September 2002
and if so what discs have u got Read more
Just bought a 1996 Seat Toledo 2.0 16v as a cheap second car. Can anyone tell me what bhp it is? I seem to get different asnwers from different places, some say its 135 and some say its 150. Also, the throttle pedal action seems very stiff (albeit that I am used to a very light throttle). Is this a feature of the car? If so, can it be changed by installing a different spring or something? Read more
"In-car gadget to evoke classic motoring
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Inventors in the US are working on an immersive audio system for classic car enthusiasts.
Jay and Jason Plugge aim to market a radio that plays soundtracks of bygone engine noise.
Their patent covers a device that works by storing sound samples in on-board memory chips.
The samples are linked to the engine's rev sensors, so the soundtrack reacts to pressure on the pedal.
The resulting synchronised noise is played back along with any music or radio programme.
The inventors told New Scientist they've been inspired by 'lamentable' advances in engine technology that have banished "the endearing and unique audible sound signatures" of classic cars and motorbikes.
The patent was featured in the Journal of the Accoustical Society of America."
Now I can imagine I have that Daytona?
Tomo Read more
Don't the French blow their tyres up?
No - that is far too challenging - they usually stick to blowing up pretty coral athols in the middle of the Pacific!
But on a more serious point, the French autoroutes often have sign posts stating that under inflated tyres are dangerous and they also provide free air. (Admittedly they don't bother mentioning that tyre pressure readings will be out if you have been driving 160kmh for the past 3 hours). Perhaps the powers to be in this country should teach people to be more aware of their tyre pressures because the amount of underinflated tyres is worrying.
From looking briefly through some of the archives from the Back Room, I know that there are some people here who have some personal connections to Milly Dowler, including HJ himself.
I\'d just like to say, please god that the remains found by police today are not those of Milly. As a member of the general public, and a mother of 2 children, the events of the summer, the deaths of Holly and Jessica, have distressed me beyond belief - and I just hope and pray that we aren\'t about to witness yet another of these senseless and meaningless tragedies that are plaguing this country.
My support goes out to all those connected to Milly, her family, friends, and all who ever knew her - I know you must be going through hell. And also to all those who, like me, are frightened for the future and long for a better and safer place to raise our innocents.
I\'m sorry this is nothing to do with motoring, but I just saw the news and I had to say something. Read more
I wasn't actually.
But thanks for starting the new thread, I shall lock this one.
M.
In HJ's column Sat just gone, some punter said that he was going to get a new body for his MGB {in aluminium ?}fit a new Rover K series engine and box all for £6 to £10k
Is this posible, is the K series not naff?
Thought that heritage shells were steel?
Has he included labour charges?
If somweone can make me such a car for £6k, even with a K series, I'll buy one, but I agree with HJ, it would have to be the roadster.
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Would be impossible do to this for less than 10K.
I have restored 3 MG's (Roadster/GT/V8) the expense in parts alone will cost 10K. Heritage shells are around the £2500 mark last time i looked. Many people fall into the trap of thinking that a donor MGB will be a good source of parts to use in a heritage shell. But when you actually think about it the Donor car will have tatty/used interior/mechanics/bodywork trim so you end up buying new parts, because putting tatty components into to a freshly painted shell is self-defeating.
I know of a Midget with a K-series engine so it seems possible.
If you would like a Good condition MGB with a heritage shell i would check out the MG car/owners club there are some very good examples available. (also a good time of year to be buying).
Dear All,
I am in the middle of a feud with the above referenced fast fit outfit over some damage they have allegedly done to my car whilst carrying out a routine exhaust job.
The job in question was to reattach the exhaust to the manifold of my MkII Golf, held on, I believe with two clips.
In carrying out the work they initially moved the gearshift rod out of alignment so that I was unable to select first gear. I took the car back and fair play they sorted out the alignment problem so that the car drove.
However, in effecting the repair to the gear shift rod, I believe they damaged/removed an earth lead that ran from the engine block to the car body.
The next day I broke down on the motorway with a knackered alternator.
I would gratefully appreciate any advice on the likelihood of the lack of an earth lead from the engine block to the car body being the root cause of my now f***ed alternator.
Cheers
Jamie
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Boring Escort I,m afraid. They did say they could work on other
makes. There was a 5 series on the ramp next to mine .
