I've just got back from a week in Sorrento and thought it might be helpful to post some views and comments. Driving is pretty devil may care with mindless overtaking etc but we didn't see one accident during our stay. That said, 9 out 10 cars have one or more corners damaged and/or scrapes down the sides. Hire cars are very expensive, I can't remember if it was Euros 360 or 460 for a Punto for a week but either would be high! If you hire a car you aren't going to get the benefit of viewing the scenery, if you are driving, and I don't rate your chances of not paying the XS on your CDW, on a week's hire. The trains, ferries and local buses provide a very keenly priced and relaxing alternative to self-drive. Read more

Just done a weekly fluids check on my vehicle (\'95 306 1.9 D turbo) and it looks like a small head gasket failure. There\'s a bit of oil in the water but the oil looks fine (no signs of moisture under the filler cap). Thing is I need to catch a flight from Stansted airport at 630 am tomorrow (sunday) morning and have no option other than to drive. All in this will be a 300 mile round trip. Would any of you still drive the car in this condition or am I risking causing permanent damage? the car\'s already done 135k.
Thanks in advance for your replies. Read more

?Ok, no more numberplates of a *suggestive* nature please.

DD. BR Moderator.?

I?m mindful of the ?official? post on swearing, which I happen to support. It?s good to see that the BR mods uphold some high standards of decency, and I for one wouldn?t want to visit, let alone contribute to, a site where low life run riot with language dredged from sewer sludge.

But I do think that sometimes the censorship and advice policy is just a bit Victorian. The admonishment above was in response to a post in another thread that referred to humorous number plate that, with a touch of imagination, suggested a word beginning with B and ending with KS meaning a couple of items of male tackle.

Come on mods, this is hardly a descent to the depths of depravity. And nor need it be the start of a slippery slope. Use words one would use in front of Mum? Well mine, at close on 90, doesn?t bat an eyelid at the odd mild swear word, even though she never uses them herself. And you can hear the A, B, C, P and S words on Radio 4 at 6.30 ? not that I?d like to see them all over the BR.

So why not lighten up a little, mods? Nothing wrong, surely, with the odd use of carp or something humorously abusive when emotion runs high, especially when there?s a twinkle in the contributor?s eye.

Of course, you can tell me ?If you don?t like it, you can go away promptly?, but this censoriousness seems to me both a tad frustrating and comical. Move closer to 21st Century Britain (but not all the way)?
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How much would a 1997 P Audi A4 TDi (110), 90k miles, 2 owners, FSH, in red with alloys, fetch privately?

Ta! Read more

Over the last thousand or so miles my Rover 414 (96N) has developed a high pitched intermittant squeaking noise from the drivers side front. It happens at all speeds, sounds like the brake pads are just touching the disk and comes and goes as the car corners or goes over bumps. I can make it stop by lightly applying the brakes but it comes back again after braking. Just before I bought the car in late Feb it was MOTed by the supplying garage who said they had replaced the front brakes (and a rear wheel cylinder) to get it through the MOT. The car stops in a straight line and Ive never had the brakes on it fade although theyve never felt particularly sharp. Drawing from my experience with hydraulic disc brakes on decent mountain bikes, Id say the pads arent set up correctly and /or the system needs bleeding. Also, if the disc on this wheel is almost constantly being rubbed by the pads, wont this glaze them and render them less effective? What say you car mechanics?!?
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