The 2014 Tattymobile ... Or how to be an indecisive ninny

[Tacitus]

The deed is almost done. The car is almost ordered.

I've made my mind up on everything bar the colour ... which is always where I fall down. To make matters worse, the 2014 Tattymobile comes not only in a selection of body colours, but differing roof colours as well. And different wheel colours. :(

I used to be indecisive, but now I'm not so sure.

It's a Citroen DS3 dSport (with the Plus pack) and I've narrowed the colour scheme down to nine. Help!

Either:

Brown n' Black

http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b69/greenspagbol/Citroen-DS3-Ultra-Prestige-Urban-Brown-Hatchback_zps90f1da85.jpg~original (http://s17.photobucket.com/user/greenspagbol/media/Citroen-DS3-Ultra-Prestige-Urban-Brown-Hatchback_zps90f1da85.jpg.html)

Blue n' Black

http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b69/greenspagbol/car_photo_493960_zpsa0ee1bb9.jpg~original (http://s17.photobucket.com/user/greenspagbol/media/car_photo_493960_zpsa0ee1bb9.jpg.html)

None More Black

http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b69/greenspagbol/Citroen-DS3-Rear-Side-590x442_zps39da9d5c.jpg~original (http://s17.photobucket.com/user/greenspagbol/media/Citroen-DS3-Rear-Side-590x442_zps39da9d5c.jpg.html)

Black n' Red

http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b69/greenspagbol/citroen-ds3-hatchback-petrol_15897236_zps1745c431.jpg~original (http://s17.photobucket.com/user/greenspagbol/media/citroen-ds3-hatchback-petrol_15897236_zps1745c431.jpg.html)

Red n' Black

http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b69/greenspagbol/citroen-ds3-16-hdi-110-dsport-plus-3dr-hatchback-2011-9003_image1_400_zpsf7667727.jpg~original (http://s17.photobucket.com/user/greenspagbol/media/citroen-ds3-16-hdi-110-dsport-plus-3dr-hatchback-2011-9003_image1_400_zpsf7667727.jpg.html)

Yellow n' Black

http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b69/greenspagbol/Citroen_DS3_DSport_0023_600-600x400_zps04fc0ddc.jpg~original (http://s17.photobucket.com/user/greenspagbol/media/Citroen_DS3_DSport_0023_600-600x400_zps04fc0ddc.jpg.html)

Grey n' Red

http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b69/greenspagbol/53718_zps17731a47.jpg~original (http://s17.photobucket.com/user/greenspagbol/media/53718_zps17731a47.jpg.html)

White n' Black

http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b69/greenspagbol/citroen-ds3-hatchback-diesel_15732782_zpsc0b42bef.jpg~original (http://s17.photobucket.com/user/greenspagbol/media/citroen-ds3-hatchback-diesel_15732782_zpsc0b42bef.jpg.html)

Black n' White

http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b69/greenspagbol/Citroen-DS3-THP-150-10_zpsa250ae50.jpg~original (http://s17.photobucket.com/user/greenspagbol/media/Citroen-DS3-THP-150-10_zpsa250ae50.jpg.html)

The wheels I'll obsess about at a later date. ;)

Which combo does MoFo prefer? I'm veering slightly towards Grey n' Red, but I drove a Yellow n' Black one this morning and liked the combination more than I thought I would.

The Brown n' Black was parked beside me yesterday and it looks cool too.

This is my mid life crisis car although ancient MoFos might remember that the 2005 Tattymobile was supposed to be my paean to lost hair youth. It's taking its time. :p

[the samoan lawyer]

Very nice!!
i'd go for either 'none more black' or 'red n black'.
You couldnt have a yellow car up your neck of the woods Tatts!!

[Yoda]

I vote None More Black. But then, I find it impossible to consider these kinds of choices without thinking about things like resale value. I tend to make really major purchases in a way that minimizes downside first and foremost.

Plus, black fits with the whole "Name-mobile" theme.

[Tacitus]

None More Black was actually my original choice when I was at the 'overwhelmed by brochures and test drives' stage but a number of my friends (mainly female women, it has to be said) told me that I'd be daft not getting a famously two-tone car in monochrome.

