March 2001
I had an alarm and some audio fitted in my car by "Mobile Audio" of Worcester.
The alarm and Audio gear work fine, but their skills in removing and reattatching trim and panels leave a lot to be desired.
They seem to have messed up my drivers door electric window (which my local garage fixed) and put my dashboard back on, but not correctly on one side so it isnt all flush.
I am not keen to take it back to them to rectify the problems after the mess they made the first time.
The info I am after is whether there are any companies that specialise in doing interior trim things. As well as the dash being put back on ( which I could try to do If I had the time/ability) There are a couple of other bits that are a bit loose/scratced/worn, and some rattles that annoy me.
A company that fixed this kind of thing would be most useful.
My car is a 92 Saab 9000 CDE. And I am Hereford/Worcester/West Mindlands based.
All info gratefully recieved.
Gavin Read more
My 98'S Primera Turbo diesel really smells of diesel vapour when idling. We've had the car checked, fuel return pipes replaced and washers on the fuel pump replaced, but it still stinks. Any ideas? Read more
I'm finding that a creaking noise is coming from the steering wheel of my Renault Megane when turning at low speeds. Does anyone have any ideas as to what could be the cause?
E Tunmore Read more
Cavs used to do this and there were some ominous tales of splitting bulkheads..........!!!
I write in reply to a ridiculous anonymous letter printed under the above title on the above date.
To suggest that speeding is the cause of only 6% off all accidents is a niaive and selective interpretation of TRL Report 323. It is the case that "speeding only" is the cause, as stated, of only a relatively low percentage of road traffic accidents (RTAs). This is a a result of the STATS 19 form which used by the Police to record RTA location, vehicle and casualty details which allows accident causation to be suggested by the attending Police Officer.
Speeding is one of a number of acceptable causations however it is not particularly descriptive. If while speeding the vehicle had, say, overturned or skidded then this would be the causation and what would have been reported in TRL report 323. As you can see overturned or skidded can be considered after the incident as more useful when considering accident remedial measures while the route cause of the accident was still speeding. The most common type of accident is the "rear end shunt" on the approach to a roundabout due to a number of reasons including a lack of observation, travelling too quickly and skid resistance but once again speeding is a factor but is likely to not be reported from the accident as rear end shunt is more descriptive.
I think it is about time that speeding is recognised as the main cause of accidents, and to be honest the two accidents which I have been involved in excess speed was the cause, think about accidents that you have been involved in, had you been travelling a little slower would the accident still have happened?
Drink driving is now rightly considered almost a sin, it does however result in a minimal number of accidents compared to speeding. It has been shown in recent studies accross a number of countries that a reduction in mean vehicle speed of just 1 mph will result in a recuction of accidents by 5%.
It would appear in this country that we wish to retain the "Right to Speed", as do American's so ridiculously, and to our dismay, claim the right to "hold arms" the result of which appear to be very similar, death.
The matter of whether speeding should be considered a serious crime, as opposed to just a "finable" offence can be a long and detailed discussion which normally is swung by who has been caught speeding. A small fine to a wealthy person is negligable whereas a criminal record is somewhat different.
I was pleased to read the article "The Price of Life" discussing the merits of the enormous amount of money being spent to improve Rail safety, after the Hatfield incident, as I also hold the view that road traffic calming measures and road local safety schemes is a far more efficient place to spend such monies.
It is callous to dicsuss Rates of Return for road safety schemes however such methods which rank different types of work at the same location or comparing different project locations does at least ensure good value for money. As a traffic engineer I was never involved with a scheme which did not in ,just the first, year achieve a "profit", a "profit" was defined as the cost of a reduction, in just one year, in accidents to the country at a location was below the cost of the works. A slight RTA was valued at about £54,000 (Highways Economic Note 1) . I know full well that the Railway measures being discussed will not achieve such "Profit".
On the day of the horific Selby rail crash just as many people would have been killed on the roads of the UK that day, however the following day there was no further tragic rail crashes but once again around 10 people were killed on the roads again. This continues day in, day out. Ten people every day. ( A Jumbo Jet every month)
I was a little concerned by the attitude of the above article which suggested that it is the reponsibilites of Highway Engineers to "design out" accidents from the road rather than people just slow down.
The majority of the deaths is as a result of somebody speeding. The Highway Code suggest that you should "be able to stop within the distance you see to be clear". If you think about this it is the correct way to drive. Upon approaching a tight bend the speed to travel around the bend should not be deemed by the highest speed that allows you to physically get around the bend, but consider that the person before you who did not make it around the corner, you should be able to stop before ramming into them. Agreed the cause of the collision is that there was a vehicle around the corner but would it not be better to be able to safely stop and assist at the scene of the accident rather than making it worse.
I am concerned that it is considered necessary to erect speed camera's to reduce peoples speed, but also in the allogations that it is purely a revenue raiser - would it resolve the issue if the fines were reduced to just cover the costs and that the number of points issued was increased? or is it still peoples right to speed?
Speed Camera technology is improving very quickly and combining digital photography, number plate recognition software and Police to DVLA data links the issueing of speed tickets can be instantaneous. A new method of average speed photgraphy will elliminmate the heavy braking before an obvious speed camera box a the average speed will be measured over a longer length, ie one end of a village to the other.
I hope that shortly the message of speeding will be understood , as drink driving is now considered unsociable. I appreciate that driving a vehicle fast is good fun but the public highway is not the place for it, you should take up the opportunity of a track day and really let loose.
