Hairy

Ah ok, I see where it is coming from. We keep a car for 10 years and then get a new one, so personally I am happy paying cash every 10 years.

This part has my interest as to why it would be beneficial please?

One word RE rail: "PRASA"

The other aspect is that once you have that lump of cash in the bank, you know how much work and sacrifice it took to get to the point of attaining that money ... so it makes it harder to "just spend it" on a car. Monthly payments with a potential "whatever end of policy lump sum" makes it easier as it is only a little money every month with realising just how much you are spending. One has to be realistic here too. There are times in life where you do not have a choice, like needing your first car, or first decent car in order to get to work and back because you do not have reliable transport or need it to perform the function of your employment. But ideally you would work yourself out of this situation over time and follow the save and then buy principle.

I think SA also needs a new frame of thought. Higher purchase is a killer, it is easy to buy a higher spec car than you need because it is just a few hundred rand more, then in about five years the car is traded in on a new car with the same mentality. Perpetual debt. Ride that 5 year old car that is now paid off for another 3 or so years, over that 3 year period you put the money away you would have spent on a new car, then when the cash is right you buy a new car cash. Following this period you have a new car that can see you through the next 8-10 years easily, and it offers an opportunity to save another 3-4 years for a new car, with the remainder years to save or invest the other money you would have been throwing away on a HP purchase. Now the above sucks because you do not have instant gratification of a new car when you want it, or your old car is not "up to date", but screw it, you will be better off in the long run if you can make the sacrifice now in the short to medium term.

Interesting point RE serial numbers .... should it possibly become compulsory to post the serial no. on all bike ads?

Beavis and Butthead .... is it you two guys? Keep to the topic please guys.

going to add that to my shopping list thank you!

I tried 2 x different straps, and with both they could not remove the filter. Previously when using these, the filter came off rather easily. Resorted to screw drivers and whatever else could be found in the garage following this and then the custom tool that did the job. When I called my neighbour over, who has been working on his own bikes, cars and commercial ships, he said he has never had an oil filter so tightly fit on a bike. Could the previous person maybe have just forgotten to lube up the rubber seal with oil before fitting and then turned it just that bit too tight? The machined face that received the rubber gasket was still smooth and clean when I got the filter off, so this tells me the rubber did not "bond" to the engine case?

Suzuki are doing really good work, when Toyota piggyback their models though, they do improve a bit on the styling vs the Suzuki options. Back in the day before our friend covid came around, I would cycle to work and back daily, and then to meetings. If a meeting was too far away I would jump into an Uber. The Suzuki and Honda Ubers were always the best feeling and built cars in the high mileage range you expect an Uber to be in.

On average the std depth of a garage should be 6m, so it is strange that your 5110mm length Ranger does not fit. The standard South African parking bay though is 5mx2.5m, so your Ranger is too long for a standard bay.

maybe they are planning to go large and do not think (Or more accurately, do not trust their legs to carry them) they will be able to walk that extra 50m back to their cars again ................ JOKES ......... everybody skips leg days, so it must be something else then.

HEY ... AIRGUITAR IS SERIOUS BUSINESS!

LITTLE WORKSHOP OF HORRORS This is what it looks like when the person who fit the oil filter the last time over tightened the damned thing. At this point, getting thoughts of getting the oil filer out includes fire and hammers with the little bit of explosives. Thank fully my neighbour came to the rescue. With the can split open, the ports are visible, and this section of steel looked to be rather sturdy. So Tony the neighbour made up a tool so that we could use these holes to twist the can off. Thank freaking goodness it worked. A simple engine oil and air filter change turned into a few hours of frustration and cut up hands with often more blood on the floor than oil. Got her sorted, clean up and took her for a spin. Every time I replace the air filter she just feels so peppy.

Let's just take a moment to appreciate that many riders out there on rather decent spec bikes, clearly know their bikes brand name, then often know the model, not often know the range in the model naming and too few know the overall specs of the drivetrain, wheels and components on the bike they are currently riding.

Or start making smaller cars