October 2002
I gather this is due to virtually stop for the "normal" man because the fags allowance has risen from 800 to 3200 per trip.
So what is the price comparison between the cost of a packet of 20 tax free in France and over the counter here?
MM Read more
I've put 17" alloys on my Cavalier V6 10 days ago and just recently I've noticed a loud thumping noise coming from the rear of the car. At 40mph it is bearable, but anything above 50mph and I want to get out! Have I killed the wheel bearings by putting the alloys on or is there some other fault? Read more
After they changed my rear brake discs, they only tightened
the locking wheel nut.
Or maybe some toe rag tried to nick your alloys, and either got disturbed or couldn't undo the locking wheel nut!!
I would suggest you check the wheel for damage. The bolt tapers might have been damaged where the wheel was flapping about.
I see tommorows meeting of the formula top brass is going ahead.
We've all heard the 9 point plan put forward by Max Mosley.
Should it be implemented ?
What would you do to improve the entertainment ?
Personally i dislike the success ballast idea.It goes against any concept of fair competition.
Driver swapping would be good to see but would not appeal to serious F1 fans - too gimmicky.
Its the changes to the cars technology which would improve the closeness of the racing. Having controlled brakes/electronics/tyres e.t.c.
Removing auto gearboxes/traction control would mean more driver input.
One important area to address is the difficulty of overtaking.Ridiculous short braking areas combined with aerodynamic disturbance when following a car closely means overtaking is rare.-Remove carbon brakes/massively reduce aerodynamic effiency.
This has not been suggested but should be considered:
A maximum BHP limit. Would give Minardi/Jaguar e.t.c a chance to compete with top runners.
Last of all but probably most important -use circuits which suit F1. Drop Magny-Cours for Paul Ricard, use the Indy oval not the infield circuit, Nordschliffe (dreaming now).....
Will be interesting to see what the outcome is. I think Bernie has finally realised F1 needs some radical changes, soon.
Read more
Agreed Tomo !
Why not bring back slick tyres ?
Those grooved tyres look daft on a F1 car especially when lower formulas use slicks.
One good reason for going back to turbo's would be the ease of regulating engine boost. A Pop-off valve could be fitted too each car which is set by the race organisers. This has worked successfully in CART for several years.
I have a 1989 Renault 19 that's up for an MoT next week, and although I don't think there's anything wrong with it, there's always the possibility it will fail because of something I can't foresee, e.g., suspension components. I'm willing to spend up to £300 to make it perfect, but any more, and it'll get scrapped.
With that in mind, given that I don't have the time to nurse another banger, what should I get? I'm willing to spend up to £4k. Priorities are space, low insurance, manouverability, and fuel economy, although lots of toys and a bit of performance would be nice. Age isn't as important. I don't want anything larger than 1.8 litres (petrol) or 2.0 (diesel). Not particularly keen on superminis, definitely no people carriers, and Mondeo/Passat size is larger than I need, although I wouldn't necessarily mind that.
What are your suggestions? Read more
1996 Mark 1 Mondeo 2.0 Don't know whether it was corrected for Mark 2 models but it sounds likely.
Not seen it before so was interested to see two cameras about 1 foot apart on stand. Small van with occupant looking asleep as portable PC seemed to be recording all the numbers. Large notice beside van stating it was looking for Car Tax evaders. I thought this car checking was automated now but guess cheaper to use man with a van on temporary sites. Read more
Hammer the so-and-sos. I pay, why shouldn't everyone?
Can anyone explain why max torque occurs at q low revs and max BHP at q high revs?
As torque is turning force and BHP is used to turn the wheels, what is torque?
BHP {or kW as sometimes now quoted} is power, the ability to do work.
What then is the deffinition of torque in an engine?
Why do diesel engines generally have more torque {caravanners favourite stastic} but less BHP?
Paul {Forest of Bowland} Read more
Ha.......wait until Toad builds his Merlin............
I have £5000 to spend on a car which would be the best diesel to buy out of the two & what year should i get for the money. Read more
I had a Diesel Mondeo as a company car and I agree the old diesel was very poor.
If you buy one just check the timing belt has been changed as mine was gone two days when it was changed, with presumably an appropriate bill to go with it.
The current TDCi is a different matter altogether but not yet at £5k.
Mutley
If anybody has one of these, could you please tell me where the redline is set.
Not what the car revs to or where the limiter comes in but where it actually is on the dash.
Thanks Read more
My VTEC DOHC 1.8 VTI Civic redlines at 8,000 rpm proper.
I didn't think that 106 GTI engine could match this.
Could someone please answer a question. I was dealing with a road accident today and faced the usual problem. I spend three quarters of my time dealing with motorists who manage to bypass accident signs, swerve past cones (including driving on the pavement), avoid ambulances/police cars/fire engines and then aim directly for me.
Now I know I'm wearing high viz clothing. The car has battenburg markings. The 360 blues are on. The cones are bright yellow,
Do these items suddenly become invisible when they are taken out of the boot of my car. The chief culprits are old women (no surprise there) and middle aged business men. One 'gent' even threatened to report me because I took exception to him driving on the pavement, (after getting out of his car to move a cone) and then almost running over a paramedic who was knelt ddown dealing with a casualty.
Oh well.Only four more days and nights till my next days off.
MLC Read more
I notice a couple of comments along the lines of wishing there were more resources available to get police out there catchign dangerous drivers instead of relying on cameras.
I spent some time with the local traffic department a few months back, and one of their resource problems was that they were used as a free recovery service by people who broke down on the motorway. Apparently they had to organise to get a local contractor to tow the vehicle off the motorway, but often had to go out and ensure the safety of the vehicle in question by parking behind it on the hard shoulder until the tow arrived.
They were already stretched, trying to cover miles of motorway and major roads with 4 units (down to 3 at the time due to illness).
Shouldn't it be compulsory to have basic recovery on every car, e.g. as part of insurance?
Whilst I waited in line to pay for my lunch at the local Tesco filling Station, noticed their printed price list which listed the full range of options at the auto car wash. In large, bold, letters at the bottom of the list was the following "Please Do Not Wash Your Renault Megan Here" Maybe I should have asked the attendant...any ideas anyone ? Read more
The wax that they use in the washes is multicoloured
Or was it originally a plain neutral colour? Maybe the reason it was multicoloured was because it had been recycled many times over :o)
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Micky,
The UK is currently completely in the EU.
It is our own Government which is maintaining the barriers to free trade by persisting in tax policies at complete variance with the other members.
We waste billions on the cost of enforcing our own restrictive practices at our borders: all totally non-productive.
My own opinion, based on purely financial grounds, is that we should quit the EU, they need us more than we need them.