February 2007
My brother-in-law, a vehicle enthusiast raised in a garage and the best non-professional mechanic I know, was knocked off his BMW 650 (I think) the other day by a bloke who just drove into a roundabout in front of him. He said that as he was lying in the road feeling his bruises he thought it was time to stop biking. He thinks people don't drive as well as they used to.
There have been two or three such incidents over the years, usually involving some car-driving wally failing to see him although he is a big fellow on a big, carefully-driven bike. He has never been badly hurt but the bike has sometimes suffered. Now he has given it best.
His wife, a nurse, is quite pleased, he says, although she didn't put pressure on him to quit. Read more
Has anyone else noticed the current Yaris ad, attractive young woman deliberately demolishes bf's model aircraft because two days earlier he has shut the door of her new Yaris with his foot while helping her to unload it?
Obviously supposed to be a joke, but the message is that Yarises are bought by ruthless, petty, vindictive women. Don't fancy them much anyway (Yarises I mean) but if I were a young woman the ad might put me off. Read more
I quite like the current "...or else" ad campaign. One thing that struck me was that it was targetting a very specific market. I suppose that may be the market sector they want to get more of a foothold into....
Is it critical to top-up with the same oil spec ? My Focus is spec'd as 5W-30, but I have 10W-40 - will I damage the engine ? Read more
Hi, Yes its *best* to stick to the recommended oil, but it wont kill the engine if you top up with 10w40.
Why degrade protection for the engine though over such a low cost item?
The relative absence of traffic noise today is a bit sinister.
Glad I don't live in Edgeware Road or Park Lane. I would expect Scrubs Lane to be a bit busy too. Read more
St James's and back, absolute doddle, just like the sixties. There were some deep puddles but unfortunately I couldn't get up enough speed to aquaplane.
I discovered this morning though that traders in the zone don't get a discount unless they live in it. That seems remarkably unfair. What's more, Mrs Patel the newsagent told me, the newspaper wholesaler has been cutting down on her deliveries on the ground that it's in the congestion zone so she won't get as many punters as usual! 'Regular customers get annoyed if you run out of the Financial Times,' she said.
Ordinary fun motorists like us don't know the half of it.
Many thanks to the mods who (from time to time) have the patience, without being asked, to correct the typographical errors that result from my incompetence.
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L\'escargot. Read more
This is not motoring related and should be removed immediately! ;-)
Sorry, another one. Wheels are Ford 15" but the handbook says only use snow chains on 14" wheels, I assume because of clearance. Anyone got any experience? What are you supposed to do, do they only sell Mondeos with 14" wheels in the Alps? Thanks in advance.
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Going back to the original query .
www.snowchains.com/index.cfm/fuseaction/snowchains...o
This is not new but looks like wee will get it soon
Is there no escape.?
www.wizmark.com/
abcnews.go.com/Entertainment/WolfFiles/story?id=19...1
The BBC has a video clip on the subject.
Or
decentmarketing.typepad.com/weblog/2006/01/marketi...l Read more
Dear oh dear. That wasn't swearing or anything like it.
If there's one thing that's guaranteed to make me mad that's insurers (and others) charging more for a renewal of an existing case than for a brand new punter. As we all know by now, there's absolutely no loyalty in this market.
Example: SWMBO has just got a renewal for European breakdown cover with eco-pennant. Allowing for no callout discount it's £121.
To get a new quote the website demands your details, so I'm sure if you put them in you'd get the same quote. I just tried with a full set of false details (but ensuring address, mileage, car type and age etc. are near enough identical) and, as a new potential customer - the price £112. Read more
Hi,
Try More than. Cost £52 for my dads Vauxhall Astra for recovery including Homestart.. If you use a cashback company like Quidco, you could get a further £17 off if it works..
Believe More than use RAC for most of there patrols
Baz
Mk 1 Mondeo. The headlights have patterns on, I've tried masking sections off but it doesn't seem to make any difference. Ford dealer can't help. Any ideas to save buying (generally uselessanyway) deflectors? Thanks in advance.
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I agree, we have a Mondeo Mk2 "T". Been to France for the last 5 years in it and I have never adjusted/blacked out the Headlight. I do have a kit though in case I get stopped.
The French never seem to care with the provided the headlamps are dipped.
A man was arrested early this morning in Cambridge in connection with a series of letter bomb attacks over recent weeks Read more
Browse
I'm sure it's a different world on a bike. But last week I walked and was driven around central London for the first time for about 10 years, and I was surprised to find that general standards have risen. Speeds are lower, there is more willingness to let people out, and even white van drivers slowed and waved pedestrians across. Was it National Let's Be Nice week, or is this general?
It was a refreshing change from west Wales, where I'd agree general motoring standards have slumped.