June 2008
May have already been brought up.
With everybody hyping about packaging at the supermarkets, all the large outlets and what goes in your bins etc. and what Carbon footprints etc etc etc.
But do you realise how much plastic/poly is in/on your new car when it arrives from overseas whether it be europe or far east. The roof, bonnet, tailgate, interior seats, dashboards, wheels, in the boot for wheel trims and accessories along with the other 1000 or so that come in on one ship for one manufacturer.
And how many manufacturers we have with the various models ie Corsa, Punto, Focus, Ka and Saab 900 etc. Then we the same going out as export.
I'd guess in one port there could be 5000/6000 vehicles arriving and leaving every week. But no one moans about that amount of protective material going in the bins and the amount of carbon is going to be produced to make the stuff and recycle it, if all is recycled??
Some manufacturers have a wax protection which is either washed off with
a hot water pressure wash using Gas Oil to heat producing carbon or a special acid has to be used first to dissolve the wax then pressure wash with Hot water.
So when are the car manufacturers going to get rid of the plastics/poly/wax covering to protect their cars just for you, so you can have gleeming shiny new car and contribute to the reductions in Carbon Emissions along with everybody else.
thanks
slt
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I am in my late 30s, a National of Nigeria that came to UK last year (2007) to join his wife and children with more than 18 years of unblemished driving experience in Nigeria. On getting a job, my name was added to the motor insurance policy of my wife (Vauxhall Astra 1997 Reg). By March this year (2008) I had done more than 25000 miles of motoring without any accident using my Nigerian driving license (which is valid for the first year only in UK). Two months ago, I got my full British driving license, having passed my driving test at first attempt. A month ago I bought a Honda Accord executive diesel 2005 Reg. Then my problem started. Almost all insurance companies refused to offer me motor insurance of any kind saying I was uninsurable including Churchill that had my name on their insurance register for almost a year. I got so frustrated that me and my wife decided that she would be the main insurance policy holder while I would be seconded to it for my own car, the insurance companies still refused to insure me against the car (in any capacity). I felt so frustrated , dejected and probably felt persecuted because I am not a British national. Eventually, Norwich Union said they would insure me if I was ready to do only comprehensive at a rate of almost 300 pounds per month. Somehow through Whatcar magazine I stumbled upon London Victoria who insured me comprehensively for 125 pounds per month after removing some of the perks. This is after two weeks of phoning and using insurance comparison websites like supermarket.com and compare.com. In fact my phone bills for last month was almost 60 pounds from calling insurance companies. One of the staff of one of the insurance companies told me that I was uninsurable because, they considered my an inexperience driver with a high performance car. Has anybody else encountered this kind of problem? Is this justified after driving for almost a year on UK roads without any incidents? Read more
FWIW, my wife is British born and bred, learned to drive and passed her test in Britain, and then worked in Africa for four years. When she came back, at least one major insurance company was not prepared to insure her to drive because she had recently lived in Africa. I was somewhat surprised.
By interesting co-incidence, we ended up insuring with Norwich Union.
Just of late I've noticed that traffic and pedestrian traffic signal seem to becoming increasingly badly positioned.
There are some new pedestrian crossing signals right in the centre of Leamington Spa, attached posts where you'd press the button if you'd like to cross. The problem is that I can't actually see them unless I bend down and look directly into the lights. Also they're positioned at the side rather than in front of you meaning its difficult to know which direction at a cross roads they are referring to. Just what was wrong with the old fashioned ones that everyone could see and understand?
Back to motoring... at an increasing number of junctions we seem to have the lights that are at the stop line, which means I've got to my head in increasingly funny positions and my eyes in the opposite direction. Is there a reason for this or am I going bonkers.
Other places in the world seem to be moving in the right direction with better lights, countdown timers, pedestrians that move in synchronous with traffic flow (reduces waiting time for everyone), yet we seem to be going backwards.
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And at a level which can be used by wheelchair users
It must be awkward for someone who has difficulty turning their head.
Hi
ive just bought a 75 saloon on an 03 plate
it has a rigid rear seat back, is it possible to
retro fit a split folding seat back, and what parts
might i need
thanks martin Read more
Hi Martin,
Did you ever find out the parts you needed?
I've just bought some second hand seats for my Rover 75 and I find myself in the same position. :-(
Any advice you may have acquired would be really useful.
Thanks,
Les
HELP.....We have a Scenic 1.9 dci 04 (35k)....it went wrong as we drove it off the forcourt at a non franchise dealers.
When driving at any speed or any gear it will completly lose all power & revs and go to idle speed....you cannot accelerate ...but have to take your foot tottaly off the gas then put it on again for it to pick up again.
Its been back to the horrid dealers twice....they put it into renault and it was given back to me ......no difference...just the same....Im completly fed up as we have to take it back a 3rd time.....we only bought the car 2 weeks ago its been back in the dealers for over a week.
