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John Pleasance
Guest
Rik, I know you don't really want to know but it's optional, either focuses or foci (not focii).
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Paul Williams
Guest
Rik/John......i'm well and truelly.............confused 
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John Huntley
Guest
Paul
Wendy....i've managed it in a mini!!!
You`ve swung a dead cat in a mini!
Wendy....i've managed it in a mini!!!
You`ve swung a dead cat in a mini!
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Paul Williams
Guest
Noooo.... dog....i mean i crammed all my tackle in...tch!
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Terry Mann
Guest
I,m losing my focus or is foci on this thread,it appears to be getting rather base now.
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Dave Johnson
Guest
BRUMMY MANAGED IT IN A MINI.....good job he's only got a small one.
Focus estates have huge amounts of space in the back....in fact I think they are infectious......'the SWAG' automibile...mr Marsden, Mr Cooper, Mr Colclough, myself....
though I hear Rik has become a Country 'Gent'.....he's 'discovered' a new family car......
Focus estates have huge amounts of space in the back....in fact I think they are infectious......'the SWAG' automibile...mr Marsden, Mr Cooper, Mr Colclough, myself....
though I hear Rik has become a Country 'Gent'.....he's 'discovered' a new family car......
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Wendy Perry
Guest
I'd like to have seen you do it in a mini.......swing the cat did ya mean Paul
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Cakey
Guest
I didnt know ford was a make ,I thought it stood for
Fix
Or
Repair
Daily
Fix
Or
Repair
Daily
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Carp Angler
Guest
though I hear Rik has become a Country 'Gent'.....he's 'discovered' a new family car......
tis true, I've chopped the van in for a Disco.
Now I can look down on the commoners as I trundle thru the forest.
tis true, I've chopped the van in for a Disco.
Now I can look down on the commoners as I trundle thru the forest.
DAVE COOPER
New member
- Joined
- Aug 27, 2005
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Yep, I like my Focus Estate. I've got the 1.6 Zetec which, although not the fastest car on 4 wheels, gets me fishing at around 85mph cruising and is cheap to buy and run, both petrol and insurance wise.
The ground clearance coupled with the independent suspension means it is capable of taking on most rough tracks without grounding and has deadlocking doors for security.
It took two of us with all our carping gear to France last year comfortably, so I can recommend it for space too. I guess only time will tell for reliability as mine has only done 14k miles so far.
The ground clearance coupled with the independent suspension means it is capable of taking on most rough tracks without grounding and has deadlocking doors for security.
It took two of us with all our carping gear to France last year comfortably, so I can recommend it for space too. I guess only time will tell for reliability as mine has only done 14k miles so far.
K
Kevan Farmer
Guest
In 96' I went barmy and bought myself a brand new Discovery. Firstly for the family - 5 of us with 2 growing ever larger teens and secondly for the room inside for fishing tackle...or that was the order I told my missus. Well, for getting around farm tracks & up steep muddy inclines it cannot be beaten. But, for tackle carrying capacity forget it. They look huge but in reality unless you are transporting nice regular boxes that space is wasted. I ended up buying a ski top box for my rods. Yes, this was the 5 doo Disco and it was the top of the bloody range - nearly a Range Rover in fact. Anyway, it went in 2000 because insurance and servicing costs started to get stupid. I now have an Astra Estate. It doesn't have the ground clearance but I have the smaller wheeled version. This is something to watch for, apparently it comes in 3 different wheel sizes. Load carrying capacity is brilliant even with the rear seats left up!!!!
Now, I have been toying with the idea of an Iveco Daily van. I could get 13 foot rods in one of those made up - not folded down - and placed in clips along the sides ;-)
Kevan
Now, I have been toying with the idea of an Iveco Daily van. I could get 13 foot rods in one of those made up - not folded down - and placed in clips along the sides ;-)
Kevan
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Steve Plant
Guest
Like Graham says, I've got a Focus Estate, 1.8 Turbo Diesel model.
I know everyone has to consider costs of any car, but I personally want to get from AtoB in some comfort as well. Regularlly travelling 300+mile round trips for a days fishing, I do not want to be doing that in the middle of winter in a car I think may let me down, or where the heater or the wipers don't work.
My Focus is plenty roomy enough for what I need, & economy is much better than my old petrol Escort estate (although could be better if I went a tad slower up & down the M6). I don't know the tech spec, but the ground clearance is fine for wherever I go, provided you don't pretend you're Colin McCrae down every farm track!
Like Paul says, a thief will get into any car if he really wants to. Choose your venue carefully....
Steve.
I know everyone has to consider costs of any car, but I personally want to get from AtoB in some comfort as well. Regularlly travelling 300+mile round trips for a days fishing, I do not want to be doing that in the middle of winter in a car I think may let me down, or where the heater or the wipers don't work.
My Focus is plenty roomy enough for what I need, & economy is much better than my old petrol Escort estate (although could be better if I went a tad slower up & down the M6). I don't know the tech spec, but the ground clearance is fine for wherever I go, provided you don't pretend you're Colin McCrae down every farm track!
