Something French, blue and estate'y

"Svend" (svend) 05/15/2016 at 22:23 • Filed to: None

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2016, Renault Megane estate. I sort of like it. Though I’m not a big fan of the face-lifted grille over the last gen Megane.

The German, blue and van’y.

VW Touran

C62030 > Svend 05/15/2016 at 22:28

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Profile view looks very Golf Estate-y. The French have been making some great-looking cars lately. What is this, the 70s?

PanchoVilleneuve ST > Svend 05/15/2016 at 22:30

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Is it just me, or do the lines of the windows make the roof look slightly bent?

Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo > Svend 05/15/2016 at 22:30

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At least the crease from fender to fender is consistent. Unlike this horrid Buick Lacrosse

Amoore100 > Svend 05/15/2016 at 22:31

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Whenever I see a Megane Estate of that generation it reminds me of ETS2 since it’s one of the most common standard AI traffic cars in the game. I’m not complaining; I love French cars and even with the facelift the Megane still looks better than many Peugeots of that era.

Svend > C62030 05/15/2016 at 22:34

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The new Megane being released very soon looks a lot better in my opinion.

His Stigness > Svend 05/15/2016 at 22:35

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Are those plates ‘shopped in, or real?

Svend > His Stigness 05/15/2016 at 22:37

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They are my ‘detailing plates’ I put on to cover the actual plates. It saves editing the pictures, etc...

His Stigness > Svend 05/15/2016 at 22:38

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Oh damn that’s a brilliant idea! I think I’ll try and mock something up so I can take pictures of my own cars and customer cars when I actually do cars.

Svend > Amoore100 05/15/2016 at 22:40

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The very soon to be released Megane looks much better.

Svend > Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo 05/15/2016 at 22:45

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Ye’, the La Crosse looks like the uncle to the Insignia. Not in a good way.

someassemblyrequired > Svend 05/15/2016 at 22:51

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Meant to put out an APB for you. Our driveway is covered with trees, and after a strange winter here in Seattle the family haulers are starting to turn into gardens up top. Lichen, moss, etc. What’s the best way to clean that stuff off and keep it away? Handwashing with a sponge after using tar/sap remover is the only thing that seems to work at all, and even then it returns relatively quickly.

Svend > His Stigness 05/15/2016 at 22:51

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They were made by a company that makes licence plates and show plates.

The attachment is two pieces of plastic with two grooves cut down the same side like an ‘E’ held together my elastic which pulls in on each side.

Adhesive velcro tabs work too.

U.S. plates are metal I believe so two magnets should hold any ‘detailer plate’ in place.

Hot Takes Salesman > Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo 05/15/2016 at 23:00

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His Stigness > Svend 05/15/2016 at 23:07

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Do you have a link? Even if they’re Euro plates that’s fine.

And not all US plates are metal. California is but I’m not sure if they’re magnetic or not. I’ll go check mine later.

M54B30 > Svend 05/15/2016 at 23:12

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The Renault is just a longer hatchback, I wouldn’t call it a wagon.

I did my driving school/Fahrschule hours in a manual Touran.

Svend > someassemblyrequired 05/15/2016 at 23:16

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Hi fella. Try using an antibacterial/antifungal spray and agitating into nooks, crannies, channels and gutterings with a soft bristled brush and pressure wash off. This will kill off any moss, etc... which can attach and become a PITA to remove from rubbers, nooks, crannies, etc...

Svend > His Stigness 05/15/2016 at 23:21

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They can be had from most eBay shops as show plates.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/sch/i.html?_from=R40&_trksid=p2050601.m570.l1313.TR10.TRC1.A0.H0.Xshow+plates.TRS0&_nkw=show+plates&_sacat=0

Several of them do U.S. plates also (not sure which).

someassemblyrequired > Svend 05/15/2016 at 23:24

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OK thanks heaps - I knew I was missing some part of the equation. Any automotive specific products to look for or just the standard household antibacterial/antifungal sprays?

His Stigness > Svend 05/15/2016 at 23:40

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Oh crap this was a bad idea. I went on the US site and found a couple cheap options, but then this came up . Damn it! Now I’m going to get custom plates for my Mercedes and Volkswagen, detailing plates, and plates for the garage and my room. Oh well.

Svend > someassemblyrequired 05/15/2016 at 23:41

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Standard household products will do it.

Then rewash and seal the paint and rubber with a wax or sealant. This will help cleaning in the future and should help stopping anything embedding into the rubbers, etc...

Check window seals by first cleaning the windows and then winding them as far down as they’ll go. Then pulling a bit of cloth round a finger, spray some antibacterial onto the end and then gently lifting back the rubber window seal, rub along the inside of the rubber as this is highly likely where it will get in and be problematic to remove if it takes hold.

