June 2003
Saw an interesting little chase this afternoon, a Pug 206 (maybe a GTi, maybe just a nicely modded one) Overtook me in a densely populated main street with schoolkids etc. I was doing 30 and he shot past, nipped back in before hitting a pedestrian island, and then turned left on a red light. I thought just an isolated case of idiocy and sat at the red light... About 20 seconds later, a black Seat Leon came up behind, pulled around me and turned left on the red before blasting off up the road after the Pug.
The Seat was an un-modded non-sports model with a woman in her 30s at the wheel and a bloke about the same age in the passenger seat. So not your typical boy racer couple. I'd love to know what it was about, whether they were both in an urgent hurry to get to the same destination, or whether she was chasing him. Don't suppose I'll ever know.
Then, when I was trying to make my way across the Queen Alex bridge, I saw a case of typical arrogant driving, everyone has to queue in the left to go along the road leading to the bridge, when it's a bit busy, this queue often stretches across a roundabout. A woman in a VW Passat didn't feel the need to queue so she went in the empty right lane and then edged along trying to push in to the left lane at the exit of the roundabout, I nudged right up to the car in front, the 206 behind me did the same, as did the car behind them, the lorry behind that, the buys behind that, and I think another car or two behind. Anyway, she ended up joining about 7 cars back, after sitting stuck like an idiot in the roundabout exit. The 206 behind me actually cheered and gave a thumbs up to the cars behind out of his window.
So nice to see arrogance rewarded. A truly refreshing change. :-)
Blue Read more
I've a '98 306 1.9LD with 52k miles.
I've had a very strange problem which has happened twice now in a week (and never before).
I turn the ignition, and it's completely dead (no clock, no internal light). I try again (possibly a number of times), and eventually everything springs to life - the speedo and rev counter shoot to the red line, and the mileage LED lights up all digits. The dash will then return to normal, and if I'm lucky it'll start as normal. There's nothing intermittent, it's either working or it isn't. Sometimes the first stage of ignition will be OK, and then everything will go dead on the second stage. I guess it's a main power feed somewhere, but I'm not sure where to look first.
Thanks,
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A neighbour of mine once asked me to look at his car when it suddenly "fell dead".I suspected that the battrey was shot, but as it wasn't mine, before I splashed out some of his hard earned,I thought I'd better check by giving it a resistance check with the local garage. To my astonishment, the battrey was in perfect condition. All it required was a good clean of the terminal posts and all was sorted.
Reggie
Hi Guys
I'm hoping someone here will know the answer to this question:
Does a car/van which is stored off the public highway but in a public/communal area need to have 3rd party insurance?
Thanks in advance for any help
CF Read more
Unfortunately it's in an area that although is communal is not adopted by the council. Would they still be interested?
Twice in the past week I have joined the motorway to find that lane 3 is coned off, but there have been no warnings on the slip road.
First time was last wednesday, at 2230 ish, joining the M60 anticlockwise from the M61. Second time was about 1400 on Sunday, joining the M61 West bound at j5.
It struck me, especially during the dusk on Wednesday, that the lack of warning on the slip was dangerous. Is there no requirement for any warning notices on the slip roads? Read more
Does anyone know, other than from Suzuki, where I can obtain a technical handbook for the Swift? Haynes don\'t do one. Thanks.
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There are loads of Suzuki handbooks on E bay but regrettably they are all for motorbikes! As a matter of interest why would you want a Suzuki handbook but not want to go to a dealer to get it? They are the logical source of such a thing; to them it just a part with a reference number and they will supply it if it exists.
Just seen this article on the bbc:
news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/west_yorkshire/2997426...m
I had a look on the company's website and these little motors can be leased for £4500 + VAT for 3 years. As they are electric there seems to be no road tax and exemption from congestion charging.
www.goingreen.co.uk./?pg=brochure_govt gives a list of the taxes (or lack of them) incurred.
I know electric vehicles aren't strictly zero emissions but a greater adoption of these cars could reduce local pollution levels as well as allow people the freedom to use their cars without so much guilt.
teabelly Read more
Means that although biodiesel produces particulates (albeit far fewer than derv), they are not carcinogenic. EPA researched this. It also produces no sulphur dioxide, far less carbon monoxide (more oxygen in the fuel leads to more complete combustion), less CO2 at the tailpipe and far less net CO2 in the air - as it's a vegetable-derived fuel, it only releases CO2 that the plants had already absorbed, so the reduced tailpipe emissions are consequently of secondary importance in any case. Most research points to a reduction in NOx as well, while the one dissenting piece has been called into question for failing to apply appropriate combustion conditions.
If the agricultural structure was put in place for farmers to grow rape for fuel and cattle feed on just one third of available land, then the UK could reduce its dependency on imported oil by 630 billion litres of fossil fuel per annum - which is nice. This does not take into consideration the kind of fuel I use, which is made from recycled waste cooking oil. How many restaurants, canteens, chippies up and down the land are disposing of a waste product every week which (due to BSE) can no longer be recycled as cattle feed?
It seems to me that growing our own fuel for use in engines without the need for massive technological alteration, and without having to install a new distribution network/equipment (as with LPG) is a reasonable logical step. Tell your MP, MEP, council, etc!
andymc
Can any tell me why more diesels are not fitted with automatic gearboxs. To me it makes sence, especilly with older, limited rev. range engines. thanks
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I agree with Dude, petrol engines over 2 litres or smaller ones with a turbo boost (preferably in the lower rev range) makes a huge difference.
If the match is right the auto spends most of it's time in the gear that you would choose to be in. The changes are effortless and smooth. If the engine isn't up to it then everything goes clunky and it spends most of the time labouring or revving it's guts out.
A friend had an auto 1.6 Astra - complete gutless nightmare of a ride.
I can't speak for diesel as I have no interest in it. But those who have speak of low end torque so maybe it's a different proposition.
Just heard on the local radio news, here in Bolton, that there is a lorry loaded with sex toys on fire on the M6, and that fake breasts, whips and wigs are floating across the carriageway.
Could you make it up? Read more
Auction of all the F! Arrows team kit, tool kits, CNC machines, cars, the lot today on www.dovebid.com/default.asp?bhcp=1 if your interested.
Hi Honey I'm home! By the way I've bought a new car..... and all I need is a laptop to start it ;O) Read more
Sato's Jordan tub sold for £15K last week. (the one which which was T-boned by Heidfeld,Austria 2002).
Would make track days a little more fun ;-)
Every time we have test-driven a car, the salesman has said "See you in a few minutes"! When we have returned an hour later he is invariably standing on the pavement looking worriedly up and down the road. How do they expect you to get a good idea about a car in a "few" minutes? We find that an hour is about ok as it gives you the chance to try various different road conditions (town centre, country lane) in addition to flogging it up the motorway a bit at 90 and slamming on the brakes to see if it stays straight! We did find one dealer who was prepared to lend us his own Ford Galaxy for the weekend to see if we liked it (we didn't, much!). But most seem to think 10 minutes is quite sufficient. Is this in case we do actually find something wrong?
Al.
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Everything I know about cars you could write on the back of a bacterium. Read more
Oh and I didn't bother testing the headlights as it wasn't dark and I wouldn't have noticed if they'd been yellow like the fogs on my 1989 R19...
Browse
Oops, pressed wrong button!
A few years ago I was slightly tailgated by a BMW driver on the M20 near Dover. 2 weeks later, the same car ran into the back of me in Rome. 3 months later, I checked into a hotel in Perth, Western Australia - guess who the manager was?