Well Done Big Jon!!

[Mike Covell]

A massive congratulations to Big Jon on passing his driving test!! Here's to many adventures behind the wheel!

[Robert Linford]

Yes, congratulations.

Is it the kind of car that backfires?:happy:

[Currerbell]

Nice one! Enjoy but drive carefully!!:nod:

Clunk click every trip!

[Raven]

Congrats Jon xx

[Chris G.]

A massive congratulations to Big Jon on passing his driving test!! Here's to many adventures behind the wheel!


Well done, Jon. It's a lock! :lock1:

Just don't drive one of those runaway Toyotas. :tongue1:

[Nemo]

Congratulations Jon! - I'm learning myself (I've always ridden bikes before now and never got around to car-driving)

[Big Jon]

Thanks guys!

I was awoken from my nap this afternoon (life of a student, eh?) by my father ringing saying he wanted to take me somewhere. He then bought me a car which we're picking up on Tuesday. Very nice of him I thought! Pics are on Facebook.

[Chris G.]

Thanks guys!

I was awoken from my nap this afternoon (life of a student, eh?) by my father ringing saying he wanted to take me somewhere. He then bought me a car which we're picking up on Tuesday. Very nice of him I thought! Pics are on Facebook.

As they used to say in the East End, Mazel tov. :lol:

[How Brown]

Be careful for what you wish for JR...

....what are the insurance rates like in Wales for under-25 yr. old drivers ?

Congrats...Now you can drink and drive. No more boozing on the bus or taxis for you.

[Adam Went]

Congrats Jon! And as long as the car that you drive is a Mitsubishi, you'll be fine. :)

How mentioned insurance rates....I hope they are better where you are than in Oz for under-25's. I pay $115/month ($1,380/year) for full comprehensive on my car. The excess rate is $1,050 per claim, and the yearly insurance rate goes up by about $200 after each claim. Ridiculous, really.

Cheers,
Adam.

[How Brown]

I pay $115/month ($1,380/year) -AW

Try around $ 3,000 per year for youths living in Philadelphia...until they hit 25.

[Adam Went]

How:

Wow....ouch. But isn't car registration fairly cheap over there though?

Cheers,
Adam.

[How Brown]

AW

It depends on the State.
In Pa, its 36 bucks a year and one inspection per year.
It used to be two inspections per year around 25 years ago.

[Adam Went]

How:

Note to self: Never drive in the USA.....you lot drive on the wrong side of the road anyway! :der:

Here it depends on the size and power of the car for the registration. I have 2 cars, both of them are V6, so it costs me $294 for 6 months or about $540 for a year for each of them.

No inspections at all, unless you buy a car from interstate or if you allow your registration to lapse for more than 3 months. Or if you get pulled over by the cops and get a defect notice and don't get it fixed within a couple of weeks. Pretty cool really.

Cheers,
Adam.

[How Brown]

Back in the mid 1980's, Alabama didn't require inspection or insurance.

I remember driving a big ass '66 Buick ( 8 barrel...2 quarts of oil every half hour...front seat fit 4 ) and being pulled over by a Philly cop for a "California Stop"....which is where you don't come to a complete stop at a sign. She didn't believe me that Alabama didn't require those two items.
I immediately told her about Texas, where shoes or hygeine aren't required.:)

[Adam Went]

'66 Buick? Is that like an early version of one of those F-Trucks?
Sounds like a weapon.....should have kept it, it would have made a good partner for the Cherokee.

Cheers,
Adam. :high5:

[John Savage]

And I thought I was being ripped off when they put my insurance up to £180 PER YEAR!

Rgds
John

[Big Jon]

Insurance! Bejesus it's expensive!

My Mum is down as the main driver, fully comp, with me being a named driver.

£1300 a year!

[How Brown]

Sounds like a weapon.....should have kept it, it would have made a good partner for the Cherokee.--AW

Funny that you mention that AW...because it was a '66 Sky Chief.
When you turned the lights on, an Indian's head lit up on the dashboard.
Heap big funny.

[Chris G.]

Sounds like a weapon.....should have kept it, it would have made a good partner for the Cherokee.--AW

Funny that you mention that AW...because it was a '66 Sky Chief.
When you turned the lights on, an Indian's head lit up on the dashboard.
Heap big funny.

That must have been because of those magic mushrooms, Howie. http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4044/4406683258_2955af155d_o.gif

[How Brown]

Come to think of it, you may be right CG.
But with or without the mescaline, the Buick SkyChief's back in the day did have illuminating Injuns on the dashboard when you turned on the high beams.