Svend > His Stigness 05/15/2016 at 23:49

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Lol. I’ve even come across one site on Facebook in the past that if you send them an e-mail with an image they will put that image onto a plate.

You can have any you want. I chose the old British style of plate with silver on a black background but with modern licence plate Charles Wright font. Sad and boring I guess but I like it.

KDS Keltec down in Gillingham, Kent have the metal version which looks great.

You may as well have the video of the image above.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9HFCx1mhgnQ

His Stigness > Svend 05/15/2016 at 23:56

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I like your plate, it’s simple.

I kind of want my logo on there, and the German plate I linked to can only have 9 letters, so I either only have Buffman or think of a way to fit Buffman Detailing onto it.

The German plates would be cool to just have, but I think I want one that I can put my logo on for the show plate.

Svend > PanchoVilleneuve ST 05/15/2016 at 23:58

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I guess they do. The roof drops and the shoulders go up.

Amoore100 > Svend 05/16/2016 at 00:05

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Definitely. Their new design language is light years better than the “flying diamond” which had waaaaayyyy too much glossy black plastic to look classy. While there’s still quite a bit on the new ones, at least it blends well with the mesh grille and definitely appears much more cohesive.

Svend > His Stigness 05/16/2016 at 00:13

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Erm, er, thanks, I think. Lol.

You could always have ‘Buffman’ but leave a gap on the end and attach a vinyl logo on

(I meant ‘your logo here’)

https://www.customeuropeanplates.com/eec-german-license-plate-p-1.html

His Stigness > Svend 05/16/2016 at 00:24

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Lol I mean it’s different than the other British and Euro plates so it stands out, but it still has your name on it. If that makes any sense lol.

The spaces at the end are a really good idea. I’ll email that eBay seller and see if I can do the same. I think I’ll order other vanity plates from the link you sent.

Svend > Amoore100 05/16/2016 at 00:27

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I think the grille, head lights and tail lights are the only places left these days where a car company can really stand out in a field where more and more cars look the same or indeed are the same to share R&D costs, etc...

Svend > His Stigness 05/16/2016 at 00:33

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Lol. Ye’, I know.

You could try the space at the end or in the middle.

Just have a play. Let your mind be creative and see who will replicate it for you.

His Stigness > Svend 05/16/2016 at 00:43

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Yeah that’s a good idea too.

That site you linked to is good though cause they do half off the same plate, and they have reg stickers, so I could make a Stuttgart plate for my Mercedes and a Wolfsburg for my Golf. Too bad I can’t run them for real on my cars.

Svend > His Stigness 05/16/2016 at 01:15

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Ye’, that’s a bit of a shame.

Thankfully in the U.K. we don’t have to have the ‘E.U.’ badge on our licence plates like the rest of the E.U. legally has to.

So we can have a bit more freedom. Some badges but there are a few hundred.

My old plate (part of).

His Stigness > Svend 05/16/2016 at 01:21

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That’s pretty cool you guys get a different logo compared to everyone else on the continent. I get why the EU logo is on the other cars, but it would be cool if the country seal or flag were there instead of the EU logo, that way it would be easier to spot different countries.

When I went to Germany in high school though I learned the plates pretty quickly, which was cool to see where everyone was. Obviously we have that here in the US with state plates, but at least in Germany I guess you could tell what city people were in. That seems like a privacy concern though as anyone would be able to look up where a plate is from and narrow down a search. That’s why I resisted getting a personalized plate for years, I didn’t want people to remember it. But then, people recognize my Mercedes, so it doesn’t matter anymore. So I just chose “W202 MBZ” as my plate as it’s hard to remember for non-car people, so it’s harder to call the police on me lol.

Svend > His Stigness 05/16/2016 at 01:37

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The E.U. countries have their own thing in that they have to have the E.U. stars on a blue background and underneath they have their country designation.

Such as D for Denmark

E for Espana (Spain),

F for France and

I for italy.

Germany still has their old system of the letter/s before the tax stickers represent the city/town it is registered in, as the other countries in the E.U. does. We simply don’t have to have the E.U. stars, etc... unless we are on the continent but even then we simply have to put a G.B. sticker or badge on the licence or rear of the car such as:-

And head light converters to adjust the beam of the headlights as lights don’t shine directly in front of a car but in front to one side (though you can now do it on most new cars by going into the settings). .

someassemblyrequired > Svend 05/16/2016 at 01:41

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OK will give that a shot. Thanks again!

His Stigness > Svend 05/16/2016 at 01:44

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D is for Deutschland lol. At first I thought I was wrong, but I had to double check. Denmark is DK. But I did learn about the different country thing in high school before I went.

