July 2007
I was driving along in a built up area probably doing about 30 mph and glanced up at my rear view mirror to see a police car (Astra) belting up the road with sirens and all lights going. I was positioned on a bend and knowing it would be bad for all if I froze to let it pass on that particular point I kept up my speed until it was safe for him to pass. He/she hammered right up to me and swerved violently to pass me....then slowed down to 30mph because there was a speed camera there. Once past he hurtled off into the distance causing due panic ahead.
Surely police cars are immune from speed cameras aren't they? Especially when on an emergency call. Maybe he just late for his tea break or something and if that's the case he's an idiot. Read more
I had an advisory on these last year so have have taken advantage of a dry day to undo the worn ones, starting with the accessible one (offside).
It was surprisingly easy to get off mainly because the last time they where changed, the inner balljoint was not peened into the shaft (nor locktited) :-o
The query I have is that whilst GSF list both 17mm & 14mm threads inner tie rods for the 740, these are shown as being suitable for '87 and later cars. My vehicle is a '86, is there really likely to be any difference in the steering rack; the catologue also lists a replacement rack to fit all models from'84 to '92.
GSF say that the model year shown is only a guide and the rods will probably fit (mine is the 17mm thread)
any of the resident volvo owners undertaken this job?
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One mans junk is another mans treasure Read more
My wife has a 1998 Alhambra (otherwise badged VW Sharan and Ford Galaxy), and we would like the centre seat (the first passenger row) to have a three-point belt rather than just a lap belt. I know I can just put a seat in the boot and it'll have a three-point belt, but that takes up bootspace which I'd much rather have for luggage.
Any solutions? For instance would a seat out of a later model have a 3-point belt, and would it fit the floor mounts? Read more
Like previously said the 3 point belt was fitted to late models and isn't a retrofit as the roof bar isn't on earlier models and mounting to take the assembly would go straight through the skin.
Paul
Anyone come across a problem with the 2.0 hdi citroen xsara (2001) engine whereby the engine is prone be to very slow at pulling away in first gear and intermittent non starting. I thought it was the fuel pump as is the usual culprit on this model so had that changed recently and the problem was better but seems to be still there, the lack of power low down under accelleration has never gone away?? Read more
Hi
I bought myself a Deauville motorcycle from the Oxford police auction.
It is a white one with 20,000 miles. Looks like it was well serviced.
Having done over 1000 miles and averaging 58mpg, it quite satisfactory. And although all the magazines say it is slow (with 55bhp), it is fast enough for me.
Because it is white and has chevrons at the back, it is quite amazing how drivers especially on the motorway seem to slow down with me about. And even more amazing, having noticed the worser drivers, they seem to drive quickly on the fast lane, and as they get closer (metres away) they start slowing down. No wonder they have so many dents - drive too fast, and don't look far ahead and don't take care.
Really brilliant bike - and great getting respect on the road. I don't know when I will get bored with it though?
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& to clarify a bit further, the ones Force are selling have been retro-fitted original civvy spec Honda suspension, so as not to surprise anyone, once they reach a zillion MPH!!
VB
Coastguards have slammed an audacious bid by Top Gear stars Jeremy Clarkson, Richard Hammond and James May to DRIVE across the Channel.
The daredevil trio all attempted to make the crossing across the world?s busiest shipping lane in three specially-adapted cars for the hit BBC TV show.
And, remarkably, one of the vehicles actually reached the French coast.
tinyurl.com/ynwmtf (Shortened link to an article on www.kentnews.co.uk)
tinyurl.com/3x7m4m (Shortened link to The Daily Mail) (better pictures)
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No it's not perfect
The only people I've heard of who might enjoy Top Gear and similar are Harry and Janet Nodule.
A hoot to drive in town. Has the advantage of feeling significantly faster than a Honda Civic 1.4.
Many have commented on the 'shopping trolly' ride quality. But it is light years away from the original Panda which really did have Flintstones suspension system: you could feel every single ridge even on the motorway.
Another advantage: it is faster than any Aston Martin. At least in the multi-story car park it is.
If you have a real sense of humour, I believe there is a 4x4 option.
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Mr Clarkson gave it a v positive write up - His article was something along the lines of cars you could buy for less than your kitchen or holiday or something. Ie the idea that your car might not be the second most expensive purchase you make.
Topic,
" Ever seen evidence of care towards the next owner when looking at or buying a used car"
Lets qualify that,
I mean direct evidence of care beyond the normal servicing, that *could only be aimed at future owners.*
Examples of the opposite.
1) The guy who beats the daylights out of it as its going in for PX next week.
2) For a while i`ve been unable to grasp why someone ( other forums) would buy a new common rail diesel and then try to run it on cooking oil, with varying degrees of processing.