SL - Aye, I need to imagine a bright yellow car with its sills covered in slurry and crow effluent. I'd be the talk of the village though. :D

EDIT - Resale values be damned in this case, Chris. It's a 3 year contract hire - the forth I've had since joining MoFo. Geez. ;)

[Yoda]

Yeah, I knew it didn't apply, I just find it almost impossible to think any other way. But I guess 3 years is short enough that even something crazy flashy wouldn't have too long to grate, if you got tired of it.

'Course, there's always the whole question of whether or not flashier cars attract more police attention. I dunno if that's a consideration either way.

Among the flashier ones I'd probably still go pragmatic in a "not likely to confuse this in a parking lot" kind of way. Black with white roof would be modest looking by still stand out. Kind of interesting mix there.

[Tacitus]

One thing I've realised is that I'll not be able to fit a dishwasher in the back as I was able to do earlier with the current Tattymobile.

74mpg though, that's the clincher. Since moving I'm doing a lot more miles. When it was serviced last summer it had 8.5k on the clock (after two years), today it turned 16,000.

[christine]

Grey n'red looks classy. I like white cars but totally impractical where you live unless you build yourself a carwash out the back.

Funny I was just thinking of you, cos since I pranged the Mondeo last Saturday, husband has taken the opportunity of saying it's time to change the car. I can't understand this, surely we should get some more value out of it once it's bumper (etc etc :blush: ) is fixed. Still I'm persona non grata at the mo as far as having a say .....

[VFN]

I like None More Black (though it looks a little matte and the pic isn't as clear or close as the others so I'd have to see another one), and the red and black.

[Tacitus]

Grey n'red looks classy. I like white cars but totally impractical where you live unless you build yourself a carwash out the back.

Funny I was just thinking of you, cos since I pranged the Mondeo last Saturday, husband has taken the opportunity of saying it's time to change the car. I can't understand this, surely we should get some more value out of it once it's bumper (etc etc :blush: ) is fixed. Still I'm persona non grata at the mo as far as having a say .....

I pranged the back bumper about a year ago and didn't bother getting it fixed to save my no-claims. Then an idiot wellied into the back of my a few months later in exactly the same spot - His insurance paid and the car is now perfect again.

I'm not saying deliberately do what I did, as I didn't deliberately do it, but it's an option. ;)

Go out driving really carefully in the snow and tail a few learner drivers with your fingers crossed...

[Nausicaä]

I chose None More Black. But the Grey and Red looks good too and those colours go well together on that car. Brown and Black looks nice too.


Don't think much of the other choices. Yellow is an awful colour for anyone to drive and to me has always come across as someone showing off their car(as in a me me me show off, not someone who really actually likes yellow). The Black one with a red top looks like something a stupid boy racer drives.


Blue, and White - I'm just not a fan of these colours on cars but that's the only reason, they don't look silly or anything.

[Sexy Celebrity]

None More Black.

[rauldc14]

Hot Pink

[Sexy Celebrity]

Hot Pink n' White.

[Hit Girl]

I voted for None More Black.

[Godoggo]

I voted Brown n Black. That's the hottest one. :yup:

[christine]

I pranged the back bumper about a year ago and didn't bother getting it fixed to save my no-claims. Then an idiot wellied into the back of my a few months later in exactly the same spot - His insurance paid and the car is now perfect again.

I'm not saying deliberately do what I did, as I didn't deliberately do it, but it's an option. ;)

Go out driving really carefully in the snow and tail a few learner drivers with your fingers crossed...

heh I bet we'll have another car by the end of May , snow's unlikely! we're not claiming on the insurance either, too much no claims to sacrifice. Just have to bite the bullet (and my tongue ;) )

[Ðèstîñy]

Either brown, red, or my favorite color for just about anything . . . . Black, black, black!!!

[Tacitus]

Thanks chaps!

