September 2008
Does anyone know the legal status of the "Watchman" speed camera?
I work in the Tameside area to the east of Manchester which is utterly infested with these things. They're painted all different colours, often green if they're among trees, carefully placed to be hard to see, and don't have the yellow panels on the back to make them obvious.
I've often wondered if they're not useable because in the past I've seen mobile speed cameras set up alongside the Watchmans (men?). But lately, there's been a flurry of activity with lots of yellow-coated bods working on them.
I'm not a speed demon by any means and I watch my speed all the time - but I do a lot of back-and-forth driving and only a moment's loss of concentration means 3 points!
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Just got back from a brilliant weekend completing the 45km "Peace Route" by bike. (Friday to Sunday) To say it was a humbling experience is to understate the gob smacking enormity of the conflict and the deaths of young men from 16 yrs of age (for heavens sake!). Took in Tyne Cot and the German cemetery at Langemark. Beautiful but bone numbingly awful at the same time. The ying and yang of the beauty, yet realising why they were there in the first place is a struggle to cope with. I marvel that even after all this time, such care is taken of the grounds. Will it ever end? I hope not.
However, the main point of my post is to hi-light the sympatico relationship between car drivers and cyclists. That also is a marvel to behold, unlike the constant battle in UK between unreasonably aggressive cyclists and car drivers. No one cut me up, no one gave me the finger nor the five knuckle shuffle, no one hooted at me. Lots of cycle lanes on main roads, common courtesy shown by cyclist and driver to each other. It is surely cyclist heaven. Every one knowing their place in the universe of the road. There are cycles everywhere, I even saw kids of about 7yrs or 8yrs old on country lanes on their bikes. At home I'd be having kittens at the mere thought of it. Cycling is ingrained in their mentality.
Can't wait to go back. i highly recommend the peace route by bike.....even on a Brompton! Read more
If anyone is interested, I edited some video I took on this trip, funked it up a bit and put it on the ubiquitous Youtube (well, at least it wasn't a happy slapping taken on my mobile!)
www.youtube.com/watch?v=TjAGEeE_YYQ
Why, when I courteously move to the middle lane to allow people to join the motorway, do people then try to undertake so preventing me from getting back into the left lane. Is it some sort of immediate show of "I'm intending to go fast and haven't got time to allow you pass" or is it "I don't need you to pull out for me as I will be travelling much faster than you anyway" I nearly got wiped out by one of these pfdswhen on realising he was closing very quickly on a lorry, he tried to make a gap for himself and forced me into the outside lane. So to all people who do this, I don't care how fast your car is, it is illegal and you are completely ignorant. There, got that off my chest.
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Sounds like one of those occasions where the other driver's "body language" makes all the difference - spotting where the other guy is on the scale between clueless>ditherer>I fancy myself (and what's more I've got a 16 valve engine)>Vectra on a mission>kneel before my Bavarian superiority.
If you've only got a split second then I guess make a little room/space for him and stay in control of the situation and then decide what you want to do when you've got time on your side.
My wife is the main user of our (new to us) Primera and complains of 2 distinct noises while driving, both of which stop when she touches the brake pedal but then frequently start again immediately.
These appear to begin only after the car has thoroughly warmed up because I have only experienced them intermittently on my (shorter) journeys.
One of the noises is a high-pitched drone, can be at any speed. Possibly triggered by cornering. I have a feeling it comes from underneath the car... thought it might be indicate worn wheel bearing but jacked up the front last night and they both feel ok. Could it be a "harmonic" vibration in the exhaust or something like that?
The other noise is more of a whistle or squeak, perhaps more likely to be coming from the engine. I'm worried about timing-chain/tensioners but maybe that's just paranoia...
Any advice welcomed so I can perhaps investigate myself before passing the problem to the garage.
Perhaps it is not a coincidence that the ABS warning light is on quite often, but the brakes themselves feel ok and don't judder, squeal or anything when applied.
Thanks, Nick.
slt
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Perhaps it was obvious.... Front pads etc. cleaned, new pads to rear (lipped disk) and presto it's fixed.
Fin.
A regulation forcing carmakers to cut average CO2 emissions to 130g/km for their model ranges, or face hefty fines, has been declared illegal. That was the decision of the EU Parliament's Legal Affairs Committee which met last week, prompting fears that negotiations on targets, fines and start-dates may have to start from scratch next year.
Source: Just-auto.com
So, an EU committee does not agree with the EU regulations ?
Anyone else smell something bad ? Someone, somewhere has spotted a missed opportunity and wants to renegotiate I suspect. Read more
***** This thread is now closed, please CLICK HERE to go to Volume 9 *****
This is a sub forum to discuss the problems associated with the ever increasing cost of fuel.
This is Volume 8. It will be locked after 100 replies and another volume opened.
Usual rules apply.
Any newly opened threads surrounding fuel costs will be moved in here.
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Just seen two filling stations selling diesel for 99.9 a litre.
Anyone seen fuel cheaper?
I'd like to change my Mondeo. It's a 2005 05 Ghia X with 37k miles, FSH and factory optional 18" alloys, Sony 6cd (in dash) and xenon (HID) lights.
It;'s the 2.2 diesel so it has pretty good performance and economy and low road tax.
Most trade guides put it around £7k as a trade in. I took it back the car supermarket I bought it from and was offered £5.5k - this is quite a loss on a car I paid them £12.5 for 2 years ago, although not as bad as the fact the list price was around £22 k then.
I really want a 2.7 XJD Jag - local Jag dealer has one he wants 18.5 k for but he only wants to offer a similar trade on my Mondy.
Am I expecting too much or do I just need to be more pushy?
As an aside, I often wonder how magazines and guides calculate residual values especially on stuff like Mercedes and BMW - I have never known anyone pay list for these cars - but it that taken into account in the retained value I wonder? Read more
On the VED - it's in band D now and H after the new rules - £145 now and will be £180 in 2010 my o/h's Astra (which is slower and less economical) is £180 now so it's hardly excessive!
I've just had the rear suspension bushes on my fiesta replaced as they were completely shot. The car thankfully no longer sways about but the suspension feels really hard over any little bump in the road, noticably much more than before the suspension problem. Is this just the normal outcome replacing the bushes?
Moved over from Discussion to Tech - Year and model would be useful Read more
New bushes will mean firmer stiffer ride.... your'll feel the bumps more, but the car won't 'bang and knock as much'
normal.. :0)
Ok, I just need a bit of clarification as I'm a puzzled person at the moment! A friend of mine has just bough a new Rio and has told me that its as big as her Dad's Astra (2004 model)... now the old Rio (up to 2005) had a bigger version with a large boot, over 400l, but as far as I'm aware the new one is purely a supermini with a 270l boot, so I can't see her claim as being right!
I've checked on the Kia website and they only list the small one, not the "extended" one, so I'm not sure what she has bought! Anyone know if they are still producing the older one or if she is just getting a bit dippy in her old age?! Read more
Looking at it it was the same as my Fabia estate and about the same vintage, and like the Fabia had decent boot space unlike the 206sw! - I did look at it but they didn't do a diesel version at the time.
I've been offered this at work:
black 1996 VW Polo 1.4CL
72000+
miles and has had the following work done.
New timing belt and water pump.
New carburettor.
Taxed until July 2009. Mot due Aug 2009.
Scratch marks on front n/s bumper.
£850 no less <- dunno if he means, he won't take anything less or not here.
Is this a good deal? What else should I look out for?
Thanks,
Luke. Read more
I don't actually know the person selling it. He just works for the same place (big place).
Luke.
They are not approved yet...