Faced with same criteria I chose a Mazda3 GT sport with Skyactiv X 2.0 mild hybrid engine .
Much nicer interior than a Golf 8 , with proper buttons and no silly infotainment touchscreen interface and very nice to drive.
Loads more standard kit than the equivalent Golf too and you’d be able to get a nice 3 year old , high spec one in budget.
I am also a fan of the humble Pinnacle Lithium.
I bought a well used example in lockdown for riding to the shops , and gentle bimbling duties .
I renewed the BB , put new wheels and tyres on it , a rear rack and have used it ever since.
It’s my most used bike.
I have actually used it for longer rides too,on gravel routes and it once even did a few laps of the pump track.
It had a functional Shimano Altus drivetrain, the cheapest Shimano hydraulic disc brakes ,etc but seems to ride so much better than the sun if it’s parts.
As the drivetrain needs replaced I’m planning g on giving it some upgrades.
If you’re lucky that’s paint transfer from your house more than in the surface car’s paint.
If so a light rub with some solvent (use sparingly)on a cloth may remove the worst.
Once dry, some Autoglym SRP on a microfibre should restore the finish.
If the paint is broken , just get a mobile pair guy out.
My Garmin 235 is still doing stellar service after 3 years use 24/7.
I run everyday and also use it for cycling too.
When I replace it it will be with another Garmin probably the 245.
@Dr P . Not this time ,but have run it twice previously , in 2019 and 2021.
Watch out for the sea breeze when you hit 22 miles!
Great support and atmosphere there.
Currently driving a 2020 Mazda 3 and have used it to transport a 29er hardtail with front wheel removed.
It’s not got the biggest boot in its class so I think you’d be ok with any of those.
I have previously owned 2 x Focus and a mk7 Golf which is closely related to the Leon and they both worked for bike carrying duties too.
I used to have a Gobi on my old Giant XTC which was supremely comfortable and I also used an Arione on my road bike which I got on with. I tried the Tundra but that was too board like.
Now have Fabric Scoop saddles on all my bikes and get on with them too.
One saddle that I never got on with was the Prologo Kappa.
I’ve considered it but the main sticking points for me are:
1) Drive over 20k miles a year often on long journeys ,so charging infrastructure would need to be better
2) I drive my car for work to multiple locations , and can’t guarantee access to charging where I’ll be travelling.
3) I have no driveway and am often unable to park anywhere near my house ruling out home charging.
4) High cost for anything that I actually like.
After a succession of diesel cars , I bought a petrol Mazda 3 with the Skyactiv X petrol engine and its been great.
My daughter turned 17 in February, passed her theory in March and has had 4 lessons with a DI and now one with me.
It was distinctly nerve wracking. Having driven her DI’s nearly new Polo she found the slightly sticky clutch on her own 130k miles Corsa a bit tricky . Next time I’m going to take her to an empty car park and get her to master the clutch before we go out on the road………
I’ve driven for 35 years but it makes you value the experience of a good DI. It took me a fair bit of thinking to be able to break down all the constituent parts of driving into understandable instructions for her when it’s something you normally do without thinking.
A DI earns every one of his £35 per hour lesson!
Not sure if it still exists but there used to be guidance in what was the CSA website on what to pay based on how many nights a year they stayed.We used this to draw up a mutual agreement.
From memory if CSA has to collect there is an admin fee so much better to agree it yourselves otherwise she will be losing out on what she gets.
I had to cancel my booster which was scheduled for Monday due to currently being ill with suspected food poisoning .
I tried to cancel via the NHS app but couldn’t make it work and ended up phoning 119.I believe you have e to allow 24 hours to elapse before you can book a new appointment.
I checked just now and am able to book a new date. Some availability for as soon as tomorrow but would rather feel a bit better before getting mine.
At school I had a friend Glenn Miller, a work colleague is Mark Morrison and I have a customer called Elvis.
I’m still waiting for for the golden opportunity at work to arrange a meeting with both Elvis and Mark Morrison in attendance.
I’ve recently revisited some of the Dave Allen skits on you tube . His humour has really stood the test of time. Favourites including “Teaching your kid the time “ and “Religion “.
Armstrong and Miller were very good. For some reason the “Kill them !” sketches stick in the mind. I often imagine scenarios at work now where I’d happily press an intercom and utter those words…..
We went through this about 18 months ago with my parents.
My dad drive into a gate once repaired , shortly after my mum drove into someone’s garden which resulted in the car being a write off.
At that point they did see sense and both gave up driving.
We now have “Dial a ride “ in place for both of them and it may be that your local council offers a similar service or taxi vouchers for the elderly.
My dad soon realised they were no worse off by using taxis and by using home shopping services .
All the best to your son. Well done 21 minutes is good going.
I’m not running it (I ran Brighton 2 weeks ago ) but have a few friends that are.
I’m tempted to go and watch.
Love the idea of these and wish we could see more affordable EV solutions for all rather than the manufacturer obsession for expensive EV SUVs .
This would be perfect for many city dwellers.
As a rural village dweller with a 5 mile commute along a main A road I’d prefer a top speed nearer to 50mph and for kid dropping off duties a 4 seater variant buts its a step in the right direction.
Now if they could focus a bit harder on charging infrared for those of us in rural villages without driveways and access to charging ,there’d be an even bigger uptake to EV.
What time do day did this happen? I recently set off the speed camera on the Smart section m4 near the m32 .
It was after 8pm and the smart lanes weren’t in operation. No further action happened.
I would recommend a great book, The Forgotten Soldier by Guy Sajer.
It’s a great account of a soldier born in Alsace and conscripted into the German army and his time on the Eastern front.
My mum had to wait 3 1/2 hours last week after having a fall.
Not great but feel for the ambulance workers too who not only are under resourced but are increasingly having to suffer abuse, threatening behaviour and violence as a consequence.
My girlfriend had been double vaccinated.
She has just finished isolating for 2 1/2 weeks with both her kids after her daughter then son both got Covid-19. Both were symptomatic, but she tested negative on lateral flow tests which she was doing every other day and with 2 PCR tests.
Have spent quite a bit of time recently on the NHS FB page correcting some of the misinformation spouted by the anti vax brigade. A thankless task as it’s become a platform for every anti vaxxer in the world.
Latest anti-vax you tube video doing the rounds is this :
They have all seized on this now .
Worryingly you can see how some get sucked in to their agenda.
Would love to know what our more informed contributors think of it?
