July 2007
I've read that the Government choose to continue the toll for the Dartford crossing (even though the crossing was paid for in 2003, so the toll should be lifted).
Their reason is on the grounds of safety, in that removing the toll will increase traffic locally above the route's capacity.
Do you believe that would happen? I mean, where are all the people who are currently not using the crossing because of the toll going?
Whether the toll's there or not I'd still use the crossing but it does seem like another way of raising revenue.
Chris Read more
Loss of control is the greatest contributory factor in fatal road accidents. I'm trying to find out why people put themselves in a situation where loss of control might occur.
Loss of control occurs when driving task demands exceed capability. It is experienced as a fragmented degradation of control, and felt as fear. At one end of the scale it could simply result in you momentarily having to drop secondary tasks like looking in the mirrors - at the other end of the scale it could result in you skidding off the road.
I lost control when I reversed round a corner into a parked car. I wasn't really paying attention, and I was trying to conduct the manouvre too quickly; I was probably showing off to a girl I had in the car; it was dark; and the other car was parked illegally. I know - pretty stupid.
I'd love to hear of the circumstances around which other people have 'lost control' or felt 'fear' whilst driving.
Simon Read more
After I first passed my test , many decades ago, I used to frighten myself with quite alarming regularity: Like, quite severe fright, of the "O my God, I'm going to die" type.
I noticed that I used to get a metallic / coppery taste in the mouth: Why was that?
It wasn't until I took motorcycle lessons some fifteen years later that I realised what a really poor driver I was: I had passed my car test at 17 having been taught only by my father, never having had a "proper" driving lesson.
Another Gem from the portals of AOL.
Will it soon be law in this country to cover your females in a blanket during transport! ;-)
tinyurl.com/3b5uho
billy Read more
Well, this does surprise me, Germany of all places. It's virtually compulsory on any German beach or park to be naked & their 'family' or general interest magazines have always been keen promoters free body culture (well, being starkers to you or me..) - I've fond memories of feverish schoolboy interest in copies of 'Stern' magazine (general interst, topical weekly) in the 60's & 70's - it was the equivalent of a saucy girly mag. here. Mind you, as this happened in southern Germany perhaps the the more buttoned-up southern european Italian/Swiss ethos still prevails.
I am in the process of changing my car and again have experienced total apathy from dealers about a full service history. The vehicle has a complete main dealer history and every receipt from new (3.5 years) but both main dealers who I have approached for p/ex were not the slightest bit interested. Both told me it has no real effect on the p/ex value nor were the slightest bit bothered about seeing the history documentation. This exact same scenario happened when I purchased this car and part ex'd the old one in 2004! It makes me wonder about the necessity of maintaining that nice neat row of dealer stamps to keep up the value of the car when it has no bearing on what I am offered for it. Having said that, when I called their bluff and said that I may as well bin the history there were a few stutterings of "no need to do that sir" but neither did they say it would reduce their p/ex valuation on my car. Can someone explain this?
I will always maintain a vehicle to manufacturer guidelines but with the light usage it gets I sometimes wonder why I make the effort. It all seems to be geared around future owners and to show them how well the car has been cared for, but if dealers don't care then why should I? Read more
>>> From experience, it tends to be the less knowledgable drivers who take their out-of-warranty cars to a main dealer for routine servicing. This makes me wonder how many times the bonnet's been lifted between services for level-checks etc.
I've used independents and main dealers for routine servicings over the years. Perhaps I'm in the minority here, but I've had far less to complain about with the latter.
The bonnet gets lifted from time to time, as well.
Clk Sec
What should a service for a vehicle of this age/mileage entail?
I have no idea when the last service was and the timing belt has no date sticker on.
I think I could probably manage to change all the filters, replace sparks and change the oil myself but if the car needs a service anyway, would I be better off leaving it for when it gets serviced? Read more
do what you can yourself and save some brass
the belt does want doing if no records as if it goes your engine will go pop.
Got parking ticket in loading bay in high street today signs placed on shop wall not on post by parking bay. No signs on road in parking bay or on kerb. Can anyone point me in th direction in which i can find out the leagl placeing of parking signs, ie should they be on shop wall how high the should be from the ground that sort of information .I looked for signs when i first parked but did not think they woud be on wall of shop. Thanks
Read more
www.parking-appeals.gov.uk/about/adju_process.asp
A high proportion of parking appeals are successful. Give the jobsworths a run for their money - make them work; fight them and they will back off, like all bullies. Go for it!
The other thread about the position of the tax disc has reminded me to air my particular windscreen gripe. My Audi windscreen was cracked and so I needed a new one. In one way this pleased me because I had always been slightly irritated about the glass maker's name bonded into the screen about 3 inches from the bottom on the right of the screen together with some symbol or other bonded in about 4 inches from the top and 2 inches in from the right. So I hoped I'd get something better.
That small higher one had me forever wondering where that low-flying aircraft had gone just after I'd seen it out of the corner of my eye.
