90's. Bought brand new in 1991, that was last batch of them equipped with 4 cylinder 4 stroke VW 1.1 engine

A beast

Hachiko · 25-08-2015 06:29PM

millington wrote: »

Yes you do, only thing is they won't drive with them on as much because the police are stricter than the Gardaí but at shows and things they are quite common

i have never seen them on the main roads, you will get pulled over without a doubt. Shows is a different thing.

umop apisdn · 25-08-2015 06:36PM

The popularity of German cars in Ireland is a bit of a contraction, given their unreliability and high prices. Not something the Irish normally take to.

dr.fuzzenstein · 25-08-2015 06:47PM

CiniO wrote: »

Heh it wasn't as bad as cardboards, but I think it was some kind of plastic anyway.
Very soft.
My dad had one in first part of 90's. Bought brand new in 1991, that was last batch of them equipped with 4 cylinder 4 stroke VW 1.1 engine A beast

That would explain the fuel gauge. Older 2 stroke models didn't have it, there was a Trabant at the Limerick VW show and it did not have a fuel gauge.
I suppose later on that would have changed.
There was an urban legend in Germany in the 90's that Trabants caused a lot of accidents on the Autobahn, they went to overtake a truck at 0.001 km/h faster than the truck, thinking that BMW appearing as a dot in their rear view mirror going 250 km/h wouldn't be here for another 10 minutes.

Hachiko · 25-08-2015 07:35PM

umop apisdn wrote: »

The popularity of German cars in Ireland is a bit of a contraction, given their unreliability and high prices. Not something the Irish normally take to.

Lots of people in Ireland own German cars (and quite a few boardsies), albeit mostly low spec and almost all diesels. Not very inspiring. There are nice examples out there for sure but mostly in the minority. Certainly some posters here have fine cars and I am not taking anything away from them.

tossy · 25-08-2015 07:47PM

Hachiko wrote: »

Lots of people in Ireland own German cars (and quite a few boardsies), albeit mostly low spec and almost all diesels. Not very inspiring. There are nice examples out there for sure but mostly in the minority. Certainly some posters here have fine cars and I am not taking anything away from them.

Stop trolling.

dr.fuzzenstein · 25-08-2015 07:48PM

Hachiko wrote: »

Lots of people in Ireland own German cars (and quite a few boardsies), albeit mostly low spec and almost all diesels. Not very inspiring. There are nice examples out there for sure but mostly in the minority. Certainly some posters here have fine cars and I am not taking anything away from them.

It's just what reality dictates. Not all of us can run a 2.5 liter petrol turbo 6 cylinder for the daily grind, Ireland is a country that specifically makes it very expensive, wouldn't want to see anyone getting on and doing better sort of thing...
We're more "see that bastard doing well, I'll soon fix his wagon!" and "I see you got some money there, well you'll be giving that to me now when the new nose and ear tax comes into effect!"
In Ireland we don't do support and encourage, we do tax, ban and fcuk you for every cent you got.

Neilw · 25-08-2015 07:50PM

umop apisdn wrote: »

The popularity of German cars in Ireland is a bit of a contraction, given their unreliability and high prices. Not something the Irish normally take to.

For the most part German cars are better finished, more comfortable, nicer looking and depending on the model nicer to drive..residuals are usually better too.

There's more to life than driving a Toyota eventless

Marty McFly · 25-08-2015 07:54PM

Neilw wrote: »

For the most part German cars are better finished, more comfortable, nicer looking and depending on the model nicer to drive..residuals are usually better too.

There's more to life than driving a Toyota eventless

That and the so called reliability issue are often overstated.

umop apisdn · 25-08-2015 08:23PM

Neilw wrote: »

For the most part German cars are better finished, more comfortable, nicer looking and depending on the model nicer to drive..residuals are usually better too.

I used to big fan of German motors, and as a result had quite a few German cars over the years and I found all of them only average at best in all those departments, combined with the lack of reliability, and high prices, and high repair costs, and in recent years, the even more drab than usual styling, inside and out - they just don't float my boat anymore or live up to the hype. I know this is against the groupthink, but hey what can I do.

