Yesterday I took what is probably the biggest step I've ever taken. I went out & bought me a brand new car. Well, not 'Brand New', being a 1914 (64) plate. It's a Toyota Yaris Icon (Hybrid) in Decuma Grey. Identical model to this one...
Used Toyota Yaris 1.5 VVT-i Trend 5-Dr - Vantage Toyota Tamworth, Tamworth
My initial concern was whether or not I would be able to comfortably fit in it, as with most cars - even the Chelsea Tractors, I have major difficulties with headroom. The Yaris, however, is amazing for headroom. Seriously, I reckon I could have my crash helmet on in there & still have room to spare.
Even though it's been many years since I've even been behind the wheel of a car, let alone owned one, it's weird how I still can't help myself reaching for the gearstick when slowing down, as Hybrids, by their very nature, only use Automatic transmission.
In hte brief test drive I took it on I was averaging about 88mpg, so not bad there. Also (at least until April next year), it's Exempt from Road Tax.
The cost was a little under £9,000, with £350 for GAP insurance, plus £480 Fully Comp. I've placed £3,250 as cash deposit & have 41 more payments of £166.61 (although I hope to pay them off sooner).
I pick it up on 1st October. Convenient date, as first of the month, a few days after pay day, and it should be on a Saturday I'm not working. As for Kermit - I'll probably keep him as well, but we'll have to see how things develop.
I think I'll call her Jackie, as the Reg has JXS.
Moving On. Moving Up
Moving On. Moving Up
Well congratulations! That takes a load off my mind, I've been slightly worried about you since you went off into the ditch after the rainstorm. And what a beauty she is, too! I even like the color! It seems in remarkable shape for being made in 1914, I must say. Did they even have hybrids before WWI?
At 11,702.25 U.S. dollars, that's quite a steal too. Did you get a bargain because the steering wheel is on the wrong side?
At 11,702.25 U.S. dollars, that's quite a steal too. Did you get a bargain because the steering wheel is on the wrong side?
Moving On. Moving Up
FourPart said:
Yesterday I took what is probably the biggest step I've ever taken. I went out & bought me a brand new car. Well, not 'Brand New', being a 1914 (64) plate. It's a Toyota Yaris Icon (Hybrid) in Decuma Grey. Identical model to this one...
Used Toyota Yaris 1.5 VVT-i Trend 5-Dr - Vantage Toyota Tamworth, Tamworth
Cars said:
Wow, am I reading that right, "1914", can't be?
Yesterday I took what is probably the biggest step I've ever taken. I went out & bought me a brand new car. Well, not 'Brand New', being a 1914 (64) plate. It's a Toyota Yaris Icon (Hybrid) in Decuma Grey. Identical model to this one...
Used Toyota Yaris 1.5 VVT-i Trend 5-Dr - Vantage Toyota Tamworth, Tamworth
Cars said:
Wow, am I reading that right, "1914", can't be?
Cars 
Moving On. Moving Up
FourPart said:
Yesterday I took what is probably the biggest step I've ever taken. I went out & bought me a brand new car. Well, not 'Brand New', being a 1914 (64) plate. It's a Toyota Yaris Icon (Hybrid) in Decuma Grey. Identical model to this one...
Used Toyota Yaris 1.5 VVT-i Trend 5-Dr - Vantage Toyota Tamworth, Tamworth
Cars said:
Wow, am I reading that right, "1914", can't be?
Yesterday I took what is probably the biggest step I've ever taken. I went out & bought me a brand new car. Well, not 'Brand New', being a 1914 (64) plate. It's a Toyota Yaris Icon (Hybrid) in Decuma Grey. Identical model to this one...
Used Toyota Yaris 1.5 VVT-i Trend 5-Dr - Vantage Toyota Tamworth, Tamworth
Cars said:
Wow, am I reading that right, "1914", can't be?
Cars
Moving On. Moving Up
Sorry for the double post, computer is acting up, and has long delay. Can't access the "edit" option on here, so can't delete the double post.
