September 2007
Hi,
does anyone know if the spark problem of the Ford KA has been solved on newer models or is it still advisable to remove and copperslip the threads.
Thanks,
Mark
{Slight amendment to header to remove all the different KA's - DD} Read more
Perhaps one of you might be able to enlighten me on this...
I have noticed over the last few weeks, several strange convoys of executive cars using the Derby - Ashbourne - Leek - Macclesfield road and hav'nt a clue what it could possibly be about.
The convoy contains about 10 Mercedes C320CDI's, all of which are filthy, have a small aftermarket stick on type reflector located in the middle of the rear bumper (the area around which is kept clean), all cars contain only one occupant (the driver), who is normally dressed in a shirt/tie. I would not have thought that these are chauffeur cars judging by the filthy state of them.
On other occasions I have noticed a similar procession on the same route made up of S Type Jags.
Just seems a little weird when you see it.
Suggestions? Read more
I'm sure I remember my father telling me that they used to test brake materials in that part of the world. Ferrodo, was it?
Evening all,
I was doing a job in London last weekend for the rugby and we were staying at the Jurys Inn hotel at Heathrow. The tour company had assured my boss that there was parking for my coach at the hotel but on arrival I was told that if I left my coach in the car park it'd be blown up by BAA! I was then advised to park on the A30 in a layby about a mile from the hotel. The A30 is a red route clearway and the layby I parked in had thick white dashed lines separating it from the carriageway and thinner dashed lines within the layby for parking in. The layby was full so I had to circle for a while until the space at the head of the layby became free. I couldn't fit my coach fully into the inner dashed line section, with the front end (probably less than a car length) sticking out at the front. The whole of the coach was, however, fully within the actual layby with no portion of it whatsoever encroaching on to the carriageway. Anyway, I came back the next morning to find a parking ticket on the screen. The reason for issue was 'allowing a vehicle to stop on a red route clearway'. This seems ridiculously harsh as no part of the coach was on the actual carriageway. Anyway, I took plenty of photos to show the position of the vehicle and to show that there were no signs to say that all vehicles must be parked within the inner marked bay.
Do I have a realistic chance of getting the the ticket cancelled? I hope so as if I have to pay it then I've just done a weekend's tour for half price! Read more
Not really wolfie. If you are outside a bay you are outside a bay, and into the red route regulations. Lets be honest here mate - It was a pretty poor choice of parking.
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< Ex RF, Ex TVM >
I have not long come back from a most pleasant motoring holiday in the Scottish Highlands. Based primarily near Fort William, at one point we went up the east coast, north of Inverness, through the middle to to top of Scotland (Tongue) and back down the west coast via Ullapool and then back to Fort William, over several days.
Most of the roads were single track and would invariably have police signs stating 'Allow overtaking' with a wee diagram showing a passing place being used. On the main A82, (Fort William to Inverness) there was even a big yellow sign saying 'Frustration causes accidents, allow overtaking'.......and yet........
English tourist numpties insist on ignoring it.........(and i'm English myself)
all the locals play the game and do it very well...and most of the time it was me pulling over for a local as we were looking at the stunning scenery and in no real hurry.....however on day 3 of that jaunt, realising we had over a 100 miles to do on those roads and were meeting relatives at a hotel and wanted to have a bit of quality time at the other end, i decided to push on a bit
twice we got deliberately held up by total carphounds (sorry Lud, i know i've nicked your terminology) who refused to play ball and seemed to go out of their way to keep me behind them....one even deliberately speeding up at a brief two laned bit....WHY?
i could see him and his ugly missus chittering on about it when i eventually got past, couple in their late 50's early 60's.......i'll admit to being most unproffessional with my hand signals when he gave me a load of main beam......why oh why does it bother him what i'm up to?
old twit doesn't even realise it's him committing the offence of 'driving without reasonable consideration for other road users' s3 RTA 1988
there i feel better now
Read more
"Perhaps they're Welsh or Irish numpties, Scottish numpties out to irritate tourists like you, or foreign tourist numpties in hired cars?"
Irish numpties are easily spotted by the numberplates [there usually "D" for "Dublin" in the middle], and hire cars by the badge on the back window :-)
Look out for the incognito Hertz hire cars that have a round yellow badge with the number 1 rather than the company name...if driving 20mph below the limit and slowing down for every signpost doesn't give it away...
Personally, what I find even more annoying than the driving Westpig describes is the motorist that crawls along like a hedgehog caught in the headlights along regional roads, then suddenly becomes a fully paid up member of the road rage brigade as soon as he gets back into the familiar territory of a dual carriageway or motorway. Those cursed Dublin reg cars again :-)
tinyurl.com/2eyn6x
This looks like a useful idea, but I would think looking for a parking space, for example, would best be done when you need it i.e. from your mobile in your car. This looks like a major distraction. What with the SatNav and now the Mobile Internet phone not much time left now to look where you are going. Could always give SWMBO the Internet Phone and the map to manage, I guess.
We have just finished a thread about a teenage girl jailed for Death by Dangerous Driving whilst using her phone.
Any comment on this new mobile service from Berkshire?
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I've noticed a few of these last week, they're usually on wheels, so most likely a temporary warning. Are these primarily aimed at holiday traffic and if so why not use the permanent electronic signs which tell us to Take a Break, or that there's a non-existent queue ahead. Read more
"CARS: if you're not prepared to do 70mph
get the pink fluffy dice out of the middle/outer lanes!!"
They wouldn't understand jase1. They think they have a 'right' to waddle along in the way because they're incompetent or wimpish. Actually the sign should be before the entry to the motorway and should divert those who can't drive at the ludicrously low nsl onto alternative routes.
new drivers may face a big increase in the fees for their driving tests. The Driving Standards Agency wants people's views as part of a consultation process. It aims to raise the basic car practical test to £56.50 and increase the theory test up to cost to £30, meaning the total will be £86.50.
nice Read more
" Added to the cost of the lessons and the insurance once they've passed and its a wonder that anyone bothers at all."
Exactly, that's what they want - to stop motoring!
anybody seen these or have i been asleep?
M6 motorway signs give drivers journey times
Drivers on the M6 in the North West can now see electronic road-side signs that give real-time messages to says how long a journey will take. Read more
M40.
i have always been wary of these things and now i am extra wary
quote
Limo operator fined £14k
A limo operator has been fined £14,200 including costs. mr @@@@@ trading as @@@@ @@@@, got a £10,200 fine plus £4,000 costs for offences including driving without insurance, fraudulent use of registration plates, fraudulent use of Vehicle Excise Duty and no PSV operator licence or Certificate of Initial Fitness to show that his vehicle met Public Service Vehicle standards. He also got 31 points on his driving licence. A stretched limo with eight or less passenger seats is normally licensed by local authorities as a Private Hire Vehicle. With more than eight passenger seats it is classed as a Public Service Vehicle, will need a COIF and will be licensed by the Traffic Commissioners.
unquote"
the names have been removed to protect the guilty,please consider the above before you let your children go in these things
i thank yee
Subject line altered to reflect the topic - PU Read more
31 points on licence!! 12 points = a year ban so he will be banned for 2 1/2 years then?
I like big cars but only because of the width , not the length or height. In fact I'd prefer to buy a corsa size car but only if it was the same width as say a 5 or 7 series. Why is it manufacturers seem to think that only small people drive small cars since I've yet to find a small car I could sit in without the arms of the person next to me getting in the way of my arm and the gearshift! Read more
I do now realize the ill-effects of obesity :)
Thanks for your replies
Mark