July 2007
This was very prominant, particularly showing up on TV coverage. I can't remember the last time I saw a filling station in this country.
Can anyone give us a clue why they should spend so much on advertising themselves this way? Read more
No, I haven't just seen one. That would induce a much more subdued mode.
But there was a new or newish blingy black Range Rover outside the local Pakistani supermarket an hour or so ago that had sharp-looking, er, strakes is the word that springs to mind, parallel and horizontal, four or five of them, across the headlights and rear light clusters. They were narrow and sharp looking, and if made of the right metal would dice any pedestrian who wasn't vigilant at the crucial moment.
My bad-taste thought was that what with the RR's woooden trim, if any, a crash and fireball after hitting a pedestrian might result in quite a decent long pig kebab if you were from Australia or somewhere near there.
A lady was driving it, and she didn't mind a bit of throttle or getting in the way.
However these strakes may have been made of some harmless plastic that vaporises on contact.
I have never minded real bull bars which seem quite round and harmless. These things were like big-capacity egg slicers. Read more
Does anyone else remember how when they first introduced those front-loading refuse lorries for unloading dumpster bins, the lifting equipment above the cab had two large steel prongs sticking foreward ready to spear straight through the back of a bus? I often wonderd ho such ehicles got through the C&U regulations and it was obvous that folding prongs should have been fitted. Before long someone else must have thought the same as all dumpster collection lorries now have folding prongs.
www.bbc.co.uk/longwaydown/
Ah Well, Ewan and Charlie are at it again. BBC no less filming this time. Can't wait. Must get some mud/dust on my R1200GS ! Read more
Yes, I'm looking forward to it appearing on the gogglebox.
I think it's the same guys filming it though - just that it's the beeb that is buying the film off them this time.
That is one heavy piece of machinery and luggage to pick up though.
Hi all,
Can anyone tell me why there arn't so many late shape Fiesta 1.6's about?
Been going through the main dealer sites & forecourts, they have many 1.25s & 1.4s in stock but not 1.6s under the Zetec or Ghia trim etc.. only the Zetec S which in my opinion is best for the race track due to it's short gearing.
The reason im looking at a 1.6 is because the other smaller engines i've been told arn't as reliable, i currently have a 1.4 Zetec but it's been nothing but trouble in the electrical department.. i won't go down that path!
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Its not what you drive, its how you drive it! :-) Read more
It's the lack of a rev counter I find hard to tolerate
>
>>>>>>>>>> i would be more concerned about a lack of temp guage in a ka
rather than a 10 bob rev clock
Surely the fact that it's cheap and nasty and going to rust would be the biggest concern.
HJ! What about GP2 at 5:30 on ITV4? I saw it for the first time last week. It makes BTCC look like a Sunday drive (oh - it is! I hadn't thought of that).
JH Read more
Never really driven vans, drove a Transit Connect last time for a 2 mile move, which was far too small. Have a 30mile move to do this time. Haven't got that much stuff, though am living in a 4-bed detached, will probably chuck a lot of stuff away - wardrobes are £30 Ikea efforts. Might bring a couple of beds, plus a couple of ceiling-high cupboards, general household possessions.
Any suggestions what a good van would be? Not that confident driving something too massive, though my normal car is 4.8m long and 1.8m wide (excluding mirrors), it does at least have three mirrors.
Read more
Last two times i've moved, i've hired a LWB Transit but the HiCube one i.e. one with a higher roof. Bit more user friendly than the Luton, as it has a side door and more wriggle room. £45 from local Ford dealer for 24 hours.
I was wondering what folk thought about undertaking on Motorways. I've just been to North America, where they overtake either side; it doesn't seem to cause any problems, and you soon get used to it. It just seems daft, when Motorways are at capacity much of the time, to have an inside lane nearly empty, and for the overtaking lane to be full, just because someone wants to drive in the middle lane at 60. Read more
had 2 unfortunate pieces of driving by others today on the M25,firstly between 9-8,this morning, raining and I was overtaking a car , i looked in the wing mirror, to find he wasn't behind me, but racing me, then accelerating, before speeding off - what a nutter.
Then this evening junc 28-31, 15 miles or so of tailbacks, very slow moving took 1.30 to do 15 miles !! at least 4 cars moved into a space, that caused me and others to break sharply, and for the next 7-10 miles, not manage to get any benefits in temrs of overtking anyone -why bother
Hi guys,
Does anybody know what size Torx socket I need for the head bolts on the Peugeot 106 1.5 Diesel? The new bolts I have show the size as M11 if that helps. I could probably use an 11mm socket but I don't want to risk damaging the heads.
Any ideas of the cheapest place to acquire online?
I also need to find a angular torque gauge to complete the job.
Thanks for your help.
Kind regards. Read more
>>If doing it this way, after the initial torque setting put a dab of white paint on1 edge of each bolt and then angle tighten them equally. If done correctly all the paint dabs will still line up and will show the angle turned etc. hth
I like that idea, and I think I'll use it in future - Normally, I tend to just go for it, and hope that I don't get disturbed halfway through the procedure!
Incidentally, as long as you turn through the right angle give or take, say 10%, you will still be putting a more accurately known stretch in the bolts than if you used a top quality torque wrench!
Number_Cruncher
Hi,
Just changed the shocks on my old Triumph stag and now get a rattle noise from the top of the suspension, any ideas ? Read more
I must have replaced about 30 dampers/shock absorbers over my lifetime, mostly on the rear of a Dolomite Sprint. One replacement VW rear damper rattled like mad from new, it was a problem inside the damper.
Visiting a farm the other day I came across a rusting hulk that had once been a Zephyr 6. The first thing that came to my mind was "Z Cars". The car was synonimous with the programme and was as much a star as any of the actors who appeared in it. Del boy's Reliant Regal was another which attained a fame way and above it's humble station in life by becomming almost a lead character in the show.
Are there any other cars which it is impossible to think of without a TV show or movie automatically appearing in the same thought bubble?
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Read more
As far as I can see nobody has yet mentioned the car-star of Withnail and I
Great stuff, one of the best films ever! Its a great cinematic moment with them setting off up North in the Jag with Hendrix playing..
What about Twin Town, with Rhys Ifans and his brother joyriding round Swansea in an old BMW 528i, then doing donuts on the rugby pitch in a Cobra replica.. (Cars do not have a starring role but thought I'd mention anyway).
Another one is Dead Mans Shoes (brilliant film). Local smalltime hardmen/ drug dealers driving round Matlock 5-up in a white and green 2CV Dolly, could not look any more ridiculous if they tried.
Browse
because the race is televised live throught europe.
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TourVanMan TM < Ex RF >