I have a Mitsy Shogun 2.8TD 1998 facelift model, its covered 72k and up until today has caused me no probs. The warrenty has not long since expired so on its last service 400 miles ago I thought I would go to an independant garage for the service and save a few bob (I didn\'t though, was still £400!!). All seemed fine but today I was approaching a small roundabout and went to signal right, It appeared to have problems signalling, it felt stiff but it later appeared it just was not coming on. I thought \"right just get round the roundabout with no signal and sort the problem later\". I started steering and straight away noticed the steering was heavy, it was obvious I had lost the power steering, got it off the roundabout, turned the radio off and it became apperent the engine was not running! This explains the loss of inicators and the loss of PST, the gear lever was still in Drive (auto).
I have played about with the car on my drive, cant find a problem now.... any ideas?? Read more

I had a bump three months back:

I was doing a three point turn in a quiet and completely empty road and just as I was completing my manouver (which I rather vexingly find I cannot spell!!) - my hand had gone to the gear stick to change back into 1st - somebody came up behind me and drove into me. My insurers have decreed that it is absolutely my fault because I had been manouvering. I think this is a bit unfair because turning in the road is not illegal and I had taken precautions (checked there was nobody coming and was watching all round (although cannot watch front and back simultaneously!) before starting my manover. He came along and drove into me! I think we was probably keeping an eye on the traffic lights which were somewhat beyond where I was turning.

My insurers maintain that he was driving along normally and had the right to assume that nobody would be in front of him turning (and thus presumably the right to drive into anybody he found doing so!).

I assumed this would be 50/50 as there were no witnesses. There was no damage to my car (ZX) whatsoever, not even a scratch, but the front bumper of his Alpha was cracked. This happened in November, as despite me providing details at the time, his insurers have only contacted mine last Friday, which I think is a bit stange.

Can anybody think of something to say to persuade my insurers that I should not have to cough up? I have protected no claims so all is not gloom and doom, but I think it's a tad unfair and will cost my my excess.

All my mates advised me to lie blatently on the insurance form and claim that I was sitting at the lights when he drove into the back of me as I was staionary. I decided not to so so - some kind of doing the right thing/kharma/paranoia thing - but now they are all saying 'told you so, neh neh neh).

Rather interestingly, a youth of my acquaintance was recently involved in a crash on a traffic light controlled roundabout. He was on the r'bout and passed some lights at green, somebody joining the roundabout also claims she passed the lights at green and as a result he drove into the side of her car and both were written off. In his case of claim and counter claim, that has gone to a 50/50 insurers decision. My insurers say that both were driving along normally therefore blame cannot be apportioned. I think if this is true, then they are saying that if you turn, manouver or even break then it must be YOUR fault if an accident occurs, even if there is no other evidence to go on, as you were doing something that the other driver could not predict.

I would be interested to hear anybody's opinions, even if they are to say 'quite right' because then at least I can feel satisfied with the insurance company's handling of my claim. Read more

I witnessed some suicidally reckless driving on the M25 this morning, literally a whisker away from causing carnage.

As the perpetrator sped from the scene I was left with that old "why are there never any Police watching" feeling.

That set me thinking - has b'roomer ever seen something similar with the glorious result that there actually WAS a copper handy and he or she did do something?

I'd just feel better if I thought they didn't always get away with it Read more

I had a smash in my car well someone went into the back of me we had both just turned right at a cross roads i was just about to turn right again in to a staggared road on the right there was a sign saying no u turn, but technically i was not doing a u turn. Is it still his fault the fact that he hit me?

I have a witness to say he herd him screach round the corner and he saw him hit me, he had enough room to swerve round me. As a result he hit me and spinned me round so in fact i did end up doing a u turn. He says its my fault but i know he must of put his foot down as there was nothing behined me when i started to turn he came out of no where and didnt even make an attempt to turn to miss me.

I would be greatful for any replies Read more

Yes, new series - Tonight. Channel 5, 8:30pm.

Crash testing; where cars are driven into one another while being operated by remote control. Sounds good. Read more