October 2004
**** Poll closed. ****
This weeks poll, as suggested by HF is now available.
"A person is lying at the roadside. Unable to see who they are, or if they?re at all injured. Do you:-"
Drive past, swerving slightly to avoid their body and carry on with your journey.
Drive past, pull over as soon as it's safe to do so, and phone the emergency services.
Stop immediately and offer any necessary assistance.
Other.
Read more
Got a shocker of a call last night to say my wife was involved in a head on collision. Thank God after going to hospital and getting some xrays she is okay and came home last night with bruising and a few scratches. She is sore this morning but considers herself very lucky.
The car is a total write off. I have £3500 to get me a car soonish. It will be used for me the wife and a 3 year old. Is it possible to get a decent looking car that would suit famly use at this price? I am totally clueless about cars. We had a Mazda 626 and whilst I liked it I did find it very boring to drive. I did think about a 323 fastback? What are they like and could I pick one up at that price? Any other suggestions.
For reliability am I best buying from a dealer or a private sale? Remembering my car knowledge is limited.
We are probably looking for something that is sturdy and safe too as I reckon the 626 helped save her from serious injury.
thanks Read more
Glad to hear Mrs gram is OK.
If I were you, I think about replacing whatever car she walked away from a head-on with another the same. That the 626 has saved her once would for my money be reason enough to buy another.
--
Lee
MINI adventure coming to an end
I am looking for a better alternative to the usual head light deflecters that I have used in the past (peel back cover type) the problem is they are very difficult to get off the plastic lens cover, any ideas? Read more
what type of car do you have? my previous car, 406 pug and now my kia sedona have clear headlamps and both dealers can supply headlamp protector lenses for them and they also come with the proper marks on the lens where to fit the black out panels.
Someone in this forum provided a link to the official MOT regulations but I can not find it. Can someone point me in the right direction. Regards Peter Read more
Oh, actually it says updated August 2004, so it is up to date....
--
RichardW
Is it illogical? It must be Citroen....
I have a V reg Saab 93 with coming up to 100,000 miles, Ive had it from 6 months old and have had it regulary serviced. Recently i have noticed a signifiacnt lose of power especially between 2 and 3000 rpm any one had the same problems or know of a solution Read more
A contaminated or faulty MAF sensor will be your problem.
SAAB have a fix for this, cleaning in the first instance, replacement if no better.
--
groups.msn.com/honestjohn - Pictures say a thousand words.....
I thought that speed traps manned by policemen/women stopped offenders, took details and issued notices to prosecute or slapped wrists as considered appropriate. There was usually a motorcycle policeperson in the wings to chase those naughty enough not to stop as requested.
However, today I loitered with very little intent (such are the joys of retirement) and observed one in operation. It was well placed to catch the unwary and several motorists approached it at what to me, were speeds well in excess of the limit. But they were not stopped.
Is the present procedure that details are passed to the scribes at the fixed penalty office and the miscreants will receive tickets by post?
If this is so I wonder why it needed three sturdy constables @ several florins per hour plus a jolly fine gratuity for 30 years service when the job could have been adequately performed by a couple of serfs on minmum groatage.bax
Read more
"a you're-going-over-30 squeak"
Which really is all Road Angel does, except more selectively. I.E when it really counts (if you care for your licence).
I suppose I see your point, but many people drive in areas unfamiliar to them and don't know where the cameras are. So the accidental drifts over 30mph can be just in the wrong place (like at the bottom of the hill, or just round the bend) which is where many speed cameras are sited.
As for people who drive around at 25 in a 30 limit (where 30 would be safe)...grrrrr.... :-)
Hi, I know the police generally work to the "10% + 2" rule, i.e 35mph in a 30 limit, 79 in a 70 etc however what are your experiences in this regard?
Mid afternoon today, clear and bright, little traffic, south bound on the M5 around Bridgewater, as I passed under a bridge I noticed - on the bridge - a lens being retracted into a police car through the n/s/f window. I was doing less than 85 (approx 82/83) heading towards the bridge, saw the police car too late, worried I have been caught on camera.
Regards.
Read more
Reckon most modern cars are fitted with fairly accurate speedo's, the tend to read on the high side though probably by only a few %, if reading 85 and the speedo is 5% fast then you are still doing over 80. Regards.
My 93 Astra diesel ( Isuzu engine ) starts fine in the summer but is a nightmare in the winter. The engine spins well but often flattens the battery first. The glow plugs and associated electrics are all good and it had a new heavy battery last winter. Now its getting cold the problems will start again. It has a Bosch injector pump. Can I adjust the cold start on this pump? Or does anyone have any other ideas what the problem could be? Read more
Have done the valve clearances and the car now starts well.
MANY THANKS !!!!
I have a 1997 citroen ax which had the clutch replaced earlier this year. I could still feel resistance in the pedal, and it was getting harder to change gear so I brought it back to the mechanic, but he said it was ok.
It is again getting harder to change gear, and also creaking (like an old spring). Now, when I start off in 1st gear, there is a slight groaning noise - I have been told the clutch might be slipping - what causes this and is it expensive to fix? It is due for a service now but I would like a bit of background before I go so I know I'm not being had.
Thanks in advance!
CMM Read more
I did get the cable changed two months after the clutch was replaced (btw, I checked the invoice and it says that that a complete new clutch assembly was fitted). I brought it back again in August and he said there was nothing wrong with the cable but 'adjusted the clutch free travel', which made it easier to change gear for a few weeks, but it has gone back to being hard to change and creaky.
Thanks to you both for your replies, I will (hopefully) be able to get it sorted before the MOT sorts it for me!
If I shouldn't be here with this question please tell me to bog off.
I'm about to hire a car.The price includes Collision Damage.
In the small print it says the excess in the case of a collision is 500 quid. It then says for an extra 6.5 quid per day I can reduce this to 100 quid.
That 6.5 X 8 is not cheap. A friend has told me he thinks that they don't take the extra 6.5 quid unless I claim on an accident PROVIDED I've signed up for it beforehand
Is this right please?
Also can I claim on my own car insurance and not have their insurance at all ?
And if someone hits me and I take their hire car back crumpled will they let me off and claim from the clown that hit me ?
I've never hired a car in the UK before. (Surprise )
Am I worrying too much ?
TIA Read more
Beware of the excess on any dealer loan car, my local Merc dealer had an excess of £2k and didn\'t even offer a CDW.
Browse
.jpg)
My natural reaction would be to stop,but I have heard recently of friends who were robbed by a gang using this approach to lull them .I would use my instincts as to whether to stop first or call 999...