October 2005
Last night I saw two different small cars approach different mini roundabouts, both turned right by cutting the corner and leaving the small central hump to the left of their car. There were no other vehicles at either roundabout. Is it me, or is this style of driving becoming more acceptable?
--
Roger
I read frequently, but only post when I have something useful to say.
Read more
OK guys
Seriously looking at a Mazda 6. Possibly a 2.0/2.0D TS.
Looked at one three years ago, but it was very noisy, busy at motorway speed, firmish ride and had the interior styling of a 1980 amstrad stereo.
Its good value, consistent good reports and hellishly ravishing looks have dragged me back again. The facelifted inside looks classier, it is offered with a 6 speed box, and can be got at a good price.
Comments please, faclifted models only. Still noisy? (yes seen the HJ report)
Read more
Reckon the facelift with the 143 diesel should be a cracker, loads of torque, improved handling and interior
Can't comment on the diesel but it is a brand spanking new face lift model I wrote about above. Jappy placcy interior and according to matey, ho hum handling. If it's improved, it doesn't appear to say much for the one that preceeded it!
Hi
I have a problem (maybe). I thought it must be about time to change the coolant on my golf - not sure when/if it was last done.
Anyhow, so I drained it all out and flushed out the radiator. I haven't flushed the engine as apparently I'd need to remove the thermostat which as a novice I didn't fancy doing. Reconnected all hoses and started to refil. For some reason, despite about 6 litres coolant coming out when I emptied it, I can only get 2 litres back in?! I assumed an airlock and have run the engine up to operating temperature with the expansion cap off (the radiator started steaming and the cooling fan kicked in)but hasn't seemed to clear it?
What do I do? I need to get more coolant in but I can't. How do I know the thermostat is definately working?
Any advice much appreciated/
Jimothy Read more
OK - well I've definately got hot air from the heater. I'll just keep an eye on it over the next few days. Thanks for the tips everyone!
This is probably one of the silliest questions ever asked in the Backroom, but . . .
I'm planning to be on holiday in the USA next year. I thought to myself "I'd quite like to drive a PT Cruiser once in my life. Would it be possible to hire one while on holiday in the USA?". (I know, I know . . .)
A quick Google indicated that the answer would probably be "yes" if I was flying to California or Texas or Florida or some such location - but I'm planning to fly to somewhere not a million miles from Washington DC or Philadelphia.
Can anyone make any suggestions? (Other than telling me to see my doctor, sit in a dark room, etc.) Read more
Well, two years later, I finally got one. I decided to rent with Alamo, mostly because they were cheap, but partly because I knew that Alamo let you choose any car they have available in the category you choose. I chose the cheapest category, which was described as "Hyundai Accent or similar".
Well, lo and behold, in the row of cars we had been directed to, there was a PT Cruiser in a tasteful shade of blue (something like this: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Chrysler_PT_Cruiser.jpg ) So, scorning all the undoubtedly superior vehicles beside it, we grabbed it.
I've written about my impressions here: www.honestjohn.co.uk/forum/post/index.htm?v=e&t=47...6
or, if you want to read the whole thread, www.honestjohn.co.uk/forum/post/index.htm?t=47705&...6
Monday evening, the M6, Cheshire. Everyone slows down as a Volvo police car comes onto the motorway. It pulls onto the outside lane and accelerates. I follow at a discreet distance. 80, 85, 90, 95 mph... no lights, no siren. Up to 100mph, all the way from Thelwall to Knutsford Services. If any traffic police are reading this, why are you allowed to do this? Sheer blinding arrogance. I am not, heaven forbid, saying that speed is inherently unsafe, I have spent countless hours arguing with people about that topic. What I am saying is: if WE have to keep to stupid speed limits and be patronised by the plod when stopped, then why don't they have to keep to the same limits? Read more
I think it's about time Stevied got some back up.....
