The end of the British sports car industry?

[getcarter]

www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,2105-920709,00.html

[Apache]

Good old Brussels, will the last manufacturer to leave please turn the lights out

[RichardD]

Quite a while ago on top gear I think it was the Aston Martin designer said that the era of sleek cars.

Would really hope that this doesn't come all the way to the low volume manufacturers. How would this affect kit cars?

[deeen]

What is the EU for, exactly?

[deeen]

Will our government be fighting this on our behalf? Well the head of our transport committee doesn't even drive, so what do you think?

[Apache]

Beats me, even Adolf was a petrolhead, these f**kers want everything to look, smell, taste and feel the same wrapped up in cotton wool.

[kdd]

When I was a kid there were Green Cross Code adverts on every 10 mins. Drove me mad, but between them and my parents they taught me not to walk out into the road coz cars *hurt*.

[McNab]

deeen said:

What is the EU for, exactly?

"Emasculate, Universally"

[deeen]

That would be funny if it didn't affect our lives!

[count duckula]

Can't they just put on some big "fake bonnet" that mets the requirments but can be removed by the owner.

Malc

[sb-1]

we can only hope common sense prevails and it never happens.
Steve

[AlexH]

count duckula said:

Can't they just put on some big "fake bonnet" that mets the requirments but can be removed by the owner. Malc

Yep but then instead of the manufacturer having their arse sued off for making a car which doesn't conform to these ridiculous standards by some dozey tt who jaywalked out in front of you, you'd end up being sued personally.

This is just about as good an illustration you'll get of the self-perpetuating nature of bureaucracy...they ran out of anything useful to do years ago so they make this sh1t up (and peoples lives a misery) to keep themselves in jobs.
Still, at least they'll be second up against the wall after the politicians who let them run amok, come the revolution...

[deeen]

sb-1 said:

we can only hope common sense prevails and it never happens. Steve

Sadly, it's people like us just "sitting and hoping" that lets them get away with it. The "silent majority", I believe we are called.

[stackmonkey]

If you take the 'bonnet' as being wherever the engne is, rather than any opening aperture at the front of the car, then the new regs would encourage mid engine cars. A person run over by an Elise would have to bounce a fair distance before even hitting the engine cover!

[Swilly]

Reading that article, the TVR Tuscan is pretty much in line with the proposed regs as it is, with its long front over-hang, and being fibre-glass is essentially one great crumple zone.

As for pedestrian friendly, my Tuscan usually stops all in its tracks allowing me free passage.

OTOH, We have the Euro Charter of Human Rights, when is the EU going to issue a frucking Citizens Charter of Responsibility?

1) You WILL look before crossing the road etc etc etc.

[RobDickinson]

Is it the end? bollox.

I know my RX-8 bonnet meets and exedes all current future safety standards. Its 'cratered' ali bonet will protect pedestrians in an accident so it can be done on a relativly sporty car with low bonnet and not a lot of clerance uner the hood.

[stooz]

on the bright side, will this mean the end to school run huge 4x4's with bull bars?

[knowley]

kdd said:

When I was a kid there were Green Cross Code adverts on every 10 mins. Drove me mad, but between them and my parents they taught me not to walk out into the road coz cars *hurt*.

Its not just me then!!!
I tend to STOP - LOOK - LISTEN.
People should be made responsible for their actions.. i.e if you decide to walk out infront of a car/truck/bus its your fault!

[v8thunder]

1. Where's the Green Cross Code got to these days?
2. Solution - drive classics. Use them to run MEPs over.
3. Bye-Bye replica market.

GOD Ihate this country!

[grahambell]

As accident investigation shows that the majority of accidents involving cars and pedestrians are not the fault of the driver but the pedestrian, I think the onus should definitely be on the pedestrian to make sure that they're safe.

I'm therefore going to write to Brussels suggesting they introduce a new law that all pedestrians must wear protective body suits so that when they step into the road and are hit by a car they will just bounce harmlessly off. This will result in less damage to both pedestrians and cars.

Shouldn't take long to put into effect as no development work on such suits is required - Michelin designed one ages ago...



>> Edited by grahambell on Monday 8th December 15:47