December 2002
We've all had embarrassing moments whilst driving so what are yours ?
I'll start with these:
Returning from Heathrow Airport a few weeks ago via the m25 at about 5.30 am I found myself in desperate need of a pee. Drove for miles looking for somewhere to stop. Eventually turned off at jcn 4 and soon found a dark patch of road and jumped out of the car. My carriageway seemed deserted so I didn't think to take cover and simply stood by the car and commenced. Blow me down but I was in full flow as a car with main beams on came quickly round the corner (followed by several others) illuminating me for all the world to see.
A couple of years ago one of my brothers arrived at Tesco with his car load of sreaming brats only to find all the 'cars with kids' spaces full, as usual, with cars which clearly had no child seats. Fuming, he eventually saw a guy approach his car and let rip with a torrent of abuse along the lines of 'so where the hell are your effing kids then mate, people like you make me effing sick, you $£%**??@, **&%%43*, @)*&££$ ....'.
The shell-shocked man stopped in his tracks and said timidly - 'they're in the car, I was just returning my trolley ....' Needless to say had a hole in the ground appeared my brother would have jumped into it quick smart ! Read more
Apparently, there are some reports that the C3 has an uncharacteristically hard ride.
A French consumer programme, mentioned in the Citroenian magazine, revealed that the cars leave the factory with their tyres pumped up way over normal pressure, and the dealers don't always remember to let them down again...
Citroen dealers, eh? :-) Read more
As HJ says, I'm sure it's common practice, but presumably only Citroen dealers are lazy/inept enough not to correct it. Perhaps the charitable conclusion is that only Citroen suspension prevents it from being blindingly obvious...
Anyone know the recommended milage for changing the cam belt on an R 1.6 8v and how much it would cost.
Thanks Alan Read more
72k for the 1.7.
Cost, usually about a tenner for the part, 3 hours' labour and recommended two tensioners, say £60.
All in probably about £150-£200, depending on where you go.
an age old subject I know but one that creates debate, I have a 95 Cav 1.8i, 137k, sound car coming up to needing a clutch and cam belt, its doin 37-39 mpg av 350 miles per week, I'm thinking of swapping to a diesel for improved mpg 50+. Had a look at Rover 418 on HJ car by car, not inspiring, anyone got any suggestions, looking at up to £1500 :0(, not alot I know but ideas would be appreciated. Read more
Over 2 years, you'll save £700 in fuel with 48 vs 38 mpg. That's a good saving, but if you factor in the extra depreciation and possibly a dealer's profit margin, you won't see any of it. You sound happy with the Cav overall, so it's hard to see why you should change it. Maybe chop it in for one of the last old shape Vectras in two years time, they should be down to near enough £3k by then.
Not too similar to my previous thread I hope, but after my Pug 104 fiasco (see Nightmare Car Buys). I was extremely diligent in deciding what car to get for my girlfriend.
The cars I looked at were offered to be by people who really thought I had come down in the last shower or by those who genuinely had no idea that they were parting with a death trap.
Exhibits include:-
Renault 5 Mk1 GTL 3 door, where the passenger door pillar had actually com away from the floorpan, making it possible to push the door open by half an inch without actually opening it! Scary or what. Fortunately it could not be driven as the cylinder head was in the boot! Huge sigh of relife there.
Fiat 126 where the boot (at the front) was found to have a flip top facility as the front of the car (on which it was hinged) all but came away from the wings.
A Mini that a daft (not dishonest) aqaintance offered to me. I later bought this for spares. I tried to salvage the front bumper so thought I would simply break the number plate away to make removal easier. The problem is that the front bumper and the valence behind it came away as well leaving a gaping hole under the grille. They must have made that number plate out of titanium!!
Another Renault 5 Mk1. Brand new MOT. Went to look at it and found that the windscreen was cracked, which immediately made me suspicious. One look underneath and I was gad to get out alive. Have to say I was a bit peeved at going out a long way to view it, so was the idiot selling it when I told him what I thought of it!
A so called dealer who had taken a Fiat 127 in P ex and let me drive it with air in the breaks! I'll call you mate.
Any stories where people have been offered the daftest of cars for sale, either due to pure ignorence or worse? Read more
Renault 5 Mk1 GTL 3 door, where the passenger door pillar
had actually com away from the floorpan, making it possible to
push the door open by half an inch without actually opening
it! Scary or what. Fortunately it could not be driven as
the cylinder head was in the boot! Huge sigh of relife
there.
I forgot to expand on this one. After I viewed this car outside a very nice expensive house I might add, I explained in detail to the owner, a fairly well to do professional type, why I thought it should have the car breakers called on it with immediate effect for everyones' safety. I offered to show him why. He was not interested but said he noted my concerns.
The following week I saw his ad in the paper again for the same car. He didn't even recognise my voice when I phoned him again. I did the usual and asked about the car. He explained that it was cheap because the cylinder head needed refitting, just as he had before.