Far from me to suggest that Police Officers have the freedom to do what they like. I'm sure there are times when they do stretch the rules, and yes they shouldn't.
However before we condemn POs alone let's have a think.
Lorries with tinkered speed limiters
Coaches that obviously push the limit to keep to schedules
Drivers who speed up between safety cameras.....
There are a few instances IMO where individuals in ANY job flaunt the rules in such a way that demonstrates contempt for those around them, however lets not get wound up by someone somewhere seeing a police car going above the speed limit without lights flashing.
There could be several reasons why this occurred.
He could have been tailing a non police speeder to track his speed.
He could have been pursuing or following someone of 'interest' without wanting to drawer attention to himself when there were no unparked cars to respond.
As has been suggested, he could have been responding to an incident. If he could see a way clear he may have thought it unnecessary to use the blues and twos.
I suggest that those of you who are bothered by this enough to do so, consider asking the local constabulary why a police car is behaving in a way that you find unnaceptable, next time this occurs, but also consider whether your call is a good use of their time.
Those of you who are not can worry about getting to your destination safely.
I see no reason to go round the houses again so I've locked this thread.
this morning.
Didn't really see it properly, can anyone who did confirm that he won in court?
His attitude on GMTV was very much the supercilious and arrogant one we've seen in his original article and on this website when we were graced with his presence.
www.honestjohn.co.uk/forum/post/index.htm?t=27271&...f Read more
Still little motoring discussion going on, so locked.
DD.
Does anybody know how to get car-wax of windscreens, please? Washing-up liquid (etc) has no effect. Read more
I used to use Simoniz wax free car shampoo which prevented the windscreen glass being smeared with unwanted wax deposits.
I bought a two-litre bottle for £3.99 on Ormskirk market about three years ago and it lasted for ages.
However, unless anyone knows anything to the contrary, Simonez's website (www.simoniz.co.uk) doesn't seem to exist any more, although its products still seem to be tested/reviewed.
The US website is:
www.simonizusa.com/
and the nearest equivalent product Car Wash Concentrate.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
What\'s for you won\'t pass you by
I have a Rover 600 with an alarm malfunction that keeps going off whenever it feels like it. Does anyone know how to disarm it so I'm able to lock my car without the alarm? Read more
I haven't no. Will check that today. Thanks.
I noticed in the thread about automated wipers and headlights a few posts from people in countries where Daytime Running Lights (or as we call them here in Canada, Daytime Notice Lights or DNLs) are required. On a recent visit to the UK I found that I really missed those lights on other cars; DNLs would really show up well on the high number of cloudy and dull weather days that you seem to have in the UK. I have no idea why your government has not yet adopted this significant safety measure - it's certainly using "safety" as an excuse for all sorts of other auto controls, and I remember it being around in the mid 1970s when Volvo introduced it on their cars. Is it just a case of government by snails (like the conversion from Fahrenheit to Celsius) ?
Nigel
Read more
Ahem, where do you think the power for the laternator comes from?
100W is 100W whether it be from an engine-driven alternator or power station, still the same number of joules. Then there's the wastage overhead as neither are close to 100% efficient.
Numerous discussions on past episodes of this TV programme, but did anyone see last nights?
Right at the start of the programme one of the officers (Bob, I think his name was) was seen chasing a 'dizzy' (disqualified driver) driving an Astra.
Did anyone else spot the officer wasn't wearing his seat belt during the pursuit, as well as loads of one handed driving because of having to operate his 2 way radio?
Obviously driving one handed is commonplace as has been discussed before, but why no seatbelt?
Read more
In reply to RF:-
i spotted that.......i was thinking how come some of the traffic police are porkers.........one of them shown on that program would have had serious problems if the guy he arrested had made a run for it. Very very funny!
Browse
Most mini roundabouts round here just have a white blob painted in the middle. I'm sure I sometimes clip the blob with a rear wheel although I never blatantly drive across it.
Cheers, SS