Any ideas as to what the problem is please.
thanks guys
SadSan
{subject header amended to give a brief description of the question being asked} Read more
SadSan
The clue may be in the fact that it drops to idle speed. When the brake [and clutch] pedals are depressed, it cuts the fly-by-wire throttle to idle as a safety back-up.
Check the adjustment of the brake [and, if fitted, clutch pedal position sensors. Watching to see if the brake lights come on with only minimal pedal travel might be worthwhile. [Although there are two separate circuits in the switch.]
any one advise where to obtain some cheapish torx sockets on line
{question made general and not car specific} Read more
I bought a Draper set of security bits for about GBP6 (not their cheap range) which includes Torx to T40 and Hex to 6 mm AF. They are all marked Chome Vanadium.
The kit contains innumerable other security bits and totals about 30 pieces.
For the larger sizes where a torque wrench or considerable torque may be needed, I buy the ones with an integral 1/2" drive socket - Halfords sell a reasonable range. Generally, you only need a few of these so I buy them piecemeal.
659.
I have had my new Mazda 6 2.0 TS2 Petrol Estate now for 7 days and I am generally very impressed with it apart from a fault that it has developed with, what I believe to be the clutch. When I select reverse and go backwards at any speed other than really slow the clutch judders, sending vibrations through the car and gearbox. A couple of days ago the problem was only slight but this evening it was very concerning. I will be speaking to my dealer tomorrow but was wondering whether anyone else had noticed any shuddering?
My previous Mazda 6 would do it going forward when cold but I had hoped that they would have engineered out that problem. Read more
My Mazda has now been back at the dealer for nearly 3 weeks and both them and Mazda UK are unsure of what the problem is. Mazda have hired me a vehicle to be running around in while they speak to Mazda Japan, meanwhile, I have been considering my options and have decided to reject the vehicle. I am hopeful that Mazda will not put up a fight on the rejection issue and source me a new vehicle.
I know somebody who has had an minor accident, where the other person was at fault. The costs will be paid for by the other persons insurance. The no-claims won't be effected because they are protected so the person thinks that their renewal won't go up. What happens when they ask whether the person has been involved in an accident within 5 years? Surely that will put the cost up won't it? Read more
I suppose that insurance companies are too busy to treat their customers as individuals. I
read what PG says but if I was 2 miles away from my legally parked
car when it was scraped by a passing vehicle I'd be fairly aggrieved to be
considered "Accident prone)!
If you have one accident that is not your fault, it makes little or no difference. But if you have several, it suggests that you put yourself in the way of trouble e.g. parking your car in a dodgy area where crime is elevated etc. So the logic is reasonable.
Hi
I have the above car and was under the impression that is chain driven. However, I have just had a reminder from my local dealership to look into getting the cambelt replaced? Can anyone tell me if my car actually has a cambelt or where I can find out this information. The VW garages don't seem very sure.
Thanks
P2b Read more
Thanks again
Not what I wanted to hear but I am very grateful you have taken the time to reply. Very useful info indeed.
Apologies if this is a much-asked question...
Ever since my mates started having kids I've been mocking them for going out and changing their cars, not listening to their protestations about needing room for all of the kit etc which apparently comes free with children...? Anyway, you've guessed it - the wife is pregnant. With twins. With one I reckon we'd have been ok using either of our nice small cars (Clio and Micra), but with two I'm afraid I'm going to have to change my policy. The shame of it.
Anyway, I'm currently looking at reasonably priced 4x4s or estate cars, not really interested in people carrier type cars at the moment. Some more details, and I realise that I may need to be flexible with some of this...
* petrol engine (I'm planning on going LPG - or is that a whole other thread in itself?)
* economy would be nice of course (assuming here that more economical petrol engine = more economical lpg engine)
* not too many miles on the clock (preferably less than 30k)
* whatever features one needs from a car to keep two babies (and then kids, which I'm told they'll turn into) safe
* not too old (preferably around 3 years)
* looks are important, as is build quality
EDIT: Forgot to add the important bit - prefer to keep the budget to around £8k, but anything close enough is good enough.
Oh, if anyone knows where I can get the moon on a stick that would be appreciated too.
Not buying for another few months yet, so not looking for any offers at the moment.
So, any thoughts?
Thanks in advance,
chippy
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When thinking of what to buy do take
along the pram/buggy that you might have or at least borrow one as they take
up a huge amount of room.
The best ones are the "umbrellafold", lightweight as you can get, small when folded, 6m.o. and up, though. They are not as fashionable as these dirty heavy great moulded plastic things, but they're much better all around.
Browse
> This meant he only ever had
Ah, a trade secret goes west...:)
Can't leave keys in cars anymore, as apart from the security issue, so many of the blessed things lock themselves.
And 'back keying/locking' can be very dodgy on a multi drop when you arrive at a dealership only to find that the key for that car is 100 miles away at a previous drop point..doh.
I wouldn't of course know anybody who would do such a foolish thing :)