January 2002
Not you, BRM. nor Martin B.
Those flying birds who wish to build nests.
A pair have decided to make my eaves their southern base, and the car gets covered with a saliva/dirt mix. I'd hate to progress to the fledgeling dump stage.
Any idea how to dissuade the little critters? Read more
Just bought a 1.7 one for SWMBO to replace her French slug. What a little motor, drives like a real 'un, PlayStation accuracy, looks good, excellent lights, faultless ergonomics, bought the first smile of 2002 after a 40 mile dash along desterted A and B roads in the dark... Never owned a Ford before....look forward to Roundabouts now just to boot it it out of them. Perfectly weighted controls, superb gearbox, real modern rev hungry engine. Looks like a hairdresser's car drives like a classic, all this out of a bog standard Fiesta...This is most definately a 3.00am car: Tee bloody hee
(Sorry) Read more
Remember the old saying: "By the time you're old enough to afford it, you're too old to enjoy it".
I wonder what it refers to? Probably cars ;-)
A common complaint on the site seems to be about franchised dealers.
Even though I am not a fan, I still take my car to one to maintain the full dealer history.
How many people out there do the same and is it worthwhile. Do others prefer independent specialists or perhaps local garages?
How many people would pay more for a car with a full dealer history (or less?)
Thoughts please. Read more
It's a question I'm pondering at the moment too.
I drive my own 1.8 Avensis - cash for car company driver - and have had it dealer serviced according to the book since I bought it from a car supermarket. This was primarily for warranty purposes which expire soon at 60K, a cambelt change is due at 63K for which I'll send it to the dealer also. A major service is due at 27K intervals but intermediate services seem to be little more than a few visual checks and an oil change for £100ish. I intend to do the intermediate services myself after the cambelt change and dealer service at the 27K interval I drive about 40k a year so it will still receive good attention really.
I just wondered if anybody has any thoughts on this procedure, I intend to drive it for at least another 2 years when it will have the best part of 150K on the clock so resale with dealer history may not be that relevant.
Any comments ?
Hi
I saw an article in a paper that claimed that after about 10 years airbags will need to be replaced(an great cost) Failing to do so will invalidate your insurance in the event of an accident.
As the cost of the airbags may be more that the car is worth does this been built in obsolesence to many older cars.
As I think we have had airbags on most cars for about 8 years... the outcome could have an impact on the second hand market..
any comments
alan Read more
When I drive my wifes Mondeo, I never even think about the airbag other than to wonder if it will ever go off in error.
There was a programme on TV tonight about congestion charging, with particular reference to the Singapore electronic system which took over 20 years to get right, including variable charges revised half-hourly.
London's proposed flat rate fiver sounds terribly crude in comparison. Does anyone know exactly how it will work and how will the one in ten London vehicles which are allegedly not registered in the name of the current keeper affect enforcement.
Will it, for example, entail restricting access to the tolled area to specific roads and will one way systems have to be extensively altered to cater for this.
(I work a hundred yards inside the zone and at present can access it by about six routes. Will this come down to one, I wonder.) Read more
Andy,
I hope you are correct about it being cancelled, but it is not within the Government's gift to cancel it. Our Ken has the power to impose it should he wish.
Brian,
I understand that every entrance to the zone is to be covered by a camera. The Evening Standard puplished a map showing the location of all of them and I suspect you can find it on the Web. As far as I recall there was no changing of one way roads and the existing road system remains.
The biggest problem is likely to be the congestion on the roads just outside the zone e.g. Euston Road with traffic avoiding the zone.
I am aware that more and more categories of worker are applying for exemption from the charges - police, firemen, hospital workers.
Lastly the calculations took into account a that high percentage would avoid the charge. At present the scheme is not intended to produce revenue as such. The intent is to get a system up and running and see if it does reduce traffic, rather than divert it. Once a system is working the revenue collecting is easy - double the charges.
