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james016
Doesn't have much of a life
Joined: Tue May 05, 2009 5:52 pm
Posts: 1899
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_________________ My Flickr PageNow with added ball and chain.
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| Sun Mar 06, 2011 7:12 pm |
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jonbwfc
What's a life?
Joined: Thu Apr 23, 2009 7:26 pm
Posts: 17040
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Isn't/wasn't that the firm that would only sell a car to you if the boss liked you? I pity the people who have lost their jobs but it's not exactly a sensible way to run a business is it?
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| Sun Mar 06, 2011 7:53 pm |
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ProfessorF
What's a life?
Joined: Thu Apr 23, 2009 7:56 pm
Posts: 12030
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We were talking about this over dinner in fact. Their business plan was, let's face it, a bunch of nonsense. One of the things they always promised was that you'd have a car for life. You could return it to the factory and they'd modernise it for you. If you're doing that, as ecologically sound as it is, you're also unlikely to be selling many more models. Added to the fact that, as jonbwfc said, they'd only sell you one if they liked you and it might not be the model you wanted, you're on a hiding to going bust. Yes, there's still room for boutique car manufacturers, but they clearly needed to be a little more savvy. My money's on a buyout. My Fighter S is looking even less likely now though. 
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| Sun Mar 06, 2011 8:39 pm |
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tombolt
Spends far too much time on here
Joined: Fri Apr 24, 2009 8:38 am
Posts: 2967
Location: Dorchester, Dorset
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I always fancied a Bristol Blenheim as my grandad flew them in the war. Not that here's any relation between the car and the plane.
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| Sun Mar 06, 2011 9:04 pm |
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paulzolo
What's a life?
Joined: Thu Apr 23, 2009 6:27 pm
Posts: 12251
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Yes. The story goes that they would not sell one to James May because he knew Clarkson. Also, if you went for a test drive, you’d be expected to buy THAT car, not order one and pick it up later.
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| Sun Mar 06, 2011 9:08 pm |
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ProfessorF
What's a life?
Joined: Thu Apr 23, 2009 7:56 pm
Posts: 12030
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Friend of my father's was put in that exact situation by Tony Crook. He wanted a new one, Tony wanted him to have the demonstrator. So he didn't buy one in the end.
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| Sun Mar 06, 2011 11:08 pm |
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AlunD
Site Admin
Joined: Fri Apr 24, 2009 6:12 am
Posts: 7011
Location: Wiltshire
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such a shame 
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| Mon Mar 07, 2011 6:43 am |
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james016
Doesn't have much of a life
Joined: Tue May 05, 2009 5:52 pm
Posts: 1899
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It's amazing they lasted so long with that attitude. _________________My Flickr PageNow with added ball and chain.
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| Mon Mar 07, 2011 9:15 am |
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dogbert10
Doesn't have much of a life
Joined: Thu Apr 23, 2009 8:23 pm
Posts: 638
Location: 3959 miles from the centre of the Earth - give or take a bit
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Having only one dealer in London probably didn't do them any favours either. Makes Morgan look like a volume car manufacturer 
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i7 860 @ 3.5GHz, GTX275, 4GB DDR3
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| Mon Mar 07, 2011 2:30 pm |
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l3v1ck
What's a life?
Joined: Fri Apr 24, 2009 10:21 am
Posts: 12700
Location: The Right Side of the Pennines (metaphorically & geographically)
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| Mon Mar 07, 2011 4:41 pm |
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paulzolo
What's a life?
Joined: Thu Apr 23, 2009 6:27 pm
Posts: 12251
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 What a lovely pair of Bristols… Predictable joke over.
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| Mon Mar 07, 2011 6:57 pm |
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james016
Doesn't have much of a life
Joined: Tue May 05, 2009 5:52 pm
Posts: 1899
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The showroom is about 15 mins walk away from my office. Used to stop and admire the Fighter they had in the window whenever I was going to Olympia.
_________________My Flickr PageNow with added ball and chain.
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| Mon Mar 07, 2011 9:00 pm |
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rustybucket
I haven't seen my friends in so long
Joined: Thu Jun 18, 2009 5:10 pm
Posts: 5837
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Meh.
Crap company that treats customers like crap and makes crap cars goes bust.
Bye.
_________________Jim
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| Mon Mar 07, 2011 9:26 pm |
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ProfessorF
What's a life?
Joined: Thu Apr 23, 2009 7:56 pm
Posts: 12030
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Actually, they made fantastic cars, and once you're in the door, so to speak, they'd build you a car to your own spec. They built cars to a level of quality and finish not many manufacturers can match.
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| Mon Mar 07, 2011 10:38 pm |
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rustybucket
I haven't seen my friends in so long
Joined: Thu Jun 18, 2009 5:10 pm
Posts: 5837
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Indeed - they made great cars. However, having driven a fairly recent model, I can confirm that it was crap. _________________Jim
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| Tue Mar 08, 2011 8:12 pm |
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