Congratulations & Watch Out !

Jono Garton · 31 January 2008, 14:12

Congratulations to James (J S) who passed his driving test 1st time today! He also passed his Powerboat Instructors Last Year with flying colours at the age of 16.

So watch out for him in his landy pictured below (probably with a rib on the back soon).

Well Done!

codprawn · 31 January 2008, 16:49

Yes he is obviously a bloke of great taste!!!

Limey Linda · 31 January 2008, 16:56

Codders, Your record is stuck!

codprawn · 31 January 2008, 16:57

Taste taste taste taste taste taste taste taste taste taste taste taste

What are you on about???

Lets go boating · 31 January 2008, 17:05

perfect setup, well done js, top bloke

nice landy, youll have to come greenlaning with me

J S · 31 January 2008, 19:19

Thanks mate

Can't wait to be towing some ribs with it. Greg would love to do some greenlaning can't wait to get it mucky. I love the landrover wave tradition driving around after my test today i got 11 waves.

James

Lets go boating · 02 February 2008, 23:12

Quote:

Originally Posted by J S

Thanks mate

Can't wait to be towing some ribs with it. Greg would love to do some greenlaning can't wait to get it mucky. I love the landrover wave tradition driving around after my test today i got 11 waves.

James

top notch, get yourself on www.gotmud.co.uk, we wil have to plan something

Millermob · 03 February 2008, 19:30

I'll have to come over and join you in mine

J S · 03 February 2008, 21:24

Glad to see some other teenager has some sense. Why does every one want these small european cars that cost a fortune to insure. And can't go everywhere.

James

codprawn · 03 February 2008, 21:40

What gets me are these stupid NCAP ratings. A Defender scores 2 whilst a new Clio gets 5. Yes IF you crash into a concrete block you will be better off in the Clio but if you hit another car or a truck or a tree then I know which I would rather be in. No airbags or side impact bars? Neither does a Challenger tank!!!

J S · 03 February 2008, 21:51

I know what car i would rather be in. The funny thing was i had a few lessons in a Clio(really bad car actually) after i had been driving around in the Defender with my dad for a few days and i felt so intimidated. Also you can plan much further ahead in the defender because you can see over all the other cars. I don't know if i could ever go back to driving a car?.

James

codprawn · 03 February 2008, 21:54

Yes visibility is a very important point which seems to be totally overlooked. The new Passat I am driving has 10 airbags - yes 10!!! No doubt it would be great in a smash but there are so many blindspots from the massive pillars that you are far more likely to have a smash in the 1st place!!!

Poly · 03 February 2008, 22:06

Quote:

Originally Posted by codprawn

What gets me are these stupid NCAP ratings. A Defender scores 2 whilst a new Clio gets 5.

where did you find that - I didn't think the defender had been tested? Disco got 4/5 for occupant protection - although only 1/5 for pedestrians.

Quote:

Originally Posted by J S

i had a few lessons in a Clio(really bad car actually) after i had been driving around in the Defender with my dad for a few days and i felt so intimidated.

Thats not actually a bad thing. That feeling of vulnerability should make you more aware (and defensive) of what the other traffic might do.

codprawn · 03 February 2008, 22:29

Quote:

Originally Posted by Polwart

where did you find that - I didn't think the defender had been tested? Disco got 4/5 for occupant protection - although only 1/5 for pedestrians.

Thats not actually a bad thing. That feeling of vulnerability should make you more aware (and defensive) of what the other traffic might do.

You are prob right - I think the 2 stars was from Top Gear and What Car magazines for safety.

I remember What Car actually marking down a Jag compared to a BMW because the jag didn't have "linked" wash wipe. I would have given it an extra 10 points!!!

codprawn · 03 February 2008, 22:30

Quote:

Originally Posted by Polwart

where did you find that - I didn't think the defender had been tested? Disco got 4/5 for occupant protection - although only 1/5 for pedestrians.

Thats not actually a bad thing. That feeling of vulnerability should make you more aware (and defensive) of what the other traffic might do.

I agree there. I actually feel far more responsible driving the Defender around - especially parking it near other cars - you can do a LOT of damage without even trying!!!

Limey Linda · 04 February 2008, 01:47

Quote:

Originally Posted by codprawn

I actually feel far more responsible driving the Defender

.

More codswollop

Nick Hearne · 04 February 2008, 08:31

Codders if you have a crash in a defender to my knowledge it has bugger all crumple zone! So the car may look solidly built & come off after a crash looking better than a car with a good crumple zone but I know which I would prefer to be in! As for air bags again great tacking one hell of an impact away from the occupants!
10 years ago driving down a Jill carriageway a Nissan Torrano came across the central reservation & ended coming at us sideways!
We hit him in the back wheel arch & spun him around so he then hit my drivers side, I walked away having a air bag wife had broken solder coursed by the seat belt, but it did save her life!
My wife's new car was trashed but it did its job (was only 2 weeks old!) the bonnet taking lots of energy out of the collision & the interior staying relatively in tacked.
It has a 5 star rating by NCAP which I think we proved right!

Jono · 04 February 2008, 09:11

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nick Hearne

Codders if you have a crash in a defender to my knowledge it has bugger all crumple zone! So the car may look solidly built & come off after a crash looking better than a car with a good crumple zone but I know which I would prefer to be in! ...

The car that drove into me near head-on had all the airbags and crumple zones you could wish for...one of us ended up in intensive care... and it wasn't me.... I know which on I prefer too

Nick Hearne · 04 February 2008, 10:05

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jono

The car that drove into me near head-on had all the airbags and crumple zones you could wish for...one of us ended up in intensive care... and it wasn't me.... I know which on I prefer too

What was it then?

codprawn · 04 February 2008, 10:26

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nick Hearne

Codders if you have a crash in a defender to my knowledge it has bugger all crumple zone! So the car may look solidly built & come off after a crash looking better than a car with a good crumple zone but I know which I would prefer to be in! As for air bags again great tacking one hell of an impact away from the occupants!
10 years ago driving down a Jill carriageway a Nissan Torrano came across the central reservation & ended coming at us sideways!
We hit him in the back wheel arch & spun him around so he then hit my drivers side, I walked away having a air bag wife had broken solder coursed by the seat belt, but it did save her life!
My wife's new car was trashed but it did its job (was only 2 weeks old!) the bonnet taking lots of energy out of the collision & the interior staying relatively in tacked.
It has a 5 star rating by NCAP which I think we proved right!

You are missing the point entirely which is what annoys me so much about NCAP. A 5 star in a small car is not the same as even a 2 star in a big one.

The test is a car being slammed into a concrete barrier. Mass plays a huge part. That's why the Smart car does so well. As you said the Defender has bugger all in the way of crumple zones so does very badly.

Not many accidents are into concrete barrier though - most involve one car hitting another. The Defender may not have crumple zones of it's own but it uses the other car as a giant crumple zone.

I have read of so many accidents where a Land Rover is in collision with a normal car - often the people in the LR have minor injuries whilst all the people in the other car are killed.

I saw an Army Land Rover go into the back of a Pug 306 at about 25mph. The Land Rover literally only had a dented bumper. If there had been anyone on the back seat of the Pug they would have been killed.