It looks like the MoFo Hivemind (and I mean hivemind in the nicest possible way) is broadly agreeing with me in None More Black. Nigel Tufnell would be proud. ;)

All that now remains are wheels and interior. I'm thinking None More Black wheels (instead of white or grey) and carbon fibre interior instead of gloss black, which will be a total fingerprint magnet. You can play the fun game here (http://www.car-configurator.citroen.co.uk/Configurator/Index/1CYAA3/#?step=3&Grades=00000751&Engines=BM&Transmission=K&Version=1CYAA3VBMK709X20&Color=0M#1#0MM00N9V&Features=0P#0#0PZ40RFT&Additionals=QL#2#QL02&Additionals=EK#2#EK08&Additionals=DF#2#DF20&Decor=EN#2#ENCI&SideTrims=ED#2#ED18&Wheels=ZH#5#ZH24&Mirrors=YI#5#YI09&MulticityConnect=0). ;D

Sexy - You mean this (http://info.citroen.co.uk/new-cars/special-editions/ds3-pink/)? :D

Sadly it's not on the list I have to choose from...

[honeykid]

I think I'd go None more black. But, and I'm surprised to say this, I think the brown/black looks really good. I must be getting old. :D

[Tacitus]

Yeah, in the flesh/metal the brown is actually a kind of dark gold metallic and it looks really good. It's not really brown brown. :D

Unless something weird happens between now and May 1st, I'll be ordering Black on Black with Black wheels.

How much more black could this be?

[honeykid]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=46kXH6GGtT0

[Tacitus]

I do try and shoehorn in Spinal Tap quotes when I can.

I find reactions towards me much less violent than to guys who quote Python. I mean, I've got a friend who regularly starts talking about shrubberies and ex-whatevers in mixed company. I love Python but have come close to murdering him a few times now. ;)

Today I lied to a car salesman. I'd been to a Citroen dealer last week wanting to drive a DS3 and the bloke gave me the bum rush saying that he didn't have a dSport in stock for a few days and would ring me when it came in. I went to the Citroen dealer in the next town and they had 4 of them for me to try so that's where I'm doing business.

The first guy phoned me today and I told him I'm buying a Ford instead. Tough.

He'll get a shock when he sees me in a DS3 ... and that's likely to happen because he lives in the village. :p

[VFN]

I'd been to a Citroen dealer last week wanting to drive a DS3 and the bloke gave me the bum rush saying that he didn't have a dSport in stock for a few days and would ring me when it came in.

The bum rush meaning he was trying to get rid of you? Why would he do that if you're interested in buying a car?

[Tacitus]

Laziness.

As an ex car salesman myself I know the type a mile off. When they're doing a contract hire deal they're basically just order-taking, not 'selling' the car for as much profit as they can get. The contact hire company buys the car direct from the manufacturer (at a big discount usually) and the dealership is just there to facilitate the process. Thus, the salesman will get a relatively small referral bonus for doing the work instead of a percentage of the profits as in a normal sale.

How does a dealership make any money from contract hires? Back end, basically - They'll service the car for 3 years and charge the hire company plus they'll get a new car registration which will go towards their monthly target.

Selling 101 ends. ;D

[VFN]

Makes sense now. Thanks.

[Tacitus]

Well, it's been ordered. Black with black roof and black wheels.

Roll on Aug 1st. ;)

[Yoda]

Does it go to 11...0kpm?

[Tacitus]

Does it go to 11...0kpm?

The Jazz Odyssey special edition does, but mine has a Dubly stereo.

[VFN]

Congrats. Hope you enjoy your nice looking new ride.

[Brodinski]

You bought a DS3? Hope you get lucky, mate.


We have them and well, let's just say my colleagues of our damage department are already scheming to pull a plastic bag over our fleet manager's head, and dump her body in the trunk of a total loss, so she can't order any more of them.

[Tacitus]

What are the complaints?

I've got a friend who's just bought her second one and the first didn't miss a beat. The last Citroen I had (a C4 Coupe) went through 5 safety recalls in 3 years and I was sad to see it go. Compared to the Astra I have now it was less powerful, less well equipped and less well built. Driving the thing, I'd take the C4 every time and that was what I felt when I drove the DS3.

Reliability is a factor, yes, but it's not a major issue for me. Childish as it may seem, having fun on B roads is a bigger one. ;)

[Brodinski]

Some really simple stuff like:




fuel meters not going all the way up when the tank is filled to the brim
electric windows not going all the way up or down
Issues with servicing and other dashboard notices. Not really cool when your clients call you to say the car is asking for an urgent service when it had less than 400 miles on the counter.