Whilst I appreciate that my comments are not "in-line" with that of the Motoring Telegraph but I hope that they are taken in the way that they are meant which is speeading is the main cause of accident, accidents kill 10 people per day of the roads of the UK most of which will be as a result of speeding, is it really worth saving a couple of minutes of your journey?
Mat Davies Read more
I totally agree with your statements. The only accident I have had was due to me driving too fast. Luckily all that I suffered was shock, though the fence and bus stop weren't so lucky. Like Alan said, I thought I was safe, I bloody wasn't though.
As to honestjohns comment, talk about irresponsible. If people were to drive slower the huge traffic jams we see entering into towns every morning wouldn't be as bad because the traffic wouldn't be adding to the back of the queue as quickly. So in fact people might actually spend less time travelling to their place of work.
And saying driving at slow speeds is more dangerous because drivers get more bored. Hmm, ok, driving at high speed is a lot more taxing on the driver, they need to pay more attention to the road, be much more attentive to the possibility of other drivers ahead, be able to cope with such a situation without causing their own death. Driving at slower speeds may be more boring, heck, I speed every day, but you're much more likely to survive an accident, and other people are more likely to survive if you hit them. Then of course we have the environmental arguement, driving at high speeds uses more fuel to get from A to B than driving at a slower speed (I'm talking Motorway speeds here).
It would be nice if we were all courteous drivers who drive within the speed limits, but unfortunately it isn't going to happen as we are all too impatient and need to be kept in check by speed cameras and the police.
Does anyone know why our Traffic Lights form the sequence:
RED/ RED and AMBER /GREEN?
Surely the RED and AMBER phase is unnecessary.
I can see the need for the single AMBER phase, after GREEN.
If the lights went straight from RED to GREEN it would eliminate "Red light jumping"
Lights at road works sometimes do not include amber and seem to work effectively.
Is there a historical reason relating to early electronics, or early cars that needed a "get ready" phase? Read more
The red/amber phase encourages drivers to start too soon, especially in London. The traffic light sequences were introduced in the 1930's when starting a vehicle moving was a slower process.
French traffic lights, for example, plus most other continental countries, go straight from red to green and I believe that adopting that principle in the UK would be a positive advantage to safety.
In Somerset there are lots of small grey posts - approx 1 metre tall - in many villages and also on the unrestricted roads. By each grey post there are 3 wires coming across into the road. Question: Are these speed cameras as sometimes there is a small black gunsight type piece of equipment sticking out of the back just below the top of the post.
How do they work?
Cheers,
Gary Read more
If the three wires are fixed in a permenant way accross half of the road rather than an induction loop in the road it is likely that this is a semi-permanent speed camera site as used by a Truvelo speed camera.
I own a "P" Reg Jeep with leather trim which is curling up along the dash' under the screen. Is anyone else familiar with this problem?, Chrysler deny this is common, but I am a sceptic as far as motor manufacturers claims are concerned. Read more
I am currently working in Moscow and when I came out here sold my excellent 1991 Vauxhall Cavalier 2.0GLi, which had served me well for four years and had 120,000 miles on the clock and was still going strong when I sold it.
However, when I return to the UK in six months or so I am tempted to treat myself to a BMW 7 series, as all the write up's I have read state what an amazing car it is and what great value they are second hand, except that is for the running costs which sound potentially horendous. I have a budget of around £12,000 - 15,000, which means that I would be looking at a car about five years old and also possiibly with high milage. Has anyone any experience of running a new shape BMW 7 series at this age and with plus 100,000 miles? I would be interested to hear of the reliability and running costs experienced. Also is it necessary to take them to a BMW garage, I have always in the past avoided main garages, as they are have generaly proven in my experience anyway, to be pretty useless and also expensive.
Also, are there any alternatives or am I better going for a safer (and more boring) option, say for instance a Mondeo etc.? Read more
Mate bought a 93 K 740i 100,000 on the clock £5,000. I know it is a bit older than what you are after. But is now currently having a new engine put in due a problem that is inherent to this engine previously BMW have replaced this under manufacturers goodwill but he is having to fork out £2,000.
I hold an "automatic" only licence.
Does anyone know if I can legally drive cars with the
new Triptronic boxes that can be driven in either fully
automatic mode or in manual ?
I would appreciate any advice.
Regards. Read more
I always understood an automatic to be "a vehicle with only a brake and an accelerator" so the reasonable presumption would be that providing there is no clutch, it is automatic and can be driven on an "automatic" licence.
1997 VW Polo 1.4, 3 dr hatchback
Electric windows:
The electric windows have constatly given problems and have been rectified under warranty 4 times.
The car is now out of warranty (3 years) and the windows failed to operate within three days of the last rectification.
The dealer has refused to carry out furhter work unless I pay as VW will not recompense them with any of the work entailed.
The dealer also informs me that this window malfunction is a VW 'known problem' and incurrable. Further more cannot guarantee that the problem will not reoccur.
In my opinion this problem is a safety hazard. I am writing to the mauufacturers.
The car has not been without other problems which have been rectified under warranty. Read more
They have a VW badge and should have VW quality control. But in my experience don't.
Browse
Personally I would do anything like that myself as I have had similar experiences with garages. It is nealry always common sense to take apart and put things back together but the issue is time, it normally takes an aweful lot if you want it done right. As a result I imagine that in general garages do not have large amounts of time to do such tasks or charges would be through the roof and just push things back so they hold in place.