As there were no replies to my previous message regarding the Zafira GSI, I wondered if anyone else either owned one or knew of one or heard of one. As I have just collected mine I would like to know if there is a kindred spirit out there. Apparently only 705 have been registered to date and Vauxhall anticipate around this number to be made yearly. BTW I think it's quite nice ! Read more

I was browsing ebay this lunchtime, and came across an amusing little story....

Someone, 20 years ago, won some money and decided to buy (but not register) a car to keep as an investment. It cost him roughly £4800.

He kept it locked away safely, and now, 20 years later is trying to cash in his profits. It's like new with only 18 miles on the clock.

The only downside was the choice of car......
It was a top of the range Austin Metro, 1.3HLE (white, with orange interior).

The auction runs for another couple of days, and the bidding has reached £1500. I think he'd have been better putting the money under the matress.

Having said that, I can't think of a single car in this price range that would have appreciated over the last 20 years, so I guess you can't win.

Ian
Read more

From our local paper: This happened opposite my office last night....
Commuters were horrified when a Tanzanian man was gunned down in the centre of Cape Town as people made their way home after work on Tuesday.
Police arrested a taxi driver from Democratic Republic of Congo in connection with the shooting of Mwene Lynda, 28, in Adderley Street near Cape Town station.
Captain Jacques Wiese said they also confiscated a pistol belonging to the driver and found four spent cartridges on the ground.
"They were always shouting at each other but their fight got to boiling point," said one commuter.
"We heard shots and minutes later a man was lying on his back with the blood pouring out."
Metro paramedics certified Lynda dead at the scene. He had a bullet wound in his head.

One of my co-workers was about 50 feet away when it happened. What wasn't reported was the angry mob jumping up and down on the Taxi (an old mercedes), kicking in the windows and throwing burning rubbish into it.
Was burning away quite nicely until the Fire Brigade arrived... I didn't realise they went up that quickly! Read more

A visitor to my website just e-mailed me this. I'm really tempted to try it with the Polo when I get home, just to see if it works.

"One time I broke down with a broken fan belt in the Spitfire, in Banbury, on my way back to Solihull, at midnight on a winter's Sunday night. It was a flat bit of road (so I couldn't push start it myself), nobody else around and the engine wouldn't turn over because the battery, which probably was not in its prime of life, had been flattened. I fitted another belt I had floating around in the back, jacked up a rear wheel, put the car in gear and placed my toolbox on the accelerator (as you need to give it a half throttle to start it when it is hot). I then wound an old length of seatbelt-type webbing I had as a tow strap round the circumference of the tyre and pulled it like a lawnmower, being VERY careful not to pull the whole car off the jack. (Images of the thing driving down the road without me - heavy toolbox keeping the throttle open nicely.) After a few over-cautious attempts, the engine started and within half an hour of breaking down I was on the road again with a huge grin of relief and self-satisfaction."

Richard Hall
bangernomics.tripod.com Read more

I have a 2 year old Mercedes A140.

Main dealer has always used a fully synthetic oil (Esso Ultron). New dealer offers a choice of Mobil Super S (Semi) or Mobil 1 (fully)

IIUI Mobil Super S (semi) is the MB recommended oil, but Mobil 1 is also approved for use.

As the car has always used fully synthetic - am I right it thinking that the best choice would be to go with mobil 1?

Read more