January 2004
Cloned number plate or dislexic warden?
I got back to the UK after Christmas in Oostende to find a letter from the Lothian & Boarders Police (Central Ticket Branch) informing me that as I had not paid the Fixed Penalty Notice (FPN) for parking in a no waiting zone in Bathgate (near Livingston) on the 20/11/03 I had to pay by 16th Jan or risk court action.
Thing is, the car was parked up (all day) outside the office where I work in Blackburn (Lancashire, not the Blackburn which is 5 miles from Batgate!) with me at my desk all day.
I have sent a statement to the ticket office disputing the FPN and am waiting for a responce from them.
I really do not need the hassle and bother of fighting this through the courts or by arbitration. Why can't the warden who issued the ticket not only record the number plate but also the VIN & or Tax disk info to ensure accuracy. I am convinced they have transposed digits (a common form of mild dislexia which I also suffer from).
Any advice would be greatfully recieved.
PS. I did not lend the car to anyone for them to drive 500 miles to Bathgate and back in the afternoon.
John R Read more
I've read the archives. Personally:
Love it. Only thing that keeps my front screen clear as the 20 year old windscreen wiper motor is distinctly sticky.
Drizzle in the dark making it difficult? Turn those wiper blades off.
Side & back windows - a dream.
Long lasting - lasts forever. 6 months since I applied it, 5k miles, car lives outside.
I was very careful to clean & dry the screen first before applying it. Made an exception and used fairly concentrated washing up liquid on the screen. Never get any 'wash 'n' wax' type car shampoo near the screen.
Miss it on my 'new' car. Going to put it on as soon as it's dry one day. Read more
I once had an old van with wipers that would just about make it across the screen. Just before an Mot I gave the screen a coat of Auto Glym car polish . Not window polish , the wipers slid across the screen masking any problem. I never found any problem with this bodge I simply gave the screen another coat whenever the wipers began to judder and slow down. Ive never felt the need to do this on any other car but this van was just being run into the ground. I thought that since the bodywork was always smooth and streak free why shouldn`t I be able to use this on glass. I expect I am just about to find out why.
Hi there, I\'m new to this site and have a question. I now want to buy either one of the above. I\'m particularly keen on the BM as it\'s rear wheel drive, coupe body, holds it\'s value well and is a real driver\'s car. The Jag is not as pretty, has too much Mondeo in it but is much cheaper. I\'m looking at buying a 2002 model with a manual gearbox. Has anyone driven / owned both models and or can give me some advice?
Thanks Buzz
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If you are thinking of running costs and retained value, it really has to be the 330Ci sport.
My son runs one, and at a motorway cruise of 80 mph, he is getting 33 m.p.g., which is excellent for a 3 litre car with 0 - 60 mph time of 6.5 secs. IMHO it is obviously a young person`s car, as the ride on 18" low profiles, is far too hard for a wrinkly like myself.
A friend is running a brand new 2.5 V6 Jaguar X type and is not impressed at all by the fuel economy of only 23 mpg, so much so that he is now looking to sell it, but will have to take a hefty loss in depreciation after only 9 months. The ride comfort on the Jag however is vastly superior to the Beemer.
www.national.co.uk/main/offers.asp?offer=halfMOT%2...p
Not all branches, but a lot of them. Print out the 'voucher' and take it with you. Runs until 31st March.
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You also get good offers through Tesco Clubcard - i had the wife's Almera serviced and mot'd for £100 on producing a voucher, rather than i think £140 otherwise. Plus you get Clubcard points, which is nice (if you shop at Tescos's)
I see that a German professor at Cologne Tecnical College has developed a new thermal jacket for a car`s engine, that is claimed to save 5% fuel even during the summer months, apart from the obvious benefit of quieter running.
It seems one of the prestige German manufacturers will be the first to fit this option. Read more
Hi
There was a big publication on this in the late October 2003 issue of The Engineer magazine............
www.e4engineering.com/item.asp?ch=e4e_automotive&t...7
Still haven\'t got used to a diesel engine (1.9 TD).
