November 2002
From the Cape Argus:
Cape Town's longest limousine faces the chop in a tug of war between police and insurers - and "part-owner" Nick Ball is caught in the middle.
Police have established that the front and back sections were from a stolen Mercedes - bought in good faith - and only the middle belongs to Ball.
The insurer of the Mercedes, SA-Eagle, says Ball is welcome to have its bits for R10 000.
But police are refusing to budge as the 7,7m monster gathers dust in the Stikland vehicle pound.
After the theft in 1995, the owner submitted an insurance claim and was paid out. SA-Eagle assumed legal ownership.
Police are refusing to let the limo go to Ball or the insurers because, they say, it is impossible for two people to own different parts of a single vehicle and they want the courts to sort it out.
The frustrated SA-Eagle official said: "If they cut the car in half and return us the front and back, are they really going to give Mr Ball the middle?"
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A lot of posts both here and in technical mention "chipping" a car - which I take to mean having the engine management altered to increase performance.
What are the implications beyond getting more speed and less mpg?
Surely it would invalidate any warranties or insurance. Also, I presume the set up needs careful adjustment and maybe shocks, brakes and even wheels and tyres might need uprating.
It sounds a pretty dangerous way to get more performance when compared with buying one that's already up to the job.
Is it legal?
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Hi,
Could you give me the details of this company please?? A web search for AMD throws up the 'other' well known AMD chip company!
Ta
I'm thinking of buying a new car (not sure which one yet) and would
like to import one from Belgium/Holland. I know I will be able to order a RHD
car but it may take a while for delivery. I don't mind sitting on
the wrong side of the car when driving so I'm thinking of importing
a left hooker. Can anyone think of any benefits or drawbacks to this
hare brained idea?
Chris
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About 15 years ago i bought a 9 month old BMW 535 from local company that i bought all of the cars from.They had inherited this car with a German company that they had bought and of course it being a left hooker and on German plates none of the fleet users wanted to drive it.Well i bought it for, at the time a very,very cheap price,it was great,you could drive as fast as you wanted,park anywhere without any problems at all.Driving LHD is no problem,and if you want a new LHD car in Europe especially a BMW or Mercedes you can 'save'a big chunk of money.If you keep it a long time the depreciation factor is not so serious and you can allways sell them in the UK privately or sell it to a LHD specialist.I sold mine to The LHD Place in Basingstoke.A lot of new cars i think can have the lights changed on the car by adjusters under the bonnet,and you can fit a speedo converter chip to change the KPH to MPH for usually less than £100.I dont know the figures for buying a brand new BMW/Mercedes LHD but i guess somebody will tell us,better chance of a discount as well probably.
Hi,
I've been offered a brand new Xsara Coupe HDi for £9,600 and wondered if its a good deal? Its fully loaded - Air-con, 6 CD, Cruise Control (I think), alloys etc.
I've been told that it has an 80bhp engine, although when I checked on the Citroen site, it indicates that it has the Peugeot 110bhp engine. Can anyone confirm the existence of a 1.9HDi 80bhp and also let me know you rate the 110bhp?
Thanks,
James Read more
The 1.8 and 2.0 TDCi engines are Ford's own, although the 1.4 in the Fiesta is actually the HDi unit from the C3/206/307. It's not a bad engine and in the Focus it really flies.
Yes, you buy a car because it's something that you want, but depreciation should be a major factor in any purchase. It's the true price, and if your car depreciates less, it might mean the difference between being able to get the car you really want next time and being stuck with another comparative dullmobile.
The Focus will hold its value better than a Xsara, but then so does open mayonnaise on a warm summer's day. It's not quite up there with a Golf, 307 or Corolla, but then it's likely to be cheaper, it's stylish and it handles well. Yes, it's common, but you still can't get a decent three year old for much under £6k retail. Considering they're only just over £9k new, that's seriously good. New ones won't match that, but should give a pretty good account of themselves.
The Ibiza TDi in Motorpoint, if it's UK spec, should be at least as strong as the Focus. It's got the torquey VW engine, plenty of performance, and a great image. If it keeps up with the Leon Cupra, it'll be nearly 60% of new price at 3 years/60k.
I have recently bought a 1.0L GS Toyota Yaris with 19000 miles. It has a gearbox whine at around 50mph, which has been reported by other users of this site before. Toyota had this car for 3 days to fit a modified part, but the car was handed back to me with the same fault. Has anyone had a successful outcome with this problem. Read more
The whine is heard more in 4th and 5th at around 45-50mph, but can be heard to a lesser degree in 2nd and 3rd. So it seems to be something common to all gears.