Oh is that what the GB sticker is for? I thought it was just a form of national pride or something lol.

I didn’t know you guys had to adjust your headlights too. It sounds like a pain in the ass to leave the UK and drive on the Continent.

Svend > someassemblyrequired 05/16/2016 at 01:44

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No worries fella.

Svend > His Stigness 05/16/2016 at 02:00

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Sorry. That one slipped through. Doh on my part.

In the old days the G.B. were alloy badges riveted to the car body or bumper, stuck on with adhesives, etc...

It’s a bit of national pride that we negotiated not having to have E.U. plates on U.K. roads.

It’s not that much of an issue with headlights, It’s only a sticker on a head light that will stop U.K. RHD oriented lights from dazzling oncoming cars in LHD countries.

His Stigness > Svend 05/16/2016 at 02:06

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Haha no worries.

Once you just told me you had to have the GB sticker on the Continent I figured it was due to the UK’s reluctance to fully join the EU (the Pound is a perfect example, but I know that is a different issue). As an American and German fan though I’ve always had a hard time understanding the UK position on wanting to stay out of the EU but at the same time being a member. Eddy Izzards bit on it is quite funny, but that’s as far as I’ve gone looking into the politics of it.

Oh yeah you guys are RHD. Duh.

Svend > His Stigness 05/16/2016 at 02:36

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The E.U. is tricky to understand for many as there is the E.U. and EEA (European Economic Area), but I won’t go into the EEA is it gets trickier, which is a group of countries in Europe who have trade deals, etc..., Europe is the continent, then you have the Euro which some of the countries in the E.U. share a single monetary system, then you have the Shengen Zone which is an area in the E.U. where you can travel freely across borders once you are in (the U.K., Ireland, Norway, Liechtenstein, Cyprus, etc... aren’t in).

Presently we are having a referendum next month to see about whether to leave the E.U. or not.

Think of it as your states. Having their own laws but then having a group other states that dictate what your laws are but in our case we are all separate countries with other countries having their say what we do.

Take the situation of Abu Hamza. He now resides in a U.S. prison. He was born in Egypt, he preached and incited hatred, he taught how to make bombs, lived on U.K. benefits, etc... yet we couldn’t extradite him to Jordan, Egypt or the U.S. as they are countries with the death penalty and the E.U. said it would breach his human rights, it took eight years to get rid of him at U.K. tax payers expense because as a U.K. and E.U. resident he is entitled to free representation. The U.S. had to agree to take execution off the table should they find him guilty of the charges the U.S. government had against him.

There are many other cases from trying to send undesirables back to their own country to a woman sanitary towels which are taxed as the E.U. says they aren’t a necessity (you try telling your partner that her sanitary stuff isn’t a necessity and I’ll send some flowers to your bedside for when you wake up in hospital).

Svend > His Stigness 05/16/2016 at 02:47

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Something that’ll explain it better than me.

understanding the european union

As the United Kingdom struggles with its relationship with the EU, many of us struggle with understanding what is the EU. Here we give a simplified definition of the Single Market and the European Union’s role within it. We also present some metrics.

The Single Market includes 32 countries* and the one aspect in common to all those countries is free trade of products and services. Within the Single Market there are three partly overlapping groups that go much further:

1. The European Union is a political and economic union.

2. The Schengen Area allows for free travel within the area and has a common visa policy.

3. The Eurozone are the countries using the euro as currency by treaty.

We now describe the members by level of integration within the Single Market.

17 countries representing 66% of Single Market GDP are members of all three groups. This can be seen as the core of the EU. Further, they do not have any opt-outs** so their memberships are full and unequivocal. 2 more countries are EU members and use the euro, but are outside Schengen: Cyprus and Ireland (with opt-outs).

9 countries are EU members using local currencies. 5 of them are within Schengen (2 with opt-outs), and 4 outside, most notably the UK (with opt-outs).

This gives the EU membership count of 28 countries representing 96% of Single Market GDP.

The European Economic Area (a free trade area) is made up of the 28 EU countries and 3 additional countries: Norway, Iceland, and Liechtenstein. They are also members of Schengen.

Finally, Switzerland has a special free trade agreement with the EEA and is a Schengen member.

This gives the total tally of 32 countries in the Single Market. It has (2015) 527 million inhabitants and a GDP of $20 trillion. In comparison, the US: 325 million — $18 trillion; China: 1.4 billion — $19 trillion.***

We now rank the countries ordinally by current level of intergration on a scale from 9 to 1.

The UK already is one of the five least integrated countries. If it leaves the EU it may join Norway, Iceland and Liechtenstein at level 2. This was in fact were it was up till 1973 when it was an EFTA member instead of an EU member.

