April 2002
Hi there,
I am thinking of buying an Audi A3 for around £10,000.
Is there anything I should be aware of.
Also, how will the prices of the current A3 be affected
when the new model comes out next year?
Thanks
Steve Read more
I bought a 1996 V6 Omega (101K miles) 4 months ago and so far it has had the following replaced/ repaired: warped front discs and pads, corroded rear discs and pads, camshaft centre, thermostat, cracked cooling pipe. Does this sound like a dog or just a car that hasn't been looked after by previous owners? Read more
So you can easily afford a speeding fine then?
Just recieved the following as a PowerPoint attachment to an internal company email. As I can't see a way of attaching it to this, I've attempted to imitate the layout below (hope it doesn't get too badly mangled on posting!) :-
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No. 099
Greatham Site 28th February 2002
Safety Learning Event
Off the job injury warning
What happened ?
SHELL have issued a warning about Mobile Phones, they have reported 3 incidents recently where Mobile Phones have ignited fumes whilst being answered / ringing during fuelling operations.
In the first case, the phone was placed on the boot lid during fuelling, it rang and the ensuing fire destroyed the car and the pump.
In the second, an individual suffered burns to the face when fumes ignited as he answered a call during fuelling.
In the third case, an individual suffered burns to the thigh and groin as fumes ignited when the phone, which was in his pocket, rang during fuelling.
Why did it happen ?
It is a misconception that Mobile Phones can?t ignite fuel / fumes.
It is believed that the more modern phones (those that light up when either switched on or when they ring) have enough energy released to provide the spark for ignition!
Learning Points
1. Mobile phones should not be used in filling stations.
2. Mobile phones should be turned off before exiting the vehicle when
stopping in a filling station.
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Can't guarantee the veracity of this, I always thought the warnings were to prevent interference with electonic systems. If anyone wants the original (95kb), make your email address visible in a response and I'll forward it. It may be on Shell website, but you need to register to view the likely area.
Jack Read more
Sorry - I was being too precise - I meant roughly the right ratio. Vapour does disperse pretty quickly outside, though, and I still think that the risks from phones are miniscule. There are plenty of potential ignition sources in and around a car that almost never cause an explosion...
A report in our local paper said that someone has been killing local cats by soaking fish in anti-freeze and leaving it for cats to eat.
(Probably a bird lover, as UK cats are estimated to kill 200 million mammals, 55 million birds and 10 million reptiles and amphibians yearly. Source: The Mammal Society)
The report said anti-freeze was lethal to humans too, even in small amounts.
I know the containers carries the X motif and the word "Harmful" but if it really is lethal, surely this is insufficient warning.
I know a mechanic who would test the strength of anti-freeze by dipping his finger in the rad. and tasting the coolant. He was not dead, at the last count.
Is it really so dangerous? Read more
I quote from my trusty Royal Society of Chemistry 'Hazards in the Chemical Laboatory" book
Ethylene Glycol (or Ethane-1,2-diol to use it's more modern name)
Toxic Limit Threshold (TLV) 100ppm
Toixc Effects: Death has followed the drinking of EG as a substitute for spirits. 100ml may prove fatal. Similar quantities may result in restlessness, unsteady gait, drowsiness coma and injury to the kidneys.
So, not very nice stuff.
Like to keep you informed on my progress with my first service with the Golf GTI....
I went in to the VW dealership yesterday morning and the service guy said he tried to get in contact me the night before regarding that they won't have a loan car ready for me as the customer was still away and haven't return the car to them. I said why didn't you call me on my mobile as i have given them my contact details in the pass and he said the number wasn't on their computer system and by then i was pretty pi*sed off!!!, i told them that i am not willing to wait an hour for the service as i have a job to go to!!!!.
So I said when will the loan car be back and he said could be sometime after lunch so i said give me a ring on my MOBILE when it arrives!..
I head back to work in my car and the time was ticking (still no call from them) and then it was clocking off time so i went home fuming and decided to give them a good bo*locking (the time was about 5.30pm) and I said why didn't u call me and he said he was gonna call me at 6pm..I said what the fu*k?!?!..you clearly had the car back and only when it suited you that you would call me at 6pm by then i was giving him some sh*t over the phone that I will be speaking to your line manager but he kept saying its not his fault its the other customer bring the loan car late......by then i haven't got the energy to shout anymore so i told him i be down now to pick the loan car , he said it was ok , so i got the loan car and had a quick look at the fuel guage and it was nearly empty so that sums up my day with the dealership!!..
