July 2007

Glaikit Wee Scunner {P}

Who actually tests and certifies E4 car tyres for use in Europe? My tyre supplier claims that everything they sell is appropriately tested.

Speed rating e.g. H, V, mud and snow capability ?M & S?, tread wear index, load index etc.. seems a lot to test/check - presumably on all sizes.
With so many far eastern brands, I cannot believe that independent verification is being carried out on them all. I have my suspicions.

Read more

Glaikit Wee Scunner {P}

And you can take them back if you don't like the colour and have the receipt.....

I notice from my recent research that wet braking is not part of tyre testing at present. A number of development projects were set up a few years back.
I do not expect that my cheap Chinese tyres will perform best BUT I see that the treadware index is 400 so a longer life could be on the cards.

Chris White

Hi

Went to my local motor show over the weekend (Eastbourne) and a company had the San Storm convertible on show. From what little info I can find on the cars, these seem to be Indian built with 1.2litre French engines.

The fit and finish of the show cars really wasn't very impressive. They had one show car that had blanking plates for the speakers and stereo, so not sure if they're optional extras. James May (who was hosting the event) likened the San to the Japanese Q cars, because of the size of it.

Don't know what other people think, but for £10k I'd put my money into a 2nd hand MX-5. You could get a nice 1.8 with low mileage and only 2 or 3 years old for that money. And you're pretty much guaranteed reliability with the Mazda.

Chris.
Read more

movilogo

This car was even flop in India - simply couldn't compete with other cars in Indian market (mostly dominated by Suzuki, Hyundai & other local manufactuers)

Chris M

Can anyone personally recommend a Chipsaway type operator in SE Hampshire? I used my local one (Liss based) 4 years ago and wasn't happy with the result. I've phoned Chipsaway, but they won't give me the numbers of any neighbouring outfits.

Thanks Read more

FrankSm

Hi folks

Have a wonderful 1973 MGBGT - the fuel gauge has recently started dropping to "E" despite the tank being either full or partially empty.

Since the dash & guage is easy to get at, I though I'd start there - assuming the fuel gauge is a simple volt meter, would anyone happen to know what voltage range the guage works off ? ie. what is full, and what is 1/2 ?

Other than that, I'll trace the wiring to the sender and maybe have a look at the sender itself removed from the tank. Possible the contacts on the sender unit are dirty or rusty.

Thanks in advance

Frank

Frank Smyth
'95 Vauxhall Omega CDX 2.5TD
'96 Mazda MX5 1.8 turbo Read more

FrankSm

Thanks !

Wiring checked out okay continuity-wise - since parts for the MG are cheap, and the sender is easy to get at (they located it on the side of the tank right behind the rear wheel where it can gather mud LOL) I shall put a new one in.

Cheers again

Frank

doctorchris

At the weekend just gone I drove down to Stevenage from Sunderland for a party on Saturday night and drove back yesterday. There were no traffic jams or holdups, only a few trucks on the road and most folk were driving around the 70mph limit, my chosen speed. Going North on the A19 I passed numerous classic cars obviously driving home from a show somewhere.
I arrived at my destination at both journey ends in a calm and relaxed state.
The only downside, my naughty Panda 4x4 only achieves fuel economy in the low 30's when cruising at 70mph. Oh well, can't ave it all. Read more

Kuang

I'm very fortunate in that I have two feasible routes to work in the mornings, each working out at around 14 miles. One is a straightforward roll through a local town, around a dual carriageway bypass and then onwards at the national speed limit on a straight clear road for when I'm feeling a bit sub-par, the other takes in three small villages including Bruntingthorpe (watch out for camouflaged test mules) and covers four superb single lane road sections from smooth and fast to twisting rollercoaster. If it weren't for the amazing amount of people who seem unable to handle more than 40mph on the flatout sections but then think it's ok to carry on at 40 through villages, each day's commute would be almost perfect :)

wonderwheels

Can anyone offer advice on where to get a replacement passenger door interior handle for a Rover 25 1.4 X-Reg? Is it straightforward to replace?

Thanks in advance Read more

scrapmetal

Rimmer bros - 01522 563344

DSLRed

Can anyone shed light on whether there are actually cameras on each gantry in the variable speed limit sections of the M25 and M42. And do they actually book people?

Or are they on some of them only. Or perhaps none at all.

The reason I ask is that I have cause to drive through the M42 stretch quite a lot, mostly later at night when the motorway is quite quiet and I always seem to be the only driver on there who worries about sticking to the limit. I drive through watching the other cars whizz past me without a care and think that either there must be an awful lot of points flying around or they know something I don't.

In fact, when Big Brother imposes a limit of 50, reducing to 40, as standard practise when there is some kind of minor issue about 4 miles up front, it is 10.30 at night, and the traffic is very sparse, it seems to me to be kind of dangerous to slow to 40 when everyone else is happy to do 80.

Thanks Read more

Altea Ego

which is why on the M25 they did not put them on the gantries on both sides at once. Or use any other other kind of regular pattern.
------------------------------
TourVanMan TM < Ex RF >

steveberlingo

hi, I need to find either a new/ recon engine for a 2005 52 1.9 manual diesel Berlingo or if a later hdi unit if it will go in with out to much hassle. mine has been drowned and bend a con rod. anybody have any ideas or thoughts

thanks steve.

Subject line tweaked a bit - PU Read more

BobbyG

On hol in France I bought something resembling the Grip Pad advertised at the bottom of the page. Used it in the Altea on a vertical curved surface and it held my Nokia phone in place.
Very impressive!

--
2007 Seat Altea XL 2.0 TDI (140) Stylance
2005 Skoda Fabia vrS Read more

jc2

Seen then for sale in the "high st. chemists".

wazza

Toying with the idea of getting a car on the mobility scheme which will include insurance. This means i don't have to worry about insurance from my end. I have full NCB (protected and over 8 years). As i will not be using my NCB do they get wiped off after a period? If so after how long? Won't have an insurance through mobility count?

Thanks for any info Read more

a900ss

Most will need the NCB to be last used within 2 years, some 3 years.