[pjs]

My thoughts from another week on the motorways

1- I have belatedly discovered the joy of being able to fill the car up from the 'wrong' side quite easily when everyone is queueing for the right hand side fillers. Got to position the car well, but worth it to do it effortlessly to the bemusement/frustration of others. Just yank the hose and it keeps coming.

2 - When it is busy, why wont the retard in front just pull there car forward a bit so I can fill up as they wander aimlessly round the shop making a chuffing latte. I do this whenever I can and people look at me very amazed but grateful

3 - why does it cost more for a bit of malt loaf (usually 80p) when a full loaf in the supermarket it less (usually 70p)

4 - Why dont I get a diesel so I stop far less.

hmmm

[toxicnerve]

In order:

1. Do you not find it's a pain to keep the hose off the paintwork? My car is covered in muck at the moment and if the hose dragged across the body it would no doubt marr/scratch the paint.

2. NFI, can the kiosk "store" your fuel total if someone else starts using the pump before you have paid?

3. Supermarkets have more buying power, they will able to access the best possible wholesale prices and return pass those savings onto you. Because the petrol station kiosks (which are franchises I believe?) will be buying in lower volume they are not offered such good pricing which in turn affects the retail price you pay.

4. Because you'd then have a shitty diesel which won't sound as good or have the same "drive-ability"? Having said that, the 335i is a TT engine so perhaps if you were after the purest driving experience you'd have gone for a 330i instead (being NA).

[kaishang]

1. The hose doesn't drag on the paintwork because, so no problem filling up on the "wrong" side. You don't even need to park that close, you could park 2 ft forward of the hose and 2 feet out and it will still reach. I don't understand why people queue up so they can have a pump on the same side as the fill point. I'm not British, so I've put this down to the attraction some British people seem to feel for queueing up.

2. The pump they would vacate by moving won't work anyway until they have paid for their fuel.

3. No comment.

4. The nice thing about a disesel with a 60 litre tank is you can drive 500+ miles on a motorway before running out of fuel, so you never need to stop at expensive motorway service centres.

[pjs]

Originally Posted by toxicnerve

In order:

1. Do you not find it's a pain to keep the hose off the paintwork? My car is covered in muck at the moment and if the hose dragged across the body it would no doubt marr/scratch the paint.

- No, but I do use my left hand to keep the hose away from the car

2. NFI, can the kiosk "store" your fuel total if someone else starts using the pump before you have paid?

- Yes, when you put the holder back on after a fill it 'stores' it.

3. Supermarkets have more buying power, they will able to access the best possible wholesale prices and return pass those savings onto you. Because the petrol station kiosks (which are franchises I believe?) will be buying in lower volume they are not offered such good pricing which in turn affects the retail price you pay.

I know, they are just robbing bastards.

4. Because you'd then have a shitty diesel which won't sound as good or have the same "drive-ability"? Having said that, the 335i is a TT engine so perhaps if you were after the purest driving experience you'd have gone for a 330i instead (being NA).

Wasnt bothered about 'pure', just 'fast'

[pjs]

Originally Posted by kaishang

1. The hose doesn't drag on the paintwork because, so no problem filling up on the "wrong" side. You don't even need to park that close, you could park 2 ft forward of the hose and 2 feet out and it will still reach. I don't understand why people queue up so they can have a pump on the same side as the fill point. I'm not British, so I've put this down to the attraction some British people seem to feel for queueing up.

2. The pump they would vacate by moving won't work anyway until they have paid for their fuel.

3. No comment.

4. The nice thing about a disesel with a 60 litre tank is you can drive 500+ miles on a motorway before running out of fuel, so you never need to stop at expensive motorway service centres.

Re 2 - it does, try it.

[beemerbird]

Originally Posted by pjs

My thoughts from another week on the motorways

1- I have belatedly discovered the joy of being able to fill the car up from the 'wrong' side quite easily when everyone is queueing for the right hand side fillers. Got to position the car well, but worth it to do it effortlessly to the bemusement/frustration of others. Just yank the hose and it keeps coming.

2 - When it is busy, why wont the retard in front just pull there car forward a bit so I can fill up as they wander aimlessly round the shop making a chuffing latte. I do this whenever I can and people look at me very amazed but grateful

3 - why does it cost more for a bit of malt loaf (usually 80p) when a full loaf in the supermarket it less (usually 70p)

4 - Why dont I get a diesel so I stop far less.

hmmm

LOL Paul, luv your observations on real life.

1. I often do this as I've got a pair of functioning arms that are capable of holding the hose. Shell's pump hoses will pull out a fair distance and use the left arm to hold it off the paintwork - simple. But yes it is amusing seeing others sitting there thinking 'wish I'd done that'

2. Have done this if I'm at the 2nd pump and the one in front is free so at least 1 car can start to fill up.

3. Because they play on peoples lazyness imo and 'convenience'. They're often open 24 hrs etc. What pisses me off is if they don't have two cashiers on so a queue forms. The reason I REFUSE to go to the Esso garage up the road that has a Tesco shop inside because the queues are ridiculous. There are 3 tills so open the buggers up ffs!

4. 'Cos you're a petrol head Unless I was doing mega mileage Paul I would stick with a petrol engine and all that entails. The Shell garages near me have 'peak' times. Early workday mornings are a breeze to fill up.

[Mud]

Originally Posted by toxicnerve

3. Supermarkets have more buying power, they will able to access the best possible wholesale prices and return pass those savings onto you. Because the petrol station kiosks (which are franchises I believe?) will be buying in lower volume they are not offered such good pricing which in turn affects the retail price you pay.

The petrol stations are just as ruthless, you dont deal with each francise. The deals are done with HQ and then filtered through to the various franchises, well in the drinks industry anyways.

Food and drink is a massive profit maker for the petrol stations, they make more money from that then fuel.

[peterg1965]

i HATE motorway services.... somewhere that the monopolies commission should investigate. Total rip off for everything, I never ever fill up in a motorway services, even if I use the 'company' fuel card. I made the mistake of buying a Burger King at one a few weeks ago on the M6. Two cheeseburgers, small fries and small coke - £8.08........ I was fcuking furious and let the duty manager know, stupid cow just shrugged her shoulders and said 'Motorway prices'......

[jjbirch]

in my local bp station theres a sign on the pump stating please do not move the car until you have paid for your fuel,

[ed335d]

Paul, you need to get out more!

[Rochdale Pioneers]

I don't get the pump on the wrong side "problem". I line the car up so that it runs close to the pumps. I pull up so that the back of the car is in line with the pumps. The hose reaches across the back of the tailgate and into the hole without touching anything.

[warriorboy]

why isnt the fuel filler in the middle under the no.plate like in 70's US cop dramas?

Im sure they could put a one way valve in the filler neck to make it safe in the event of a rear ender