A very pi*sed off customer!!!......... Read more
How to deal with complacent dealers - stop using them.
The local VAG dealer has lost the 100k a year that we used to spend on sales and service simply because he ceased to give a monkey's. Plus the products are no wher near as good as they would have you believe. The last (and I do mean last) Golf PD that we got is a total junker.
Today on the eastbound (towards London) side. 50 limit and road twists and turns gently. Obvious really. You have been warned. Read more
Do you mean on the bridge section through central Guildford?
My wife's Golf was serviced by the local VW dealer today including 2 yearly brake fluid change. I got home from work early so took a look under the bonnet. All was well, except just a moment what is that damp patch on the offside strut? Eye drawn to the brake master cylinder - full to the brim with evidence of seepage from the top - sure enough below it on the chassis leg a small pool of brake fluid.
I phoned the VW dealer and they sent someone straight out. I thought they would arrive with a small syphon - but no - a rag stuffed into the top of the master cylinder to soak up the excess until it was down to the MAX line. Then he poured a little (I mean a little) water over the chassis leg - when I questioned this he told me that brake fluid is no longer corrosive - IS THIS TRUE? Read more
CC
I've heard this one about greater compresibility, but I must say that I've always though it a bit odd. At the sort of pressure in a braking system I would expect the difference between the compressibilty of two fluids to be negligible, and unlikely to be noticable at the pedal.
Not only that, but silicone fluid is US DOT 5 approved, so there can be no safety issues and it is apparently used by the US military.
Regards
John
Another chapter in the bizarre motoring habits of this land...From the Johannesburg Star.
For those who have missed the previous ones:
(1) Vehicle steered with mole grips on steering column.
(2) Carb fed by gravity feed from 25 litre plastic drum and hosepipe on front seat...
and now this!
Cardboard brake pads were found in the braking system of a minibus taxi that was involved in a collision with another minibus.
The accident occurred at about 7.10am on Thursday after the taxi's brakes failed at the intersection of the Old Vereeniging Road and Main Road in Eikenhof, south of Johannesburg, police said.
Twenty-three people were injured, five seriously.
The taxi driver was charged with reckless driving.
www.iol.co.za/index.php?click_id=13&art_id=ct20020...1 Read more
My Brain Hurts's post reminds me of a cycle camping trip in Fife many, many years ago.
My bike's front inner tube had punctured so badly that it couldn't be repaired and there was nowhere for miles to get a replacement. So we packed the tyre with rushes and grass, which did surprisingly well up to, but not including the point, when an elderly local stepped off the pavement right in front of me as we came down a steep hill into Dunfermline. Brakes hastily applied, at which point elderly local was instantly plastered with a stream of well mulched mixture of rushes and grass, as the weight transferred to the front wheel ! Not *hugely* amused, but he did recover enough to point us to the nearest cycle shop.
DD
What did you think of the Boot Camp driving school ?
Although those drivers probably gained some good skills i dont think it will improve thier road driving skills.The ability to drive amongst traffic is more demanding than some cones on a test course.
Also surprised Penny said doing figure of eight manoeuvres around trucks is not repesentive of real world driving ... I see BMW drivers doing this every day on the M25. Read more
Hopefully the programme boosted the confidence of the two ladies and had the opposite effect on the over-confident boy racer.
Just a thought, would they have given the boy racer a second chance if he had failed first time?
The continuing story;
Vehicle Inspectorate now involved and are investigating the problems that Merc's have put in writing re. the water getting into the dashboard, which, seems to be causing problems with electrics/computer management system.
Other complaints received for same faults.
Are there any more horrified Merc drivers out their?
Colin. Read more
Have a look in here...US biased but interesting:
www.mercedesproblems.com
Browse
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Thanks to KB, Cardew and Donkey Hoatey for your comments on the A3.
I have to admit I am very much of a badge snob!
This weekend I concidered buying a T Reg Golf 1.8T,
but am coming to terms with my condition (which I have passed
on to my wife!!) and thing seriously of a Léon.