Does such a change matter? Probably not to the EU, and maybe not even to the UK. The country is already an outsider and the extra step to leave, but stay in the free trade area, is arguably small.

The Excel table below allows you to screen on the three dimensions of the Single Market.

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His Stigness > Svend 05/16/2016 at 02:49

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Whenever I think about the EU doesn’t make much sense. The EEA does as it’s benefitial to be able to trade with your partner. The Schengen Area also makes sense as it fosters tourism and builds a sense of community. But having sovereign governments overseen by a regional government is just stupid. Mainly because of preemption. Here in the US federal law is supreme, duh. If a state comes up with a law that is federal domain then it gets struck down. But in the EU it’s the opposite. You can have the EU pass legislation which another country could just ignore. What are they going to do, start a war? HA!

From all the ramblings of Clarkson and crew it just sounds like a shit ton of red tape which is tying people down, as in the example you give of a terrorist.

And why the fuck would you tax women’s sanitary towels? What is it with male politicians feeling the need to butt into women’s business. Congress likes to regulate the shit out of women and birth control and all of that, but the women legislators can’t regulate viagra. Oh fuck no! It’s a boys club, and it’s fucking dumb. I want Clinton to win to break that tradition. We need a woman president.

Svend > His Stigness 05/16/2016 at 03:11

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The E.U. is a bain for many of us in the U.K. So many things from tiny almost insignificant things up to massive import issues are struck down or over ruled.

Even Obama has said he wants a U.K. in the E.U. to have a friend at the negotiating table. Now most of us in the U.K. think Obama has done great things for the U.S. but to basically say he wants us at the table so the U.S. can have a voice at the table is a slap in the face to the people of the U.K. not to mention he also said that if the U.K. were to leave, any trade deals, etc... between the U.K. and U.S. would be put to the bottom of the pile. So much for ‘the special relationship between the U.K. and the U.S.).

So many are basically issuing threats or telling scare stories to make us toe the line.

We just want our sovereignty back, the right to set our own laws without someone from another country saying “er, nope. I don’t think so”.

Other countries are having disputes with the whole E.U. thing but we’ve tried negotiating, didn’t get what we set out for and said “fine, we’re off, bye”.

His Stigness > Svend 05/16/2016 at 03:20

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Lol wow that’s ridiculous he said that. But it doesn’t surprise me because we strut around the world talking about how great we are, when in fact it’s shit here. I don’t know if Obama really believes it, but Americans sure as shit do.

I don’t see what the big deal would be since the UK is already not part of the Euro zone, and they wouldn’t lose any power by leaving the EU.

Svend > His Stigness 05/16/2016 at 03:43

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http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-eu-referendum-36120808

I think the E.U. is making such a big thing as some other countries have voiced concerns and if Britain leaves that may open the doors for others to leave.

Though we are probably the least integrated we probably have the largest voice with probably only Germany and France being on the same level.

The E.U. gets it’s money by each country paying a percentage of it’s GDP to the E.U.. Last year we paid £13billion to the E.U. and got back £4billion in E.U. spending.

The U.K. has one of the largest economies in Europe and almost the largest military force and commitment to spending the required percentage of it’s GDP on it’s military.

The U.K. also has very strong links to many other countries and a commonwealth of 53 countries from Antigua & Barbuda to Zambia with a population of 2.1 billion people (granted 1.26 billion are in India).

I’m not saying we’re great by any stretch.

His Stigness > Svend 05/16/2016 at 03:55

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Well I think that’s why this is such a big issue. Not that the UK is super intertwined in the EU, but they’re a major player in the world, and if the UK doesn’t want to stay what hope is there for France or Germany to stay (who am I kidding, the EU is just Germany’s way of controlling the continent).

It’s like when there was talk of Greece leaving the Euro. It wouldn’t have been terrible, but it would have opened up the door to others leaving.

Also in terms of paying more out than you get back in, that’s how it always works. Here in the US not every state gets back what it pays to the feds. The disadvantaged always get the most. But each state isn’t a sovereign country. I was just playing devil’s advocate.

Svend > His Stigness 05/16/2016 at 04:20

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With the E.U. taxes thing I agree but we’ve also issues at home that need addressed. The population is increasing all the time and the infrastructure is failing. The money going to the E.U. is on top of all the aid we send to other countries each year. It’s like paying into something, getting little back but getting told what to do.

The E.U. couldn’t allow Greece (and Cyprus, Ireland, etc...) to fail as it would look bad for the E.U.

It’s like Ireland has a law that says anything affecting Ireland on the scale proposed by the E.U. for a bailout had to go to a referendum. Ireland was told it had one way to go, if the vote went the other way, then they will hold the referendum again till the E.U. gets the vote they want. The U.K. contributed to the E.U. Irish bailout and send it’s agreed another £7billion directly to Ireland.

