November 2006
I drive 25k a year, mostly to work and back 80 miles a day mainly a roads. I bought a 98 Mondeo TD but its failed its MOT and its time to move on. I have a budget of 5k.
I have been considering a Mondeo MKIII TDCI 115, fixed vane turbo. But it would be a 2003 ish with 80k for this money and I am concerned about suspension and clutch work as the miles pile on. The other alternative I can think of is an Aygo/107/C1, I can get a low mileage one for £5k, 60mpg and £40 tax, group 1 insurance and will have 2 years warranty remaining.
Any other suggestions of the top of anyones head. Read more
Siemens are in the process of developing a new electronic brake powered from the cars 12V supply that applys more pressure the faster you are travelling.
See below.
Is this the only major change to braking since discs were invented ?
www.channel4.com/4car/news/news-story.jsp?news_id=...4 Read more
No, but it's a bit of a s od if you don't make it up something steep and then can't prevent the bike sliding back down again.
I can, however, ride sitting on the handlebars facing backwards. Not a skill that has served me particularly well in life I'll grant you.
I am wanting to transport a car from Aylesbury to Bridgewater. Do you have any recommendations?....one way journeys....or is there a web site relating to this activity.
All I want is a reasonable price.
Thanks Read more
This may help - car transport firms in Aylesbury
tinyurl.com/y2afb9
Can anyone explain to me in simple English what is the difference between Torque and Power when used to describe the performance of an internal combustion engine?
I know what the units are that the two are measured in, both in the Imperial system and in the SI system, but I have to confess that I do not really understand how they are measured, or how to explain what they are in simple words. Read more
>>Can anyone explain to me in simple English what is the difference between Torque and Power when used to describe the performance of an internal combustion engine?
I know what the units are that the two are measured in, both in the Imperial system and in the SI system, but I have to confess that I do not really understand how they are measured, or how to explain what they are in simple words.>>
Three sentences:
The engine speed that at which maximum torque occurs is where each individual cycle of the engine is at it's most effective.
The engine speed where maximum power occurs is where the optimum balance between the decreasing effectivness of each cycle as engine speed increases and the multiplication provided by the increase in engine speed.
For instance the Yamaha R1 example above, the R1 produces 82lb ft and 156bhp at 10,000rpm and 76lb ft and 180bhp at 12500rpm, so although each individual cycle of the engine is 10% less effective at 12500 rpm compared to 10,000 rpm, the fact that there are 25% more cycles means that more power is produced.
About two weeks ago, I reported a young lad driving like an imbecile near my house (overtaking on chevrons, coming into a right turn hatch, had someone decided to turn coming the other way, there would have been a fatal accident). They took the details (stupidly chavved up Peugeot, cherry bomb exhaust, etc) and thanked me.
Last night, same imbecile: 50mph approx through crowded supermarket car park. Reported again, mentioning that I had previously done so. "Do you have a crime reference number?" "No, I don't... I wasn't offered one". Takes details again, NO REFERENCE NUMBER OFFERED AGAIN, say they'll "look into it". Get home, realise I recorded reg. no. in phone, and that I may have transposed two letters. Ring back, explain "Do you have a crime reference number?"... explain, a little peeved now, that no I don't, because the muppets there haven't offered me one... give details of reg., ask if I DO have a reference number, confused "yeah but no but" answer, and a "yes we WILL look into it." 11pm walking home from local hostelry, same muppet drives past at about 70 in a 30. He has been driving around all night. They could easily have seen him, and stopped him. They have his reg. number, ergo they can find out where he lives.
What do I have to do to get a reaction from the local constabulary, who it has to be said, are dismal? Do I have to get killed by such a driver, or do I have to watch someone else get killed? Then, doubtless, there would be outcry in the papers and the police would say how sorry they were and that they have been offering driver training for young people etc. etc. to which I would say "Three times I reported someone who is an accident waiting to happen, and you lot did nothing".
I work in a customer-facing, performance-based role. If I transferred the apathy of the police to my job, then I wouldn't have one.
Before anyone says "Poor police have no resources, it's a a tough job.." insert cliché, then don't bother. That is NOT my question. The question is: how do I get something DONE? Do I write a letter to the Chief Constable, copying my local MP, Tony Blair, various papers and the motoring press? Or will I end up having resources wasted on me, keeping tabs on me as I will be classed as a "troublemaker"?
Any sensible advice? Read more
Good to see this. Well done.