Then some not so simple things:


breaks failing, as in: OMFG I DON'T HAVE ANY BRAKES ANY MORE (while doing 70 mph). W've had this four times so far, once due to the cruise control staying locked in.
recalls. If there's one thing we just don't want, ever, it's recalls. Had them once with a batch of 15 we bought. Great fun.
Issues with the timing chain when the car doesn't even have 5000 miles.

So, really hope you don't have any of the above, Tatty.

[Tacitus]

Those are hire cars?

It might sound weird but none of that bothers me. Even my Astra, which is as monotonously reliable as anything I've owned, has had its service light coming on from a week after it was last serviced and my cruise control has not only locked on, but locked on accelerating. Which was fun.

After spending the vast majority of my working life in the motor trade I look at cars maybe a bit differently to most people. When I was a kid I had Ferrari and Lamborghini posters on my wall; once I'd reached my late 20s I had a WRX Impreza in my garage but would drive any old snotter home from work as long as it had an MOT and Tax on the windscreen. I took the family on a driving holiday to France one year in a Fiesta S because I was fed up driving Mondeos. :D

Cars these days are fickle beasts, and the electronics are usually the cause. I've got a mate who runs his own bodyshop and he's just spent thousands on a diagnostics machine for, I think, Renaults. He's had to buy separate ones for Fords, VWs, Toyotas etc because the only way an independent mechanic can fix the majority of problems in modern cars is to literally plug them into a computer.

This is why the best car I've ever owned was my first one, a 1985 Fiat Uno. Bits would fall off it regularly and all you'd generally need to fix it was a set of jacks, a wrench and the phone number of the local breakers yard. Happy days. ;)

[honeykid]

This is why the best car I've ever owned was my first one, a 1985 Fiat Uno. Bits would fall off it regularly and all you'd generally need to fix it was a set of jacks, a wrench and the phone number of the local breakers yard. Happy days. ;)
Ah, simply memories. Back when machines were mechanical. :D

[Tacitus]

Yep, I can remember having a front spring collapse on two separate occasions on the way to work but the little car still made it in, even though it looked like it had had a mild stroke. Repair was £15 for a 'new' spring from the breakers yard.

Then there was the time when a front brake calliper fell off while going down a hill...

[Tacitus]

Bye Bye!

http://i.imgur.com/LWH6xxk.jpg

Hello!

http://i.imgur.com/pFGnhFe.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/MPjYR4Q.jpg

[Yoda]

New black cars are so gorgeous. And this is no exception. :up:

[Tacitus]

I'm generally not precious about my cars but thought I'd take a photo as soon as I got it home, safe in the knowledge that it'll never be as shiny again. The cat repellent spray has also been purchased. :D

30 miles on the clock now...

[Yoda]

"And it's like, how much more gorgeous could that be? And the answer is none. None more gorgeous."

[VFN]

Very nIce. More importantly, you're happy with it.

[doubledenim]

Black is always the right choice, very sharp. I have always been envious of the overseas car market.

[honeykid]

Why?

[Tacitus]

As someone who used to sell American cars, I understand doubledenim's post.

It's a motor industry which has grown up around wide straight roads and cheap fuel and thus heavy cars with a rather agricultural suspension system. When you see a traditional US vehicle on European roads (and my cousin used to own a Camaro, bless him, in Tyrone) they look a little unwieldy. It's changed a bit recently, mainly due to the major manufacturers having standardised platforms - Ford USA's core stock has the same underpinnings as Ford Europe etc.

They used to have completely different architectures.

[honeykid]

I thought DD might've meant the way they looked or something. US cars do look dreadful over here. There again, cars are getting so big now over here, that we're fast catching them up on that score. I'm well aware how much better designed and engineered they are. ;)

The combination of saftey needs and the desire for good fuel consumption means that they all pretty much look the same now, too. :(

[Tacitus]

Yep, The DS3 is technically a 'small' hatch but the interior room isn't far off my old Astra's. A whole new class of car has appeared because the new breed of small car is still too large for some.

I taught the late Mrs T to drive in a Fiat Cinquecento and she refused to drive anything larger for years and even then it was a struggle to get her behind the wheel of a Corsa. She was hella weird though. :p