The paintwork of my car (originally Fire engine red, now approaching a milky red/pink) seems to be getting worse by the day all of a sudden. Is there anything I can do to restore the paintwork or has it had it now as the fading has already started?

As long as I live I am never buying another red car... Read more

As a result of all of the responses I received to my original post, I have tried to weigh up both sides of the argument and put forward some suggestions.

Just thought that I would inform people as it has, by now, slipped a fair way down the page.

Thank you for all of the responses.

Andy Read more

Just a reminder of the time limit, mentioned in a previous post and also for those who missed it.

Does everyone know about the Welsh Assembly proposals to make driving in Wales miserable, apparantly for no safety reasons whatsoever.

They will be proposing speed limiters on cars (dangerous, ask a trucker), extensive traffic calming measures (US research suggest they cost more lives than they save by impeding emergency vehicles) and much more.

Is the Copenhagen Declaration the real reason for this anti-car hysteria?

London Highways engineer Malcolm Haymer says of the constant attacks on motorists........

"There is an even more sinister reason. In May 1996, The Car Free Cities Network of the European Union (www. edc. eu. int/cfc/about. html) adopted the 'Copenhagen Declaration', which included the following exhortation: "All decision makers at the local, regional, national and European levels are urged to play their part in changing our culture of mobility.'. Thus car use is to be discouraged by all possible means."

Professor Garel Rhys of Cardiff University Business School has said that "Plans to tax and penalise car use are leading Britain into a former Soviet-style regime."

Anyone wishing to object or express an opinion to the Assembly can write to Meryl James at

road.safety.consultation@wales.gsi.gov.uk or

meryl.james@wales.gsi.gov.uk

Minsiter involved is Susan Essex, Minister for Environment

Time limit November 30th Read more

If our girls were old enough for a car I'd be thinking about something like a Nissan Micra or Citroen ZX D, perhaps around 1994.

But they are only 4 and 6 now so the eldest will perhaps be looking for a car in 12 years time.

If requirements stay broadly the same a 7 year old car then will be one that is not due to be made for another 5 years (2006), if you see what I mean.

Was talking with SWMBO at the weekend as I worked on an "easy maintenance" current 8yr old car and, given the above, she commented "will you/anyone be able to tinker at all with the vehicles that are made in 2006, they're going to be full of electronics and sealed up aren't they".

It got me thinking just what will we be doing for "Uni/first job" motoring then.

Perhaps I'd better look after the old Land Rovers??

David Read more

Some of you will know I don?t go a bundle on too much electronics in cars as I reckon 8/9 years down the road it will be a potential scrapping issue when they go wrong and the repair costs more than the cars worth but last week I had to re evaluate this somewhat.

Overseas trip well north, lift failed to arrive at the airport, so I had to rent a car. Normally no problem, Focus Zetec 1.6, one or two winter add on goodies but on normal "summer" tyres, Continental EcoContact in fact. But the electronic goodies it had were ABS of course but also traction control and some sort of ESP stability system,

In the drive north it rained hard then froze, so it was really patchy, one minute wet roads, next minute it all went quiet and you were on sheet ice. Careful driving kept it on the island, the only real difficulty being the Focus' lousy sticky throttle action.

On the night before the trip back south it dumped 9" of fresh snow overnight and was still snowing hard as I set off. During the week the locals had been rushing about putting spiked tyres on due to the forecast. Folks had taken two hours to get in to the office on a normal 20 minute journey, so I was not looking forward to a drive normally taking two hours.

Conditions were bad as even the locals were going off, and there was at least one bad accident that required someone to be cut out by the fire brigade. But in summary,

Tyres:- EcoContact, excellent traction, good lateral stability on soft and packed snow, quite good on slush, not much grip on ice of course. Good tread clearing ability. Only downside was the lack of shoulder meant they did not dig in too well on tight bends in soft snow thus giving mega understeer even at 10 mph.

That was when the ESP cut in , which seemed to apply the inside rear brake and helped to pull the car round just as I was reaching for the handbrake. Magic!

In more normal driving the ESP was fairly unobtrusive in service, and kept it all in shape as you crossed from the semi clear areas across the deeper stuff in the middle of the road to overtake somebody stopped, stuck or just creeping at 10/20 kph. Again it didn't operate in anger too often, but must confess to a play or two, and when it did cut in it was early enough to say steady up sunshine pushing the envelope a bit here.

Traction control:- Worked well, did not cut in too often but when it did, like where the snowploughs had removed the soft grippy stuff leaving packed icy surface it was a real help.

ABS worked fine, not used in anger, but some experimentation on traffic free roads, could stop in a straight line, steer round things even if it did take a very long time to stop.

Overall pleased didn't go off, didn't hold anyone up and no real heart in mouth moments. Journey took 4.5 hours which included 1 hour sitting in a queue following two ploughs @ 20kph..

Fairly impressed with the Focus, seats not that comfortable though.

Realised just how much reactions and appreciation of the car balance sharpened up in only that one drive. That was without the opportunity to have too much of a play not that I was too keen on that in the circumstances.

Resolved to invest in a session at a skid school as a result. Anybody got any recommendations for a good school? Based Midlands but to be honest distance is not really an issue. What are the relative merits of those using a greasy rink as opposed to those using a cradle?

Sorry if I?ve prattled on a bit, as usual. Read more