Neilw · 25-08-2015 08:41PM

umop apisdn wrote: »

I used to big fan of German motors, and as a result had quite a few German cars over the years and I found all of them only average at best in all those departments, combined with the lack of reliability, and high prices, and high repair costs, and in recent years, the even more drab than usual styling, inside and out - they just don't float my boat anymore or live up to the hype. I know this is against the groupthink, but hey what can I do.

Just curious but what car would you think ticks all the boxes?

Technique · 25-08-2015 08:44PM

I would never drive a German car because of what happened to my Grandad.

YbFocus · 25-08-2015 08:46PM

Technique wrote: »

I would never drive a German car because of what happened to my Grandad.

What happened your grandad?
What do you drive?

Technique · 25-08-2015 08:48PM

YbFocus wrote: »

What happened your grandad?

He had an Opel Kadett in the 70's that gave an awful lot of trouble.

umop apisdn · 25-08-2015 08:51PM

Neilw wrote: »

Just curious but what car would you think ticks all the boxes?

I think every car is a compromise in at least a few departments. I guess I'm bemused by the hype German cars generate in Ireland. Maybe it's because I remember the era when although overpriced, they were eternally reliable and streets ahead of other marques. I believe they are trading on a once true old reputation, that in reality does not hold up to careful scrutiny today. Not a popular opinion in Ireland, but there you go.

YbFocus · 25-08-2015 08:51PM

Technique wrote: »

He had an Opel Kadett in the 70's that gave an awful lot of trouble.

Ah well, why didn't you say. Perfectly good reason to write off a whole country's auto industry.

tossy · 25-08-2015 08:53PM

Technique wrote: »

He had an Opel Kadett in the 70's that gave an awful lot of trouble.

You are dead right, my grandad went on holidays in Germany in the 40's and said it was an awful place, I'll never go on holidays there! they need to get their act together.

YbFocus · 25-08-2015 08:56PM

tossy wrote: »

You are dead right, my grandad went on holidays in Germany in the 40's and said it was an awful place, I'll never go on holidays there! they need to get their act together.

Plot twist, he drives a SEAT..

tossy · 25-08-2015 08:58PM

YbFocus wrote: »

Plot twist, he drives a SEAT..

Those Spanish make fine cars in fairness.

YbFocus · 25-08-2015 09:01PM

tossy wrote: »

Those Spanish make fine cars in fairness.

Even though Spain remained neutral in WW2 I think the Germans having ownership of the company will mean it falls outside Technique's grandfather based purchasing regime.

Would there manufacture in Spain be enough to allow a purchase? I don't know

Comhrá · 25-08-2015 09:10PM

Technique wrote: »

He had an Opel Kadett in the 70's that gave an awful lot of trouble.

Well, to be honest, most cars in the 70's gave an awful lot of trouble - at least the ones I had at any rate. . .

Neilw · 25-08-2015 09:13PM

umop apisdn wrote: »

I think every car is a compromise in at least a few departments. I guess I'm bemused by the hype German cars generate in Ireland. Maybe it's because I remember the era when although overpriced, they were eternally reliable and streets ahead of other marques. I believe they are trading on a once true old reputation, that in reality does not hold up to careful scrutiny today. Not a popular opinion in Ireland, but there you go.

True about compromises but if German cars are so bad what would too choose instead?

YbFocus · 25-08-2015 09:13PM

If he says an IS250 I'm gone from this place

umop apisdn · 25-08-2015 09:19PM

Neilw wrote: »

True about compromises but if German cars are so bad what would too choose instead?

I didn't say they were "so bad", if you want to quote me, please do so accurately. Also in case anyone is getting confused I don't class anything by GM as German.

I don't know what I'd choose these days, all much of a muchness, currently, nothing seems to be much ahead of anything.

Neilw · 25-08-2015 09:22PM

umop apisdn wrote: »

I don't know it's pretty hard these days, all much of a muchness, nothing seems to be much ahead of anything.

I see, more or less a level playing field

umop apisdn · 25-08-2015 09:25PM

Neilw wrote: »

I see, more or less a level playing field

No, not exactly, again your words don't fit well in my mouth. German cars are not the worst, but they are only average, which means they are not worth the extra money and hassle in my book, but if you're happy t pay extra for them, knock yourself out. It's not my money.

Those "German" style reg plates.

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