Latest news with #TriumphStag
Top Gear
15 hours ago
- Automotive
- Top Gear
Overheating Triumph Stag could break UK heatwave records, scientists claim
Overheating Triumph Stag could break UK heatwave records, scientists claim 'What heatwave,' owner remarks, 'it's always this hot' Skip 1 photos in the image carousel and continue reading Turn on Javascript to see all the available pictures. Here's roving correspondent, Cory Spondent, with his mostly incorrect exclusives from the world of motoring An overheating Triumph Stag currently stuck in motorway traffic has been blamed for the recent heatwave sweeping the UK. Advertisement - Page continues below Top meteorologists rejected suggestions the sweltering conditions were due to slow-moving high-pressure systems, pointing the finger instead at a poorly engineered British GT car from the 1970s radiating extraordinary amounts of heat from its engine. And experts are warning that if the mustard-coloured convertible Stag doesn't get any fresh air into its engine soon, it could push UK temperatures into never-before-seen numbers and break heatwave records. 'What heatwave?' the owner of the Stag remarked, 'it's always this hot. Right? 'Yeah, it gets a bit cosy in here, but I just pop the roof down. How else are people supposed to see my fabulous Triumph cap? Advertisement - Page continues below 'Sure, sometimes in traffic the view over the bonnet looks a bit weird; 'hazy', you might say, but I just imagine that's because the Stag's V8 is so powerful it can't be contained. 'Yes, I topped up the coolant this morning and changed the water pump yesterday. That'll see me through until tomorrow. Right? 'Oh god did that sound like a timing chain to you?' A series 1 Jaguar E-Type stuck in traffic a few cars behind the Stag was also in a state of extreme overheating, but the owner was too busy flirting with nearby motorists to notice. Top Gear Newsletter Thank you for subscribing to our newsletter. Look out for your regular round-up of news, reviews and offers in your inbox. Get all the latest news, reviews and exclusives, direct to your inbox. Success Your Email*
Yahoo
6 days ago
- Yahoo
The Telegraph readers who did the police's job themselves
When Mia Forbes Pirie and her husband Mark Simpson found their Jaguar E-Pace had been stolen from outside their house in west London, they used the AirTag it was fitted with to discover it was now parked less than three miles away. Keen to act as quickly as possible, they contacted the police – who gave no indication as to whether they could help or not. In the end, the couple was forced to retrieve the stolen car themselves. We covered this story earlier in the week, and outrage followed – as did, rather tellingly, an outpouring of weary recognition. Hundreds of Telegraph readers got in touch to say: us too. When our things are stolen – be it bikes, laptops, mobile phones or cars – we no longer expect the cavalry. Instead, we find ourselves playing detective with AirTags, GPS tracking and doorbell cameras. In other words, doing the police's job for them. It is vigilante justice via the apps on our phones. And, given how few thefts result in a charge and how many cases are closed almost as soon as they are opened, it seems increasingly like the best tool at our disposal. John Devaney, a 48-year-old property maintenance worker from the Thames Valley, is still haunted by the memory of waking up to discover his beloved Triumph Stag, a 1970s classic worth £10,000, had vanished from his garage. He turned to the tracker app on his phone. There it was: parked on a driveway 25 miles away. He called the police and gave them the address. 'They said they would send someone at some point in time,' he recalls. 'That it wouldn't be long.' Frustrated and anxious, Devaney drove there himself, hoping to meet the police. After half an hour of waiting, he decided to investigate alone. Under a tarpaulin in the driveway, he thought he could see a shape that looked suspiciously like his car – and when he lifted it to confirm, a man inside the house came out. 'He said he had bought it in a pub last night,' says Devaney. 'I said, 'No, you nicked it from my garage.'' The man then jumped in the car, mowed through the neighbour's hedge and sped off. Devaney followed. Eventually, he found the car abandoned at an industrial park. He rang the police again and waited an hour for them to arrive. There were fingerprints. There was photographic evidence. There was an address. There was even an identity: Devaney says police told him the man was 'known to them'. Still, it was a month before he was interviewed. When the car, which Devaney has now sold, was returned three months later, he was told no further action would be taken. 