I am toying with the idea of buying a very cheap 2000 model Jaguar XJ8, overall it's in fine condition but the bootlid and roof has what I would describe as a lightly scrubed finish. It is very difficult to describe and is only visible when fairly close up to the car.

It appears as though the metallic lacquer has been possibly damaged by a car wash. I have seen a few relatively new metallic cars (under 5 years old) with this, sometimes around the wheel arches. As I say it's difficult to describe but I'm sure people in the motor trade will be familiar with it.

Any ideas on whether its possible to polish out these marks? All ideas valued! Read more

Now we know who to vote for. The official Monster Raving Loony Party Transport policy is:

In order to combat motorway congestion we will immediately close all motorways to all vehicles with the exception of bicycles to encourage our green policy and fitness. Any bicycles with more than 3 gears will also be banned for safety reasons. Apart from anything else this will allow police to get on with catching burglars. Traffic cops who are not intelligent enough to cope with proper police work will be allowed to wear their uniforms for a transitional period before being re trained as vicars.

Pram lanes will be created in all shopping centres.

All cars will be converted to run on Venos to help stop congestion.

4 wheel drive vehicles will only be allowed to drive off road, therefore stopping mothers picking up their children from school in them when they only live 100 yards down the road. They will also be wrapped in bubble wrap to make them safer.

All trains will be fitted with an automatic braking system that will function as soon as it sees red; this will include people who have been completely enraged by having to stand waiting on a platform for 3 hours.

Rather than to attempt re-opening disused railway lines we will put sound systems every 500 yards along the disused tracks which will play sound effects of old steam trains to keep railway loonies happy. When they choose to walk along the old railways nostalgically, men will be employed to throw buckets of soot over them every so often.

Drivers will be allowed to drive over roundabouts when there?s nothing about. This will make driving through Milton Keynes much more fun.

All speed cameras will be abolished and replaced by a new device fitted to your cars which will automatically slow down to the speed limit when driven though an infra-red beam. This will also apply to police cars; their device will be set to 5 mph though built up areas.

Traffic wardens will be re-named Dick Turpin because, let?s face it, it?s daylight robbery.

Any kerbs that are caught crawling will be arrested and the council will be fined £100.000 pounds.

Full Manifesto is at:

omrlp.brinkster.net/Manicfesto2005.asp Read more

A lorry driver was fined yesterday for eating a packet of cheese and onion crisps while negotiating a roundabout.

Tyneside magistrates' court heard that the driver held the crisp packet in his left hand, while he fed himself with his right, and used his forearms and elbows to steer.

tinyurl.com/dtjt6
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My 1994 XTdt (70K) has been making a quite loud metallic rattle/clanging sound of late. On a smooth surface there is no problem, but on a rough or potholed surface the noise is heard intermittently. It's actually as if a certain frequency of vibration can set it off, as sometimes a deep pothole won't cause it, yet a roughish surface, at quite low speed (20mph) will. That said, a good hard knock from the road more typically
prompts the noise.

For what it's worth, when sitting in the passenger seat the noise appears to come from an area ranging from the top of the left suspension strut to behind the glove compartment.

I've had the drop-links and roll-bar bushes changed recently, (both sides) which has made not a jot of difference. I've also wrapped the heater pipes bracket, at the back of the engine in foam, as it broke away from the bulkhead and was knocking against it. So it's not that either. Needless to say I've thumped everything in the engine compartment to find something loose but have drawn a blank.

Apart from that, it's still a lovely car, but this is really getting to me.

Regards
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My 52 plate 1.2 16v Corsa has had a really loose sounding rattle coming from underneath the car recently. It sounds like something hollow knocking into each other. It didnt happen when going over large bumps (ie speed bumps) but was very bad when driving over lots of small bumps, for example a road in bad condition. As its still under warranty I took it into the local dealership who had a mechanic come out with me, he said there was definately a rattle and to get it booked in ASAP, he even got me booked in ahead of the waiting list. Now, this may sound extremely paranoid and cynical, but, when I picked it up they said there was no rattle and the same mechanic couldnt find anything wrong what so ever.....but miraculously the rattle has been none existent since i collected my car. I'm now slightly woried that they may have done a bodge job on it knowing that my warranty runs out in 4 or 5 months and that there was something majorly wrong with it.....or am I just being stupidly paranoid. The problem is, I dont know anything about cars and dont know any mechanics myself!! Read more