June 2007
Saw my first R8 today. HJ's review is at:
www.honestjohn.co.uk/road_tests/index.htm?id=274
Not too sure if I am impressed by the bodywork - looked rather too much like an overgrown TT. Sounded great though.
BIG Read more
Following the theme of threads talking about cars people drove in the era of flares and perms I wondered for those with long enough memories what would your take be looking from a 1970s perspective on the current car industry and car trends?
What are the surprises in terms of makes, models, success stories, things that u did not expect to disappear?
To me (and this is someone who was a nipper in the 70s but car mad) the big things I noticed were:
1) Big change in the cars driven by the middle classes - the large peugeot 504 estates /volvos 240s/260s which were the staple of every public school car park then seem to have almost all been supplanted by German makes...large sensible French cars seem to have died out...same with the Granada/Opel Ricord types. People in the sensible middle classes seem to be shelling out alot more money on status cars now...not the car as sensible utility any more.
2) rise and rise of the Germans premium makes and there amazing ability to get people to part with their cash.
3) The fact that the major French makes are still in existence...even though they seem to have given quite alot of ground to other makes...
4) The lack of a wholesale shift to buying Japanese cars as some were predicting in the 80s.
5) Volvo and Saab relatively appearing to be losing ground compared to their strong position/identity in the 70s/80s.
6) The massive advances in diesel technology...remember my Dad's 504GLD which u could here from 200 m away....
Anyone else's perspective?
Read more
And as well as the sheer number of car owners these days - ie most working adults even if they have almost a minimum wage job or work part time you also notice
a) that really as a reflection of the relatively low cost of motoring relative to 35 years ago a much smaller proportion of people running bangers or cars that are being nursed along. Quite a few youngsters now go straight into owning a brand new car and never buy used and never go thru the old banger phase. Likewise u see alot of two car families near me who have 2 under 24 mth old cars on the drive or who swap them even more often than that. .
and
b) a much larger proportion of the population is not just driving a car but what they perceive as a premium make and never making do with something cheaper. People in their 20s buying BMWs etc...which again 35 years ago would have been much much rarer. Certainly I remember in the 70s the correlation of car to house size/value was fairly linear...now alot more people in more "ordinary areas" are driving £15-30k cars...somehow?
3 questions.
1) How did cars change between 1977 and 1992?
2) How did cars change between 1992 and the present?
3) How do you think cars will change between now and 2022?
I don't know enough to even attempt to answer 1 & 3.
It seems to me that the big changes in the last 15 years are that cars are:
a) much harder to break into, and
b) have much better crash protection.
They also seem to be heavier, but that is largely a byproduct of improved crash protection.
Read more
Just what do you drive? My facelift mondeo had all these things. . . . I would have thought that 10year old 1.8LX Mondeo a basic car?
CJay - I drive a Citroen Berlingo and a Ford Ka. (So for the likes of me, a Mondeo is a posh car!)
Friend of mine has a classic car which he is in the process of renovating, the car is on a Sorn and is kept covered on the drive. For the next two weeks his usual parking space is being occupied by Bricks and other various building materials whilst they have a Loft converted.
As the car has no engine in it, is it still a car (as technically it has no means of propulsion) it also will be kept covered - so can the police have the power to lift the cover the cover ? I have heard that a traffic warden can't or is this an urban myth. As the plates are also covered so I guess ANPR is useless ?
Paul
slight change to subject heading - PU Read more
Thanks Guys,
My friend hadn't thought about this as he is to busy with eveything else, the builders arrive on monday and he is stuck, problem is my driveway is on quite a slope and we could easily tow it here (400 Yards) however extracting the car (which I can't identify - nothing usual just don't know what it is ) would be a real probelem for a fwd altea. Oh well 24hrs to make a decision - luckily not mine
Paul
I have just fitted new front wheel bearings to my 91 Celica.
All seemed ok for 10 miles then they went noisy again.
Could this be because ive overtightened the hub nut
If so what is the correct torque setting
Many thanks Read more
Thanks for the info
Very grateful
New government: wall to wall Priuses on TV tonight.
Watch out chaps. Read more
Whitehall. Full of the damn things.
I have a problem with my Peugeot 206 1.4 GLX 'W' Reg. When I stop the car at junctons, light, ets, the revs drop to around 500 rpm and then the engine cuts out, I have to feather the throttle to keep it going. On the other hand, sometimes when I change down the revs hit 3000rpm and I need to turn off the engine. This is provng a little tiresome if not dangerous. Any ideas appreciated. Read more
Your answer may be contained within here:
www.pug306.net/forum/index.php?
But I'm nearly sure HM is right,as it happens to the wifes car.
I knew it couldnt last although its more of an annoyance than anything else.
Once warmed through, when changing gears, the revs dont drop at all. At idle I blipped the throttle and it took a full 4 seconds for the revs to drop to idle again.
Is this a common fault? Its damn annoying to say the least. Read more
I think ill book it into my mechanic and let him do the head scratching. When I can afford it that is!
Still doesnt affect the useability of the car so ill put up with it for the time being.
My 05 reg Mondeo suffers a leak after prolonged rain and after the car has stood for some time.I don't think its the screen although the water only drips off the passengers side sun visor securing screw.Could rain get into the channel which runs along the roof from front to back which is covered by a black strip presumably to make it watertight.How is this strip fastened to the roof and are there any holes into the roof space? Any advice would be welcome as the main dealers say seals are only covered by a one year warranty Many thanks. Read more
many thanks quinny,certainly worth looking at.
Thanks for all your help when i last asked about the brakes, since then drove it with the bonnet open so that took priority in the fixing stages.
Just taken the wheel off the back to look at this handbrake situation and why the right rear brake doesn't seem t work and when i spun the actual disc with no wheel or handbrake on it caught at about 2 places round the disc, making a metal on metal noise, it makes this noise when driving obviously, when the handbrake is on it doesn't stop the car but you can't spin the disc anymore with your hand.
Does this sound like a major problem or you think a local garage to remove calliper and fit new pads might sort the situation out, does the fact that it catches in 2 places mean the whole assembly might be damaged in some way, Accident??
Any help as always very much appreciated, if this does not cost too much im going to attempt and oil change myself!!
Jon
Typos tidied, researching the model of your car so subject line can be clarified - PU Read more
Caliper winds back clockwise. A dodge is to use a pair of long-nose pliers in the slots in the piston. I think I posted this info last time for you. Ideally you should open the bleed valve to let the fluid out.
If you don't feel confident then get someone else to do it who's got the experience.
Browse
I was in Prague at the beggining of May and driving around the main town road was 7 (seven) R8's all in convoy. Stoopping at the give way's, then tearing off one after the other. Great sounds !