CONTRAST
In the ten years between my being 21 and 31
my motoring tastes have changed wildly,
as the table below demonstrates:
| Picture: | |||
| Make: | Bond | Jaguar | Robin Hood |
| Model: | Bug 700ES | Sovereign (a.k.a. XJ40) | Series III (Based on a Ford Sierra) |
| Reg. letter & year: | J (1971) | J (1992) | C (1986) |
| Bought: | In 1993 when I was 21 for £250 |
In 2003 when I was 31 for £500 |
In 1997 when I was 25 for £2,045 plus VAT |
| Road Tax: | Free (as it was built before 1973) |
£160, or more :-( | £160, or more :-( |
| Fuel Consumption: | Over 100mpg in a 70's test! (50ish more realistic) |
Somewhere in the (often low) twenties |
About 30mpg, depending on the weight of my right foot |
| Weight: | Around 395kg | Around 1825kg (Or about 4.6 Bugs) |
Around 750kg |
| Length: | 276cm | 499cm (1.8 times the Bug) | xxxcm |
| Width: | 142cm | 201cm (inc. mirrors) | xxxcm |
| Height: | 123cm | 136cm | xxxcm |
| Turning circle: | 7.66m (2.3 turns lock-to-lock) | 12.4m | xxxcm |
| Engine Location: | Under a fiberglass cover between the driver and passengers knees |
Under a huge, gas-strut assisted opening bonnet |
Under a thin stainless steal bonnet, held down with clips |
| Engine Type: | 4 cylinder, in-line | 6 cylinder, in-line | 4 cylinder, in-line |
| Engine Construction: | All aluminium | All aluminium | Cast iron block and head |
| Engine Capacity: | Originally 701cc (Currently 850cc) |
3,980cc (Over 5.5 times the Bugs) |
1,998cc |
| Valves: | 8 - Push-rod | 24 - DOHC | 8 - SOHC |
| Engine Power: | Approx. 31bhp | Approx. 246bhp (Over 7 times the Bugs) |
Approx. 105bhp |
| Top Speed: | Over 100mph (Down hill, wind behind it) |
Over 100mph (Up hill, against a gale) |
Over 100mph (But it gets bloody windy!) |
| Clutch: | Hydraulic operated 6¼" single plate |
Do automatics have a clutch? | Cable operated, with a self-tensioner |
| Transmission: | 4 speed manual. Rear wheel drive. |
4 speed automatic. Rear wheel drive. |
5 speed manual. Rear wheel drive. |
| Suspension: | Combo coil-spring & damper units all round |
Combo coil-spring & damper units on the rear, separate on the front |
Combo coil-spring & damper units all round |
| Independent?: | Front - yes(!) Rear - no (Solid axle). |
Front - yes. Rear - yes. |
Front - yes. Rear - yes. |
| Doors: | One big one | Four large ones | None to speak of |
| Central Locking: | Err...Technically yes, I suppose |
Yes | No - No doors you see? |
| Air Con: | You must be kidding | Yes | No, but it does have a heater that works well |
| Electric Windows: | No. They don't wind down either |
All four | No. They don't wind down either |
| Electric Sunroof: | No sunroof (but the roof does come off.) |
Yes | No sunroof (but the roof does come off.) |
| Powered Seats | Fixed seats | Yes. And they're leather ;-) | Fixed seats |
| ABS Braking: | Nope, drums all round. | Yes, big ventilated discs all round |
No. Front discs, rear drums |
| Power Ass. Steering: | No, not needed at all | Yes, very needed | No, not really needed |
| Cruise Control: | No. (Some bladder control required on fast corners) |
Yes, electronic | No. |
| Boot: | Bread Bin | Aircraft Hanger | Open to the elements (and thieves) |
| Wheels: | Three. Two alloy, one steel. Spare - steel |
Four. All alloy. Spare - alloy (unlike newer models) |
Four. All alloy. Spare - alloy too (as it's on show) |
| Tyres: | ? R12 - Cheap | 225/65 VR15 - Expensive | ? R14 - Reasonable |
| I.C.E. (Stereo) | Radio/Cassette 2 Speakers (Broken) |
Radio/Cassette 6 Speakers (Loud) |
None. No point when the exhaust is that close to your right ear. |
| Attracts: | Funny looks and pointing | Blondes, I hope :-D | Waves from other 'Super-7' drivers |
| Best Feature: | Fits in narrow garages | Relaxed driving | Frantic fun |
| Worst Feature: | Total absence of reliability | Doesn't fit in garages | Bad news in wet weather |
| Quirk: | Floor-mounted dip switch | Floor-mounted left foot rest | Your bottom is two inches off the floor |
| Rust: | Fiberglass doesn't. | A little starting to appear | Stainless steel doesn't. |
| Accident Survivability: | Chop Suey | Nuclear Bunker | Box of Razer Blades |
| Links to other pages about these fine British motor cars:
I have also owned |
|||
| Other links: |
THE MAIN INDEX : VIDEORAMASCOPE PAGE : THE SOFA OF FUN | ||
