February 2005
I witnessed an accident this morning where a young girl (13 ish) stepped into the road in front of a passat.
Luckily the passat was not going fast and she rolled on the bonnet and then stood up straight away and appeared to be ok.
She then tried to continue on her way saying that everything was ok and she wanted to go to school. She almost had to be restrained by her friend to stay.
Another driver rang her parents, and her dad appeared and then sent her on her way to school with friends. Numbers were exhanged and I left the scene (somewhat suprised he didn't take her to a doctor)
She said that her backpack had took most of the impact and she didn't have any obvious signs of damage or pain.
I am not trying to judge her father, but did he do the right thing or should she have been checked by someone ?
Read more
www.newscientist.com/article.ns?id=mg18524854.400
In the study, Hermundur Sigmundsson at the Norwegian University of Science and Technology in Trondheim gave 17 volunteers, six of whom were dyslexic, two different tests. The first involved a 4-minute drive along a simulated country road at 50 to 80 kilometres per hour. In the second task, the volunteers drove through a city at lower speeds for 10 minutes. The simulator flashed up traffic signs in the drivers' field of view and measured how quickly they responded by pushing a button or saying "now". In the rural drive, the signs appeared directly ahead, while in the city they appeared in a variety of places.
The six dyslexic drivers took on average 0.13 seconds longer to react during the rural drive than the non-dyslexic controls and were 0.19 seconds slower in the city, where the simulated environment was more complex. In both tests the controls took around 0.6 seconds to respond, so the dyslexic drivers were experiencing a delay of 20 to 30 per cent (Brain and Cognition, DOI: 10.1016/j.bandc.2004.11.007).
teabelly Read more
I've got no problem with dyslexic drivers, I'm more worried by the lazy people that don't indicate, stop in yellow boxs and drive to close to the car in front.
A few niggles that some of you may be able to help with on my audi a6 avant 2.7T (1999)
Noise while braking...sounds like a grinding noise. Had it serviced (non dealer 140k) and rear disks replaced but the noise is still there. Is it brakes or something more sinister....
...can anyone recommend a reliable non dealer audi specialist for servicng in portishead,bristol,swindon areas?
...also my boot fitted 6CD changer has stopped. The changer itself seems to work but is not showing any response in the car...radio and tape player work.....any advice?
Many thanks in advance... Read more
I also have an Audi A6, M reg with 130k. Last week the bracket holding the nearside rear caliper gave way, which meant new rear pads amongst other things. Makes a distinct grinding noise but this is just the friction material bedding in, I noticed it before when the discs and pads were replaced at around 80k. Nothing to worry about in my opinion, just press a bit harder to accelerate the bedding in process!
Cheers MGs
Hi folks,
My wife is thinking abut buying a SAAB 900 Turbo for her journey to work. She wants something that looks smart and executive (she has a smart and executive job!) but doesn't want to spend a lot of money on a car. HOWEVER, a big consideration is fuel economy as she commutes 300 miles a week.
So my questions are:
SAAB 900 and 900 Turbo owners ? what do you think? How about fuel economy question ? most of the miles are along country roads. How was reliability?
Does anyone have suggestions for an alternative car? It cant be too big (though that?s a moot point), cant be too common and must be look smart (Yes... I know).
Thanks for your comments people!
Tim
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Having owned several SAABs I would say they are fairly expensive to run, parts are expensive, fuel consumption mediocre at best 28mpg probably 23 around town. BMWs beat this hands down. Also they are pretty boring to drive being vauxhall based. Their strong points are durability and brilliant cabin design. As to being smart or executive can I suggest that judging by the numbers now appearing on our local sink estate that tag has long gone.
In this weeks Auto Express, there is a small article "New on the shelves" regarding an Oil Filter Magnet from a company called www.filtermag.co.uk which will according to the write up, remove all traces of metal fragments that the oil filter does not remove. Does anyone use this item, is it any good or are we in the world of snakeoil once again.
