September 2008
I have just sat the Dartford Knowledge test and they failed me on the following questions,any opinions
1) you are approaching a sharp left hand bend along a road without footpaths on which side off the road would you expect to see pedestrians.(Left or Right) I answered left however DBC says it is Right.
I feel the answer can be left or right
The Highway code page 5 rule 2 " if there is no pavement keep to the righthand side of the road."In this instance the answer would be left.
However the rule goes on to say IT MAY BE safer to cross the road well before a sharp right hand bend.
Therefore the answer would be "right"
The highway code says MAY not MUST so the answer could be left or right.
2) when can you park your car on the road without lights.
a)when street lights are no more than 180 metres apart
b)subject to a 30 m.p.h
c)A and B
The answer is (b) but it could also be (a) therefore (c)
The highway code rule 124 page 41 "the presence of street lights GENERALLY means a 30 m.p.h limit
Therefore the answer could be (a) as the speed limit could be 30 m.p.h but you would have to check before parking.
Your thoughts please
made make/mode non-specific
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You know the type, you would'nt notice them unless you were looking for them but they are annoying as you know they are there....
The lacquer has been marked but the paint underneath is not. Anyone know of any products that can remove these scratches painlessly? I am loathe to try any touch up pens as it is a new car and I don't want to end up making it look worse than it is!
Thanks in advance. Read more
SQ
Seconded.
Thirded.
If you tax or SORN on-line or by phone this month:
tinyurl.com/6g5rgr
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Thanks for that DH.
It's just reduced your chance of winning by one more entry ;>)
I was recently left without a car as the old one died, so a few weeks shopping around and eventually got a great deal, however, two of the cars I viewed were: 1998 Rover 620 and 1995 Lexus LS400 - both of which were ready to die also. Always loved big luxury cars but could never quite afford these when they came out new (being 17/18 at the time) and no other current luxury car "does it for me". In other words, would rather spend £500 - £900 on one of these than £30k on a BMW, Audi, or Mercedes (not that I have £30k).
I keep having dreams about owning a car like one of these, constantly look for cheap deals on auction websites / car websites, watching similar cars being renovated on Wheeler Dealer, checking out parked cars, and going round second hand dealers.
Is this really strange that I'd fantasise about having one of these as a second car just for fun and the odd drive out in the country but not a permanent every day car? Can't help but think it is a stupid obsession, and don't know the first thing about the mechanical side. Read more
Have you seen the price of chips recently...now £1.30 a bag at my local chippy.
I've always believed that the best time to check my oil level was before going out in the car, that way the oil has all drained into the sump and the reading will be accurate.
I checked it recently one morning and it was a bit low, I drove to work and then checked it again before taking it out at lunch and it was full although the oil on the stick at lunch looked thinner than the oil from the morning.
So, when is it best to check it?
Actually the car's been burning oil in the mornings but I think that's a valve stem seal problem as it's got 115k on the clock. Read more
I just checked the hand book, mine says the same as yours.
I've been topping it up to full when cold, so I've been overfilling it, suspect that might have added to my oil burning in the mornings.
Happy lunchtime to one and all!
I've just bought a Saab 9000 which I'm really happy with but the passenger door doesn't unlock with the remote central locking. I've an idea that it may be the solenoid but can any of you good folk perhaps give me a vague indication of what it may cost to put right and is it something that I could attempt myself? I did service my own cars back in my callow youth but haven't picked up a spanner in nigh on ten years.
Also the nearside ABS sensor is playing up - how much do you reckon for that?
As always, cheers in advance for your advice. Read more
For my particular circumstances, MoreThan gave the best combination of price vs. cover in 2007, so I paid them £76 via their web site.
I only got a renewal invitation by post (curiously no email) this year wanting £78, but the letter had no internet renewal facility - it just said phone 0800....and renew for £78. A mere £2 more.
Mmm........I thought. I went to their web site, and under the "where did you hear about us" section I ticked the existing customer option and was asked to pay £67 which I did.
First it was £2 more than and it became £11 less than.
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3 years ago (and for 20+ years) I was with Direct Line /Green Flag - same Co owned by RBS.
Renewal for 2 cars inc Home Start £120
Web - £98 so they matched it
Following Year DL £122 - Green Flag Web £91 for new customer but DL would not match so I changed to GF
This year GF wanted £102 but new cust is £78 -they would not take me as a new cust so I enrolled in wife's name.
Next year no doubt I will have to enrol as a new customer in my own name.
E-sure Car Ins is similar story - renewals £171 knocked down to best E-sure web price of £158 on the Nissan and from £168 to £141 on the Mazda.
2 x 2 ltr+ cars for under £300 fully Comp - less than 50% of what I paid 10 years ago despite having a full NCB in 1998.
The web comparison sites certainly has reduced Car Ins / Breakdown in my case.
Our 10 year old Sharan needs a new transmission, so we need to buy a newer MPV. I do a lot of motorway journeys, otherwise I'm driving in London. For that reason the automatic Sharan has been great.
I'd like another automatic, and for 8 years the Sharan was relatively trouble free. I'm looking for a car that's about 3 years old.
Does anyone have thoughts on what the newer Sharan's are like, or suggestions on other MPV's to consider would be very welcome.
We need to buy asap. Getting to a dealer out of London is ok.
Many thanks!
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If the rest of the car is in good condition it may be worth considering a recon/exchange from a specialist dealer. With higher depreciation and road tax on the newer vehicle you could save money!
Last August, 2007, prior to wife's car insurance expiring I searched via Confused.com and was offered a quote from Zurich, good cover, cheaper than her renewal and £50 in M&S vouchers, a good deal.
This year I searched via Confused.com again and was again offered a Zurich quote and it was for less than the Zurich renewal and again offered £50 in M&S vouchers.
I called Zurich to ask why the Confused quote was less than the renewal (same details exactly) to be advised that we could take out a new policy at the lower price AND get the M&S vouchers however if we renewed the existing policy we would pay the higher price sans vouchers.
Guess what we have done ...
The daft thing is Zurich want us to send them the Zurich renewal as proof of my wife's NCD. Read more
I was unable to get the M& S vouchers I shall not insure with Zurich next time.


As with all exams or tests - the examiner or the person marking it has guidelines, rules and answers that they have to stick to.
So they are looking for the answer as written down in the study materials available.
Not what you think or even feel they should be.
After the test/exam you can do just as you please ;-) most people do anyways!