September 2006
I have a 52 reg Trajet petrol that has demolished two front offside Mcpherson strut top bearings. Both were replaced under the generous 5 year warranty, but as this will expire in 12 months time I am concerned that this may be a recurring fault. Any one else had this experience? Hyundai say they have no records of this being a problem, but a mechanic let slip that he has replaced a "few". I have also had to have a complete new wishbone on the rear nearside, again under warranty, after the tracking went out and could not be brought back into line. The garage put it down to " a knock" but the fact that they were so willing to put it right under warranty leaves me suspicious, or am I being paranoid? I have now shelved plans to have it air dropped into central France for next years holiday to save the tedious drive! Read more
that grey car on the right? Looking at the side it's got to be a BM. Is it the new 3 Coupe? I hope so as it looks absoutely gorgeous and thankfully a lot different to the current 3 Series saloon!
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As a female colleague once said whilst looking for missing document "Do you want me to look with women's eyes ?" nuff said.
Raymond Baxter, who has died at the age of 84, was the face of Tomorrow's World for 12 years, bringing science and technology to generations, but his versatility also saw his commentary skills sought for sports and state occasions.
These included the annual Festival of Remembrance, the funerals of Sir Winston Churchill and Lord Mountbatten of Burma, and the 1953 Coronation for which he had to stand in Trafalgar Square under the statue of King Charles's horse in the pouring rain.
"If you have ever stood under a statue of a horse in heavy rain, you can imagine where the rain goes. Well it did and I got very wet."
As the commentator on motor racing, speedway and aviation, Raymond Baxter was always close to the action and sometimes part of it.
He competed in the Monte Carlo rally and during World War II he flew Spitfires. He was twice mentioned in despatches.
It was Baxter who described Concorde's first flight. He was the first to broadcast live from an aeroplane, an ocean-liner and a submarine under water.
Born and brought up in Ilford, Essex, he joined the RAF in 1940 at the age of 18, and became a squadron leader.
He was still in the RAF when he joined Forces Broadcasting in Cairo in 1945. After a spell with the British Forces Network he moved to Outside Broadcasts at the BBC.
Making science simple
He went freelance in the mid 1960s, and also took up a job in industry.
He was there from the start of Tomorrow's World in 1965, bringing to it a particular enthusiasm for explaining gadgets and mechanical processes in an uncomplicated way.
He left the programme in 1977 to make way for a more youthful presentational style.
He presented Tomorrow's World for 12 years
Some 20 years later, he co-hosted Tomorrow's World Time Machine which looked back at 33 years of the popular science show.
He was active in the Royal National Lifeboat Institution, and was Admiral of the Association of Dunkirk Little Ships. He owned a motor yacht which had been to Dunkirk in 1940.
Raymond Baxter maintained his love of motor racing but flying was his biggest passion.
Personal Comment
I shall always remember Raymond Baxters commentary on the first Concorde Flight, and Tomorrows world was always no1 on my viewing list.
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TourVanMan TM < Ex RF > Read more
I was lucky enough to hear this lovely old hero of mine commentating at the Goodwood Revival, I exclaimed at the time how exciting it was to hear his voice at such an event when I knew he was ill. Two weeks later he was dead, a great shame but what a life well lived. Three cheers for that chap.
I appreciate that there's been loads of discussion regarding satnav systems and their relative merits on the BR, but I wonder if satnav could help with a particular problem that I have. I guess that this is a problem that must be experienced by all multidrop drivers. In the past, my work has entailed travelling from site to site using OS grid references - which I believe don't really suit satnav systems - but now I have to visit sites which are identified by postcode and are generally within an 80 mile radius from my home.
When I looked at a post code map, I could see that it was possible to generally group the sites along the 8-point compass bearings - but then, how do I select the optimum route along that (rough) line, stopping at between 6 and 10 sites?
I'm looking for a satnav that would accept up to 10 postcode values, tell me the optimum route, then guide me along its prescribed route. Does such a thing exist?
Or - does anyone know of a website where I could put in the postcodes and obtain a route? The RAC routeplanner will give me a route in the order that I enter the codes - but AFAIK it won't plot me an optimum route.
Any opinions will be gratefully received. Waino Read more
Many thanks for all comments and suggestions. I've heard that a friend has got Autoroute, so when he gets back from his weekend break, I'll investigate further.
I'm thinking of replacing my 1999 Focus 1.6 Ghia hatchback. I have been very pleased with it and I was also pleased with the Mazda 323 I had previously (OK perhaps I'm too easily pleased!). So the likely candidates are the current Focus Mk2 hatchback, probably the 1.6 (115PS) Ghia, and its cousin the Mazda 3 hatchback, probably the 1.6 TS2. Now the Mazda 3 has just had a modest facelift but the Focus hasn't. I'd hate to buy a Focus and then find that it's due to be revised just a few months later.
Any comments/views on which is the better choice? Or should I wait 6 months or a year?
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Hi everybody,
I have a Renault Megane 1998 5 door. The problem is that one of the rear doors has jammed shut. I have managed to remove the door trim from the inside, the lock is moving as I activate the central locking but doesnt seem to move enough to open the door. I have sprayed the lock with WD40 to try and ease it a bit but no joy. Can anyone help?????????????????????????? Thanks, J.
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i am having a problem with my 306td,it seems to be over pressurising in the coolant pipes i think from drawing in air i dont think its a gasket fault as its brand new. Read more
You can clean the system with Rad flush or whatever, but don't rely on this thinking the rad will be ok.
If the rad is really blocked that bad, then off the shelf stuff will not do the job. You'll either have to get a replacement or get a specialist to clean if for you.
Get a specialist to check it for you, first to rule the rad out from your problems.
hi,
i called cargiant to enquire about a car. this car has no logbook. should i steer clear. i was told i could apply for one. Read more
If it's a reputable dealer and the price reflects the missing logbook and you can take the loss if it ends in tears then make an offer. Otherwise: run away, run away and run away a bit more ;-)
my brake pedel has a bit of slack. i have to press down on it around a inch before anything happens.
is there a way of tightening it up so it is "instantly" responsive.
its a hyundai coupe 1997 Read more
What you are describing appears to be normal, and may improve over the next week as the pads bed in.
If you still think something is unusual, or has changed since the pads and discs were changed, take it back to the company which changed them (unless, of course, you did it yourself)
Hi,
I just bought a used VW Passat TDI (110) estate but it has a few problems I need to sort.
The biggest headache is that the steering has a loud groaning and creaking noise. Generally this can be heard with the vehicle stationary or a low speed (below 30mph). The steering wheel only needs a small movement to make noise, unlike my old passat where the steering track rod ends wore. On that the noise was more clunking/straining at the steering lock this is more like "rusty spring" sort of noise and appears on all steering movement.
Before I approach a garage, any suggestions as to the cause and potential impact?
The car has been well maintained and passed an MOT only 2 days ago so a little baffled at present... Read more
Had exactly the same thing with my lads Passat.
It was the lower transverse arm that is a cast alloy component that has the lower ball joint cast in it.
The ball joint starts to wear & makes the noise.
Pattern ones are about £40 from Eurocarparts or GSF & not too hard to fit.
The inner mounting bolt is a bit inaccesible & tight.
Why not air drop as planned, but from a greater height?
659.