How pure is the water that is collected in a condensing tumble dryer? Is it likely to contain fluff? I'm wondering whether it would be better for use in a washer bottle than tap water.
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L\'escargot. Read more

I'd decided a few months ago that I wanted a new toy. The basic requirements were that t had to have a 0-60m time o less than five seconds, be a little unusual and less than about £20k. I like unusual things, some would say it matches my personality and I'd not disagree with them.

I'd been keeping my eye on ebay for a few things, I did bid on a Caterham 7 but got outbid. Still the seller ended up a few hundred better off than he would otherwise have been but I really wanted something a little more radical, so radical that I even considered a Radical, but road legal ones are rare and I really didn't want to shell out for a brand new one, even though I could have stretched to it. Arials also got considered but I never quite found the time to go and look at any of the few that I've seen for sale until it was too late. Real life kept getting in the way.

I've just taken delivery of my new toy, a 2001 Porsche Boxster S, procured slightly accidentally from a dealer friend who phoned me from the auction recently and asked me if I fancied one and on the spur of the moment I decided that I did.

It was cheap, well below trade book so on paper I've got a bargain, but I bought it for some fun, not as an investment, so how I'll concentrate on telling you what it's like to drive.

It's not that quick, similar real world performance to the 1700cc Caterham I had a few years back but as you're rear end is about twice as far from the tarmac then it seems a lot slower. Similar speed to the first Imprezza I had and slower than the second that had been chipped to about 260bhp. It's still a lot lot faster than the vast majority of cars on the road. It's still a tortoise compared to the GT3 I had but its vastly more livable with.

I had the roof down during the morning run, put about 40 miles on the clock on mostly B roads with a couple of short lengths of dual carriageway in between. Its definitely at its happiest on smooth roads but much less fussy about typical B road undulations than the Imprezza, where you're let with the feeling that there's rarely more than one wheel in contact with the tarmac for long periods of time. The heater was enough to keep me warm in the chill autumnal air. It's also unlikely to shake your kidneys out, which was a permanent likelihood in the Caterham.

I did have grief when I stopped for petrol, took me a while to work out how to open the fuel filler flap and I cursed leaving the manual at home, but I got there in the end. Rear visibility with the hood up on the way home isn't brilliant but the side mirrors are adequate for reversing and as long as there aren't blue flashing lights behind me then I'm not overly concerned about what is. There's also an acceptable level of luggage room, more than enough for a weekend break for two, though insufficient room for a set of golf clubs, so its reasonably practical provided you're not Tiger Woods.

There's plenty of grunt from the engine from low down but it only comes alive at about 5000rpm when its really breathing deeply. There's something that just doesn't feel quite natural with the handling. It happens during the turn in when the back end feels like it wants to step out but doesn't, though it gives the impression that the slightest provocation would kick the back end out of line. I decided that I wouldn't apply the provocation today, though it'll happen soon enough no doubt.

Overall its a lot of fun on the road and seems to be comfortable enough to live with. I'll keep the Mondeo for most of the 30,000 miles a year that I do, but for sunny days out when I'm not carrying too much then the Boxster will get enough of an airing. It fits in the garage too, now that I've cleared a lot of junk out of there, though I might move my massive (think half an oil drum on a stand) bbq into a shed to allow more than an inch to spare. First I need to buy a shed.

I'll keep you in touch with how I get on with it, especially when I find out a little more about its perceived handling quicks. So its not quite what I set out to get, though that's so often true in so many things in life, I only need think back to some of my ex's. Hopefully the reliability, maintenance costs and the cost to change will be slightly lower than some of those.




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I read often, only post occasionally Read more

Just wondering if anyone can help. My rain sensitive windscreen wipers are doing my head in!! My symptoms are: - they jump around and stop where they like as if they don?t know where the parking position is. There is a clicking noise, sounds like a relay, which I think it might be causing it.

Any help would be appreciated and if im right could you tell me where and which relay it is and the best place to source one.

Thanks Alec
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Hi, I am currently downgrading my car and am wondering which of the following is a better buy...

Megane 1.6 Dynamique 5dr, 06-reg, 15,000 miles, £6,600.
C4 1.6 VTR+ Coupe, 05-reg, 25,000 miles, £6,600.
Focus 1.6 Ebony 3dr, 03-reg, 33,000 miles, £5,000.

The Focus is the better driver's car, but with the lack of warranty I am a bit worried about future bills, though I am aware the Megane is possibly far worse in this respect, it'll have a warranty til Feb 09, and is the facelifted version (so perhaps they fixed some probs?). I like the look of the C4, but have no idea about reliability of the cars. They are all well equipped in different ways, the Focus with leather heated seats and screen, the C4 and Megane in safety stuff and various extra little things, see-me-home lights, cruise control, etc. I prefer the Megane's gearshift, but the Citroen's steering and pedals are better, though the Focus is better handler (though with the harshest ride).

Obviously I don't want to pay over the odds, or spend more than I have to, but which is the better car? Read more

I have a renault clio 2003 03 plate dynamique with some crash damaged now repaired i fitted a new carbon cannister + evap valve but i think i may have a pipe missing, i have a pipe +wire loom plug on the valve on the top, but on the cannister i have only one pipe but looks like there should be 2 can any one help???

Also when i was running the engine up all was going good no air locks and fan cut in, after finishing this i turned the engine off for ten mins the on restarting the accelerator does not work at all can any one help???
SLT Read more