March 2003
Just posted to a thread entitled Cretinous Bikers and the whole topic had disappeared by the time I hit the button. What happened? Read more
Driving along the A14 from Ipswich to Huntingdon, I noticed that there are large steel storage boxes at every major junction. They look like shipping containers (only shorter), are painted blue, and positioned behind large road signs. What do they contain? I'm sure they have only appeared recently.
Richard Hall
bangernomics.tripod.com Read more
Temporary traffic signs to close off the junction in the event of an accident etc.
hello guys and girls, just a quick question, I have been looking to buy a car from auction but it is quite risky, specially because they dont let you try the cars out. There is only so much you can do by just visually checking the car. I was told an interesting strategy which was never go and buy the first day, go to the SAME auction a few times. This way you can see who are the car dealers who come there. These dealers, seem to somehow know which cars are good and which ones are about to fall to bits, so the best things is to bid on the cars they are interested in and they bid for. Since a dealer will only buy the car to make a good profit, if you are prepared to pay 50-100 more, then you can outbid them easily. For example if there is a car with market price 700, dealer wont bid past 350-400, so if you are prepared to bid little higher than normal, you get the car. Do you agree with this strategy? or is there another way to be as sure as this that you end up with a good car? I am quite scared about buying there because i have heard some nasty storied which (like a mechanic told me guy bought a Mitsubishi 4x4 from an auction, but it had a tractor engine inside it, so they had to get an engine ordered form Japan... and it cost him zillions to fix it). Guys help me out here, what are the trade secrets? cheers - Amin
Read more
i agree with you. i think for my price range, the Auction is too risky, and the Auction car that fall in that bracket are the ones most prone to being dodgy. I went to a BCA auction today, needless to say there were lots of nice cars, however outside my price range by two or three fold. it back to Autotrader then...... (there must be second hand car God somewhere)
Hello,
My G-reg 1.4 340 has been sitting idle for 3 months over winter. I've changed the plugs, leads and distributor bits but the thing remains dead. Flat battery I know but even when jump leads connected it only manages one turn before stopping.
I disconnected one of the volvo battery leads (from the battery terminal), assuming the jump leads may have been trying to charge the volvo battery, but to no avail.
Any advice.
Many thanks
Ollie Read more
Ollie,
I used to have one of these cars - is it dark blue by any chance.
I found that the earth connection from the starter motor snapped off probably because this engine does seem to 'wobble' around on its mountings a bit so after a period of time it gave way.
It probably is the battery but just a thought.
I've just spent the last hour or so looking at various brokers' websites online.
I am male, 24, living in zone 2 SW London, with a 1989 Renault 19 TXE, driving 10,000 miles per year SD&P only. I have one year's NCB, a 7 year old licence and no claims or convictions.
The lowest quote was from Zenitih, through Budget Insurnace Services, at £630.94. Highest was from Axa, at over £1500 - yet they'd insure me for half that through my RAC membership.
It looks like I'm going to go for the Zenith policy. However, I have a problem with claiming my NCD because my insurers, after 11 months, still haven't issued me with a full policy. Nor have I yet had a renewal notice from them. I've been driving by getting 30-day cover notes from the broker who sold me the policy. How can I force them to acknowledge that I bought a policy from them nearly a year ago and have been driving claim free since?
With service like that, I'm not keen to renew the policy but I do need the discount!
Mark RLBS, especially, I'd like your help on this one. Also if anyone can think of an obvious source for even cheaper insurance, I'd appreciate it. Read more
Based on what my insurer has told me.
An advertisement in my local paper took caught my attention recently.It was for BP VISCO 7000 FE 0W30 fully synthetic engine oil £12 for 4 litres.I checked on the BP website and this oil was primarily developed for the extended change intervals with Audi/VW in their motors.