Regards Read more
Here's what people previously thought of said gadget:-
www.honestjohn.co.uk/forum/post/index.htm?t=21246
There is a Truvelo camera on the A56 leading into Manchester, on a slight downwards hill. Its sited just beyond a Fire Station on the opposite side of the road.
Thing is, there are only three narrow white lines across the carriageway no more than 1ft apart. No other lines in the area at all.
Whats going on? Is this camera set up properly. Most people seem to ignore it and yet I've not heard of anyone getting caught by it, and if there was I would have heard as its near to where I live.
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Espada III - well if you have a family and need a Lamborghini, what else do you drive? Read more
Just driven past and seen the sensor lines. I'll keep careful now.
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Espada III - well if you have a family and need a Lamborghini, what else do you drive?
Wife's Saxo diesel recently had a radiator leak, now repaired. The car never overheated, and the most I had to top the expansion bottle at any one time was about a quarter litre. On checking recently I have noticed air bubbles in on the coolant, quite a froth sometimes. Coolant level remains constant, as does oil level and there is no sign of cross contamination.
Head gasket on the way, or perhaps something simple? (and cheap!)
Thoughts appreciated. Read more
Air bubbles and frothing are not quite the same thing. It may be that the radweld is the reason for the froth and as you do not appear to be over pressurising the system then all may be OK.Pug and Cit are tetchy about their antifreeze as they have experienced corrosion caused by the mix of aluminium blocks, steel liners, and aluminium radiators. and the Cit stuff is only £3 a litre. Keep an eye on the water. Regards Peter
I've just noticed something, one of those changes that's so gradual that you don't notice it.
A few years ago, every self-respecting slip road or fast roundabout had yellow lines across the road on the approach to the junction. The idea was that they gave you a better perception of your true speed. In many cases the lines were painted closer together closer to the junction to give the impression that you weren't braking enough.
The thing is, they seem to be disappearing. I'm sure it's not just my perception. Anyone know why?
V Read more
I started this without saying that I dislike them, but dislike them I do, probably because I used to ride a bike. The reason I disliked them was because of their bumpiness and grip qualities. However, I do think they are very effective in slowing traffic; they have brought me off autopilot more than once.
I wonder if their decline is due to the increase in Shellgrip use (the grippy tarmac) and due to the faults mantioned above. I do think there's been a decrease in their use, though.
V
My sister has a 1.9TD Seat Toledo 1994(M) and has complained about the biteing point getting higher in the clutch pedal travel. I have heard that this model may have an adjustable clutch cable. Is this the case or will it be a new clutch?
Any advice will be appreciated Read more
Hi,
Problem came about last night after having the car MOT'd. The two Front indicator bulbs had to be changed due to lost colour (relevance follows). After the MOT, pulled out onto busy road, changed up into 2nd and the car died, no warning lights other than oil light came on. Popped back to garage, they came and had a look, turned out fuse blown in fuse / relay box behind battery. there are 2 large fuses in there, both were 30 amp, front one blown. Pinched one from what was assumed to be Aircon, Started, pulled away (gently this time), blew again when changed into 3rd. Ok, got the car home by hok and by crook. Haynes is next to useless regarding this, can anyone tell me what the correct rating is for these two fuses and what they control. looking at the wiring diagram the best i can work out is that they control the ECU, borne out by the fact that the Engine management light does not come on when ignition switched on and fuse is blown (ok when fuse ok)
I am guessing i have a bit of dodgy wiring to trace but any other ideas appreciated. Car was hot from idling and fan was running at the time.
TIA Read more
Useful information cki. As usual when I see something which may happen to oneself I save the thread in a special folder.
Browse
If it'd been one of mine they'd have been off to A&E regardless of the wait. BTW - In my considerable experience of hospitals, children are almost always given priority and I doubt whether any child who'd been hit by a car would have to wait 7 hours to be seen or anything like that.