Talking nonsense and general waffle

[CRH]

A has been noted in a number of threads.
We have threads with specific titles to discuss certain issues/interests, and then as is the nature of discussions, we all go off on a tangent and start talking rubbish.
I would like this to be the corner of our brilliant forum where we can all be directed to talk about anything (within the guidelines), that we find interesting, annoying, funny or just enters our empty heads after an intake of alcohol at 2am in the morning?
Please take this opportunity to have respectable fun!!

 

[NQ94]

It's a good idea CRH for keeping Ineos tech topics on track.
Keeping it automotive, I am interested in what is happening in the car and truck industry. It would be interesting to read worldwide opinions. Every major brand seems like they're struggling with the likes of VAG having a major downturn and shutting factories to Chrysler, Jeep and Ram looking to be considerably downsized or closed by Stellantis, Jaguar only producing SUVs and Ford losing considerable sales. The auto news seems to report that majority of traditional manufactures are entering a downward spiral while the Chinese brands are on the climb.

 

[CRH]

It's a good idea CRH for keeping Ineos tech topics on track.
Keeping it automotive, I am interested in what is happening in the car and truck industry. It would be interesting to read worldwide opinions. Every major brand seems like they're struggling with the likes of VAG having a major downturn and shutting factories to Chrysler, Jeep and Ram looking to be considerably downsized or closed by Stellantis, Jaguar only producing SUVs and Ford losing considerable sales. The auto news seems to report that majority of traditional manufactures are entering a downward spiral while the Chinese brands are on the climb.

I thought Jaguar had not stopped production of all new cars for 12 months whilst they transition to higher end electric vehicles only. Not sure that's the best idea, Porsche are reportedly looking at trying to add an engine to the upcoming electric 718's and Macan.
I never believed electric was the way to go and it seems to be purely at the determent of western industry and stability?
As for buying Chinese, yes we all buy products made there as we have no choice but it's now gone too far and their electric vehicle companies will annihilate the old established companies. Whether INEOS can hold their own as only a small manufacturer will depend on engine supplies long term and other technologies like their hydrogen test car

 

[NQ94]

There is a video reporting on how efficiently and cost efficient Chinese EVs are built compared to western EVs and how this may cause issues for other manufactures and seems to be shaking up the industry.

View: https://youtu.be/QgmDiWfZJcI?si=w3mbNDptZes-VUkJ

 

[CRH]

There is a video reporting on how efficiently and cost efficient Chinese EVs are built compared to western EVs and how this may cause issues for other manufactures and seems to be shaking up the industry.

View: https://youtu.be/QgmDiWfZJcI?si=w3mbNDptZes-VUkJ

I was aware of that report and how frightening it is for the west. Our leaders have put us in this situation and it's not looking good.
I don't know if you ever watched uk Top Gear, but many years back they went to China and drove some of their new vehicles, it was around the time they bought the MG brand and were readying to launch in Europe. The cars weren't great by European standards but also not totally awful. They also compared them to the Chinese cars that were built 5 or 10 years previous and the massive improvements made. It was like a 1940/50s vehicle to 1980/90 in a matter of 5 or so years. The conclusion Clarkson came to back then before China even started delivering was that Europe was pretty much stuffed. He wasn't wrong!!

 

[parb]

The e/e architecture in Chinese cars are so much more rational than in the US or European cars. Let's the supply chain unify around standardized form factors and interfaces. This in its turn allows the focus of the software developers to be on functionality than on one off interfaces to minimally interesting hardware interfaces.

It is so much more rational IMHO. Just like the Tesla architecture is more rational.
Then again I'm convinced that it's mechanical or electrical engineers who define the software architecture in vehicles today and not real systems and software engineers. The supply chain define the interfaces, each one a bit unique to themselves rather than to a standard.

Imagine if every network component on the Internet would be slightly unique rather than standardized, it would be madness as people tried to make them work with each other. The only ones with expertise for how to get things to work is specialists and the suppliers to the manufacturer. That's the US/European car industry.

Same thing happened when the Japanese followed by the Koreans entered the industry with a superior manufacturing process. Disrupted the industry. It's about to happen again.

 

[CountyV8]

Who has bought a British motorbike lately??????

 

[landmannnn]

BYD have a number of advantages compared to the traditional European and American car manufacturers.
- They do not have a legacy of corporate executives flying around the globe on 7 figure salaries
- They don't care that Soichiro Honda said that in the future there will be 6 car makers plus Morgan, They just make cars.
- They don't have to listen to the (flawed) research from McKinsey who said Diversity, Equality and Inclusion are required to make a company successful (most of us have been heavily exposed to this)
- Their customers would not know a Dana 60 from a Boing 747, or care.
- They don't have to build a car around somebody else's components.

It's not abot the technology - it is the whole approach that will soon make them the world's no 1.

 

[ANNML]

I’m so glad you started this! I was kind of thinking of something like this but didn’t know what it should be. I’m totally guilty of tangents but interesting things come up and there I go!

