Unofficial Royal Enfield Community Forum

General Discussion => Campfire Talk => Topic started by: Chasfield on January 31, 2010, 02:15:39 pm

Title: Living in the world economy - a serf's notes
Post by: Chasfield on January 31, 2010, 02:15:39 pm
Time to change my 11 year old Skoda for a new car.

Naturally, as a 21st century serf, my choice is limited to the cheapest ones that money can buy.

I try a number of far eastern made city cars for size. The common factor on these vehicles is the lower calf slit that passes for rear seat legroom. No good for my tall children.

The larger Skoda Fabia would have been a nice logical replacement for my old clunker, but these start at 9K GBP - if I had that much to spend I would be spending it on something else plus a UCE Bullet. Get real with those Skodas, Volkswagen.

Anyhow, I am on the point of giving up as I look in at the local VW dealer. It turns out that a basic VW Fox is within my budget and is one foot longer in the wheelbase than any of the city cars that I looked at. It's a no-brainer and I sign up for a scrappage trade in.

So, I used to buy eastern bloc Skodas because I couldn't afford a VW. Now, I finish up with a Volkwagen because I can't afford a Volkswagenised Skoda.

Then I go home and Google up the Volkswagen Fox. Turns out that the monocoque is the same as the Skoda Fabia and the engine is a Skoda manufactured triple.

So, I pretty much got my Fabia anyway - and I can pretend its a Triumph T160 Trident.

Does this story have any relevance to A Royal Enfield forum? Well, it makes me appreciate the transparent pedigree and straightforward origins of RE products. They are not into badge engineering or wrapping one thing up as another.

And long may it remain so.

 :)
Title: Re: Living in the world economy - a serf's notes
Post by: PhilJ on January 31, 2010, 03:17:45 pm
I feel for your plight. It is regretful of what our society has become in order to make money. The old fashioned way is certainly not in vogue.
Title: Re: Living in the world economy - a serf's notes
Post by: ace.cafe on January 31, 2010, 03:56:14 pm
A vintage Berkeley B105 would be nice.
They had a Royal Enfield Interceptor engine in them.
And they could do "the Ton"!

(http://static3.carsablanca.de/files/medias/filename/Berkeley_B105_6476_big.jpg)
Title: Re: Living in the world economy - a serf's notes
Post by: PaulF on January 31, 2010, 04:38:50 pm
Too bad you're in GB. I understand that Honda won't sell these there. In keeping with the no-nonsence theme. Its got a rubber floor, (no carpet at all), waterproof interior, AWD, 77 cubic feet of space, an engine that's been around for 25 years and was under 20K US when new in 2007. I refer to it as my microvan.
Title: Re: Living in the world economy - a serf's notes
Post by: Chasfield on January 31, 2010, 05:30:59 pm
PaulF

That looks like an honest, no-nonsense set of wheels.

Ace:

That little roadster is cool. The Mini killed off a whole genre of interesting small sports cars. The Japanese could still see the good in them with cars like the S800, which was a little jewel.
Title: Re: Living in the world economy - a serf's notes
Post by: jdrouin on January 31, 2010, 08:41:34 pm
I didn't realize just how old school your Skoda was:

(http://blog.hemmings.com/wp-content/uploads/2007/06/Skoda%20II.jpg)
Title: Re: Living in the world economy - a serf's notes
Post by: Ice on January 31, 2010, 08:52:49 pm
Br. Chasfield,
 Ownership of a '99 Skoda makes you a king of serfs among us under serfs who drive '85 model year vehicles.  ;)
Title: Re: Living in the world economy - a serf's notes
Post by: ScooterBob on January 31, 2010, 09:17:14 pm
I feel for your plight. It is regretful of what our society has become in order to make money. The old fashioned way is certainly not in vogue.

Turn to the East and give a nod to the fellows at the RE Factory! While they are working HARD to keep us all in World Class motorcycles, they still do things the "old fashioned" way to keep our Enfields ALL Enfield! You'll probably NOT be finding a Honda engine in one any time soon - and the fellows at the factory are all about hand building them to assure the quality that we've become used to - and to retain the character that we love about these bikes! I hope they never have to succumb to the "horse trading" of badging and technology that the auto industry has had to in order to survive. Homologated "AnyCars" will get you to work - but they don't inspire like a true classically designed and built Enfield will .....  ;)
Title: Re: Living in the world economy - a serf's notes
Post by: Chasfield on January 31, 2010, 09:21:54 pm
ScooterBob
That's just it. My new VW  is just an appliance, like a washing machine.


Ice
I guess I should seek out some 85ers and lord it over them a bit.
 ;D


JD
That there is the luxury model with those wide log-cut wheels - always beyond my means. I had to be satisfied with regular ply-wood ones on my Skoda.

:D

Title: Re: Living in the world economy - a serf's notes
Post by: Lahti35 on February 01, 2010, 04:37:37 am
I didn't realize just how old school your Skoda was:

(http://blog.hemmings.com/wp-content/uploads/2007/06/Skoda%20II.jpg)


All terrian log? The "other" NDT?
Title: Re: Living in the world economy - a serf's notes
Post by: chinoy on February 01, 2010, 04:21:18 pm
My one and only car is 96 1.3 Ltr little Suzki Esteem which I purchased 2nd hand.
My C5 cost twice what my cars worth.

I still love my car to bits. And wouldnt want to change even if I won the lottery.

I run 4-28 PSI of boost which is controled by a knob in the cabin.
It has carbs and a distributor.

Dont complain. Just count your blessings.
Title: Re: Living in the world economy - a serf's notes
Post by: ScooterBob on February 01, 2010, 08:01:58 pm
ScooterBob
That's just it. My new VW  is just an appliance, like a washing machine.


That's the way I feel about a lot of new bikes - refrigerators with handlebars .... The Enfield is a brilliant change of pace!
Title: Re: Living in the world economy - a serf's notes
Post by: Chasfield on February 02, 2010, 03:31:22 pm
My gloom and confusion about modern day badge engineering is further illustrated here:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/8489079.stm

I especially love this sentence.

"Both models (Citroen C1, Peugeot 107) are made in a Czech plant, a joint venture with Toyota that assembles around 200,000 Peugeot and Citroen cars every year."

It makes me think back to the Soviet era and the Leningrad Auto Plant Number 6 (or whatever). These manufacturers, just like the old competition-less Soviet ones, think they have got it made, and us just where they want us. The whole set-up is on their terms. It doesn't surprise me that basic faults are creeping into their products.