December 2001
"Is it me" or is anyone else sick of telly programmes reviewing multi-thousand pound cars that most of us can't afford?
I just caught 90 secs of Top Gear showing yet another "flash motor". Click. More interest on this site.
Sure, there is the "kids nose against the toyshop window" syndrome, but, all the time? Please!
(Any television industry bods reading?)
Maybe there's an opportunity to produce something that relates to what most of us do, which is keep a 3yrs + machine on the road and avoid rip-offs. And try not to get killed or kill people.
Too much "catwalk fashion" of the car world. How about something a bit more "High Street"?
Which is what (for me) made that programme "Deals on Wheels" (Mike Brewer plus one other) decent viewing. Real cars and their snags. What to watch for. Real people. How to hustle.
Even the "reality" bits of Top Gear seemed to go when Clarkson and the baldy lizard trader bloke left. We're just left with pop-eye Vicki grinning behind yet another supermini/italian supercar, etc, etc. No Vicki, we don't fancy you. See recent string on VBH vs Penny Mallory.
Nothing on roadcraft. Or any of the stuff that comes up on this site. I recall that the "Top Gear" of years gone by had a much broader brief.
Or maybe I'm 41 and the hormones have kicked in...
rg Read more
My KA, very reliable has been making a tinkling sound, now I didn't think it sounds like pinking, but I am not a mechanic. So the question is this. Is it pinking or an annoying loose something somewhere and how do I tell or check, without looking a fool at the local Ford dealership? Read more
Bruce wrote:
>
> My KA, very reliable has been making a tinkling sound
Valve noise.
The ancient OHV Valencia engine in your Ka is famous for it!
Buy a feeler gauge and check the clearences. If they're ok forget it.
Oh, and buy a modern Car next time...
Someone will be along with more reliable advice shortly.
As mentioned in a previous post, I have had the dubious pleasure of experiencing extreme tyre wear on my MB C 200 K after 10000 miles, strongly influenced by suspension misalignment on all wheels. Chrysler Benz kindly replaced two tyres for me, though this included an initial technical refusal, and a lot of further carefully written persistance on my part. Many thanks to HJ contributor Simon Saxton who recommended persistance via MB customer assistance.
Bear with me on this para's preamble.
Careful tread measurement of all tyres indicated that the rear tyres were extremly but more evenly worn, with a working tread depth of 0.5 to 0.7 mm above the minimum 1.6 mm on one tyres outer main tread channel. The inside tread channel had a range of 1.5 to 1.7 mm above the minimum depth.
The front tyres were less worn with tread depth varying from 3.1 to 2.5 mm above minimum depending on inner or outer channel, but both had a greater gradient accross the tread than the rear tyres.
So is modern suspension design using tyres just a little too efficiently, and am I out of date re the 30000 miles I regularly obtain on my old 1.6 Cavalier?
I don't go hurtling round corners, but I can certainly feel the responsiveness of the cars suspension. BMW 3 series are still recognised to hold the yardstick for suspension design, so do they also suffer from short tyre life? My B in L tells me that he is lucky to get 15K from the rear wellies of his XK 8.
I'm intrigued rather than grumpy, their is I guess a price to pay for the improved handling of heavy cars.
Regards,
Julian Read more
On my Mondeo, the first set of front tyres lasted 20,000 miles and the second set a couple of thou more.
On the Peugeot 406 that I have now, the fronts are over 4 mm at 30,000 miles. When having a puncture repaired, I mentioned this to the mechanic, who said that all Fords had a suspension set up that was hard on tyres.
Not exactly scientific, but there it is.
Having had two FWD Cavaliers, it was not difficult to get 40,000 miles on the front tyres.
Driving style must have something to do with it, but I gave up GP starts years ago.
I was caught by a revenue camera a fews years ago - speeding in a 30mph limit. The road was a dual carriageway. I complained to the polics (Sussex of course) that there were no speed limit repeater signs. The road had started out as a single carriageway and changed into a dual carriageway, with no speed limit reminders. The police superintendent at Lewes wrote: "The law as it stands does not permit the Highways Department to place repeater signs for a 30 mph limit." I wrote to my MP, he wrote to Jack Straw, he passed it to Lord Whitty, Parliamentray Under Secretary of State at the Department of Transport. He wrote: "In the past motorists successfully avoided convictions for speeding by arguing that repeaters on some of these roads and not on others made them unaware of the limit in force. Rather than insisting that Councils go to the expense of placing them on every road, they were prohibited altogether." All I can say is what a load of old codswallap - since when has spending our money bothered governments? So the most important speed limit is the least visible - mmm nice. Read more
The point was that having just joined the road I hadn't seen any sign at this point so assumed a 70 limit. The first sign to adjust came at about the same point as the speed camera which flashed me. The correctness of all of this was never tested as no NIP was recieved. The point was that in the absence of a sign I percieved a higher limit than that which actually applied. In a sane world it strikes me that a lower limit should apply unless posted higher. This is just more intuitive.
