September 2006
Extracted from the September issue of Which? magazine:
The Association of British Drivers (ABD) campaigns on behalf of what it describes as "the UK's beleaguered drivers". Mark McArthur Christie [spokesman] says "If congestion were a simple problem we would have fixed it by now. Ultimately, people travel because they need to travel and they choose a car because a car is the best option for them at the time."
Marke believes that the government has adopted a piecemeal approach: "People have said we'll tackle cars, we'll tackle buses, whatever, but you can't just tackle one bit -- you have to tackle them all together. The government isn't doing this. People drive because public transport is really very expensive. The government seems far keener to be anti-car and not pro-choice."
Perhaps surprisingly, the ABD sees cycling as a key solution and wants to see much better facilities for cyclists and park-and-cycle facilities. Mark says: "It would be great to see some publicly funded campaigns with the message that if you're doing a five-mile trip, why are you using your car unless you've got loads of stuff to carry." Read more
Hello all,
My son has left his car with me whilst he is working abroad for 2 years. My insurance allows me to drive cars not owned by me albeit at third party only. My son's insurance has run out but the car has road tax and a mot certificate.
Am I allowed to drive it? I seem to get the impression from 'others' that as the OWNER does not currently have insurance cover on the car, it cannot be driven on the public roads.
If this is the case, how is it different for me to drive the car with third party cover as opposed to the registered driver driving it with the like cover! I accept that the car is not covered and will need insurance to renew road tax in the future. I cannot keep the car in good condition stored off the road.
Any advise most welcome and thank you for replying.
Confused Martin. Read more
"The only thing I'd be careful of is using it too much-if you effectively became the 'owner' or 'main user' doing 10000miles a year, you could have a legal problem. "
How would anyone know how often you are using the car?
I have recently taken out a European Breakdown policy and it states that I am covered for a year but a maximum of 90 days abroad and no more than 21 days in one single trip. Now I am an upstanding law abiding person (well most of the time anyway...) but if one wanted to be devious, how would the insurance company know how many trips I make to France each year?
I am picking up my Focus ST next week from the main dealer, as i have never purchased a new car before i really do need some advice on what to look out, before i hand over my hard saved reddies.
Thanks for any advice
Steve Read more
After Rover and Peugeot, at last some better news for UK car workers. Nissan to build its new car at Sunderland:
news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/5318926.stm Read more
Are they not calling it the Qaquara or something like that it was introduced in Autobild last week .
Morning guys
I have a problem on a 2001 Pug 306, can someone tell me how easy is it to test the fans without pulling the grills or rad off, i have heard there could be some way of tricking the car it is in "limp home mode" which should run both fans, anyone tell me if this is true and if so where is this cable plug located. I think the off side fan is dead but i don't want to rip it apart without good cause
Cheers for looking
Dai
Read more
With the engine ticking-over, disconnect the GREEN two pin temperature sensor connector at the TOP of the thermostat/waterpump housing (petrol engine). This is at the top right-hand end of the engine and is really easy to see and access. There are three sensors on a 306 (it is French afterall) so make sure you get the right one.......its is by far the easiest one to get at, (the other ones will be brown and blue I think!)
Both fans should then cut-in within 1 to 2 seconds.
When you re-connect it I think only one fan should stop until you turn off the ignition, (but I might be wrong here).
what a cracking motor at that price.
No its an auto, auto and A-Series should be mutually exclusive.
Can anyone tell me who they have managed to get insurance through when they have chipped a turbo-diesel ?
I amconsidering buying one and getting it chipped......
I spoke to my company and can only seem to get a call-centre in india who cannot seem to get a handle on what I am asking when I ask if they will insure a chipped vehicle, and what ht elikely increase in premium is.
Wll the usual big -name Ins. Co's insure these cars, as they are hardly hot-hatchews even with the upgrades ?
What is the usual increase of premium over the standard car ? Is it in a direct % increase with the %increase in power ?
Do they require some kind of engineers report on what the upgrade is ?
Will they only insure certain types of tuning box, or will they insure ECU remaps as well ?
Any advice appreciated as I can't get any sense out of my insurer. Read more
I can also recommened Brentacre. First class service, and really keenly prices. They got me a policy with Ensign for far less than adrian flux or greenlight could. My cars not chipped but has a couple of modifications which make it more or less unisurable with the 'big boys'
Does anyone know whether the above is fully self adjusting or is there some diy method of adjustment?
Otherwise is replacement a pain in the bottom and/or wallet?
Thanks. Read more
I will have a ferret 'round the hydraulics over the weekend. I can't say that this has suddenly occured just got to the stage over the past 6 months or so where it has become noticable. But then maybe it has as I don't do much mileage nowadays and have perhaps covered three or four thousand in that time. The total mileage is about 80 thou, of which I have done about 20. I believe it had a new clutch plate while still under warantee but I don't know at what mileage.
Following on from the "demise of PAG" thread, Bill Ford is no longer Chief Executive at Ford. An ex-Boeing boss (Allan Mullaly) now fills that post. Bill is still chairman.
So all that has been rumoured based on what Bill Ford said may come about faster or not at all with a new chief exec. Oh and they lost $1.3 billion in the first 6 months of 2006... I know that feeling but I'd have checked the back of the sofa first.
news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/5318426.stm
As the article says, it's not only someone outside of Ford taking over but someone outside of the car industry. Lou Gerstner turned IBM around and he was not from a computer background though. Carly Fiorina didn't sort HP but it's back on track now since she got fired.
Anyway next major Ford headline IMHO is a tie-up with Renault/Nissan I suspect... before GM do it.
Rob Read more
Why doesn't Ford simply shut its US operations? The rest of the business appears to be in much much better shape.
I'm planning to buy 2 new tyres to replace both nearside tyres. I'm wondering will it be better in terms of durability or thread consumption if these 2 are fixed in the front or at the back or other combination? Read more
Even on my RWD car the front tyres wear quicker than the rears-I don't do any wheelspin starts tho..
That and the fact that when you sit down in the drivers seat in your own car, you don't tend to get stuck to it by the chewing gum the last occupant kindly left behind. Unless you've got kids, of course!