I was fairly confident that the idiot I reported recently would already be known to the police or, if not, soon would be from other reports. Every little helps.
The following details are posted on the www.scrapthetolls.com/
Government to increase tolls by 50% Tuesday 19th October 13:00:00 GMT 2006
The government today announced that in order to 'reduce congestion' it would be increasing tolls on the Dartford Crossing by 50% for those who do not hold 'Dart Tag' pre-payment cards.
U.K. Independence Party Leader & local MEP Nigel Farage said that the increase proved that the tolls were 'nothing more than a cash cow for the government'
Users will see charges for cars rocket to £1.50, unless they subscribe to the Dart-Tag scheme, which requires them to pay their monthly charges in advance ? a ?win-win situation for Government stealth taxes?, as Mr Farage described it.
?The Government excused its duplicity, when continuing tolling charges in 2003, by saying that the tolls would hold down congestion. ?These new charges confirm that congestion has worsened, removing the Government?s justification for tolls. Common sense suggests that making 150,000 vehicles a day stop on the busiest motorway in Britain will create congestion and pollution. Electronic charging will not change this.
?If the Government was as interested in the health of local residents and the environmental costs of traffic queues as it was in fleecing motorists, it would abolish the tolls immediately.?
I missed any comment about this in the newspapers or on the tv, also it seems as though it has not been discussed before. For an infrequent user of the crossing I am outraged at this proposal. It is bad enough using this link at present due to road works, but to be fleeced even more is outrageous.
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Roger
I read frequently, but only post when I have something useful to say.
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I agree it is a bargain. So we bought and paid for it. Now the gov want us to buy and pay for it again.
I have just noticed that I am starting to bang my keyboard very hard whenever I type anything about this government. I think I am going for a lie down.
A mate of mine has a racing type exhaust manifold fitted to his car.
Its a 4 into 1 tubular type, the ends of the 4 pipes slide into another joint then that tapers down to 1 pipe to the rear with no clamps etc. only springs to hold the joints together.
The problem is its blowing from two of the pipes where they slide into the 4 to 1. How can this be cured where they is no room between the pipes to fit clamps.
Any ideas ???
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Strip it down & give it a good clean reassemble with some silicone sealer. Allow to harden before using, at least 24 hours. Standard fix on Cats & Westies
I used to think that used car salesmen were always desperate to sell cars...
But so far all my experiences have led my to think differently....
Looking at some of their websites which offer to find / locate a car and that you will be contacted within 48 hours of entering your details...tried a site of a local Ford dealer and nothing after 5 days....sent an e-mail asking if they had heard from me..nothing....(Planning on part exchanging current 5 year old car for a used model around £9k)
Tried contacting two other main dealers (Ford and Toyota) via website...so far nothing...
I went around to one dealer and asked about sourcing cars from other Dealerships in the manufacturer group (they had a very limited stock) - they seemed very disinterested...
A couple of years ago I went around to an independent dealer and asked about a Car, even when I offered £2200 for a £2250 car (which needed some work on it) seemed completely disinterested...
So far this has been my limited experience with Car dealers/ salesmen...
Is it a seller's market at the moment? Are Dealers run off their feet with buyers?
Does anyone have any similar experiences?
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Again I can only (as we all do) recount personal experience. My Avensis was booked in for major (warrantied) work over the phone. I arrived at the dealership last evening at 4.45. They had no job sheet made out for my car and no record of the appointment being made. The courtesy car I was expecting had not been booked either. The service guy didn't get flustered, didn't question the phone call had taken place. The outcome: ten minutes later the job sheet was printed and I had the keys to a brand new Yaris. 'Nearly a fill tank of fuel, Sir, should last you 'til you bring it back'.
How much profit did Toyota make in the last quarter? Billions was it? Is there a connection between first class customer service and profitability? In my experience, yes.
I have recently had to pay my local BMW dealer to repair a water leak from the nearside headlight washer. This proved to be expensive. Now the offside is leaking. Is it an easy job to repair/replace the parts or would I be well advised to swallow hard and book the car in to the dealer to repair?
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Having joined the ranks of SATNAV enabled drivers I notice that my speed according to GPS is approximately 8% slower that indicated by the cars speedometer. Now I know that the car's speedo should not over indicate by no more than 10% but how accurate is the GPS speed? Read more
Sorry, to answer your original question I have the standard '54 2.0d SE 16" wheels and tyres on it!
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A 98 Mondeo has failed its MOT... on what, may I ask, that you think it needs swapping?