In cold weather, and when the engine is cold; the turbo has great pick up (primarily in 1st and 2nd; less noticable as gear go up; not felt in 5th) and the car feels like a rocketship (well, how I would expect a one and a half ton barge to shift anyway). The turbo also makes an audiable whistle, bit like a kettle; not deafening though. (again, only 1st and 2nd)
In warmer weather, and when the engine has warmed up; the whistle is rarely heard and the car seems alot slower (but not all warm days); though I haven\'t done any scientific testing.
Is this just down to the temperature of the air, or should I always hear the turbo whistle, or never? Or is this just normal?
Its just the difference between whistley turbo days and non-whistley turbo days feels immense.... and I figured you\'d feel it kick in in all gears, not just 1st and 2nd... Doesn;t wheelspin in 2nd in the wet any more either; though I have put new tyres on it...
Is it me (probably)? Read more
Does the waste gate act in an on/off fashion is is it gradual with increasing pressure?
Is it possible I'm just used to under-performing turbo?
ie. Could my wastegate not be closing off fully, giving some benefit from the turbo, but not all the benefit?
Would a boost gauge help in troubleshooting?
What sort of repair bill would I be looking at if it was the wastegate; is it a do-it-yourself repair? (e.g. a can of WD40!)
W reg rover 25 1.4 si Starts ok hot or cold. When moving off engine hesitates when cold then runs ok . Only happens when cold. Have changed spark plugs. Any answers please?
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Adam Thanks for reply. Also been told about coolant temp sensor and will look at this soon and let you know progress. Rover dealer about as usefull as chocalate teapot!! Will sensor be near thermostat housing or thereabouts? Cheers
Just seen an ad on ebay for a 5 digit 'cherished' numberplate. The owner's come up with a truly original and intriguing USP - apparently the number is.....
..... unique!
Anyone come across any other obvious or just plain stupid motoring related sales literature ? Read more
I can stop this thread dead in its tracks with the most inane numberplate ever seen on the face of the earth.
I am a tax professional and there is believe it or not a weekly magazine called Taxation.
About 12 years ago an advert appeared along the following lines:
'Show your clients you are not AFRAID of tax by owning this cherished numberplate Hi 2 Tax. A once in a lifetime oppertunity for only £5,000.'
What had happened in the early days of being able to request a particular registration from DVLA someone had actually sat down and thought this through and ordered H12 TAX.
Whether anyone bought it I do not know but I suspect not.
This is more out of curiosity than need ...
Are the HID xenon bulbs universal or do you have to buy specific bulbs from the vehicle dealership?
I heard that these can be quite expensive, so where can you buy them if not from a dealership? I've not seen them in Halfords or similar. Read more
\"Why should washers be necessary in this case but not with a conventional installation?\"
Dirt diffuses the light and causes it to scatter, this means when a car with dirty lights pulls up behind you, it lights up the whole inside of your car, not sure if it can cause dazzling too. As HID produces three times the lumens, I suppose they deemed it more neccessary.
Greaser, you may find this article of interest......
www.dirtperminute.com/publications/wdtgcf/wdtgcf.p...f
Where Does the Glare Come From?
A Comprehensive Discussion of Seeing and Glarein the Nighttime Roadway Environment
At point of retail is aircon considered a must for the average buyer and does it get included as standard in the UK?? Read more
It demists windows in seconds, even from cold - a real boon without having to wait for the engine to warm up.
On a hot day in summer you can sit in comfort without having to open a window and get deafened by wind roar or open the sunroof and get scorched by the sun (that gives me a headache and I'm not terribly keen on skin cancer either).
Aircon gets my vote.
Browse
Headline NEWS... (update)
Backroomer John R :¬) is INNOCENT of parking offence.
"I always new the truth would prevail" says John R.
A letter arrived yesterday from L & B Police, explaining that the issuing officer had noted the wrong registration number. They also apologised for "any inconvinience caused...".
Relief all round...
John R