"Toad, I shall remember the comment "Burn them!" for quite a while. Never let it be said that your comments are without impact on others - it had an impact on me."
Relax KB. It was an attempt at being funny. As for impact I don't think you should lose sleep over the stated opinions someone who calls himself TOTH!
I was thinking in a John Cleese/Monty Python sense of hysterical cries to burn witches I thought this was funny/ironic since firemen spend their lives putting out fires. I would have thought that you could tell from my other posts that this was a more likely interpretation than a genuine desire to set fire to firemen. On reflection of course I realise that while my first mental image on the words 'Burn them!' are a load of comedy peasants threatening to burn the bird out of Fawlty Towers someone in the fire service the words will have much more harrowing connotations.
As for the strong opinions earlier in the post, you'll find numerous cases of Toad expressing strong and extreme views to generate some debate/flaming/whatever.
So, I think you may have been a bit over sensitive, but I do apologise 100 per cent for what was, in hindsight, a pretty thoughtless comment.
P.S. Mark, I think that was a case of good moderating.
--
These are my own opinions, and not necessarily those of all Toads. Read more
Toad,
"So, I think you may have been a bit over sensitive, but I do apologise 100 per cent for what was, in hindsight, a pretty thoughtless comment".
Irrespective of whether or not I was over sensitive, I acknowledge your apologies. I continue to note the weight of opinion currently being lodged against the firefighters themslves as well as the FBU and further note the efforts being made by the authorities to exercise influence as well as the majority of the press who also feel similarly. Having gone through the last nine week strike in 77/78 (which resulted in the settlement which has prevailed for the last 25 years), I know how I'd be feeling right now - and it's not a pleasant feeling. Yes I'm glad to be gone but deeply regret the position currently prevailing and, like everyone else, hope for an early resolution - but certain in the knowledge that things are, most definitely, going to change.
KB.
Speeding (mostly excl cameras) V is now closed.
For the continued discussions around the subject of speeding please see Speeding (mostly excl cameras) VI, which can be found here:-
www.honestjohn.co.uk/forum/post/index.htm?t=10359&...f
Older versions will not be deleted, so there is no need to repost any old stuff.
Mark (RLBS)
Moderator at Work
mailto:mark_moderator@honestjohn.co.uk Read more
No eympathy from here.
Please explain what is wrong with accelerating firmly AFTER the NSL
sign.
I see your point completely Trevor and I am not arguing with it. But do you not agree though that it is not a particularly useful place for the Police to be checking speeds? Their time would be better spent somewhere built up or round a school rather than simply where they're more likely to catch people or they can increase their revenues.
I am not that keen on having a non-motoring topic here. I am particularly not keen on having one so emotionally charged and potentially full of political argument.
However, clearly it is important to people and it does have ramifications for all of us, including within our motoring lives.
Given that, and given that the original thread is now an unmanageable 100 posts, here is volume 2.
However, I give you fair warning, if it does develop into a slanging match, or it becomes too difficult for this forum, IMHO of course, I shall remove it again.
Mark (RLBS)
Moderator at Work
mailto:mark_moderator@honestjohn.co.uk Read more
BJ
I disagree.
Definately an abnormal load?
DVD
Any tips on what to use/not use when cleaning a modern fabric type convertible hood, rather than the 'vinyl' type?
I normally wash cars by hand with the proper dose of Turtlewax in the water (£6 for 5 litres at Makro at the moment bt the way).
PB. Read more
Autoglym markets something exactly for that.
Anyone got any tips on buying a Eunos for use in the UK? And how are they for insurance? Read more
You cannot beat the little Mazda,whatever badge it has on it,MX5,Miata,or Eunos Roadster.
Words of wisdom indeed. Don't get too caught up in the hype about Japanese or UK spec. Try at least one of each within your price range from a dealer. If you're nervous about buying, the dealer is the best way to go. It's not that easy to go wrong because the cars just don't.
There have been some helpful tips posted about what to look for, but these are as basic as pop-up headlights/aircon working (if applicable), accident damage & hood condition.
If buying from a dealer some history of care is good. if you're buying privately and the car hasn't been pampered, walk away. There are 250,000 to chose from!
Browse
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Whats the name of the police man holding it up? Van de Merver!
Bill