November 2006
Hi Backroomers.
I am thinking of spending a week in Centre Parcs in Westerhoven near Eindhoven in the Netherlands and was wondering where would be the best place to cross the channel ? Calais and drive across, or cross the channel to a point closer to the Netherlands ? It's less than 3hr from Calais so not sure how much a longer ferry crossing would take against the 3 hr drive ? Anyone ever done this sort of journey before, what's the most time effetive and cost effective route ?
Cheers Read more
Hello need some help a friend of mine has a T-reg BMW 528i he took it to a BMW garage because when he broke the steering wheel shook! They said it needed front discs and pads, I fitted the new parts and for about two weeks it happened again so i swapped the brakes again and for about two weeks was fine, I have now replaced the front discs five times with three different makes of discs and pads including genuine BMW parts and the problem still occurs!! My friend took it back to BMW and they said yes that sometimes happens, you have to keep on changing the discs until you find a set that doesn't shake anymore! i Thought this was rubbish so today i fitted another set of discs drove it until i could get up to 80mph put the brakes on and the steering shook!! I took the new discs off of the car and had them checked at a machinists and they are running true!! the hubs are running true as well!! Does anyone know what this problem could be???? PLEASE HELP ITS DRIVING ME MAD KEEP ON FITTING DISCS!!!! I'M GETTING A NERVOUS TWITCH!!!! Read more
that has to be suspension bushes,has it got macphearson struts if so its the shocks
Being an average driver, and not a particularly knowledgeable one at that, it seems to me that a car with 4WD and that stability system thingy must be the safest option if you just want to get from A to B with the minimum risk and excitement (by 'excitement', I mean things like your back end slipping away, deliberately or otherwise).
Am I right? Or are there other factors which would make, say, a BMW safer than a Honda Accord, or a FWD Audi safer than a Subaru?
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Stevie
Lakland 44-02 Sunburst
Yamaha YTS-23 Read more
Where is good up North? Northeast, to be specific.
And how much does it cost?
Why does no-one do red leather seats any more? The Baron had them in his Jensen, the Saint in his Volvo, and I can remember the first time I sat on a leather seat it was burgundy and in an old Jag.
Now it's all black, grey and beige.
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Stevie
Lakland 44-02 Sunburst
Yamaha YTS-23 Read more
Sold here (but £75??): www.harristweedshop.com/cavalry-twill-trousers.html
"> A roundabout with no exits has been created after a series of "no left turn" signs were erected at every exit, leaving law-abiding motorists going round in circles. The signs are on the A444 in Coventry, West Midlands, at a junction with two roads. Coventry City Council said that it would have the signs replaced.<"
Times 04/11/2006
Another reason - if one were needed - to avoid Coventry. Read more
Why aren't highway engineers sacked when they demonstrate this level of incompetence?
Fat chance!
In my area in a period of just a few weeks they
Introduced a mini roundabout where a side road meets a larger road on a blind bend.
This obviously changed priorities but initially no signs were there to say so.
They changed the priority on another junction again without any signs.
For deacades the one way single lane road had prority into a two lane road but suddenly no longer.
Without signs it generated a very dangerous situation for the regular users.
They decided, sensibly, to create a give way under a narrow bridge.
They marked the road but then put the give way boards on the wrong side of the bridge.
All examples of a lack of management coordination and supervision of out sourced cheap contractors.
Just got an SX4 for a loan car for the morning while my van is in for service, thought id pass on some initial impressions having just driven 15 miles in it.
First thing I noticed is that the clutch is a bit spongey compared to my van, but my van is old tech so perhaps thats why.
Gearchange is pretty good although not the quickest.
Ride is composed but not exceptionally soft. It does deal with sharp bumps quite well but on the whole its harder than I would like, but acceptable.
Its quiet on the move but the engine gets a bit loud above 3500rpm. I found it quite tourquey so was no trouble to change up early and keep it quiet.
Handling is safe rather than fun, but grip is very good.
Interior has loads of space but this is a result of the car being much bigger than superminis of old, so its just aswell the external dimensions do offer something on teh inside! Rear legroom is expecially good. The boot however is quite small, a victim of plastic trim which makes it square, but small.
It feels quite big to drive aswell, more like an MPV which is confimed by the shallow windscreen which I should imagine is a pig to clean.
The dashboard is nice enough, modern looking and all easy to use. For those who that indicators on the right, they on on the left in this car.
Driving position is a bit upright and there is no adj on the wheel that I could find which was a real pain as it was at a very strange angle which meant I couldnt have the wheel about two inches from my knees which is where I like it. instead it was more like 3-4 inches.
Trim is plain but looks smart enough.
On the whole, its an average car which does a few things well and nothing especially badly.
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"I think I'm correct in saying, there has never been a 4x4 Doblo."
Yes, you are right as far as the UK is concerned although there seems to be a 4WD variant in Brazil. Helps explain the transmission tunnel in a front wheel drive Fiat.
Despite my best efforts I have got some Autoglym polish on the black plastic trim. After a week the white mark's come through Autoglym bumper trim and Back to Black. Even tried getting it off with tar remover - no luck. Anyone got any ideas please? Read more
On the WD40 tin,it says"NO silicone".>>
OK - so its the other stuff but still cleans up oily underbonnet cables & plastic without melting anything so might be worth a try.
1st sign of frost and the idiots are out! You know the ones; only the drivers side of the screen cleared, or driving with uncleared screen whilst waiting for demist to warm up, or scraping a postage stamp sized hole in the ice so you get the same view as a....well.....as an Audi TT driver! Saw them all this morning on way to work. How lazy and stupid can you get?
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The original HRW's available in the early 60's ( Triplex Hotline ) used a very fine element between the two laminates of glass in a similar fashion to current Ford HFW's , these were expensive options on a limited number of cars and became standard on some top line models . This all changed in the 70's when the cheaper etched rear sceens we know today became a standard fitting ,those original HRW's were much more efficent ,much like todays HFW's but the elements could hardly be seen .
1996 mazda. Rear head is showing water on plugs on 2 cylinders, also water from exhaust.
Anybody know if this is an engine out job?
Any other tips/info on tackling this would be appreciated.
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i agree with oldman mazdas with problems like that always cause an empty wallet
another way is to buy a scrap engine (cracked warped head etc)
I need knowledgeable advice! The power steering on my Toyota Carina E (N reg) started leaking fluid about a month ago. I tried to keep refilling it, but it kept leaking. The steering sounded horrible and was very stiff. I kept driving it though, and have since let the fluid just run dry. Now it works like a 'normal' steering column - it's not stiff anymore, just operates as would any car without power steering. It seems fine to me - but I would like to know, is it safe to drive the car like this until I have enough money together to get the power steering fixed? And, will it pass its MOT (later this month) in this condition? Thanx Read more
you have got to be kidding is all i can say
i hope you dont live near me
Browse
Pity, I have used the fast hook cat, sailing time was just over three hours in both cases. I have a.lso utrecht from calais. Its an easy drive, tho gets clogged round antwerp.
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TourVanMan TM < Ex RF >