Cars
Moving On. Moving Up
Good cars toyota. I had an aygo which sadly I wrapped round a lamp post at 4.30 one morning but I can tesdtify they are good inn a smash. Have a mazda 6 now first time I have owned one 94,000 miles on the clock and not falling apart which is more than you can say for the vauxhall I had before it which at the same mileage was a money pit with a major engine repair in the pipeline.
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I bet you'll be a lot happier and safer when the winter cool arrives. Much better idea getting metal round you ! You're always going to be a 'soft target' on two wheels. Besides, you won't have to tog up with leathers, waterproofs, scarves, gauntlets and insulated boots, and of course the statutory helmet ! Don't worry FourPart, I've been there and done all that and been frozen stiff, when my thermal gauntlets couldn't prevent my hands from being moulded and stiff in the position of holding handlebars and levers !!! Took ages of agony returning my hands to reasonable flexibility !!
Don't get me wrong, I really enjoyed my biking days except when truckers 'gobbed' out of their side window as I was overtaking them !
:yh_rotfl
Don't get me wrong, I really enjoyed my biking days except when truckers 'gobbed' out of their side window as I was overtaking them !
:yh_rotflI'm a Saga-lout, growing old disgracefully
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I can't believe I made that typo. 1914? What the hell was I thinking??
As for going into a ditch - that wasn't quite the case. It was still on the road - it's just that the nearby river had broken its banks. I had thought it was just a puddle, as that part of the road frequently floods in heavy rain. I had gone to the side of the road that I knew to be the shallowest. It wasn't until afterwards I realised there was an undertow, but still managed to maintain control.
I think I might be keeping Kermit for a while - I've not decided yet, but if I do sell him, I may even be able to get more for him than I paid. Typical price for the spec is about £4,500 - £5,000. I paid £2,900.
The main problem I have with urban riding in so much gear changing - especially on roundabouts, where your hand is constantly on the clutch, with fingers going numb from the lactic acid build up, and not having any sensation for the indicators.
The car would actually be much cheaper to run - averaging about 88mpg on the test drive, whereas Kermit has an overall average of about 45mpg (much less on motorways than urban riding, of course) and, until April, at least, free of Road Tax. It's weird driving it, though. Pulling off with no engine sound until you hit about 40mph, when the petrol engine kicks in. All the fancy gadgets as well, including a rear view video when reversing, built in satnav, Air Con, Bluetooth phone control, stereo, etc. Once I pick her up on Saturday, I'll have to do a full photo shoot. I notice the link I did in my original post has since been sold & is no longer there.
I think, also, that if there isn't one already built in (which wouldn't surprise me), I'll install a dashcam, for any potential insurance claims.
Plus I get paid on Tuesday - and on top of that, I should be qualifying for my Attendance bonus. 100% attendance & 100% timekeeping, so that should add another £100 towards the payments.
As for going into a ditch - that wasn't quite the case. It was still on the road - it's just that the nearby river had broken its banks. I had thought it was just a puddle, as that part of the road frequently floods in heavy rain. I had gone to the side of the road that I knew to be the shallowest. It wasn't until afterwards I realised there was an undertow, but still managed to maintain control.
I think I might be keeping Kermit for a while - I've not decided yet, but if I do sell him, I may even be able to get more for him than I paid. Typical price for the spec is about £4,500 - £5,000. I paid £2,900.
The main problem I have with urban riding in so much gear changing - especially on roundabouts, where your hand is constantly on the clutch, with fingers going numb from the lactic acid build up, and not having any sensation for the indicators.
The car would actually be much cheaper to run - averaging about 88mpg on the test drive, whereas Kermit has an overall average of about 45mpg (much less on motorways than urban riding, of course) and, until April, at least, free of Road Tax. It's weird driving it, though. Pulling off with no engine sound until you hit about 40mph, when the petrol engine kicks in. All the fancy gadgets as well, including a rear view video when reversing, built in satnav, Air Con, Bluetooth phone control, stereo, etc. Once I pick her up on Saturday, I'll have to do a full photo shoot. I notice the link I did in my original post has since been sold & is no longer there.
