February 2002
A 'thank you note' to all who responded to my thread about the blown speaker in our Audi 80.
I picked up a 'woofer' and engine under-tray (sound deadener? - you know, the plastic bit thingy that covers up the underneath of the engine) from a local breakers yesterday for the sum of thity quid.
Martin. Read more
Anyone read about the spate of car-jackings in London and other cities?
Met police are investigating around 100 at present.
I saw a defence against this from South Africa (legal there?) involving several upward and outward pointing gas jets either side of the car. Car-jacker burger anyone?
Of course they would not have helped the poor bloke who lost his life to two thugs who wanted his Audi.
He was attacked outside his vehicle by two gents who wanted his keys, for those who have not read the story.
Should we all be armed to re-dress the balance of terror? After all, it is said that God did not make all men equal............Colonel Colt did! Read more
Traffic Message Channel. Supposed to be the digital equivalent of TP for SatNav systems.
I have a new BMW with SatNav installed, and the system is TMC enabled.
Has anyone in the UK got it working? Seems to be confusion all round. BMW have said its not yet available 'cos Classic FM (th UK carrier) don't know what to charge, but the system's all ready when it is. The TMC web site suggests it is all go. And I also found a report, saying BMW owners need to buy a new CD to enable the TMC (But I can't find it again).
Anyone know the truth. I will ask my dealer tomorrow, but don't hold out much hope. Read more
It sounds pretty hairy over there according to the vairous websites I've had a look at.
Is it really bad ? I'm meant to be driving down to the Forest of Dean from Essex tonight. Read more
should be ok on M4 eastbound - dodgy over severn bridge with high winds gusting 50/60mph. hold the wheel very tightly.
if u using old road A4 et.et. lots of standing water everywhere has been raining steadily nearly all day take care have a good a journey as can be expected. Forest very green at moment!!!!
If you want to buy a new Beemer or Audi or Merc you normally have to place an order 3-6 months in advance. How can you negotiate a decent trade-in price on your current pride and joy, when they won't tell you what they will pay you on delivery day.
All you get is 'We'll speak about it a couple of weeks before your car is due.' Given that you have already had to pay a whacking great deposit to place the order, you can't walk away when they offer you the absolute minimum value they can get away with! Anyone know how to beat this problem, aside from selling privately with all the stress that entails? Read more
If the dealers any good they'll be able to work out what it's worth.
I did it a few years ago with a BMW. I refused to sign unless they gave me a price. I shopped around the various BMW dealers until one agreed.They knew how many miles I would do, how many payments would be made, and a quick look at the glasses guides for the last months shows how much cars drop per month.
Anybody else had a cylinder head problem with their CRV. Mine has lost power recently, and a compression test revealed a 40% compression loss. Honda have agreed to replace the cylinder head and valves, with out even stripping the engine to see whats wrong. Is there a problem ? Read more
Firstly, apologies if this is covering old ground again:
SWMBO's younger sister has just been bought a new Yaris GLS for her 17th and is currently learning to drive in it.
The car cannot have done more than about 150 miles at the mo. My personal feeling is that it would be best to get the car run-in decently before letting her loose with it, certainly I can't imagine that being run in by 600 miles of low-speed, overly jerky, learner-driver standard driving will be doing the car any favours.
Also, assuming that the car needs running in at all, at what stage should we start to give it some stick ? I know that cars do need to be driven quite hard in the last stages of the run-in to fully loosen the engine up, but what sort of miles should we have on the clock before putting on the lead-lined right boot ?
Finally, the first service is scheduled for 10,000 miles - is this correct ? Surely the car should be taken back for an oil change sooner that this to get rid of the inevitable swarf that will be created by running it in ?
Thanks
Jake Read more
Very funny Elly. You really are a joke. Is it your day job?
My secretary emailed me this......
A woman and a man are involved in a car accident; it's a bad one. Both of their cars are totally demolished but amazingly neither of them is hurt.
After they crawl out of their cars, the woman says, "So you're a man. That's interesting. I'm a woman. Wow, just look at our cars! There's nothing left, but we're unhurt. This must be a sign from God that we should meet and be friends and maybe spend some time together".
Flattered, the man replies, noticing the lady is very attractive "Oh yes, I agree with you completely!"
"This must be a sign from God!" The woman continued, "and look at this, here's another miracle. My car is completely demolished but this bottle of wine didn't break. Surely God wants us to drink this wine and celebrate our good fortune together."
Then she hands the bottle to the man.
The man nods his head in agreement, slightly overwhelmed that every cloud has a silver lining, opens it and drinks half the bottle and then hands it back to the woman. The woman takes thebottle and immediately puts the cap back on, and hands it back to the man.
The man asks, "Aren't you having any?"
"No", the woman replies, "I think I'll just wait for the police...." Read more
At least wine is better than an apple.
I bought a Mk4 Golf GTI 1.8T last spring and was wondering what BHP is in the Mk3 Golf GTI 16v?...don't they have one in a 8v GTI version as well?......
Cheers Read more
Webbman wrote:
>
> I bought a Mk4 Golf GTI 1.8T last spring and was wondering
> what BHP is in the Mk3 Golf GTI 16v?...don't they have one in
> a 8v GTI version as well?......
>
> Cheers
I believe the MK3 16V is 150 bhp and the 8V is 115 bhp.
Andrew
www.hispecgolfs.co.uk
My wife drives a Fait Punto, Y reg, with about 3500 miles on the clock. Recently we have found that when she drives at about 70mph on the motorway the car occasionally appears to be out of control. The effect is something like being blown to the left by a sudden gust of wind but happens even on windless days. My first thought would be the tracking but since this is an occasional event and not a continual drift to the left, I am not sure. The tyres are in good nick and are correctly inflated.
Any ideas anyone? Read more
We also have a Punto 2000 X reg., which is what I would call unstable in the wind, possibly due to the over sensitive electric power steering. The power steering failure light has illuminated on three occasions when starting the car - then after a few minutes it goes out and the steering will works OK. I have been told that if demand is high on the battery when starting the engine the steering is inhibited until there is enough power in the battery to power up the steering supply. Since these occurrence the steering column seems to give out a clicking sound when turning the wheel some times!
Please let me know if you resolve the problem and what the solution is!
Browse
Common in Manila. Luxury vehicles targeted. Late at night not such a problem as can usually run a red light or make a dash to a hotel or crowded area. However, during daytime, a van with blacked out windows and no plates will pull close in front and another on the side to force you to stop. With dense traffic you probably won't be able to outrun them, although one pal of mine in a Ford Expedition did sideswipe one into a bus and got away. If you're a foreigner they may take you as well (ref Abu Sayyaf). Chinese are the most popular since they always give in and pay up ransoms without fuss. Police frequently run these syndicates so it's a waste of time going to them. What to do? (a) get a nondescript vehicle, a large oner, (b) dress down -- not hard for a scruff like me who lives in t-shirt and shorts and shaves every few weeks (c) go back to UK...second thoughts, no, the yobs there are probably worse and I'm not that crazy....