Grrrrr....
The new windscreen has the same two obstructions and maybe even a little bigger this time. It must be the UK's way of getting the wrong end of manufacturer's cost cutting. We don't get RHD screens.
On LHD cars the symbols would be a long way away from the driver's usual line of sight and one of them at least covered by a tax disc or similar.
Another reason to buy Japanese?
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Thanks for the tip Garethj. Trouble is there's no room with all those little dolls and the football scarf I've spread across the dashboard. At least the hanging fluffy dice and air freshener hanging from the mirror stop all those nasty reflections of the gold tissue box on the back parcel shelf.
PS Q. When was the last time you put parcels on that shelf?
A. Same time I put my gloves in the glove compartment.
As there has been much Leggy related chat on here recently, here's some personal reflections after 40,000 miles in just over 2 years.
Interior - definately not a 5 seater for long journeys. Boot big, cover arrangement on the Estate leaves a gap through which some of the content remains visible. Seats good, easy to get a comfortable driving position, especially with elec adjustment of the drivers seat. Standard fit radio isn't outstanding but good enough for me.
Climate control highly efficient but Mrs W describes it a draughty. You can't manually close the centre air vents which is a pain, but you can do it through adjusting the flow on the control panel. The huge sunroof is a big plus especially in the winter (brightening the interior!) but rarely use it for its intended purpose.
Fuel - averaging 32 mpg over the 40,000 miles - 25-27 round town/B road 'making progress' through to 37 on motorways at 70-75.
Servicing - 1000 service cost £40. 12,000 - £155. 24,000 - £275. 36,000 - £300. Body Inspection at 1 year cost £140. These are main dealer prices - my local(ish) dealer, Westaway in Spratton is excellent. Tyres ran out of life after 34,000 miles - replaced the original Bridgestone's with Goodyear Eagles which I find better. Sometimes uses half a litre of oil between services, but not always.
Performance - not a ball of fire with the 2.5 engine but more than enough for everyday use. Keep thinking I should get a Spec B or a 2.5 Turbo Forester but I think the performance/economy compromise is probably about right for me. Ride/handling compromise is generally fine - it does understeer a fair bit, hence my interest in some possible tweaks which Aprilia has suggested.
What's gone wrong? Not much - seal on a headlamp failed at 6 months - replaced under warranty with no quibbles. Clutch pedal started squeaking - attempts by the dealer to lubricate it were only partially successful initially but problem has now gone. Paintwork seems to scratch easily.
Biggest surprise - never thought I'd use the Hi-Lo gearbox function but I do - very useful for motorway jams crawling along at walking pace. The 4WD was a big plus on some snowy/slippery transits through back roads last winter.
Summary - not the cheapest car in the world to run, but I didn't buy it expecting that. I like the fact that you don't see that many others around (at least in the South/SE).
Would I buy another? Yes but a second-hand Spec B :o) Read more
Much obliged, Wilco. 42 in (107cm) is the one that matters most - I don't often need a van but I frequently carry the family and a full load behind the seats. That's about the same as a Saab 9-5 estate. I've always liked the Legacy as something understated and unorthodox; it may yet gain a place on my 'To try' list.
Just picked up a brand new Ford Focus 1.6 Sport for "her indoors"... I reckon I got a cracking deal, but no doubt someone on here will spot whatever it is that I missed......
Brand new.
Not pre-registered or anything silly like that
Metallic Paint (colour of our choice)
Sport spec (alloys, elecs, aircon, leather sw, front fogs etc etc).
List price (which I know nobody ever pays) was £14k + £350 for the metallic. What car/etc target price £11.5k (+£350). I paid 10k. Ford main dealer.
So go on then..... what am I missing? Read more
Check the tags on the seatbelts and the date stamps on the plastics.
Already checked the seatbelts (first place I looked) but there's nothing obvious that relates to a date.
Can't find any plastics that easilt detatch.
Under the bonnet would be the easiest place to look if it wasn't piddling it down with rain.
But as per previous post, the boot floor mat has a sticker on the underside which says "04/2007" so assuming this was fitted to the car when it left the factory, the car can't be any older than 3 months...
The Technique at the Pump thread prompted this:
The 'queueing on the filler cap side' mentality IMHO is simply a further expression of lack of 'space awareness' The other prime example of this is drivers who, on a two lane road that can easily (and I mean easily, not just squeeze by; not 'you could get a bus through there love' ) take four cars abreast, will stop for oncoming traffic when presented with a car parked on each side of the road. And as for those who take a dozen goes to parallel park...
rgds
Reginald Molehusband Read more
>>... The other prime example of this is drivers who on a two lane road that can easily ... take four cars abreast will stop for oncoming traffic when presented with a car parked on each side of the road...
That's me.
Not much wrong with my spatial awareness as far as I know but what about the other twerps in play?
Browse
Wotspur, I doubt the French would revolt - they are well versed in paying tolls, but at least they get decent roads in return for their 'investment'.