November 2008
Any tales from your earliest experiences of motoring are welcome. I'd also like to hear how things have changed over the years for the novice motorist.
-How long did it take you to pass?
-Who taught you at home and how did you get on with them?
-Any near misses?
-Funny stories?
Nothing of much interest from me I'm afraid. Got on fine with the old man, passed first time, no crashes. I'm sure some didn't have it quite so easy.
Read more
How far does a car have to depreciate before it's worth less than what it cost to make in the first place?
Read more
As jbif says: as soon as there's a name on the V5 - the vehicle doesn't have to move a wheel.
(assuming that 'cost to make' all costs up to retail seller)
Slightly OT - I foresee the 'classic' stainless steel/glass/pot plant dealerships being a thing of the past soon (checkout the tenses in that!), with a new 'Aldi' type dealership (as distinct from the car-supermarket model) coming to the fore. Perhaps even a Skoda-risation of the entire industry.
According to one daily paper
Shares in Accident Exchange (Provide cars to innocent 3rd parties whilst car is being fixed) fell by about 1/3rd to 14p.
Reasons given include less accidents (& therefore less hiring of cars) due to credit crunch - people driving less and slower - hence less accidents.
Read more
I expect injuries and deaths to fall a bit too. Wait for the 'safety' camera
partnerships to claim the glory rather than lower traffic volumes.
In 2009 Insurance premiums will fall in line with fewer accidents.
Pigs are lined up and ready to fly!
I nearly crashed my car when I heard those words on the radio as part of a job ad tonight for driving instructors, together with the stipulation that a UK or EC licence is required.
I've just checked the ad on line and it's true.
So you can learn to drive on the right and (apart from our Irish chums) not have English as your mother tongue, then get more than 6 points on your licence and you still might be OK to train others how to drive?
I'm trying not to sound like a mad bloke down the pub/Daily Mail reader but, you know........?
Read more
Thanks for those replies. I hadn't thought about it in those terms before and it's quite depressing that more than a few people will blow a pay-off on this kind of thing.
ive got an astra 1999 ls td estate 1.7td its the none isuzu
it has the wrong diesel pump in it and im really struggling to find the part number or anything so i can get the right pump for the car?
does it have to be an exact match to a part number? Read more
wayne you have e-mail !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Car is a 2003 Passat 1.9 TDI 130 - thought I'd try it on BP Ultimate diesel to see what it was like. Plus side was a very quiet engine when cold... and that was about it.
Performance fell off, economy dropped by about 10%, and it developed a really irritating surging in second gear when feathering the accelerator pedal, something I suspect is due to the fly-by-wire system.
Anyone else had a similar experience? Read more
I find that the only detectable change in my MPG appears to be caused by the difference between summer/winter. A gradual deterioration, from August thru to now, of about 5 mpg.
Regularly I see mention on here of the versatility of cars, usually when someone suggests they want car A, and one of the answers usually being is it suitable for a trip to the tip?
Now maybe this is just a "saying" but I cannot remember the last time I had to put stuff in my car to take to the tip! OK that is maybe partly due to my neighbour setting fire to my house recently and doing a darned good job of it, but is the occasional trip to the tip really a factor to be taken into account when buying a new car, especially if it puts you off your dream saloon / sports / 2 seater purely for that reason? Read more
Ours is block paved :oO
so is ours but its the "bricks in muddy potole" pattern
Hi All
My steering column has started juddering whilst the car is idling.
(It probably does it whilst on the move, but the road surface hides this.)
I'm SURE that it wasn't like this before.
The car is two months old from brand new, and has covered 3,500 miles.
It has a 1.5 diesel engine.
Can anyone enlighten me of what it might be, or it is an over reactive imagination.
Regards
Paul Read more
I took it back and they said that there is nothing wrong with it.
I'm sure there is but hey....
1997 Chrysler Voyager. Car fob has been working fine for years, then, sitting in the car, the fob did not function. All the electrics worked fine (dials, guages, wipers, radio etc), but red imobiliser light kept flashing and Fob did not de-mobilise. Car would not start. Changed batteries in the fob, but no change. Please could you suggest a remedy?
PS Really glad this web-site exists.
moved over to Tech from Discussion Read more
Thank you. This is the only fob we have, and I will get it checked as suggested. Brand-new batteries are now in the fob.
Where do I find the box mentioned in the other post, the one under the driver's side? Does it have any other distinguishing characteristics? Is it near the fuses I can see there?
Many thanks.
Our rev counter hovers between 7500-12000 when we first start up but, once the engine warms up, goes down to 7500. When we are on the move, it drives fine but, when we are at junctions/traffic lights in drive, it hovers below 7500. When we knock it into neutral it reads 7500 again. When we drive around town/short trips, the car is fine but, when we're on the dual carriageway, after about 10/20 mins. it starts to judder. If we have to slow down by braking, the car will cut out for no reason. We have one rubber belt that looks as though it drives the engine (auxillary belt with a tensioner pulley?). We've found that through the Haynes Manual, but we can't make proper sense of it! The belt does look shiney and it does move. Is that what the problem is? Read more
He obviouslt means 750/1200 unless it's an F1 car or similar. Thread title says 1.6 Auto from 01 (so a Y/51 plate).
Browse
.jpg)
Took me ages to learn how to drive. Did it over a couple of years as university got in the way so I ended up switching instructors part way through. The test centres I went round to begin with were systematically closed so I'd get the hang of one area then they'd close it so I'd end up somewhere else. One was Leek in the Staffs moorlands which was entertaining as the hills were near vertical so hill starts and reversing around a corner there were quite a challenge.
Failed first time. Had the chief examiner with an overbite. Drove really badly on the entire test due to nerves and got the big X of doom for signalling left at a roundabout and going straight on and failure to make progress. The last I disagree with as it referred to me dawdling around a council estate. Mr examiner decided there was zero risk of children being around but as I lived nearby and knew the grubby little herberts were always running around unchecked I disagreed and argued with that. Pointless really as I had already stuffed it up earlier. I'd still travel round there at 20-25mph now.
Second test was a pass. Thought I had failed it on the emergency stop as I felt the car roll a bit when I either stuck the handbrake on or pulled off from it. Was amazed to pass but rather relieved to have finally done it after the millions of lessons.