D
Does anyone out there have one, has had one or know anything about them please? Read more
Marc, thank you for your reply. Could you please confirm, when you say that the gearbox is the same as the Panda/Uno, are you referring to the manual or the automatic ? Rgds Pete
In finding a new motor I was quite amazed at the amount of plastic now being used. I'm not just talking about bumpers here. There seem to be some makes using it for body panels. So I wonder about those ncap safety tests. As an experiment try giving a front wing of your motor a hard press, just to see how much it deforms ...
I contrast this with my first beloved car - a 1935 Riley Falcon (cost £7/10/0 plus £20 for a recon cylinder head to get it on the road). I'm convinced that if that had been driven at one of those barriers they now use in tests not only would it not have been significantly damaged, but it might even have demolished the barrier! Some aluminium panels actually, but then, it had a real chassis.
Some years later I encountered a prat driving south on a northbound dual carriageway, after the pubs closed. I was in a Beetle (the real one). I'm also convinced that had I been in certain much vaunted modern cars I would not now be writing this.
Any views? Read more
On the subject of rigid shells v crumple zones - what about roll cages? A rally or race car can take a real pounding in a crash and the cage will only deform slightly. The use of full harness belts and good supportive seats prevents the occupant(s) from being flung around inside. The crash helmet is more likely to contact the cage than anything else so the cage is padded well - it's rare to see damaged helmets. I think the idea that a rigid shell gives rise to terrible injuries is an incorrect one. The body can withstand massive G-forces - remember the bloke who strapped himself to a rocket sled to test this? A problem with older cars is the abundance of hard and sharp bits inside the car to hit in a crash and the steering column intruding.
After my Mini was written off in a small crash I looked at buying a modified one that had a roll-cage, rally seats and harness (as well as a 1380cc engine and sc-gbox etc). The insurance company would accept all other mods apart from the roll-cage! Apparently something to do with rally-cars usually being written off 'between stages' or on the 'way home from the rally' rather than during the event.... perhaps a bending of the truth?
Piers
Knowing that it's too expensive to guess about these things, could any of our techies give me any guidelines for using synthetics. And finally, (I hope this doesn't sound too dumb) are there different types of synthetic motor oils? I sometimes see references to semi-synthetic oils and am confused. I really appreciate any clarification you can give this mechanical illiterate - Thanks much. Read more
I've just been to France and bought Magnatec which is 5W40 fully synthetic, while British Magnatec seems to be 10W40 semi-synthetic. The price was, of course, much lower in France.
Knowing that it's too expensive to guess about these things, could any of our techies give me any guidelines for using synthetics. And finally, (I hope this doesn't sound too dumb) are there different types of synthetic motor oils? I sometimes see references to semi-synthetic oils and am confused. I really appreciate any clarification you can give this mechanical illiterate - Thanks uch. Read more
Absolutely, leakability! something I frorgot to mention, I never had to top up the magnatec between changes, now I use a litre every 5000miles. Of course the scientific way to investigate it would be to change back to magnatec and see if I can replicate my previous findings!
I change my oil whenever I reckon it's black enough for changing. Probably just my ignorance doesn't give me the confidence to wait longer, I'm sure that the oil behaviour doesn't change that much as the carbon deposits start to build up. But I reckon it depends on the way you drive. I find a thrash from Newcastle down to the south of france and back usually blackens fresh oil well, but my zx 2litre has done 120000 now!
Thanks to everyone who took the time to respond to my question (both good and bad).
I think the 2.2 comes out on top, just have to sell my Fiesta Zetec S first.
Thanks again,
Darren Read more
Browse
humpy wrote:
>
> That's because eleanor has shot them all!
Would that be the ecologically sound, squeaky clean Eleanor?
Surely not - she's far too busy thinking up more replies on the super-extended-telescopic diesel thread to kill a few defenceless little birds - even if they are called Martin... I'm sure no one called Martin can be a B%^&#$d, whatever that is .....
Ronnie
PS Eleanor - you've been in the North Star state too long - we don't shoot at everything that moves over here.
PPS Did you buy that gas-guzzling Bentley, or are you going to wait for the hydrogen powered model, with optional gun rack of course?