I posted this under the fuel price thread, but feel that it merits its own, as it is a serious matter that most of us would rather ignore.

I read an article in 2000 about Peak Oil (when global consumption exceeds production) and quite a few authorities on the matter reckon we've already reached it, which is one of the reasons why prices are rising. I also just found this very sobering article about the impact of peak oil and what will happen after:
www.unicamp.br/fea/ortega/eco/traducao-DieOff.pdf )

A very good reason to buy small v. ecomomical cars and save energy wherever and whenever possible. There is a crisis imminent unless we get our heads out of the sand, recognise it and do something about it and quick.

Apart from the article above (written by an American) other reasons to economise fuel use on all fronts ie domestic too:

global warming
do our bit to help the balance of trade
fuel security (less reliant on imports)


Read more

I need to put 2 new tyres on my 2002 Rover 75 2.0 diesel for as little as possible. I do mainly local journeys and cover around 14K miles a year. What tyres do Backroomers suggest? I am looking to spend around £50 a corner and have found several well known brands in my price range, namely Avon, Yokohama, Goodyear, Firestone, Uniroyal, Pirelli or Dunlop. Obviously I'd like something hard-wearing but not too noisy or that gives a hard ride.

Any advice on what to go for or avoid would be appreciated as I know nothing about tyres!! Cheers. Read more

I have a small problem on Ford Fiesta mk4: the cabin fan is not working at positions 1 and 3, it works on 2 and 4.

I heard that that is a common problem - that the resistors burn out. Where are they, how can I find them?

Thanks. Read more

I fix and repair computers for a living as well as all the usual network/software stuff. There are certain jobs I dread as I either cannot make much money out of, or is more trouble than its worth.

Is their any cars like this? I can imagine the Citroen XM/Renault Safrane are quite dreaded.

Equally what jobs do you love doing and can make a lot of money out of? I love working in big houses as they usually have lots of computers all need looking at but not much wrong with them etc. Read more

A couple of oil companies made about £7billion profit in first quarter of this year - that's about £28 billion per year. That's a lot, thinks I on hearing it being discussed on radio news but at least only a small proportion comes from petrol and diesel sales; at least these companies do the exploration, the drilling, refining, distribution, and the oil is turned into a multitude of different products etc., etc and they are huge companies who employ thousands and pay dividends to shareholders (including my pension fund I hope).
And then someone pointed out that the Gov made £25 billion from fuel tax last year (on much lower prices) and would make a nice little bonus on the increased prices this year for doing nothing except collecting the tax - and I wondered - who is ripping off who? Are the oil companies ripping us off? Or is it someone else? And then I started thinking of what I get for all this tax, especially since I am I am lucky enough not to have been to the doctors for a few years.................and then I got home and had a glass of wine and a little cigar which cheered me up a bit (especially since I bought them in France at about £7 for 5 litres and 6 euros for 20 cigars - less than half the price here).
Sorry to burden you with my rambling - but it gets it off my chest which is more than the cigars do!
Read more