I don’t want the U.K. to be Europe’s or America’s pawn in the world.

With regards to what you said about America. Of the 196 countries in the world. Very few have or are getting it right. Governments are always wanting to look big and strong to everyone else and it’s their own people that suffer. Obama did and has tried to do a lot of good for the U.S. but all this anti LGBT, the toilet situation, anti abortion, etc... seems to be putting the country in a bad place.

I like the U.S. and the rest of the extended family. It would be nice if we could bond more for the better of everyone not just ourselves.

Cé hé sin > Amoore100 05/16/2016 at 04:57

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I guess the similarity to the front end design of the current Passat isn’t a coincidence?

Cé hé sin > Svend 05/16/2016 at 04:59

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Interestingly (given their shared CEO) Nissan do just the same with the Cashcow.

Svend > Cé hé sin 05/16/2016 at 05:08

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I think a lot of cars do it these days.

That's gonna leave a mark! > Svend 05/16/2016 at 07:05

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Don’t like any car with a big ass insignia on the front grill such here or as Mercedes does often. There is a point at which it’s too big. Gives me the impression the idea is to scream out to all “look what I have, I can afford this”, the brand being more important than the actual details of the car.

Amoore100 > Cé hé sin 05/16/2016 at 10:03

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Oh shut up, they look nothing alike besides both being very handsome...

C62030 > Svend 05/16/2016 at 13:24

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I DIDN’T KNOW ABOUT THAT AND NOW I NEED IT SO MUCH

His Stigness > Svend 05/16/2016 at 16:04

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I definitely don’t think it’s fair for a sovereign country to be paying a shit ton of taxes and not get anything for it, I was just putting it in context of the US and states. If I were British though I’d be pissed, especially if the country is being neglected and could use that money.

The EU seems to be about building a community, but in reality it’s Germany and France controlling everyone else. The EU wouldn’t have looked bad if someone had defaulted or left, Germany would have looked bad.

I don’t think the Obama administration is making us look back with that stuff, but the states are. It’s fucking embarrassing that a state would go to court with the Federal government over a fucking bathroom law. The only reason this is such a big deal is because it’s a litmus test for civil rights when it comes to LGBT rights. That’s always how court cases have worked here in regards to civil rights and such. When there is a case that could answer a bigger constitutional question then it will go to the Supreme Court. A lot of HUGE landmark decisions start out as petty court cases. A recent union dues issue started with one teacher in California. In that case the court tied so there were not implications for unions all over the country, but it could have.

Svend > His Stigness 05/16/2016 at 16:38

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I understand it’s for the big countries with stronger economies to help support the smaller countries and weaker economies.

The principle of the E.U. is good but the execution is the watering down of each others sovereignty.

A lot of what I see about the U.S. on TV in documentaries or the news about ‘Right to Life’, LGBT toilet situation, gay marriage, etc... I find myself just screaming at the TV “does it matter if a transgender person uses the toilets of the gender they associate themselves as being”. I personally don’t care who uses the toilet as long as they aren’t using the one I’m using at the same time as me. Regarding gay marriage, if two people want to marry and suffer the pain of having inlaws, go for it. Too many people want to inflict their own views on others and tell them how to live. It’s like when someone comes to my door to preach the bible at me or stands on a soap box in the middle of town to make everyone feel crap about not worshiping god, etc... I’m living my life, not reading a book and spending my time telling people how to live their life while not living my own.

I need to win some money and move to the British Virgin Islands or something.

His Stigness > Svend 05/16/2016 at 16:56

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It’s been a while since I focussed on anything besides law and civil rights, but from what I remember from researching the EU, and from what I know about the shift in politics, the whole point of the EU is to create one giant country, and to erase borders and “sovereignty.” While in principle it may sound great to have a giant “melting pot” continent, Europe has some of the richest histories in the history of the world, so that will never happen. While Germany has pissed off the world several times, and their own people despise their recent history, that country is still rich in nativism. Same goes for every other country (besides the whole World War starting thing). That’s also why I think so many in the UK are opposed to the EU and the erosion of sovereignty on the continent.

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That is essentially the purpose of the Republican Party. A big wing of the party are social conservatives who don’t care as much about taxes but instead want to pass policies to tell people how to live their lives. They don’t want abortion to be legal, gay marriage, or allow transgender people to be themselves. They’re the most hypocritical bunch of disgusting human beings on earth. Republicans always scream about government being too big, but they’re all too happy to pass laws that prevent people from doing what they want.

