September 2004
I've extracted this from an old thread, about which I forgotten until something prompted me this morning. The habit seems to be getting worse.
RJ: "My current puzzle is why so many drivers don't think it worth indicating when they cross the centre line to pass parked cars, cyclists, etc. It would be more than a little mutually beneficial to know in advance that oncoming traffic needs to share the carriageway on which you're driving."
Teabelly: "I deliberately don't indicate when doing such a manoeuvre with parked vehicles as can confuse other road users. They think you are about to turn right rather than going round parked cars. When faced with other cars doing the same and they start to move over I make sure I am as far left as practicable so they fit in. You don't have to use an indicator to make your intentions clear when passing parked cars as moving out to the crown of the road in good time gives that message better than an indicator and is less confusing, particularly if there is someone waiting to turn out into the road in a nearby junction. They could think that indicator meant the person was turning off not just passing parked cars and pull out in front of them. If I have to stop then I'll stick on my indicator or some numpty will barge passed as they have not realised I am waiting for a gap to go round the parked car in front.
Indicating when passing a cyclist depends on the width of the road, whether there are junctions and whether there is oncoming traffic and to some extent whether I remember!"
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I'm surprised by Teabelly's response, but perhaps others may agree with it. I still think that crossing into the oncoming carriageway is, in effect, overtaking, and it is quite clear that we should always signal when overtaking, which is one of the most dangerous of all road manoeuvres. I think oncoming drivers won't expect you to turn right unless you are clearly slowing down. And, when all is said and done, isn't defaulting to signalling a sensible habit? I am reminded of a recent report on this board of someone who signalled only when he thought someone else was watching him -- duh? Read more
Has anybody noticed that lots of recent yellow rear numberplates have started developing black stain like marks on them? Is it poor quality manufacture or some terrible disease. It really spoils the look of the back of a new car. Read more
Has anyone noticed rear plates that are orangy-red? I'm seeing more
of these as well. What's that all about?
I think it's just that they still have the red protective film on the front.
Has anyone ever come accross a vehicle that require a new steering column do to excessive wear in the column?
If so which vehicle was it, and at what mileage? Read more
Had to replace mine on a '93 corsa with around 90k at the time.
Bit tricky to do as one of the bolts that hold it on at the bottom doesn't have a normal head to use a socket/allen key so the only way to get it out is to use a punch or chisel to turn the head. You then just use a new, standard metric bolt on refit.
Got the new collum from a breakers for about a tenner. It was a plastic bush that had worn out on the old one, not replaceable though.
I just bought a used 2001 ford focus hatchback here in Arizona. It seems to be a nice car with nice handling etc. However, I'm really disappointed with the performance. Given that its a 2.0 zetec which supposedly makes 130bhp, and has a manual gearbox, i would expect it to have a little poke. But it seems to be fairly gutless. I wonder if this is donw to all the safety equipment that weighs down the US car or if all foci are like this. If so, a European 1.4 must be really really slow. Maybe I will need to try one on my next visit back across the pond.... Read more
I believe a possible explanation is the even spread of torque on the Zetec engine (or a lack of sudden surge of torque at high revs), giving you a false sense of feel that the car is not powerful. I have driven both the 1.8 and 2.0 Mondeo (both Zetec engined) and there is no sudden surge of torque as the engine revs from around 2000 rpm to the redline. Therefore the car is picking up speed evenly and quickly without you noticing, giving a fast but relax driving characteristics.
On the other hand, the Nissan QX 3.0 auto has a sudden jump in torque from 3500rpm to 4400rpm torque peak, which can make it quite a handful if it changes down when going round a corner in wet/mud. (I've had more than a few "moments" in road ralies)
I have a problem with my 2002 BMW 316ti Compact. When the car is started from cold, it is very 'spluttery' (as if the choke hadn't been out for long enough!) and noisy. Once it has warmed up, it still seems 'flat' and as if it is in need of fuel. I have taken it to my local dealer 5 times, but they can't find anything wrong with it!!
