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CaptainSensible

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Posts posted by CaptainSensible

    Top Gear is back on! (January 2012)

    in Off Topic Discussion

    Posted

    Worst episode in quite a while, this article sums it up pretty well:

    http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/tvan ... eview.html

     

    I've actually quite enjoyed Top Gear USA on BBC 3 recently. It reminds me of the early days of our Top Gear before it got staid and boring. I just don't think Clarkson and co can muster the same levels of enthusiasm about driving exotic cars (or taking part in crazy challenges) when its all they've done for the last 15 years.

    If Carlsberg made track days...............

    in Other Cars

    Posted

    Just to jump in to Captain's defence here, I've been on a track day with him (Castle Combe), both of us, in our Zeds, and he didn't drive anything like the guy in that video. In fact he ws great with me who was a total novice and took great care to let me follow him and vice versa later on. He was also courteous to other cars and chatting to everyone in the breaks there was absolutely no hint of anyone questioning the way anyone else was driving. So to judge his driving style of the basis of a video he might like is unfairly jumping to conclusions.

     

    Re the video itself, great to watch but I would hate to be on track with so many cars, that's the main issue. If there had been half of the amount of cars on track everyone could have given everyone else a bit more space.

     

    And one final point, Dan massively jealous of you driving an R300 at Castle Combe! I am a bit obsessed with getting a seven at the moment so you've just made me turn (racing) green with envy. It must have been a brilliant day.

    Kit cars - anyone built one?

    in Other Cars

    Posted

    Thanks for your comments. That's interesting because of all the kits out there the Caterham's are supposed to be the best quality, hence why they are so pricey. I'd never a expect a kit car to be anywhere near a mainstream car in terms of build quality (especially if I'd built it!) but I'd expect them to bolt together without parts needing altering.

    Kit cars - anyone built one?

    in Other Cars

    Posted

    After a couple of drives in Caterhams last year its really got me thinking about getting something similar at some point in my life. The bang for buck on offer is awesome, supercar performance for just a fraction of the cost. The thought of building my own car really appeals as well, although I have next to no mechanical ability (or tools for that matter!)

     

    I was up at the Autosport show a couple of weeks ago and was really impressed by the Westfield stand. I though the cars looked great, not a good as a Caterham but a good budget option.

     

    It's a bit of a pipe dream at the moment, I'm planning to buy a house this year (with garage) so not in a positon to do anything until then. So just interested to hear of anyone's experiece of building a kit car, escpecially if like me they had no mechanical knowledge before building. From everything I read the Caterham and Westfield Kits are just like big meccano sets which sounds like a lot of fun!

    Time to let her go...

    in 350Z General

    Posted

    Good luck with the Caterham, let us know how you get on with it. I've been increasing tempted by a Westfield recently (the poor man's Caterham) as bang for buck nothing comes close to a 7 replica. Plus they are just so much fun to drive, makes the Zed feel quite stodgy afterwards!

    Government Benefit reforms?

    in Off Topic Discussion

    Posted

    Yup pension pot will be long gone before a lot on here retire. This is why the Government is trying to force people to pay into NEST scheme ;)

     

    Hmmmm.. so at the moment the government is throwing money at pensions when really they should be watchin their pennies. Ive just been reading about pension credits, and if i understand them right, they are saying that a pensioner couple should get £240 a week (for example), and if their state pension is less than that, then they can claim pension credits to bring them up to the full amount. Pension credit is another VIP pass which automatically means you get full council tax benefit & housing benefit etc.

     

    And yet, we are saying that in 30 years time there will be no money left to give pensions. Whilst i know people are living older, surely the money we are paying in now should go towards our own pensions. If us "young uns" are paying for the current crop of pensioners, what happened to all the cash those pensioners paid in when they were young? Also, with the influx of millions of migrants into the UK who are all working, surely that means more people are paying tax / NI than ever before?

     

    Not exactly throwing money at pensions, but as the population gets propotionally older the current pension beenfits on offer for individuals will cost the goverment more and more. That's one reason why they've been trying to reduce their liability on public sector final salary pensions, but that's another debate.

     

    I'm currently 33. I've been saving into a pension for the last 10 years and am not anticipating a penny from the goverment by the time I reach 65. Either the state pension will have dropped to a laughably low level, or it won't kick in until you hit at least 70. Or both. So I need to have accumulated quite a bit of capital by then, hence my interest in the forum share tipping club. :lol:

    Government Benefit reforms?

    in Off Topic Discussion

    Posted

    Interestingly I just had my companies pensions advisor come in and speak to me about setting up a pension as I have nothing atm. I sat there listening to him saying that if i put in say 300quid a month for the next 30 years i`ll have a pension pot which will give me enough to scrape by on when I retire.

     

    Surely though, i`d be better off without a private pension? As then id be able to claim benefits? If I have a private pension then that immediately will be classed as an income and i`ll be worse off?!

     

    Whats the criteria for Pension Credits? Surely everyone gets the same government rate for pension dont they?

    I suspect by the time you retire (assuming you have 30 years or so) there will be very little money available for state pensions as so much of the population will be of pensionable age. So if you would like to retire before you're 70, you need to start saving ASAP.

    New Business Idea - Supercar Experience Days

    in Off Topic Discussion

    Posted

    The guys that already offer this kind of thing aren't stupid. They realise that if you let someone drive their car on the ragged edge that maintenance bills will sink them. That's why they place the restrictions they do. If you honestly think you can just over look this and not worry about damage/wear and tear you are living in cuckoo land. Sorry to be harsh, but that's the way I see it.

    Share dealing - 350z Tip Club

    in Off Topic Discussion

    Posted

    Ouch Captain, that's some big old losses, but if you are still up since you started trading you are ahead of most people! I don't think it ever pays to look at the what ifs, no one ever times it perfectly so judging your returns against that is futile.

     

    I actually think for those with some spare cash now is a brilliant time to get into some bombed out stocks. Unfortunately I need to keep my assets liquid as hoping to but a house next year.

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