This country kind of disgusts me, especially how we treat our homeless and our homeless vets, and anyone that has to work for a living. I really want to move to Germany.

Svend > His Stigness 05/16/2016 at 17:37

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Most British don’t associate ourselves as European. To the world I’m British, in Britain I’m English, in England I’m a Cummerlan (from Cumbria), in Cumbria I’m from Carlisle.

I’m proud of our history. There are bad parts but we all have them.

Technically Britain started the second world war when our Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain declared war on Germany for invading Poland. Which I always like saying to people. Lol.

It’s not just the Republican Party (though granted it is mental), each country is having it’s own ‘republican party’ situation at present with the way economies and immigration is affecting them.

America has a lot to be proud of and we’re all going through a transition, it’s for us all to keep a level head and not allow scaremongering and anti-Semitism to creep in.

Why specifically Germany? Family connections?

His Stigness > Svend 05/16/2016 at 18:04

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Interesting because here in the US we don’t distinguish ourselves that much. We have our regions which people say they’re from, or people loyal to a state, like myself, I’m Californian. Or people from Texan. There really aren’t many others like that. But then in California, mainly because it’s huge here, we have Southern Californians (me!), or Northern Californians. Or “from LA.”

Haha yeah, that’s true, but Germany started by invading everyone.

Yeah, there is a wave of isolationism and conservatism going around.

I went to Germany for a month on an exchange program in high school and I fell in love with the country. I’ve sort of kept on Germany since leaving and as a liberal person (for this country anyways), and someone who adores German cars, I just think I’d enjoy living there. I stayed just outside Hamburg in a little town called Elmshorn. Compared to the urban sprawl here in SoCal, it was idyllic.

Svend > His Stigness 05/16/2016 at 18:30

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I stayed in Mannheim for a few days when I visited my Polish friends sister. It was very busy but then we went down to Freiburg to see her sister and the place was lovely and peaceful. Little town in the bottom of a narrow valley and so relaxed. It was great. Unfortunately as I’m British I wasn’t used to the crazy heat the country had during the tail end of a heatwave and so I just looked like a sweltering Brit sweating in the sun.

I used to want to emigrate to central Italy but now I think I’d rather live in BVI or Gibraltar.

You know somewhere it let the rest of the world just do it’s own thing.

His Stigness > Svend 05/16/2016 at 19:08

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Hamburg was really nice because it was like being back at home, at least during the summer. It never got super hot but I think it snows up there too, which would be kind of cool. I wasn’t able to go South though, we just stayed around Hamburg and then went to Berlin.

Holy shit that would be nice. But I’m sure it’s not cheap.

Svend > His Stigness 05/16/2016 at 19:44

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Germany was nice but I like the idea of living in one of the former colonies. No languages to learn. Lol. I know a little Polish, German, French, Italian, Arabic and Dutch but don’t think I could pick up a language to speak full time.

Property prices in Gib can be quite high to many countries but compared to U.K. prices it’s okay. BVI is similar depending on which island you live on.

His Stigness > Svend 05/16/2016 at 20:46

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I would have to learn German because I didn’t pay attention in high school, but I can understand it mostly. But I don’t want to one of those dudes and expect everyone to speak English. When I was over there I tried to speak German as much as I could, even though it was total shit. I remember trying to order food (Dorner!!!) in broken German and the guys were super cool and spoke to me in English and said I could speak in English.

Svend > His Stigness 05/16/2016 at 20:55

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Ye’, I had that in Germany. Every time I went to speak German they said “oh are you English?” and I’d reply “yes, my German isn’t good but I’m still practicing” to be told “oh, no, it’s okay. You can speak English here” and I’d be thinking. Thank you but I’m trying to practice my German, please let me. Lol.

I was in Freiburg in a confectionary shop and asked in really good German for a selection of chocolates and the woman in her 80s spoke perfect English and insisted I spoke in English and I could tell it was getting rather heated at one point, but not for the usual ‘ignorant tourist’ reason but ‘I’m in your country, let me speak your language’ and ‘no, you are a guest in my country I will speak yours’.

His Stigness > Svend 05/16/2016 at 23:41

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Lol yeah exactly. I was trying to practice but people made it so easy to speak English, that’s why I didn’t learn too much German. My exhange partner’s mom was awesome though and she would force me to speak German. She would talk to me in German and wouldn’t switch to English so I could learn. She was seriously awesome. My partner was a bitch but her family was awesome. Her older sister (HOLY SHIT HOT) even bought me hard alcohol whenever I asked since I wasn’t old enough. I fell in love with her lol.

Yeah people never got irritated with me, they were just being polite. In the US even if people knew how to speak another language they would still speak English because they don’t care.