'I couldn't have handed it to them any better,' he says. 'There was not much more I could have done for them.' According to the police, officers received a report of the theft of a vehicle from a residential property. Detectives carried out a thorough investigation in which a man in his 40s was arrested. Following further enquiries, the case did not meet the threshold for criminal charges. Another Telegraph reader, pest controller Chris Johnson, 59, and his wife Paula, 57, were struck not once but twice at their house in Kent. The first time, a white Jeep Wrangler – worth £45,000 – vanished without a trace. The police issued a crime number, and not much else. Six months later, it happened again. A £39,000 Ford Ranger disappeared from the same spot. This time, however, they had learnt their lesson and fitted it with two trackers. The Johnsons were watching football at home when it happened. 'Someone must have walked straight up and driven off,' Chris says. The tracker showed it heading towards Eltham, and they immediately called the police. No answer. They jumped into Paula's Mini and followed the signal. 'We eventually tracked it to a housing estate in Eltham,' says Chris. 'We tried the police again, but still nothing. We sat there for 10 minutes watching the car, not knowing what we were walking into. I told Paula to get ready. If anything kicked off when I went to get the vehicle, she was to drive off and leave me.' Chris cautiously approached his car, tried his key, and to his relief, it unlocked. The thieves had ripped out most of the interior in an attempt to locate the trackers, successfully finding and disabling the manufacturer's system. But Chris's secondary tracker had gone undetected; he drove it home. The police got back to them hours later. The response? 'Well, you've got it back now.' Paula recalls explaining to the police that they had wanted them there while they rescued their car because they were scared of what they might find. 'He replied that they were overstretched, even having to work on Sundays, and that was that. We never heard anything more.' Since then, the Johnsons have doubled down on security: ghost immobilisers, steering locks, the works. 'If Sadiq Khan is putting up all these cameras and charging us more to drive, then why not use them to track down stolen vehicles?' says Chris. 'Imagine how many cars could be recovered. He might even look like a hero.' A Metropolitan Police spokesman says: 'Every incident of vehicle theft is carefully assessed to identify and pursue possible lines of enquiry, including forensic evidence and available footage. We advise victims to report crimes via appropriate channels.' Sadly, these are far from isolated cases. Ashley Sollit tells us about the night four electric vehicles were stolen from one street in Brent. His son-in-law – who was one of the victims – had an AirTag in his car and traced it to a council estate nearby, where he later found his and his neighbours' cars. He phoned the police, who advised that he should drive his own vehicle home and tell the neighbours to get theirs. This was, apparently, standard practice, as thieves often leave stolen cars out for a week to see which ones have trackers. When it was suggested to the police that the cars should be left in place to try to catch the criminals, the response from the police was short, but clear. 'We don't have the time.' Similarly, Ian Smith writes in with a story about his granddaughter, who had her car stolen from the hospital car park where she works. CCTV captured the crime, but when Smith's granddaughter suggested the police watch the footage, as it clearly showed the make and model of the car that the thieves arrived in, she was rebuffed. Luckily, the car was fitted with an insurance tracker; when it pinged with a location, the police told her to collect it herself. There is something rather depressing about these remarkably similar stories that speak to our new normal. We know, of course, that resources are stretched – but the message felt by many Britons is a stark one: if something is stolen, you're probably on your own. The result? Where we once relied on the police, now we depend on Bluetooth and Apple to keep us safe. Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more.
