November 2008
SWMBO just burst out laughing while watching the Argos "strip the filling station for last minute presents" advert. Fortunatly she is easily amused, (and doesnt read HJ). Anyone got other amusing motoring adverts? Read more
Hello,
Perhaps a daft question, but is it possible to lubricate the various motors in a car(not just my model)
ie windscreen washer pumps, electric window/sunroof motors?
They eventually sieze, so surely a bit of oil would go a long way to preventing that. They are not cheap to replace. Read more
"now this company is italian.... I'll say no more!"
Tell that to Fiat (Ferrari) in Formula 1 - the car behind - some way
back - is a Toyota...
...... The Ferrari F1 team tend not to use 50p components, especially on the sunroof ;-)
... although the Toyota F1 team may well do.....
Seriously though, Italians and electrics tend to be an iffy combination.
For the beemer people here.
Is the aux belt tensioner on the 318 tds the same as the 325 td?
This item seems to be as rare as hens teeth even tho its a common weak spot.
Any info appreciated.
volume of header turned down Read more
Does anybody share my fascination with this - the worlds largest diesel engine, including pictures of the build. Sits in the Emma Maersk container ship, I think.
people.bath.ac.uk/ccsshb/12cyl/
Sorry, I'm not very computer literate but paste this in your browser. hopefully! Read more
I believe they are referred to as Cathedal Diesels. Robbie Coltrane covered them in a series he did on engines a while back: Coltrane's Planes and Automobiles. The DVD is available and you can see one running both in factory and installed.
My daughter was turning left - indicating - from the nearside lane to enter her drive across a cycle path when a moped coming from behind hit her - her fault of course. By good fortune the rider was OK except a graze.
The rider has agreed that my daughter pay for the damage to his machine.
But is it the case that mopeds can legally be driven in cycle lanes?
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Whose fault it is when something like this happens is not really the point. It
matters far less than the damage to someone's bike car or organism.
I agree, Lud, but in this case both have come out reasonably in one peice... perhaps both of them may have learnt something from it as well?
Recently attended a speeding seminar after being flashed for 35 in a 30. Very informative and well worth avoiding the 3 points.
Most of the other deligates had been done for 10% +2mph one guy 79mph on a motorway.
I was just wondering if any of the stories about people being done for just 1 or 2 mph over the limit were true. Read more
I have to doubt its authenticity. Far to easy to challenge a camera clocking you
at 3mph over a 70mph limit.
I was puzzled too, and suggested challenging it. The answer I got was "too much hassle", which made sense because at the time this self-employed person was having to concentrate on a big battle with the tax man, who has great difficulty in understanding that some self-employed people really do make sod all money :(
Personally, I'll still give the balance-of-doubt to my friend, and assume that Lothian+Borders are indeed issuing NIPs from some cameras at less than the 10%+2 ACPO guidelines. YMMV
Part of the M42 is shut after a six-vehicle crash sent marshmallows and beer spilling out onto the carriageway.
The northbound stretch was closed at junctions 10 and 11, near Tamworth Services, after several lorries and a van collided at about 0400 GMT.
The Highways Agency said delays of about 30 minutes were expected and the section of road was likely to remain closed until Friday afternoon.
Drivers are being advised to use alternative routes.
this is no Friday joke.
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Yes, you have a point there, AE - oil being generally of a higher class than dishwater.
I have found that with all these speed restrictions and cameras around that I was spending far too much time looking at the speedo trying to keep within the limits. This was seriously impairing observation and I am now trying to only glance at it quickly and concentrate on looking where I am going! It's so easy to slip into bad habits. Read more
I spend far more time glancing at my speedo now
than I did say in the 70's and 80's.
I'd suggest that there are a couple of other reasons for that other than speed cameras, though... firstly the cars in those days weren't generally as fast, meaning slower overall traffic and I can remember that keeping an Austin 1300, Escort 1.3, Mini 1000 or even a 1600 Cortina or Capri to 30 was a doddle compared with a modern small car... gearing more suitable to low speeds, perhaps?
And secondly there were less speed limits!
I might need to replace my son's 1.4 8v Megane due to electrical problems (hopefully now solved, but time will tell!). Reliability is key as he's not mechaically-minded. I've read recent threads about various japanese cars, but going through the CBC guide I notice that the Focus in general seems pretty reliable. I don't want to go above insurance group 4 so that limits the Foci that are suitable to the 1.4. My specific question is as above - is the 1.4 reliable and trouble free, and how would it compare in performance terms to the Megane? It's going to have to be an early one (98-00) so I realise it won't be in the first flush of youth....but the Megane is 1996 so it's a step in the right direction! Read more
i think your son would be well please with the ford after the megan. Even
the 1.4 handles well. That muppet from TG even has/had one as his runabout. Servicing
and consumables are likely to be a wee bit cheaper also.
Well, to be fair, the Megan is a reasonable drive (HJ seems to think so in the CBC breakdown, and I find it quite fun) - it will spin along at 70 easily once it gets there, and generally handles and drives well. It's also pretty safe (4 star NCAP, low death rate).
Have you actually checked the insurance premiums as the 1.6 is only group 5 so
might not be much more and it would give you far more choice.
Yes I have. It came up at more than group 5 I'm positive (tried Thatcham and HJ). But he is still a student as well, so not counted as a good risk (although he is a competent and safe driver).
And remember because its a popular ford provided its got an MOT it will still
be worth something in a few years time when he's ready for something new.
When he's got a job & is earning money more like!
Hello Folks,
I've just been reading a motoring magazine in which it suggested that VW/Audi FSI/TFSI engines should be run on high octane fuel. It claims that using regular unleaded will cause running or starting problems. Anyone got any ideas on this. I always thought it was only high performance cars that benefited from this?.
Read more
After posting this question on here I have been using the Super unleaded. I have not done any particularly accurate fuel consumption tests - but there is a noticable rise in fuel economy when running on the higher rated fuel, if i had to put a figure on it i would say about an extra 50 miles per tank. thus the extra cost is offset by this, and hopefully i'll still have an engine after 3 years!.
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