Let’s talk about curling irons, handbags, high heels, mascara, and bras. Discuss.

 

[CRH]

Does anyone think this is the right approach or are there other things we should do to 'save the world', are you believer's or not. Do you own electric vehicles?

 

[CRH]

I’m so glad you started this! I was kind of thinking of something like this but didn’t know what it should be. I’m totally guilty of tangents but interesting things come up and there I go!

Let’s talk about curling irons, handbags, high heels, mascara, and bras. Discuss.

I'm sure they are in the band list of topics, but hey, lets make an exception. Are you a Dyson girl or not worth the cash?

 

[ANNML]

I'm sure they are in the band list of topics, but hey, lets make an exception. Are you a Dyson girl or not worth the cash?

Haha good question! I’ve never actually used one! I’ve thought about getting one many times but then I’m like — what if they actually ARE that good?! Bc if they are incomparable, then I’ll be stuck spending a ridiculous amount of money on vacuums for the rest of my life!

So I’d rather stay in ignorance, buy a cheaper vacuum, and justify using the “extra” money for a cool pair of boots. I feel like that’s solid math right there.

 

[CRH]

I’m so glad you started this! I was kind of thinking of something like this but didn’t know what it should be. I’m totally guilty of tangents but interesting things come up and there I go!

I thought it was a good way to get to know the regulars and learn about our other interests and where we live. I do find it funny how we can speak the same language but mean different things, if only the Americans would learn English. Differences in sense of humour, I'm very adept at sarcasm as humour but always concerned about how it may come across to different people when it's not spoken face to face.
Glad you like the idea and look forward to more contributions

 

[CRH]

Haha good question! I’ve never actually used one! I’ve thought about getting one many times but then I’m like — what if they actually ARE that good?! Bc if they are incomparable, then I’ll be stuck spending a ridiculous amount of money on vacuums for the rest of my life!

So I’d rather stay in ignorance, buy a cheaper vacuum, and justify using the “extra” money for a cool pair of boots. I feel like that’s solid math right there.

I was thinking of the Dyson hair products as you mentioned curling irons. Don't start on the Dyson hair stuff, you will have no money left to spend on your Grenadier
who needs a vacuum cleaner, it only gets dirty again

 

[ANNML]

I do find it funny how we can speak the same language but mean different things, if only the Americans would learn English. Differences in sense of humour, I'm very adept at sarcasm as humour but always concerned about how it may come across to different people when it's not spoken face to face.

Right?! Why can’t Americans learn to speak “British”…? I think you should do your humor (humour!) exactly as it is, bc I’d like to see/understand any differences! Plus I think it’d be hard to offend most people here.

I was British for awhile. I grew up with French ancestry and my last name is French. Then I took one of those ancestry tests and I was mostly British, which totally made sense bc I’m such an Anglophile. Then I was recently on the ancestry site and apparently their data was all recalibrated and now I’m mostly Belgian! Next I’ll be Bora Bora-ian or something.

 

[CRH]

Right?! Why can’t Americans learn to speak “British”…? I think you should do your humor (humour!) exactly as it is, bc I’d like to see/understand any differences! Plus I think it’d be hard to offend most people here.

I was British for awhile. I grew up with French ancestry and my last name is French. Then I took one of those ancestry tests and I was mostly British, which totally made sense bc I’m such an Anglophile. Then I was recently on the ancestry site and apparently their data was all recalibrated and now I’m mostly Belgian! Next I’ll be Bora Bora-ian or something.

Never done one, only end up with more people wanting to be related to you that you don't like. Easier just to pick who you want. Always was suspicious of the accuracy

 

[LeeroyJ]

Does anyone think this is the right approach or are there other things we should do to 'save the world', are you believer's or not. Do you own electric vehicles?

I own two electric vehicles (2023 BMW i4 and 2025 Lucid Air) and three internal combustion vehicles (2024 Grenadier, 2008 BMW Z4M Coupe, and 2006 Infinity FX35) and a Dyson vacuum and two dogs and a cat.

As for electric cars, I think its silly that in the US we've allowed politicians and pundits to make the topic of electric cars a political dividing line. I think electric cars are inevitably the future for many reasons, primarily, they generally drive better, they will eventually be cheaper to produce and buy than ICE vehicles, they are cheaper to maintain, they are cheaper to run, they are more reliable, and then the environmental benefits.

The whole range and charging anxiety thing is overstated. Out of all my vehicles the one that gives me the most range anxiety is the Grenadier, especially when I'm towing (come on Longranger get that fuel tank ready!). The average American drives less than 40 miles a day. So if you have a garage or dedicated parking area where you can charge your vehicle overnight, then range is likely rarely going to be an issue. When you do need to take longer trips, either take your Grenadier or just enjoy a coffee and a snack when you are charging back-up after having just driven for 5 hours.

If someone drives long distances frequently, or doesn't have the ability to charge at home (for example they live in a place where they need to find a spot on the street to park), and the electric vehicle would be their only vehicle, then maybe an EV is not the right choice for that person.... yet.