Svend > His Stigness 05/17/2016 at 00:15

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Sometimes the worst girlfriend's have the best a best looking sisters. Doh.

Ye’, a lot of the average Brits would do that thing where you speak English, but if the other person doesn’t understand, you say it again in English but louder, slower, over annunciating, whilst pointing at the item.

My Polish friends tell me off for not correcting their grammar or pronunciation and helping them t learn English as I know what they are trying to say. I think most of us do this and with the English language having over a million words with some words having different meanings it can sa sa lot of time by letting it just pass.

Take the word ‘jigger’, which has 28 meanings in the English dictionary.

His Stigness > Svend 05/17/2016 at 00:22

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I’m still in love with her and it’s been like 8 years lol. I actually forgot my partner’s name but remembered her sisters.

HA Americans do the same damn thing. Why people think talking slower AND louder works is beyond me.

I don’t bother correcting people because they just get offended. I think during the exchange though we would correct the Germans but then we were all learning a language so it’s different than being friends with people who speak English as a second language.

Svend > His Stigness 05/17/2016 at 00:43

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I went out with a bitch girl called Eleanor. She was a model and nice enough but nobody could love her more than she did. Very judgemental and argumentative (also treated her knickers as if they were ankle warmers if you know what I mean), but her sister was a beautiful, redhead student nurse (OMG win, win, win). Such is life, hey.

Maybe it’s an English language thing.

But even my Polish friends sister insists I talk English to her as her son and herself are learning English. For her it makes her more employable in the German employment market.

Some universities in France and Italy only teach in English now as one university which teaches students from around the world architecture and design. In the past say a Korean student would learn to speak, read and write Italian to do the course but then have to learn English as it’s the common language around the world for business, etc...

His Stigness > Svend 05/17/2016 at 00:51

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Lol. I hope you ended up dating the sister, because hot damn!

I think we inherited from you guys lol.

Yeah aren’t Polish people kind of discriminated against and kind of treated like how we treat Mexican workers?

I do know that Germans learn English first, and they must, and I think they need to learn French too, I can’t remember. But I do know English is sort of the universal language. But now everyone is talking about learning Mandarin.

Svend > His Stigness 05/17/2016 at 01:21

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I didn’t. My ex started sleeping with my newly married manager. They both eventually left the company and I was glad to just be away from her.

No not at all. When Poland was joining the E.U. there were a lot of fears of an exodus of Polish nationals to the U.K. (now granted, that is actually what happened with over a million coming) taking British jobs especially after we kept seeing lines and lines of people queueing to get passports to come to the U.K. To an extent they did but most did jobs most Brits don’t want to do and they settled in after a few years. Initially there was issues of the two cultures coming together but we also have a shared past with regard to WWII. A minority were even given money by the Polish government to move back to Poland after situations of abandoning children, spousal abuse, and alcoholism were seen to be showing Poland and it’s people in a bad light. there are about 1million presently and most have integrated well or simply do their own thing.

It’s just the fear of the unknown but when your forced to face it, it’s quite quickly accepted and things return to normal.

I tried to learn Mandarin, imagine my embarrassment when after two years learning to find I was being taught Clementine. Ba dum tish. Sorry, bad joke.

The Chinese economy is going through a massive change at present (not in a good way) and many Chinese schools are teaching English so it remains to be seen what will happen over the next few years. It’s quite scary and the Chinese bubble is starting to deflate, if it should deflate too fast or even burst then the world will certainly see another recession as the Chinese government tries to cash in on it’s debts.

His Stigness > Svend 05/17/2016 at 01:32

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Haha you gotta love drama.

That line about stealing jobs is always touted around here, but immigrants always take jobs Americans don’t want to, and they do it gladly. My anecdote is of a Philipino who has lived here for years and he’s a technician and he works his ass off, and he loves it. He makes every other tech look bad but he loves working. As opposed to me who is a lazy ass and only wants to diagnose cars or write service.

I think if their bubble does burst they won’t call in their debts because that would just create a worldwide crisis. From what little I know about economics everything is so damn complicated. Also they can’t call in their US debts because that would cause the dollar to take a shit, and they have the Yuan pretty much pegged to the dollar, so if the Yuan were to increase above the dollar that would depress their economy more, and our export deficit would plummet, which is a good thing.

Svend > His Stigness 05/17/2016 at 01:47

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There is a Polish mechanic not far from me. A colleague took his car to the garage and the guy there said he’d need a new engine or a reconditioned unit. The Polish guy saw my colleague later and said it only needed a small certain part which not many garages would do but he’d do it for£50 labour and £6 for the part. He took the engine apart, replaced the small item and had it running the next day. He wouldn’t take anymore than what he’d already agreed for the work. Top bloke.