Yahoo
15-03-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
11 Classic Cars To Stay Away From Buying
Buying a classic car is a lot easier than it used to be. Gone are the days when you had to rely on word of mouth or gut instinct to make good use of your hard-earned money. Consider This: Find Out: Now, you can easily look up any car's history online by inputting its vehicle identification number on sites like Kelley Blue Book or Carvana. You can also use these sites to compare and research different makes and models of classic cars. Despite this, many classic car owners suffer buyer's remorse after purchasing a vehicle that costs them thousands of dollars — if not more — in repairs, maintenance and hidden issues. For those who also take out a high-interest loan to finance their purchase, buying the wrong car can lead to even more regret or financial hardship. Considering how expensive classic cars can be, it's important to be informed before getting a loan or making a cash purchase. Here are 11 classic cars to steer clear of due to performance or reliability issues and limited trade-in or resale value. According to Stamatis Zotos, a professional mechanic and owner of a car rental company, the Maserati Biturbo (1982 to 1988) is one classic vehicle to stay away from buying. Although this car might appeal to the more budget-conscious collector, it has a poor reputation when it comes to build quality and reliability issues. It also has a history of turbo failures and electrical issues, making it expensive to maintain and repair. When it was first launched in 1970 in the UK, the Triumph Stag was a great addition to international car shows. In those days, it was also in high demand among auto enthusiasts and collectors, which led to inflated prices. Unfortunately, the Triumph Stag hasn't performed well over time. Over the years, it's become known for its mechanical unreliability, which primarily arises from having an engine that frequently overheats. 'Although it has a distinct look and is initially appealing…' added Zotos, 'the original 3.0-liter V8 had chronic overheating issues, often leading to head gasket failures and other costly repairs.' Discover More: The Chevrolet Camaro is an iconic American muscle car, and those made between 1976 and 1981 are considered classics. Unfortunately, vehicles from these particular years have seen their share of problems. Andy Saari, a master automotive technician at Nexedge Technician, suggested avoiding these classic cars. 'These vehicles suffered from poor build quality, lackluster engines and were heavily impacted by the implementation of tighter emission regulations,' he said. All of these issues have impacted the Chevrolet Camaro's overall value, especially in comparison to earlier or later models. Expensive repairs and maintenance also cut into any investment or resale value the vehicle might have had. While recent models of the Porsche 911 are in high demand, Saari suggested staying away from earlier models — those built around 1969 or earlier — due to their array of shortcomings. 'The 911's short wheelbase and rear-engine layout led to a tendency for sudden oversteer, making them tricky to handle at high speeds,' said Saari. These earlier models also tend to suffer from rust and related damage, which can make them expensive to restore. A classic American car from 1975 to 1980, the AMC Pacer was a cool car back in its day, but it's likely not worth the investment now. This is largely due to its many structural flaws, issues with steering and limited power and performance. 'The Pacer is more comprehensive than a tank,' said Peter Niebling, dealer principal at Redlands Mazda. But it's also very heavy and highly prone to rust. 'Let's be honest — they'd make terrible rides to own now,' said Niebling. Built between the years 1960 and 1969, the Chevy Corvair is one classic car that might have been a cool new ride to have in the past, but isn't worth the cost now. 'The Corvair seems neat with its rear-engine design,' said Niebling. 'But handling those things couldn't have been more sketchy.' Not only that, but owning a Corvair today can be very expensive. Getting the right parts for repair purposes can be tricky and expensive, according to Niebling. A UK sports car from 1974 to 1981, the Triumph TR7 might look cool, but it probably isn't worth the cost of upkeep. Niebling said, 'The TR7 looked slick when it first dropped. But it turned out to be unreliable, with many electrical issues and stuff breaking down. Good luck finding replacement parts, too.' While the Triumph TR7 might have met the safety standards of its time, it does suffer from certain safety issues like poor brakes. This isn't uncommon for an older classic car, but it can put a serious dent in your return on investment. Built between 1980 and 1985, the Cadillac Eldorado has had a mixed reputation over the years. In particular, the early models of this classic luxury car have experienced their share of issues. Sari warned, 'These models faced various mechanical issues, including engine and transmission problems.' This combined with changing consumer preferences and a decrease in demand has caused the value of these vehicles to plummet. The Ford Mustang II is hit-and-miss when it comes to investment value. Produced between 1974 and 1986, this classic lacks in power when compared to similar vehicles. 'This model lacked the performance and appeal of its predecessors, leaving it overshadowed and underappreciated,' said Saari. As a result, the overall market value is relatively low compared to what you're getting. The Jensen Interceptor (1966 to 1976) has its charm, but it's also prone to rust issues, according to Zotos. Not only that but it has high fuel consumption, which makes it impractical — and expensive — for everyday use. Last but not least is the Cadillac Seville, which was produced from 1976 to 1980. Zotos explained, 'These models are notorious for their Oldsmobile-sourced 350 diesel engine, which was prone to failure.' Overall demand for these vehicles has also diminished, further reducing resale value. More From GOBankingRatesHow Paychecks Would Look in Each State If Trump Dropped Federal Income Tax9 Things the Middle Class Should Consider Downsizing To Save on Monthly Expenses This article originally appeared on 11 Classic Cars To Stay Away From Buying
