I bought on the cheap a 95 Vauxhall Omega 2.5 V6 Auto, showing 90K
The engine is burning no oil though does leak a lot, particurally over one of the exhaust manifolds which is annoying.
The thing is the car has real useless performance, and can barely keep up with my mates '89 2 litre Carlton..
There is a bit of hesitation at low revs, and light throttle, though have put this down to a damaged spark lead, as can see arcing in the vicinity from time to time.
Anyone any ideas, I was thinking as the engine is covered in oil crankshaft position sensor or the like is may be playing up. Read more

Has anyone ever seen a Ferrari with more than 30K on the clock ?
It struck me after looking thru the Sunday Times last week that all the Exotica have ridiculous low milelages.
I know some of these cars will have been stored and not used as intended but surely some of these cars will have been driven ?
1985 Testarossa 12'000 miles , 1975 Dino 22'000 miles .....
There must be a huge incentive to disconnect the speedo or clock a Exotic car because every thousand miles you do the resale value plummets.
Funny to think the most expensive end of the car market probably has the worst examples of clocking. Read more

My cousin ordered a new 3 serires from abroad in sept last year and is expecting delivery next month. It seems around the time he placed the order Bmw gave this model a midlife facelift, and he is unsure as to wether he will get the facelifted model or the old style one, the import company cannot clarify this for him either. Any Ideas?, thanks. Read more

Given the recent rise in car hijacks, many of which are initiated when a perp bumps into the rear of the target car in order to entice the driver out, police are now telling us not to get out if we are suspicious, but to drive to the nearest police station.

Several problems with this.

First of all, is it not the law that in an accident situation, we are legally obliged to give our names, addresses and insurance details to third parties. If we leave the scene, we commit an offence.

Secondly, how are we to know where the nearest police station is, in a strange area?

Thirdly, if police stations elsewhere are like the ones here in North Wales, it is very likely they will be locked and the door will not be opened. Even the telephone outside the door is often ignored.

I called at our local station some time ago to collect a set of keys my wife had lost - some kind soul had handed them in. The door was locked ( Saturday afternoon) no-one answered the intercom or the phone outside the door.

I happened to have the internal telephone number for this station and when I called, an officer answered.

"Let me in" I cried. She came to open the door and when I asked why she had ignored the intercom, she replied, Oh, we take no notice of that"

What are we to do? Read more

Well, chaps - another 'orrible wet and windy weekend looms! What's to do?

Can't go flying my model aircraft.

Can't go out on the bicycle - another busted spoke, courtesy of the superb roads in South Gloucestershire.

Wouldn't cut the grass, even if I could.

Had enough of DIY fitted wardrobes.

Suppose I could bash the dent out that some kind soul put in the back of the Xantia in Tesco's car park.

Could muck the inside of the van out, ready for model aircraft flying when the wind and rain stop.

Could mend the grandfather clock.

Could start on the Bass in the fridge, I suppose. Probably will - pity there's not a decent motoring programme on telly to accompany it!

What do the usual suspects get up to when rained off for 4 weekends in a row?

Ian Read more