I'm just about to take my car in for servicing. When I booked the appointment, I asked them to check a couple of things - slightly rattly exhaust when going over a speed bump and the steering, which pulls, very slightly, to the nearside. The pulling is barely noticeable, and can't really be detected on (for example) braking. I've had this on other cars, and it's been due to misalignment, tyre pressures etc. I admit I was surprised to hear that 'they all do it'. Can this be true??
(By the way, it's a Merc C240)
Puzzled... Read more
I'm generally in favour of roundabouts as an alternative to traffic lights as they promote a smoother flow of traffic. Mini roundabouts though an be fun in heavy traffic where you get a mexican standoff between all the different entering lanes....you first...no you...no you...no I insist you have priority..etc
Did everybody miss this, or was it not worth of comment ?
The questions HJ was faced with on the Radio Programme;
Author: Mark (Brazil) (200.165.138.---)
Date: 08-12-01 19:37
Just because I'd like to see what everybody else says...
1: What book are you reading?
Arms & the Women- Reginald Hill
2: What is the most embarassing record you have ever bought?
The Aristocats - Walt Disney
3: What is the most revolting meal you have ever eaten?
Camel, rare. Marrakech 1987
4: Describe yourself in three words?
ooer.
Expat. Lazy. Opinionated.
5: What do you drive?
Dodge Ram (when poss. otherwise Audi A6) Read more
Book - The Lord Of The Rings
Record - New Kids On The Block's debut single
Meal - Clams in Boulogne
Description - Sick of working in London, looking forward to being a Dad
Drive - Focus 2.0 Ghia and the other half's Fiat Cinquecento 900S.
Does anybody know where to get the best deals for a Dover-Calais channel crossing in the New Year (3 day stay).
Thanks
Andrew Read more
Thanks Guys, www.ferrysavers.co.uk looks very useful, will give them a go.
Cheers
Andrew
This is to encourage all those who, like me, rarely understand the questions let alone the answers.
So, does anyone who has never answered a motoring (as distinct from political) question know the answer to my little problem please? BUT, before you try, bear in mind that all those in a higher class will be watching and be on you like a ton of bricks if you get it wrong. So, guesses, yes, but only educated ones. (If you happen to have MV craft certificate 1st year, ONC or NVQ, yoiu should own up)
If the footbrake is applied immediately before the handbrake, then next time out the front n.s. brake briefly locks before freeing itself. This may be OK but in case it's not, apart from a blast of WD 40, what's the answer ?
(three year old Megane).
Any rookie who, in the opinion of one of our many experts, answers correctly, will be promoted - at least in my reading of his or her future posts - to the rank of 'one to be taken notice of',
Thanks and best wishes to all;
Colin S Read more
David W Many thanks - will follow advice.
Cheers Colin S
I happened to have to travel round the M25 about 5am on Sunday. I was cruising most of the way round at 90/95 and most other vehicles were about that speed/faster. We then entered the speed camera section between Junctions 10 and 17. Everyone slowed to 75ish through this section before speeding up agian after.
So, as everyone knows these camres are there and are reacting to them does this mean that the revenue has dropped? If so I wonder what the authorities will do next as there must be targets for cash raised, sorry, safety achieved? Read more
I've driven round most of the M25 tickling the underside of 90 and never been flashed...
The air distribution dial on my Renault Clio 1.2RN seized at 17,400 miles when the car was two-and-a-half years old. There was no warranty cover and Renault UK would pay only 75% of the repairs leaving me with a bill for £120 for a new heater box (total cost £480). I lodged a claim in the Small Claims Court complaining that the component was of unsatisfactory quality, lacked durability and became unsafe.
I won! The Court's Decree awarded me £120 plus interest and reimbursed the court's fees of £36. Renault UK have paid me in full.
It's a simple d-i-y procedure and the court's staff are very helpful with assistance and leaflets. Why not give it a go if you think you're getting a raw deal. Read more
Hi HJ
Think you are wrong about the outfit being sued having the right to take it to County Court. If they are going to defend they get it moved to a small claims court locally.
This is what happened when I took Sun Alliance to a small claims court. Perhaps one of the legal eagles can comment?
Browse
My 8 and 5 year old love TG.
Speaks for itself I guess!
Stu.