[Adam Went]

That's awesome, How. Old cars are great. Tried to restore my grandfather's 1966 Chrysler Valiant there at one stage....but it was a fail. :(

Jon.....doesn't it suck when you pay almost as much for the yearly insurance as you did for the car in the first place!? Haha.

Cheers,
Adam.

[Big Jon]

Yeah! Same price within 2 and a half years!

[Nemo]

That's why I'm glad I've managed with small bikes for so long

£15 road tax, £100 insurance, 100mpg is more my style

I've got no desire to drive a car really, but I'm being forced into it through necessity

I have some friends who spend £100s on little Renaults and Hondas all the time, fitting them with turbos and nitrous oxide and sound systems etc - crazy

[Adam Went]

Nemo:

I assume you're referring to small motorcycles/scooters there?

Agree with you about your friends, I have the same....I can never quite understand the reason why you would spend thousands of dollars on turbos and superchargers and the rest.....when the speed limit is 110 KM/H anyway. Waste of money.

Cheers,
Adam.

[How Brown]

Nemo:
G-ddamn it man...go out get thyself a Jeep Cherokee.
I have almost 200,000 miles on mine and its in better running condition than when I stol...er, bought it.

[John Savage]

Strange coincidence, but I just had a friend phone me about an eighteen year old who has just passed his test and been quoted £3,000 per year for a Vauxhall Tigre 1.4. Sounds like the insurance costs more than the car is worth!

Rgds
John

[Adam Went]

Isn't Vauxhall over there what we call Holden over here?
Strange, that.

Cheers,
Adam.

[John Savage]

Hi Adam,

I am afraid that I have no idea what label they put on Vauxhall cars "down under", but it's the British part of General Motors/Opel.

Rgds
John

[Nemo]

Nemo:
G-ddamn it man...go out get thyself a Jeep Cherokee.
I have almost 200,000 miles on mine and its in better running condition than when I stol...er, bought it.


I might just do that Howard - I do quite a lot of hunting and such a vehicle would be very useful

For some reason my wife has a Nissan camper van lined up for me (???)

[Adam Went]

Hi John,

Yes I think it is Holden down here, because on Top Gear I've often heard them talking about the Vauxhall Astra....which down here is the Holden Astra. Among other types. And Holden is part of GM.

I can remember somebody (I think it was Vila, actually) telling me ages ago that he owned/did own a Honda Magna....when down here, it's the Mitsubishi Magna, the brand which I own two of.

Very strange....

Cheers,
Adam.

[ferret]

Blimey! :car:Careful Jon- It's a scary old world out there- think of everyone else as potential assassins- that's what I do- and that's what I do- driving a car now- after years of driving my Gold Wing- not allowed to have another one now (hubby says) although we did consider a Jawa motorbike and sidecar the other day!!!:offinhead: Then we had a little lie down- although I did drive a BSA M21 Ex AA bike 'outfit' during the '70's back and fore to Art College:biggrin1: and loved it!!! Rather have that than the car tho- OK in the rain................. car wins I guess x

As a by the by my first C A R was a Lada- Bright Blue and a death trap!!...........although quite fun I suppose- in retrospect!!! :-/

[Mike Covell]

Congrats to Jon Rees who graduated today. Well done mate.:whoo:

[Nemo]

Well done Jon! :first:

[Big Jon]

Thanks guys! I felt a bit silly in the robes and hat, but my folks looked proud, so I guess that's all that matters!

[How Brown]

Congrats Jon. We're all happy for you.:clap2::clap2::clap2:
Now go find a really good paying job so I can stay home and you can support us.

[Big Jon]

Working on it boss! Doing about 6 job applications a week!

[Raven]

Well done, congratulations Jon xxxx

[Mike Covell]

Thanks guys! I felt a bit silly in the robes and hat,

And I was going to enter you into the Coven of the Vesica Pisces too. :spy:

[Caroline Morris]

Hearty congrats, Jon.

I hope you land your dream job very soon. :)

Love,

Caz
X

[How Brown]

So do I Caz...it was nearly 98 degrees inside work today, but I booked before the temperature rose...frigging killer humidity.

Hurry up Jon and find our dream gig.:pray:

[Adam Went]

Yes, big congrats on graduating, Jon! Excellent stuff! Hopefully all the hard work will pay off for you in a rewarding career. :)

Cheers,
Adam.

[How Brown]

Hopefully all the hard work will pay off for you in a rewarding career
...which will enable How to enjoy a rewarding retirement.

Thats a good idea AW. You just forgot the last part.