"What work would need doing to the bodywork?" I asked. He assured me that it was sound. "Even though the door pillar has parted company with the floorpan?" I asked. Stunned silence. I assured him that should I ever find out that car had been put on the road, I would report him to the Police for knowingly selling a car that was dangerous.
"Oh yes well, there are lots of rougues out there we all have to be careful these days don't we?" he stammered.
"Closer to you than to me" was my reply.
It's not as if he even needed the money for it!
Is there anyone out there with servicing experience on these USA supplied buggies please ?
Elderly lady has had one of these four wheel electric buggies for 9 years with no problems except for one puncture and a new pair of batteries about 6 months ago. Machine has a pivoted lever on the handlebar for stop/go, fwd/rev and a dial from 0 to 10 to set speed.
Recently, releasing the handlebar lever to slow to a stop, has been replaced by releasing the lever resulting in violent deceleration. Is there a component in the drive system (possibly electrical) which would cause this if it had failed ?
Any input on this would be much appreciated.
Thank you, Pete. petel@clara.co.uk Read more
Sorry to bring this up again, but another worrying (to me) thing has cropped up. (I'm posting this in a new thread as the old one was getting a bit long - hope this is OK!)
After the last saga, I wrote back to the other parties insurer confirming my details and contacted my insurer to sort out the details with them. I've not heard back from her insurer yet, but today she cornered me and again demanded to be told if I was going to pay her insurer or not. As I was getting sick of this by now, I told her that it was none of her business and not to bring it up again as it isn't anything to do with her anymore - it's between me and her insurer. At this, she made a veiled threat that I had better be careful the DVLA don't get involved.
I take this to mean she suspects I'm uninsured and is planning to report this to the DVLA. Now, I know I am insured and her insurer does (should!) but if she decides to be nasty, can this actually cause me any trouble? Would the DVLA do anything anyway? Surely not having insurance would be a police matter and all I'd have to do would be to show them my certificate and the matter would be ended? Is she just making empty threats to get at me, or can she actually make trouble?
Also, is there any way I can get her to stop bothering me over this? Is it worth telling her insurer that she's doing this and ask them to tell her to keep out of it? I don't really see what more I can do at the moment anyway - I'm waiting for further contact from both her and my insurers to tell me what is happening and the cost so I can decide whether to reimburse my insurer or not. I can't see that she will have lost out at all - as far as I know she's only had to fork out for taxis, and I assume her insurer will have reimbursed her for that by now?
Any advice and reassurance would be appreciated! Read more
Not to be unsympathetic, but this was pretty much as predicted. <<
Just my sentiments exactly. It has taken over 150 (some very long) posts in the two threads to get to this point. All for a minor bump up the woman's car's rear!
I don't think I have anything to add beyond the stuff already in the two threads <<
At the risk of prolonging the thread, and knowing that it is not always easy to take good advice, I would suggest to SteveH42 to put a stop on his cheques. Then just wait for the other party to shase him if they want anything from him.
Please Steve, do not reply to this post, - either act on it or just ignore it.
Unfortunate to read that one of the regulars has been caught.
Also, TerryB, the "there but for the Grace of God" remark rings true.
Living in a land where D&D is a commonplace event (yes, even I'm over the limit on occasions) I'll throw in my tuppence worth...
I'm sorry that the young man got nicked, but hopefully he will now be a better driver because of it, and will NEVER DO IT AGAIN!
I wonder how many serial d&d'ers, who never get caught, end up killing folk, whereas the short, sharp shock would stop then doing so for ever.
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I just need to know how long I have to stay on the wagon before my liver clears...........
I have heard one month?
Does anyone have any suggestions as to what would be the best lubricant for an electric aerial. The aerial is running freely at the moment, but I would like to know for when it needs lubricating.
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Thanks for the suggestions. I was concerned that something too 'sticky' would end up attracting dirt which might make things worse. Armitage, light oil seem a good idea.
Many thanks again!
Walked out my office, which is in a traffic-free square, to go to the bank and as I stepped onto the pavement there was a screech and a thud as one of these lycra-clad and helmeted cyclists flew over his handlebars and landed in a heap at my feet.
I did the decent thing: picked his bike up for him, said "I don't suppose you meant to do that" and carried on my way.
Smiling to myself. Read more
Dizzy
No I wouldn't.
As a frequent pedestrian they're all menaces who should be riding in the road (and the Highway Code agrees with me). Luckily I'm not a frail old lady who would probably break a hip if hit by one of these selfish berks and end up dying of shock pneumonia.
As a motorist, I have no trouble in slowing down for correctly lit bikes being ridden in the road until it's safe for me to overtake giving them a safe wide berth.
If everyone did what they ought to, the world would be a better place for all.
God, I'm starting to sound like my father:o)
Terry
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RF
I was on the 124 Chorley - Blackburn. Anyway, as I've said, I no longer sing on buses!
I have worn the full RHS gear, though, on stage in front of 100s of people. It was for a student fundraising thing at university and I was cajoled into playing Frank N Furter. Tell you what, those suspender belts don't half nip!