January 2002
After picking up SWMBO from work, I thought the lights on the Matiz (Stop laughing, I've had my share of fast (ish) cars, I only need somthing to nip around town in now) were a bit dim.
On checking them, the nearside dipped beam had blown. A quick trip to Halfords and £4.99 later the new bulb was fitted. (I wish my hands were as small as Korean Daewoo production line workers hands...)
Anyway, upon testing the lights (still on Halfords car park, thank goodness) I now found the offside dipped beam had blown, another £4.99 and some new grazes later all my lights are legal again.
Does anyone know why bulbs would pop in sympathy or is this just another weird coincidence? Read more
Boys and girls,
This morning's blue skies tickled a piece of dormant grey matter and prompted me to start thinking about a toy for the coming summer.
Something with character that will be fun to drive around the Hants/Berks countryside on warm evenings and at weekends. Shouldn't cost more than about £5K and could be turned into a winter resto' project later in the year.
Up for consideration were :
A '60's American ragtop
A Frogeye Sprite or MG
Any other suggestions or recommendations ?
Kevin... Read more
I bought mine instead of a motor cycle. So by comparison it's quite toasty!
Did I just read this Martyn, or was it a figment of my imagination?
Suddenly, the thread was *gone*!
When will we be getting a sneak preview?
and Does it have an "edit" button? Read more
ladas are slow wrote:
>
> could i bring my lada, plus if you are letting me stay at
> your house i had better tell you that i am a vegetarian.
if I am letting you stay at my house i had better tell you that my dog is a carnivore. :)
The thread "Very very interesting" has been deleted. It seems to have been started by someone posing as a regular contributor, and to have been intended to cause confusion or discontent to other Back Room users.
Last week it was revealed that under the present arrangements it's possible for someone to impersonate another contributor in this way. In the short term, it's a bit of fun, and most people had a good laugh. But in the longer term it means a lot of extra work for me, and it is potentially damaging to the honesty and openness which we've tried to establish in this forum. So, until our new software arrives, I want everyone who is tempted to take advantage of this flaw to know that, if they do so and I find out, I intend to prevent them from posting here again, not by blocking their user name but by blocking their IP address. The consequence of that is that many other users will be potentially without a voice too, so please think twice before you try it.
If anyone suspects that they're being impersonated, please email me at webmaster@honestjohn.co.uk.
Thanks. Read more
My Aunt is just retiring and is looking to replace her '96N New Shape Rover 200 with a small car to last her pretty much through her retirement. She has asked my advice on it and wants a new or nearly new (under a year) car for about £9k. She would also like some nicities such as PAS, Air Con, Elec Windows, etc with if poss ABS and EBD. She wants a Polo, but I have been trying to steer her towards a Yaris bearing in mind she would like trouble free motoring this time. The only other requirement is that it should be less low on tax so if a year old less than 1.5l. Although a diesel wouldn't bother her too much.
What else would people suggest?
Cheers
Si Read more
Hi,
I bought a new Clio dci last november and am very happy with it.
The only problem so far, is that the trip meter likes to occassionly reset itself.
Power wise, it only has 65 bhp, but the turbo certainly helps with over-taking and hill climbing.
Economy wise, 68 mpg on the first fill - long slow journeys, but the last two fills with short and COLD trips have produced a terrible 60 - 62 mpg!
Driving wise, very pleasant for long journeys, especially compared to the other-halfs '93 Clio D. Little dislikes are the steering(a little sharp maybe),and the go-pedal(a little sensitive at low speed,just like a '97 1.2 Clio I drove sometime ago).
We hear a lot about cam belts busting. I had the secondary chain break on an XK motor, so that's not the bomb proof answer. There have been cunning devices with eccentrics and connecting rods, and suchlike, fine and silent but expensive.
But what about gears (some of us would LIKE the music)? Read more
a verbal warning isn't worth the paper it's written on....
I have owned a '92 Granada Scorpio 2.9i 24v for about 5 years now. I still love the car, runs well, and plenty of power when I want it. My problem is that to be honest its looking now like an old farmers run about, the back arches are scabby, and the paintwork dull.
Only have about £7k to spend, considering the old Scorpio is worth about nothing now. Had thought about an Omega 2.5 or 3.0. But all I hear is about how unreliable these cars are.
Is this true???? I know HonestJohn has a poor opinion.
Help needed. Thanks Read more
I agree with Vin about getting a QX or Camry.
A late old shape Mondeo v6 would be another good alternative and far better to drive.
I am about to take delivery of my first TDI car- Leon TDI 110.
Apart from the care needed to avoid overheading a HOT turbo are there any other points I neeed to be wary of?
I am told they may warm up more slowly than the equivalent sized petrol engine?
Also I believe one should NOT change the oil in the engine until 1 year is up to ensure the wearing in of the mating surfaces, but thereafter every six months?
Poor lubrication of fuel pump caused by bad fuel can give premature pump failure, should I avoid buying fuel from the same source to avoid this event?
Any other suggestions? Read more
We'll soon flush him out.
For those of you tolerant enough to follow this saga, it's like a new vehicle. It went up to 90 at which point I thought it prudent to lift off. Fastest it had amanged previously was 60!
Citroen specialist said rest is in good shape. Read more
Tim,
Something like that is very satisfying.
David
Damn it was good! Got me really excited for the Monte tomorrow and the weekend.
An excellent format I thought - looks really promising. Read more
Another excellent show. Well done C4, keep it up.
Jeez when Mr Burns went off I thought "They think it's all over........"
More jam than Hartleys.
In my opinion he looked distinctly uncomfortable and well off the pace, at least a second a mile. Tommi looked far happier in the Scooby.
Browse
.jpg)
Just a thought about the 'one-eyed' vehicles, in many countries you are required to carry a set of spare lamps, hence no need to wait until next day to replace. Perhaps a useful European idea?
Also seem to act as insurance, since having had to purchase a set for a continental trip a few years back I've not had to use them, probably until tonight of course!!