May 2003
This country is really going towards third world status.
I refer to two articles in the press today, one about an 18 year old, with lots of previous history, knocking down and killing a 14 yr old cyclist - Result £200 fine at £5 a week.
Nutter, driving at 150+ on a dual carrigeway, no one killed, gets a prision sentence.
Can someone please explain this to me? Read more
Received a letter from a company (who I guess I'm not allowed to name and shame sadly) offering me "a rather special opportunity" in the form of a registration mark featuring my initials.
The asking price? "Just £360 plus VAT and the standard £80 DoT transfer fee is all you pay."
A quick check on the DVLA Select Registrations website www.dvla-som.co.uk revealed the same reg available for £250 inc VAT and £80 assignment fee.
I'm tempted to right back to this company and ask what I'm getting for the extra £250+ they are asking... Read more
Changing the subject slightly, SWMBO was once approached in the street by someone claiming to represent one of these companies, offering to buy her semi-desirable cherished plate for cash. Hmmmm. I've heard of other folks having the same experience. They often advertise with flyers under wipers as well.
Plate trading must be a fairly lucrative business. I vaguely recall Quentin Wotsisname doing a piece on 5th Gear about buying and selling at auction.
As Which? came to mind in the reliability threads it started me thinking about some of their old road tests from the 1960s.
I recall they were being down on the Lotus Elan for lack of luggage space and saying a Bentley would be expensive to run!
Other gems included pictures of a Vauxhall Victor 101 demonstrating a serious lack of roll resistance. I think they tested the 1600cc two speed auto version on one occasion...that was some machine!
In the local library they would always have a series of hardback Which? road test compilation books for each year.
Anyone remember these? In fact any interesting ones in the loft you don't want? Be really amusing to read through them again knowing now what we know now of the average 1960s car.
I do have loads of old Autocar/Motor mags but these mostly start around 1971 so the 1960s are poorly represented in my reading matter.
Now if only Chris Watson was still here he'd have them for us in a flash...there was a guy with contacts.
MM Read more
MM, I've got a copy of the first collection from our local library when they sold it off.
I wouldn't want to part with it (sad that I am) but I would be willing to lend it (well, it was a library book) email me direct if interested...
Tim
Looking for a cheap Mondeo in AutoTrader I specified the "over 100k miles" button... and then decided to do a price high/low to see what a two to three year old new shape would be going for.
However, I found one a 98R old shape Verona at a Ford franchise with 130k on it for £5399... what would that make at auction? £1300?
And then I found a LHD specialist dealer doing a 96P 1.6 estate with 192kkm (120k miles) for £4995. On their website, they also had a 97R Xantia with 110k for £5595, a Y plate Fiesta (37k) for £7595 (close to new price!), a 99 Arosa and a 98 Clio, both at £6k and a 175k mile 94 BMW 525 for £5k.
Does anyone buy these cars or is there really such a premium to be paid for having the steering wheel on the wrong side of the road? And do they make low ball offers for the cars when they're in the country on the grounds that there's no market for them? Read more
I know one of the larger LHD dealers and contrary to what many people may think they do not need to price their cars at low prices.They are not competing with people that want to buy a RHD car and there are a surprisingly large No of people that are going to live/stay in a LHD country and would not feel confident buying locally.
There is also a sizeable No of people that are leaving the UK with large amounts of cash that they want to convert to something more materiel and legit for when they get back to their home country.
When they are offered a LHD car they will always offer to buy,but obviously on their terms,no Parkers guide there,thank you very much.
It is a profitable,niche market where a motor trader can earn a reasonable living.
wasnt it? Read more
>> \"you\'ve already sent it\" so I don\'t understand why it still
happens to others on occasion and they don\'t get the warning
message.
I have accidentaly double-posted a couple of times, but not seen any message - maybe it is do with the settings I use in Tools/internet-otions for maximum security to prevent unauthorised actions to my pc from outside sources? I don't really know if that is the case, but I do kow that I rarely get pop-ups from any site. i do not use any pop-up stopper.
I have a P reg rover 214 si and want to know if the radiator out of a 218 diesel will fit. Or any other radiator (Have you seen the price of these things £60++)
I can get almost any other radiator on ebay except the one for a rover 214 Read more
The two radiators you refer to are completely incompatible. The diesel one is more heavy duty and the hose outlets are different. Get a quote from your local Serck radiators- I think you will get one off the shelf for a reasonable price.
These are the views of Robin the Technician with 35 years in the trade. I fix, therefore I am...
Recently seen around Swindon - plate K9 ODG. Was this a dyslexic spotty youth in Halfords or just someone who couldn't get DOG. Any other interseting plates around which don't quite make sense or only mean something to the owner? Read more
Alf - apologies I deleted your note by mistake. I'm afraid I didn't even read it first. Sorry about that.
Discussions about Moderating and/or Moderating decisions are welcomed by e-mail. However, they are not usually suitable for discussion within the Backroom.
I have a 1994 Peugeot 405 1.6i , now all of a sudden the heater blower will not work . When I started the car this morning it was working fine , went into do a bit of shopping , jumped back in the car and its not blowing at all .
I have no idea why its not working , can anyone please help me ? Read more
the motor was brand new
anyone got GB 2003/4 disc
Read more
hi all what is the best oil for an 1997 omega 2.5 V6 auto. runs on lpg Read more
Depends what spec/viscosity the handbook calls up, unless it is a Ford requiring special low viscosity oil most dealers buy oil in bulk with the most common one being 10W40 semi synthetic (such as Esso Ultra/Shell Helix). Read HJs FAQ and increase the oil change interval and all should be well...
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Last year in Gainsborough a driver high on drugs crashed into a bus shelter killing two OAPs and maiming several more in the ensuing bloodbath. He left his car on its roof with his partner's two tiny children hanging upside down from their seat belts (thank heaven for small mercies)and fled the scene. He was a disqualified driver and of course had no insurance. At court he pleaded guilty to manslaughter and was sentenced to 5 years of which he will serve considerably less if he behaves himself.