All the economies are so closely intertwined these days. The Chinese economy is over producing causing prices of products to fall, devaluing their own product. Suppliers are going unpaid. Massive building sites (I say sites, literally whole cities are empty). They could call in part of the debt or settle the debt for a margin of what it’s worth. it’s all very scary.

His Stigness > Svend 05/17/2016 at 02:52

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Yeah that’s how this guy was. Me on the other hand, I charge $50 an hour for side jobs. I only charge $35 an hour for Detailing though. I also never do it so it’s a moot point.

The empty cities are flipping weird. I get why they exist, but they should just let their country transform into an Asian America naturally. It won't take long, I promise.

Svend > His Stigness 05/17/2016 at 03:05

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I don’t charge for detailing as it’s therapeutic and money complicates the issue. Also it can come across as a slap in the face. Especially when they say “no, I insist on paying you the going rate” a say here’s £20 (when I’ve spent eight hours and used £100 worth of products to turn their car around). So I do it for free and just enjoy it.

You should check out some of their cities. There is one where it’s like little New York, little Paris, little London, little British village, etc... it’s like a residential Disney world for world travellers.

His Stigness > Svend 05/17/2016 at 03:25

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I actually don’t like Detailing lol. I like my results, but not actually doing it. I’ve had some people balk at my prices, but if they don’t want to pay to play I don’t care. My neighbors keep asking me to do their cars but when I told them how much (I think I said $125 inside and out - carpet cleaning, leather, all that, plus clay bar wax and sealant). Totally worth it compared to prices at Detailing shops that won’t do as good of a job. All they did was say they can get it done cheaper. Fine! Go ahead.

And they both make a crap ton of money.

Svend > His Stigness 05/17/2016 at 08:21

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Where I am. People don’t like spending more than happy few pounds to have their car cleaned by some quick shine place with sponges and chamois.

His Stigness > Svend 05/17/2016 at 11:57

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That makes me sad because cars are so neglected.

Svend > His Stigness 05/17/2016 at 12:39

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I do have a policy of only cleaning cars of owners who appreciate them.

They don’t need babied, just looked after like anything else.

Except when it’s a challenge like below.

His Stigness > Svend 05/17/2016 at 13:22

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By charging a fair amount I weed out the cheap asses that don’t take care of their cars.

HOLY MOTHER OF GOD THAT CAR!!! That’s a whole lot of nope!

Svend > His Stigness 05/17/2016 at 13:52

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True.

It was worse. Six and a half hours work (the first one and a half of those I spent with a throbbing headache).

People can be disgusting.

His Stigness > Svend 05/17/2016 at 14:03

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No shit. If someone called me with that I’d either say no, or I’d have to charge so much they’d say no and would be pissed.

I think I’ll have to make a note on my site to exclude pet owners, or make clear there is a $100 surcharge if you have pets lol.

What do you use to get all the pet hair (besides a vacuum obviously)?

Svend > His Stigness 05/17/2016 at 14:14

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I was returning to the car after shopping and he asked me to do his car. I had a very quick brief look but it’s only when he dropped it off that I saw just how awful it was. Doh.

Antibacterial cleaners are your friend on cars like these.

I use a Maxolen Pet Hair Removal Tool.

Essentially a piece of textured rubber folded back on itself. A new trainer shoe will do similar really.

His Stigness > Svend 05/17/2016 at 18:08

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Yeah I need to figure out how to do an estimate on a car. Larry from AMMO doesn’t give a price till he looks at it, but he seems to focus mainly on paint.

Svend > His Stigness 05/17/2016 at 22:30

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Larry does some really good work and his prices maybe considered high to many but his customers as he’s established his name.

It’s best to give estimates but stipulate prices maybe change on arrival after inspection.

Take a customer round the car, noting any issues or where further work will be needed and adjust up or down accordingly. Agree a price and work to be undertaken. If a repair is not possible by yourself on a piece have a job sheet signed that states no action on that piece or a ‘tidy up’ of the piece but not a repair will be undertaken.

His Stigness > Svend 05/17/2016 at 22:56

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Yeah that’s what I planned on doing. The only problem with that is if I show up and get a car like you had with 50 pounds of leftover dog in it. While it may be completely reasonable for me to go “hell no,” they could get really pissed off and leave me a bad review.

Svend > His Stigness 05/17/2016 at 23:21

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In that case don’t give estimates but have a list of prices for jobs and have them bring the car in or go to the car and then decide whether you want to take it on. If you do, estimate your cost and time, try to give reasons but if you don’t want to take it on, tell them you’ve quite a work load on and you’ll call them back when you’ve more time.

His Stigness > Svend 05/17/2016 at 23:47

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Yeah that’s a good plan.