Then I understood it, the lowest common denominator at work. Young guys, usually still teenagers with a popular `in` car wanting the prestige of new, car bought by parents, or flush with money due to no commitments.
No regard, other than saving money *now*.
For the next 10 or 15 years the car goes on through buyers often financially stretched and likely someone picks up a big bill due to the first owners lack of care about future owners.
3) 18 months ago I looked at used cars for the first time ( before buying new again) There were engines with badly `salted` aluminium. Injector pipes on the engine badly rusted, that had only needed a squirt of WD 40 now and then to look pristine. Rusty brake pipes that had only needed a wipe of grease.
Subframes scabbed with corrosion on cars only a few years old.... why not hose underneath?
So, the opposite,
Any examples of care for future owners, that you may have come across, that went beyond being of benefit to the previous owner?
Regards
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I maintain 4 cars (swmbo,me, 2 sons)... and they are maintained mechanically to A1 condition. I clean swmbo's and mine.
BUT I only polish once a year, only clean under the bonnet if the dirt gets excessive around the various fluid orifices..
So the cars both externally and under bonnet look average.
Does it make them less reliable or pleasant to drive? No.
I've had old and vintage cars and lovingly polished etc because they were used rarely and the "ooh aaah" factor.
But do everyday using cars repay the effort? Welll yes... if you talk to your car...and if you are David Hasselhof.
I remember a Morris Minor 1000 owner (in the late 1960s:-) who regualrly polished everything under the bonnet - he bought the car from new. It shone. and shone.
the big ends went at 38k miles.
Waste of time and space...
madf
Hi all. this is my first posting on the site so treat me gently. My 1994 525tds that has done 300,000 miles has shed its fan/alternator/steering pump belt. Can't seem to find a manual for this car. Need to know how to fit the new belt. Have removed the undertray to get at crank pulley but think the tensioner has shifted and can't work out visually what the belt run should be or how to reposition the tensioner and set up the belt. If anyone has pictures, manual, instuctions would be v. grateful. Thanks
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www.mobikit.nl/atotz/rubriek_14/55/2/get.aspx
A bit small, but there you go. remember the aircon uses a separate belt.
You need to flatten the belt in a hairpin shape, and feed it through the tensioner and pulley mounting and then around the pulleys, ie you sort of thread it around the system using the path of the belt, rather than fit it on the front like jim'll fix it putting on a medalian.
Strange thing happened to me on the way to work this morning on the A14. I was going up the entry slip road to join the west bound carriageway at jct 13 and was behind a red transit works van of some sort. I was following at a safe distance, I wasn't tail gating him. As my car can accelerate quicker than this van I planned to go straight into the outside lane from the slip road. As we went up the slip road I looked over my shoulder to check the carriageway was clear for me to immediately change lane into the outside lane, I also checked both my mirrors to be sure-it was completely clear.
As we got towards the top of the slip road I obviously got a little closer to the van but I wasn't riding his tail. As soon as I got to the top of the slip road I went straight to lane 1, then to lane 2 (2 lane carriageway). As I went for lane 2 the guy in the van swerved violently like he was going to switch lane right in front of me. This caused me to lift off the throttle and slow, but he didn't enter my lane. As I then went past after it was clear he wasn't going to enter my lane he was giving me the old W hand gesture. I didn't react to this in any way, I just carried on.
I wondered why he did this-at first I thought there might have been a slow moving vehicle in front of him, meaning he needed to get straight into the outside lane also-there wasn't. Also there were no other vehicles around at that instant, nothing for him to pull into the outside lane to overtake. So given his actions combined with the hand gestured insult, it seems he deliberately swerved at me just to mess with me. Not a lot on the road baffles me like this-sometimes you cut people up, or do something daft and you expect it, but this was motiveless. I can only think I must have somehow threatened him on the slip road, maybe I was driving a little too close or something because he had anticipated what I was going to do before I did it and obivously didn't like it. Weird. Read more
Vainly, for the lunchbox.
Browse
Seen with my own eyes mate, followed a police car at 60mph on a 70 DC, we both took the sliproad off, in no hurry, up he comes to some lights on red and he flicks on the lights and goes through rather than have to bother himself by stopping. Turns them off once he's cleared the lights. Still in no hurry. Lights change a couple of seconds later and I follow him again, all the way to the sandwich shop where I pass him.
There's no way he was on a call when he turned his lights on and jumped the lights. I know and I saw what happened. "He might have got a call for those 2 seconds that he had the lights on, and then the call was cancelled" won't wash with me. He was just driving leisurely at a nice speed and couldn't be bothered to stop.
Don't say it never happens because everyone knows it does.