I think, also, that if there isn't one already built in (which wouldn't surprise me), I'll install a dashcam, for any potential insurance claims.
Plus I get paid on Tuesday - and on top of that, I should be qualifying for my Attendance bonus. 100% attendance & 100% timekeeping, so that should add another £100 towards the payments.
Moving On. Moving Up
Best of luck with your new (Not 1914) car, may it never see the repair shop! :wah:
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On Saturday, Ebe took me up to pick it up (Jaxsie's her name by the way). The original plan was that he was going to take his Daughter in Law up to London to pick up her Sister & was going to drop me off en route. However, as she (typical woman) was slow in getting ready, he took me up with the idea of coming back for her. It was then decided that I'd take them up there instead so as to get used to Jaxsie. Talk about Ordeal by Fire. In London the Rules of the Road go out of the window. Forget the bit about "Do not enter the box unless you exit is clear" - it's Dog eat Dog - if there's a gap, get in it. Furthermore, the weather was abysmal. When I got the car it came with 3/4 tank (30 litre tank), and the low fuel warning light came on by the time I got home - round trip about 200 miles, so not too bad.
Sunday morning I spent a couple of hours just sitting in it reading through the manual trying to familiarise myself with everything.
Yesterday I filled in the form for a Parking Permit at work. Today I received it. Somehow it came up as a "Fort Transit" (yes, I spelt that as it appeared), when it's a little Toyota Yaris Hybrid.
Sunday morning I spent a couple of hours just sitting in it reading through the manual trying to familiarise myself with everything.
Yesterday I filled in the form for a Parking Permit at work. Today I received it. Somehow it came up as a "Fort Transit" (yes, I spelt that as it appeared), when it's a little Toyota Yaris Hybrid.
Moving On. Moving Up
Not a lot of difference between a "Fort Transit" and a little Toyota Yaris Hybrid !!! Oh dear, makes you wonder where the Permit writer's mind was at the time of writing !
:yh_rotfl
:yh_rotfl
I'm a Saga-lout, growing old disgracefully
Moving On. Moving Up
The Security guard reckons it's because they changed the design of the application forms. The old one had Reg, Make & Model. The new ones just have Reg. I thought it might have been because of the way I do my 'J's, but apparently several of the other letters were wrong as well.
Mind you, to be honest, there's not really any need for a Parking Permit in the first place as we don't have anyone checking them.
I set up my little dashcam today. At first I was concerned that the menu was entirely in Chinese (or some such language), but from messing about & pressing buttons I managed to find an 'English' option, at which point it started to make a bit more sense. I was surprised how cheap they are. Mine was, by no means the cheapest at about £10.
I've also got me a couple of pop-up road cones, with LED flashing beacons for £13 each, and a hi-vis vest to keep in the back. Hopefully I'll never get to use them, but it's always a good idea to have them handy.
On top of that, a can of de-icer, a scraper / squeegee / screen sponge, a bottle of concentrated screenwash, a car washing sponge, and a petrol can - and, of course, the mandatory air freshener hanging from the mirror (Tesco Heart Foundation - Ice). I'm also making sure to keep a couple of bags in the back in case I decide to do some shopping whilst out.
Mind you, to be honest, there's not really any need for a Parking Permit in the first place as we don't have anyone checking them.
I set up my little dashcam today. At first I was concerned that the menu was entirely in Chinese (or some such language), but from messing about & pressing buttons I managed to find an 'English' option, at which point it started to make a bit more sense. I was surprised how cheap they are. Mine was, by no means the cheapest at about £10.
I've also got me a couple of pop-up road cones, with LED flashing beacons for £13 each, and a hi-vis vest to keep in the back. Hopefully I'll never get to use them, but it's always a good idea to have them handy.
On top of that, a can of de-icer, a scraper / squeegee / screen sponge, a bottle of concentrated screenwash, a car washing sponge, and a petrol can - and, of course, the mandatory air freshener hanging from the mirror (Tesco Heart Foundation - Ice). I'm also making sure to keep a couple of bags in the back in case I decide to do some shopping whilst out.