February 2002
I was looking through the local paper yesterday and saw an ad for a D reg metro, Bodywork in need of attention no MOT or tax £150 ono. In the real world I am having to drive 12 miles to a breaker which will take my old Nova without charging me £25 for the privilege. Read more
Have just had my licence back endorsed for standard penalty £60 + 3 points, specifically: snapped for 58 in a 50 zone.
They (Hampshire Magistrates) have entered the offence code SP60 which according to DVLA list of endorsement offence codes is 'Undefined speed limit offence'. I was expecting SP30 'Exceeding statutory speed limit on a public road'
'Phoned Hants Magistrates. Very nice lady says that they have endorsed it with a 'local code', in this cae it is their code for exceeding a 50 limit.
Sureley we don't have two or more sets of similar offence codes in use?
I suppose it's just about crazy enough to be true for our beaurocratic systems. Any ideas, experience or understanding anyone?
PG Read more
It may have changed, but they always used to be treated the same. The aiding and abetting and others caused more excitement, but the feeling was that if it had been *that* bad there would have been a Careless Driving or similar awarded as well.
However, they are always on the look out for surprising bans or excessive fines - either of which would receive a red flag.
However, always be on the look out for the telesales or admin person who knows noting and is filling in a form. Simply because they don't recognise a code they could give you a totally erroneous posiution, which would not be supported by the underwriters.
A close relative picked up another three yesterday for 71 in a single carriageway NSL.
If he hadn't unloaded a few on another equally close relative he'd be one away from a ban now.
We can deduce that a careful 60 year old driver doing around 80k per year will get banned in any one three year period...
God help us you whipper snappers. Read more
Saw a Clio the other day with French number plates. On looking closer, it was a British number. (A123 ABC) Then noticed car was RHD.
Finally it clicked. They had had their plates made up in France but with a British number. Different size letters. Wonder if camera can read?
Hi all,
I always thought you were more likely to get a flat when it was raining because when it was wet, foreign bodies were lubricated by the water and therefore more likely to penetrate your tyre, however having just got a flat and it is bone dry but 1.5 degrees C I have decided it is actually due to sods law that you are more likely to get a flat when the weather is not ?ideal? for changing a wheel !!
My question is, having decided that the rear tyres are past there best, I will be replacing the pair, rather than get the puncture fixed, does anybody recommend a particular tyre (currently using Michelin Pilot 195/65 R 15 91V) for a 98 1.8 16v GLS Vectra? Also I seem to remember that Vauxhalls can be particular about where trolley jacks are placed, any body have any further info about this?
Is there a name for the stick on style balancing weights as opposed to the hammer on ones some knuckle dragging meathead has used on my alloys in the past?
Thanks in advance Read more
Both on our Xantia and my Cousin's we've found the latest Michelins have seemed more noisy and given a harder ride than the earlier Michelins they replaced.
David
I have recentlypurchased a 2.2 HDi Auto estate. Despite the claims of around 40 mpg I am only seeing around 29 - 30!!
The garage tellme I will have to wait 3 - 4 thousand miles for it to bed down and give me Citroens claimed figures.
Am I being taken for a mug? Or is this reasonable for a diesel engine? I must say that at these figures I would rather have bought the V6! Read more
My 110 Hdi was awful out of the box,and it still is with the chip wired out.
Just ask a diesel specialist to reset it to give emissions that are just on the right side of legal.If that doesnt work,chip it. Its not exactly oozing with power as standard,however well you tweak it.I hope it isnt as clattery at low speeds as the 110.
Recently HJ's Telegraph column featured some poor soul who was prosecuted for doing 31mph in a 30.
I am aware the traditional 10% + 1 or 2mph allowance for speedo error has been recently overturned by the PC brigade, creating this situation to exist but was wondering which police forces now operate this policy. Surely not all...?
Perhaps anyone can share their experience. Read more
Baseball caps period?
Period?
Full bloody stop, sir.
No damned colonials here, if you don't mind......we have standards to maintain, don't y'know?
O.K. John, please let`s have an honest answer- similar Q`s to this have been put before to others but with no straight reply.
If it is against the law to dazzle people, why are some manufacturers getting away with it? I can`t put it more plainly than that-you know the score (or do you wear your shades whilst driving?
Or do you drive an A?!!!!
Rgds. Brian Read more
I read on another (I think) motoring forum a piece from an "illumination" (?) specialist that, though there is a deterioration with age, unless it is accompanied by other quite serious eyesight problems, it has a negligible effect for most people.
My own personal view is that, just as we realise we are not indestructable, nor the worlds best driver, as we get older, we also realise that we can't actually see exactly where we are going when a young superman zooms past in the opposite direction with half a dozen misaligned lamps aimed straight at our heads!
I need real hard info. as the inquisitor is my youngest daughter. The question is out of my league and she is interested only in sitting in a car, having street cred, and driving about 35K business miles a year with 3-4K private. She's that sort.
Has had series of company cars incl high spec VW Golf, alfa and presently a BMW M something which is like a tank (T reg).
Company changing to salary increase, milage allowance and 'pick your own'.She wishes to out do the boss and take a 'you only pass here once' attitude. My limited (and she knows it) knowledge leads me only to say
'go for the top of the range VW Golf' and pocket the difference. No chance.
A company contact through leasing firm they use has led to high spec SLK 230 2 seater one year old priced as above. She can afford it so I have no problems if she hates it after a fortnight - as has happened before and is the reason I stick to boring boxes - she'll just have to lump it. Leasing is apparently the choice.
Pithy and deadly serious questions she should ask before committing please.
That way dad will get street cred too vicariously.
And, as usual, I will be very grateful for any comments.
Cheers Colin S Read more
Given the mileage, a nearly new E320CDi would be far more comfortable, far more powerful
reported in the Bradord telegraph and Argus ,A family hearing somebody breaking into their house barracaded themselves in the bathroom and called the police the culprits escaped in a Brand new Frelander ,Porshe Boxer and a Porshe 911 special edition all new.The police naturly arrived after the event.
They found the freelander abandoned shortly afterwards.The crunch is that the thieves used the 911 around bradford all weekend openly,parking it in the street, were subject to disturbences at different clubs throughout Bradford and the police still did not catch them only after a commotion at a club involving firearms did the police connect the car to the one that had been stolen in their own district.talkabout on the ball policeing the mind boggles.
On a serious note do not leave your keys downstairs at night Read more
Big report in today's Times about car jacking and other modern forms of car theft.
makeashorterlink.com/?U26442A6
The method used for nicking Mercs in Essex is ingenious. I think I'll stick with my not very Essex MK2 Golf GTI.
Hi all!
just a quick question!
The cockpit blower in my VW passat only really works on max power, lev 4, when hot air billows out loudly. The general air flow is not too good from the driver and passenger dashboard blowers and i am aware that the pipes connecting the cooling and heating systems can get blocked or can at least decay over time. Is it a simple job to give the whole system a good clean out, replace any decaying pipes and get it up and running? I was thinking of parafin and a rag type of job!
thanks Read more
Pollen filter!
Martin.
Browse
Cheers David.
I tried to get my brother in law to have it for £200 but he said it was too big for him! A 340 too big?
I will suggest to my wife that she places a card in the local supermarket. Well worth a try.
Thanks again