My car a Primera 2.0 SRi uses 10W30 according to the Haynes manual but the handbook gives a range of oils depending on the climate.I use Havoline 5W30 at 5000ml intervals with my mechanic choosing to use Valvoline turbo 10W30 on it's 10000 ml service,
The BP website given the details of my car recommended BP VISCO 7000 0W40.Probably a difficult one to answer but any opinions on the suitablity of the 0W30 oil or should I steer clear of what appears to be a bargain.
Best regards,
Millers57.
Read more
Cyd Nissan specify 10W30 grade so I guess I should be okay to use the 0W30 with probably better protection on cold starts.Thanks to all for your replys.
They are doing a lot of road resurfacing in my area and replacing the surface with that lovely quiet material thats joy to drive on only it's a shame that they adopt a piecemeal system a bit here and a bit there.
Imagine how pleasent a lengthy journey would be if the entire road was surfaced with it.
a
Also I wonder (techy question here) if these road surfaces are easier on the fuel consumption?. Read more
I think the stuff we are talking about is called porous asphalt. Water is indeed intended to drain through the surface rather than off it, so in theory providing more grip. I've read somewhere than the 'pores' in the material tend to clog up with dust, grit, etc and so the advantage is lost. Another reason for using it is that it is much quieter outside the car, with much less tyre roar for local residents. Having once lived about 3 miles from the M4 in an otherwise peaceful rural area, reducing the constant noise in the background would be great.
Following on from the Successful implementation of the Congestion Charge Tax, both Local papers are this week reporting that tolls should be introduced on the A12 to ease congestion.
I wonder if any major roads within the uk have decided, or are considering tolls ? Read more
The Goverment seems to be going with recommendations in the various "multi-modal" studies which have been going on. The first ones recommended the widening of the M6 etc.
The only one in the South East which recommended road tolls was the one for the M25.
The one for the A12 recommended widening it to 3 lanes to Colchester, a new A12/M25 interchange and dualling the A120 all the way to Harwich. I also think it recommended dualling the A120 from Braintree to Colchester. The Government should give their response later in the year.
Took advantage of the sunshine today to polish, and then Autoglym Super Gloss Protection the car.
The question is for future washings, cold/warm water only. with sponge or cloth, or car shampoo - if so which variety ?
In the past I've used (quite) warm water with Turtlegloss shampoo (with wax), however in retrospect this seems to have stripped the existing wax off fairly quickly. I'm hoping that the Autoglym will give some long term protection and want to keep it that way - it was certainly a challenge to polish to a fine shine the entire car - big estate !
Steve Read more
Autoglym may be pricey,but it works.Yesterday I AG polished and super resined my 11 yr old Saab 9000. In a supermarket car park today it looked a treat amongst cars a fraction of it's age.
I have seen some really bad driving in my time but today was the worst yet.
Busy Saturady afternoon. Two lanes of traffic coming up to a roundabout, backed up by about 10 - 15 cars.
A white Vauxhall Nova, which looked like it had crashed into Halfords and all the bits had stuck on, with two lads with baseball caps on back to front and big puffa jackets came up the outside against the opposing traffic.
Realising he wasn\'t going to be let in the driver carried on against the traffic, round the island that seperates both sides of the road and turned left to go the correct way around the roundabout, narrowly avoiding a multi car pile up.
I know this sort of thread has been covered before but I just wanted to get it off my chest.
Thanks
Chris Read more
www.general.monash.edu.au/muarc/fatals/fatals.htm
is one link, other sources are available from the Great Google
Browse
.jpg)
I deleted it.
A similar, equally emotive, one was started recently by (I think) the same author. It caused nothing but trouble and seemed designed to do that.
If it was worth keeping in the backroom, then it should be posted to the other thread - unless I deleted that too, but I don't think I did.
For further backroom queries, please use the e-mail address mailto:moderators@honestjohn.co.uk (this goes to Dave, Martyn and I)
As you might expect, I have locked this thread. Any further comments to the e-mail above please.