dutchie01

Who was Hitler?? Ask todays youth and it seems to me the vast majority have no clue too long ago like Napoleon. Maybe someone on TikTok?

This security for employees is not only in France but thesame in most European countries. Germany, Benelux, Spain, Scandinavia etc. Only thing setting France apart is they take management hostage! If the company is successfull and profitable but changes course so no longer need you or your department fine, but they will have to to pay no questions asked. And yes this could be expensive but all will be calculated in the total reorganisation package. Whats the issue.

Oh the irony. Years ago i dumped my BMW after the third breakin and total clean out of the cabin. Steering wheel, aircon, satnav, controllers all gone. My logic then was to go for a brand that has low sales thus no market for spare parst e.g. Lexus. I bought an IS300H and drove if for 4 yrs without any attempt to break in or worse. Happy days.

So what is your preferred alternative to Ruinart? Pol Roger?

ruinart, now you have my attention!

Its all about supply and demand. If demand is high prices go up. You will find absolute crap old ****ty hotels in a prime location in Paris, Rome etc called boutique hotels and they are full for 300 euro/night. always. Same for parking. Why should a city centre hotel give a secure parking for free? its a big asset. i see no problem in paying 30 Euro for that? Like you say maybe not the place for you.

This year it seems to be quite different as the power seems to have moved to employees. You just cant get them. Raise your finger and you have a new job kind of thing. It is an international phenomena as i hear thesame in literally every European country and it is definately limiting growth of companies and even influences strategies. Do we have to start producing outside of the UK and where? Automotive thesame albeit for different reasons. Germany is a mess with VW closing EV factories and moving production out of Germany to China. Legislation has become so strict that producers ( also non automotive) are rethinking their future. Confusing times we live in.

Its not coming Malc. Better keep driving your old and reliable horses, petrol will be around longer than us..

That bonnet! Surely there must be a massively tuned V8 with compressor on top inside that car. Something you absolutely need to cross the undiscovered highlands of London?

I have been visiting Sitges for the last 25 years on average 5 times a year, was there again last week. Its where i spend my days. Fully agree with the prices but its not only about the cost of the meat or bottle of wine. How many staff you got in your restaurant? chefs, waiters, cleaners? You have to rent the place. So at what cost? Taxes how much? You will soon find out there is a big difference between Spain and the rest of the world. Comparing is not always easy/honest. Nandos to a Michelin star restaurant. Why are they so expensive?? Its cost. 2 cooks and machines in one place and 250 seats compared to 20 cooks and 30 seats in the other? Which hotel you normally use in Sitges?

Thats why they they say in the restaurant business, you loose money on the food and make money on the drinks.

Could be correct. Just looked at the Dutch Lexus site and the RC has gone and the LC is offered at limited avaiability from stock only.

Historic GP is fantastic as well. The wide spread of machines from 12 to 4 cylinders from the fifties all the way up to the seventies. Big suicidal ( in my view) CanAm thundermachines. When they fly by you feel it in your bones and hope all goes well. The Danger. E grand Prix is a clinical non event that nobody asked for. Vegan burger anyone?

Could be more to do with the combination of electric vehicles and racing. It just does not seem to work does it? The E series is mostly ignored by spectators and press alike. No noise, no smell, no emotion. Manufacturers have pulled out as there is just no return on their big investments ( as it is mostly ignored). So it surely seems to be the wrong approach for motor racing.

Hotelprices almost doubled compared to pre Covid, and guess what, theyre all full

great list makes me jealous. My favorite is the Lancia or the 190 cosworth

long time ago after saying goodbye to motorcycles i owned some sporty vehicles manufactured in Italy. First one an Alfa Romeo GT Junior 1600 Bertone coupe. Bloodred and breathtakingly beautiful. Rust killed the romance. Best gearbox i ever had. Then another Alfa, the GTV 2.0 gearbox in the back transaxle. More GT than sports. Tuned engine, lighter flywheel, drank like an alcoholic. Sold after the breaks stopped working in the middle of town. 3rd one much later Alfa 75 INDY. again 2.0 and transaxle basically same car different shape. Great to drive when it worked. Got stuck in 3rd gear in the middle of Paris traded it in for nr4 the wonderful Alfa 164 with the V6 Busso engine. I think only 204hp but fast it was. And dangerous with FWD and left or right wheelspin. Just could not get the traction on the road. Had it for a year and a half and had 3 new clutches. When i literally had the gearstick in my hand, pulled it right out of the mechanism, i had enough. No more Alfas for me. I then entered decades of sensible companycars so here you go!

For me its about value for money. If i find an extensive buffet with fresh of everything plus a chef preparing every egg fantasy that exists and they charge 25 euro fine no problem even if i only take one sandwich and a coffee. same amount for old croissants and some chocolate bread ( you guessed it French breakfast) is getting away with legalized theft. same with cars really?

In my experience you always had to pay for the hotel car park. Price can be ambitious to say the least, last time i paid 40 euro/day in amsterdam and 28 in Barcelona. Country side hotels will be cheaper of course. The real ripp off in hotels is the breakfast charge going as high as 35/40 per person. I spend a lot of time in hotels and never stop to be amazed. Another creative hidden cost is roomservice. when checking the bill afterwards it stated 10 euro DELIVERY charge. Now, how about that?

Woah! thats 333 a month for an 18 year old on insurance alone! No wonder todays youth makes different choices.

everything for the environment!

Yes, prices of second hand cars are going down but dont forget they increased considerably over the last two years. Covid turned the market upside down. Shortage of electronics, parts and chips delayed production of new cars with leadtimes creaping up to 18 months. Result was that everybody went for demos, used cars of 1/2 yrs old. These went within 6 months then all went for higher mileage ones. Covid also played a role a people refused public transport and bought a cheapo. Result is the second hand car market went crazy and prices increased by up to 30% with some popular models even more. I personally sold my wifes car for more than i paid for it 2 years ago. Crazy! What you now see is a correction of the market. New cars are readily available. EVs are getting cheaper every month and everybody already bought a used car in the past 2 years. This means the used car market is in the dolldrums. Dont despair however as it will come back just hang on and give it another year, donts sell now

like the Zeekr? take a look at this one. China Styling. That how they roll.....

For sale in China only and a revamp of the ZEEKR 009.

nice partytrick to make these useless. Covered by darkness and silence at night drive up to the camera in your hillbilly pick up or old farmers vehicle. slowly slowly drive up to the camera until you touch it then accelerate slightly and presto the pole is no longer at 90 degrees making the camera useless as it inspects the rooftops or grass below it. Happens a lot here in the countryside. Expect them to cast them in concrete soon..