A post-factory phone job was done on my car by the previous owner. A wire runs along the top (inside) of the rear window. It tucks into a gully but keeps falling down leaving a bowed wire across half the window. This is a silly point I know but I can find anything to hold it up - I don't want to cover it with gaffer tape as that would look awful but because of the gully I am finding it tricky to fix it with anything. Any ideas? Read more
To SjB,
I sympathise. My cables all run in the gap behind the coving and/or above the ceiling.
Shall we start a club?
El Dingo (Martin).
Just wanted to say to everyone, if you haven't changed your pollen filter for a while or not even sure if its been done, do it! It's the best £10.50 I've spent on my Omega, now alas I can breath fresh clean air and my windows don't mist up as they did. No damp smells anymore! Also when replacing it be sure to clean the drainage flap in the plastic housing below, it can get full of gunge and aggrevates damp.
Also had the "Kwik Fit" Mobil 1 oil & filter change, absolute bargain considering that 5 Litres of Mobil 1 in Tesco's is £30! Car is running much smoother and quieter with it (surprisingly) though I recommend watching kwik fitters whilst they do the job, it took 3 men to change the oil on my omega and even then, they didn't mop up the old oil spilled in the plastic cowling underneath the oil filter (which left a bit of a mess for me to clean up). Also replaced those naff yellow side repeaters with some modern clear ones, the vauxhall ones are about 1/4 the price of these aftermarket jobbies and are standard parts!
Simon
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SVPworld (incorporating PSRworld)
www.svpworld.com Read more
it took 3 men to change the oil on my omega
One to hold the spanner and two to turn the car maybe?
Back in the 70s & 80s, I had a succession of Renault 12s of various models (7 in total). They were roomy, reliable, comfortable and cheap to run. None of them seemed to have much in the way of a rot problem. Where have they all gone? Has anyone seen one recently? I was reminded of them because I saw an almost new Romanian version (built under licence - they used to be sold as Dacias) in Austria this summer. Read more
I see the Fuego Turbo was blisteringly fast (if it actually went). 60 in 10 secs and a max of 110. Can't imagine what arth shatteringly quick pace the diesel managed!
As a driver who joined the roads late in the 80s, the lasting impression of this car was that it vied for worst car on the road with the Fiat X1/9. Maybe that's just youthfulness speaking.
To be honest, most drivers drive reasonably well but when the majority of my journeys to and from work have at least one "incident" I have to start thinking that there are quite a few selfish and/or incompetant drivers out there.
Here are a few of my pet hates, although the drivers vary in sex and age, in parentheses are the normal violators
1) Those that change lanes without indicating
(company car drivers)
2) Those that speed round roundabouts (strangely enough, MPVs)
3) Those that drive far too slowly for no reason (varies)
4) Those that drive an inch off your rear bumper (vans)
5) Those that speak on mobiles and drive with one hand whilst
wearing sunglasses on overcast days (yep, salesmen)
6) Those selfish gits that wait until the last second before
changing into the filter lane to come off motorways (varies)
7) Those that enter a roundabout in the wrong lane and change
without indicating whilst on it (Salesmen/Company car drivers)
8) Lorries that race each other on motorways, despite the fact
it takes several miles to pass each other. (erm - lorries)
9) Those that drive in spurts and slam their brakes on (small
cars or estates usually)
10)Those that block entire lanes whilst dropping off one child
100 yards from where they live (Landrovers, anyone?)
11)Those whose life will end if they don't weave to and fro
between lanes in heavy traffic to gain an extra 10 yards.
(10 year old GTIs, usually with c*** stickers)
And do you know what the worst thing is? You end up being so annoyed or upset that you have to clamp down on your own feelings to avoid acting the same afterwards!!
Argghhh!!!!
Dan Read more
What really gets me annoyed are these people who think the motorbike behind wants that cigarette ash flicked out of the car window, or worse, the hot dog-end. Then there's the passengers who lob their apple core out of the passenger window, or empty the ash-tray (muffled scream). Fortunately, the driver then washes his windscreen, with the washers that are set for 150mph+ speeds, thus washing the accumulated rubbish off the following bike. Lucky I'm forced to wear a helmet, so it all bounces off :-)
It's the same engine as the mark 2 golf. won't be quite as quick as it is a bit heavier, but it's got a tardis-like boot, quite astonishing. Bet a golf of same age and mileage (56k)would have cost half as much again. I paid 3k for the Seat which is well above book, but it's alot of car for the money. If only the throttle wasn't so stiff...