Does anyone have any ideas please??? Read more
Dos some basic checks such as Plugs, ; HT leads, condition of air filter etc, then ask for the air mass meter to be looked at ..
Does anyone know how to do this please?
My mate's manual is in German and apart from pulling off a big piece of interior trim I can't for the life of me see how you access the light cluster at the rear. Read more
Hi, I'm assuming that the access details for getting at an A4 saloon are the same (ie) prise off the circular piece. In my car (2004 A4) the circular piece isn't cut out. I'd need to cut it as it's just pressed in at the edges.
Thinking about buying a car with my own money.
Looking at the mondeo estate diesel, the second hand prices seem too good to be true.
A 2001 51 Reg 2.0TD Ghia X 1 Owner is in autotrader for £9,495.
What's the catch?
I would prefer japanese but this seems like a great car for the money. Read more
my mate bought a 97r 2l ghia auto blue for 900 its in good nick
so how much is a mk1 worth,
not a lot
Hello
I have a Y reg 2.2 CD Auto (petrol) Omega which I have owned since July with 40k miles and FSH. Please could you offer any advice on this peculiar problem I am experiencing.
More often than not, when I pull up in traffic or at junctions and then proceed to pull away again, the engine does not respond at all, no increase in revs, nothing. There seems to be a 3-4 second delay after I press the accelerator pedal before the car moves. I find this an alarming and dangerous situation to be in as I never know when it will happen.
I have checked the condition of the multiplugs around throttle sensor in the engine bay, and also on the pedal, and found nothing odd. I have also changed the Lambda sensor following a recommendation, but sadly nothing.
Thanks in advance if anybody can help.
Vic Abbott Read more
Has the ECU light come on at all? Total guess here, as the engine is "fly by wire" (in other words there's no throttle cable) it *could* be a dodgy potentiometer on the throttle pedal.
I am thinking of selling my 318iSE and buying either an X type (2.1V6, SE spec) or an IS200 (again SE spec).
I am looking to buy a 02 plate car with around 40-50k on clock.
I have narrowed down to these two, since they cost (at least on glass price guide ? OK jag slightly cheaper) more or less similar amounts. Jag diesels are out, since they are much more newer cars and therefore more expensive. It is also possible buy a slightly older X type with the 2.5V6 for this money.
Is buying a Jag at this stage (with all the bad publicity) a good move? Would it adversely influence the residuals?
What do you think? I really look forward to comments from those of you who already own one of these cars.
Before somebody asks me - why sell the 318iSE? I am bored, want something different.
Read more
I was reading this thread and only realised towards the end that it's over a year old. I find this really annoying and about the only negative thing about this site. Maybe a cutoff point of 12 months should be set and then the threads become 'Read only'?
A different outcome from the norm.
news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/americas/3670578.stm
Any chance of a similar result occuring over here? Read more
Imagine the CEO convicted of dangerous driving while drunk - unable
to sip the wine at his corporate bash and then offering
the clients a lift in a Perodua Nipper!
nice thought :)
Trying to imagine how this would work with a teetotal minicar driver who'd gone wild. Presumably she would be required to guzzle champagne and to drive an executive barge?
Much hot air is spoken about re-educating offenders - this could
actually achieve this.
Agreed. It's hard to see any good resaon for objecting to those punishments.
You can rarely signal too much. What really get\'s on my nerves is drivers not indicating on roundabouts or at the wrong times. As a truck driver and to a lesser point in my car, it\'s all about keeping it rolling so when you approach a junction you slow down, hoping to keep it rolling so it won\'t take you ten minutes to get back up to cruising speed and look to see if the driver on the roundabout is getting off or carrying round so you have to stop. Occasionaly if they are not indicating I pull out (safely but enough to let them now they would have been better off indicating their intentions and I would have stayed put). Always indicate at the right time on roundabouts (unless there\'s no one there!)