Like Paul says, a thief will get into any car if he really wants to. Choose your venue carefully....
Steve.
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Rob Brownfield
Guest
Volvo T4 estate..0-60in 7 seconds.....yippeeee...Gets me to my fishing real quick. Not bad in the snow and mud either.
I looked at Freelanders, but like the discovery, you would be lucky to9 get a smuggler rod in it...le alone a full weekends carp kit.
Another worthwhile estate is a Laguna Diesel. I dont like french cars, but this thing will run for years and years.
On the safety fron, vans dont crash well!
I looked at Freelanders, but like the discovery, you would be lucky to9 get a smuggler rod in it...le alone a full weekends carp kit.
Another worthwhile estate is a Laguna Diesel. I dont like french cars, but this thing will run for years and years.
On the safety fron, vans dont crash well!
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John Pleasance
Guest
Rob, I used to have a mini van many years ago and that used to crash beautifully,regular as clockwork.
I bought it brand new for ?620 on the road,how times change.You couldn't get ?1.50 worth of petrol in the tank.
I bought it brand new for ?620 on the road,how times change.You couldn't get ?1.50 worth of petrol in the tank.
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Ron Clay
Guest
The name of the game here is to get something that is reliable, ecomomical and does not attract car thieves.
The best bet is a beat up old Lada with a sound engine and chassis. When you get it you must spend some time with a lump hammer putting a goodly number of dents into it. Scrape the paintwork a bit. In fact it might be a good idea to paint the whole bag of tricks a nasty camo colour.
No one will want to pinch a car like that.
The best bet is a beat up old Lada with a sound engine and chassis. When you get it you must spend some time with a lump hammer putting a goodly number of dents into it. Scrape the paintwork a bit. In fact it might be a good idea to paint the whole bag of tricks a nasty camo colour.
No one will want to pinch a car like that.
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Ron Clay
Guest
Another top tip to discourage thieves is to throw your old maggots in the boot. This works well even especially in summer. A perpetual hatch of bluebottles is maintained in the vehicle.
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Chris Bishop
Guest
I'd go easy on old Escort-style
vans for two reasons...
Cheap ones are usually "third age", ie they've been part of a fleet at BT, Consignia or whatever, then been owned by some big hairy bloke with his bottom hanging out of his jeans who whistles at anything wearing a skirt and drives around with 20 Embassy Number One, a Daily Star and a pint of milk on the dashboard.
Apologies to any builders reading this, but these types tend to drive 'em till the tongue handgs out the front before they dump 'em.
Secondly, they have low ground clearence to make them easy to load and a lot have had prolonged spells with sacks of concrete, rubble etc in the back, so the suspension tends to be about as much use as a chocolate tea pot.
vans for two reasons...
Cheap ones are usually "third age", ie they've been part of a fleet at BT, Consignia or whatever, then been owned by some big hairy bloke with his bottom hanging out of his jeans who whistles at anything wearing a skirt and drives around with 20 Embassy Number One, a Daily Star and a pint of milk on the dashboard.
Apologies to any builders reading this, but these types tend to drive 'em till the tongue handgs out the front before they dump 'em.
Secondly, they have low ground clearence to make them easy to load and a lot have had prolonged spells with sacks of concrete, rubble etc in the back, so the suspension tends to be about as much use as a chocolate tea pot.
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John Pleasance
Guest
'ere Chris, you bin spying on me ?
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Dave Johnson
Guest
I thought Rik only read 'carp' mags......
"Cheap ones are usually "third age", ie they've been part of a fleet at BT, Consignia or whatever, then been owned by some big hairy bloke with his bottom hanging out of his jeans who whistles at anything wearing a skirt and drives around with 20 Embassy Number One, a Daily Star and a pint of milk on the dashboard."
"Cheap ones are usually "third age", ie they've been part of a fleet at BT, Consignia or whatever, then been owned by some big hairy bloke with his bottom hanging out of his jeans who whistles at anything wearing a skirt and drives around with 20 Embassy Number One, a Daily Star and a pint of milk on the dashboard."
C
Chris Bishop
Guest
I reckon Phil's got two choices:
1/ Get an Escort and drive around the Boulevard Peripherique (Parisien inner-city version of the North Circular...) looking like Bob the Builder on his way to a Jacques Cousteau convention...
2/ Get one of those 30-year-old 2CV vans you see everywhere in rural France with a wrinkled old lady on the front seat and crates of chickens, piglets and bunches of onions in the back. Weave along the lanes, elbow out of the window, playing the theme tune to Jean de Florette at top volume on the stereo.
1/ Get an Escort and drive around the Boulevard Peripherique (Parisien inner-city version of the North Circular...) looking like Bob the Builder on his way to a Jacques Cousteau convention...
2/ Get one of those 30-year-old 2CV vans you see everywhere in rural France with a wrinkled old lady on the front seat and crates of chickens, piglets and bunches of onions in the back. Weave along the lanes, elbow out of the window, playing the theme tune to Jean de Florette at top volume on the stereo.