March 2006
if the cars coming towards you are all flashing like mad and waving arms out of window in the "slow down" signal? Hmmm, difficult isn't it? Well, today, most seemed to ignore them.
What they then confronted was a, presumable drunk, cyclist slewing over both sides of the road randomly while trying to follow that useful white line in the middle of the road, singing at the top of his voice. He obviously was charmed as he made it off the A337 and onto a side road.
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Has anyone heard or seen if the A3 is due shortly to be renewed or updated.
As I don't want get a replacement now, then at some later stage in the year they bring a new model out. Read more
2.0 TDi has had the particulate filter since it was released. It makes the engine Euro IV compliant and unlike other manufacturers it does not need replacing or cleaning.
When I last spoke to the dealer the only changes he expected are upgrades to the engines available, in particular an increase in output of the 2.0TDi (from 140 to 170 then to around 200). The 170 version will be available in the Seat Leon soon. A cabrio version was mooted, but he was not aware that this was going to be produced.
Chum of mine told me today that an interesting set of figures may be released on Wednesday.
Not Gordon Brown's Budget, but the final set of MG Rover accounts.
Not certain to happen, but quietly putting them out on the same day as the budget really wouldn't surprise me. Read more
Has this magazine closed down? I can't find a copy in any newsagent. Liked HJ's section more than anything. Read more
I hope not - I subscribed earlier in the month as I couldn't always find it in WHSmith!
So, I'm stopped at traffic lights this afternoon and a Ford Fiesta pulls up next to me to turn right. Driver and passenger seat occupied by a couple of nice looking 20somethings. However, the one in the passenger seat, whilst safely belted in herself, had a small girl sat on her lap. There was nobody sat in the back and it had seatbelts.
People like this should have their kids taken off them.
Oh, and the driver was on her mobile.
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>> No. 1. Apparently holding a small child in a
mere
>> 5 M.P.H. head on impact is like trying to restrain
a
>> CWT bag of say cement or something,(DOES ANYONE REMEMBER THIS
MEASURE??)
>> being propelled away from them at a far faster speed
than
>> 5 mph. The scientists here will know.
>>
So, restraining a child at a certain speed is as hard
as restraining something heavier at a higher speed?
From my lay-person understanding of momentum, I choose to believe that
that is rubbish.
Can't fault that Bazza. IIRC (for a change!!) I believe it was to get through to some people the reality of the thing. It was a long time ago. I am going to lay down now. Sorry. I must train harder.
MD.
Does anyone know what happened to Jalopy and Old Car magazine? Read more
Jalopy came back in the form of an internet based classic car magazine. Not the same as the old magazine.
I intend to change the pads on my niece's car at the weekend. Any special tools/hints required? Read more
2005 Corsa and new brake pads! Does it need them or is it a cosmetic change?
Its her fast driving in the suberbs of London, I believe!
It always intrigues me when an employee chooses a car that someone else is paying for. Some have a budget, where as others have a list. The trouble taken to choose the best car then involves so many considerations, some ask friends or pose the question on the web. Factors they consider include which is better to drive, which engine or level of equipment to get, the colour, the tax for benefit in kind and other things that affect them as an individual.
Rarely do they consider the running costs, servicing costs, or depreciation. These are very important factors that people who use their own money always consider.
I always love to ask if they would have bought the car with your own money? Also would you have bought it new or secondhand? Rarely is the car what they would have spent their own hard earned money on. This shows that it is a big benefit that they are in receipt of.
Many company car drivers should be brought back to reality once in a while. To me the company car has been used by business as an incentive for employees for far too long. Many companies think it helps their image and show them as being sucessful. My personal point of view is these companies should invest their capital in a more profitable way. The market for new cars is very distorted by the company market, perhaps this is why private buyers are treated so poorly by some franchised dealerships.
To me the biggest single reality check a company car driver can have is when they loose the company car. It always amazes me when suddenly put in this position, many go from a fairly new car to a low priced old car. I always feel sorry for their change in circumstances but it always makes me feel better as I always have to buy cars I can afford. I think for them it is the loss of status of not having a new car that is the most galling for them.
Do you agree with me?
--
Roger
I read frequently, but only post when I have something useful to say.
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>> - ironic
>> that Gordon Brown is trying to tax out of existence
(hasn't
>> he heard of the golden goose)
Tax out of existance? Not doing a very good job
is he? I think, if you are honest, the tax
situation is pretty favourable, especially for lower mileage drivers.
In my experience it is the low milage drivers who are opting out and buying their own cars - If you are paying 2k tax and doing 5k a year it is 40p a mile tax, with 30k a year it is only 6p a mile on the same car.
The high milage drivers around here see the greater depreciation, more service bills, more tyres, more potential breakdowns etc. and stay in the car scheme.
Hi
Hope someone can cast some light on this.
My son has a three year old Mondeo diesel estate which occasionally fails to fire - normally, but not always, when it a been run that day already. After two or three failed attempts it will start perfectly.
The firm he bought it from have checked the glowplug relay and changed the glowplugs, but this hasn't helped. They cannot find any fault on it and it behaves itself whilst in their hands.
Yesterday it cut out at low revs also whilst pulling across traffic, so this obviously needs sorting.
Anyone any ideas? It has me stumped completely - have looked for airleaks and loose/dirty connections with no success!
Regards
John Read more
Does the glow plug light flash on the occasions it wont start? If so it is an ECU issue, a reload/update should do it.
news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/4824088.stm
I wonder if Ford will follow... Read more
I really couldnt resist...
www.ford.com.vn/English/mondeo132cd/noithat.asp#
look at the last pic of the interior...
a tissue dispenser!!!
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Nope the one in Surrey!