December 2008
Me, sitting in a queue at traffic lights. I was immediately behind a small hatched area that led to a car park. Lady pulls into hatched area without realising car park entrance is blocked. Traffic lights change. Me stuck, and mouthing to myself "stupid B...... woman" She looks at me, waves, gives me a beautiful smile and mouths "sorry".
Why can't all little confrontations be resolved like this! Read more
Whenever there is a moderate amount of snow, schools and businesses close here and people from Canada/Scandinavia laugh at us!
Why there is traffic chaos in Britain while other countries do fine?
Is it because
1. Our cars are not equipped for snow
2. We lack snow driving skill (I don't have a clue how to drive differently in snow)
3. We have much higher traffic level
4. ???
Read more
............ wait till the morning rush hour i reakon i will be
busy
It's right what they say .......... it's an ill wind that blows nobody any good.
Hi, i need some advice.
Recently my peugeot 306 HDi has had an odd issue on cold starts. It starts fine, but it runs very rough for a couple of seconds before settling on a normal idle. I'm not sure what could causing this, glow plugs, air in fuel system, battery?
Any advice would be much appreciated.
Thanks, Craig. Read more
Glowplug failed.
Maybe 2.
hi ive got a clio III 2006 plate and the timing belt broke ive got a new cylinder head dut im a bit unsure how to get the timing right can anyone help please
engine details added following an email Read more
Assuming its a correct replacement head for that car (i.e. not from a different model/engine - surely a Haynes manual or Autodata on-line would give you the timing marks for that make/model?
Autodata online - is www.autodata-online.com/
James
I've accidentally put 7 litres of diesel in my petrol car (1992 Toyota Starlet 1.0).
The tank was almost empty before. On the advice of a couple of motorists at the pumps I added some unleaded petrol (11 litres) to 'dilute' the diesel.
The car now runs rather badly, needs lots of choke and throttle in a low gear, smokes, wants to stall etc.
What shall I do?
My local garage advised running it until nearly empty, then filling with unleaded.
They advised against constantly topping up with unleaded as this would cause the diesel to stay in. They said if the running got too bad they could drain it for me, and also suggested a set of new spark plugs.
What would you do? Is topping up with more unleaded a good idea? Anyone with experience of this?
Thanks
Stewart Read more
andrew, if there's crud in the tank, it will go into solution with the petrol IF there's very little fuel about - due to the amount of sloshing about that occurs.
Experiment with a milk bottle, some water, and tea leaves to see the effect.
Running the tank lower than quarter is a no-no for me, for this very reason.
Thought I'd look at a reasonably new Vectra - say 10K milesand under 12 mths .
Main dealer had none in stock - yard full of Corsas / Astras and some older Vectras - hardly bargains at £6-7K and about 3 yr old.
To be fair they offered to get one in from Vx stock @ some farm field near nowhere.
Looks like another visit to Motorpoint. Read more
PV were also advertising the brand new 4x4s can't remember their names for something like
£13k!
Is that the 'Antara' SUV thing? I think I've seen two in the year or more since they were released. In comparison the Peugeot 1007 and Volvo C30 seem popular.
Hi all,
I am having a right problem trying to find a used car to buy - yeah, sounds ridiculous doesn't it. My last car was a 1.6 Fiat Bravo and I really do not wish to buy a car bigger than a 1.6 engine, mainly for VED and fuel economy issues.
Problem is, all the cars I look at in the Bravo class I am unable to get comfortable in the driving seat or, in some case, unable to fit in at all - can't get my legs under the steering wheel. This includes the Golf, the C4, the Focus, Corolla/Auris, the new Bravo, etc, etc. Super-minis such as the Yaris, Jazz, etc, I have also tried and I can't even get into most of them. As I say, I didn't want to go up to a bigger car but now I find myself looking at 1.8 engine sized cars as they are usually 1.8 engines on bigger models.
I am trying desperately to avoid a diesel so, between a petrol engine and cars of sufficient size, the best bet I have found so far is the Toyota Verso - problem is, as a single 42 year old I kind think that I should also have a wife and two kids if I have a Verso. (Will women ever sleep with me again if I buy one or will they all assume I DO have the wife and kids at home?).
In other words, I would buy to something with some kind of street cred or, rather, being a single man I want something that does not say "married with kids". Similarly, no matter how well built the Avensis is I cannot bring myself to buy one as I ain't got a flat cap and a bus pass yet yet.
The other car is the Honda CRV but that too is a diesel and about 5K more for a 2007 model than the 10K I wish to spend on a car - plus it has higher insurance and presumably higher servicing/running costs?
So here I am, 6 foot 2 inches tall with long legs and have now been carless for 6 months. I need to buy a car sometime in the next month so I would be grateful, if the above makes any sense, for recommendations and advice.
Preferably Japanese, preferably 1.6 an not 1.8, preferably petrol not diesel. Oh, and I surf so I need to be able to carry a surfboard on the roof - kind of rules our a Smart car or that electric thing they have in London.
Thanks all.
One last thing, I have been ill for the last few years and I now suffer from occasional panic attacks so I need something that feels safe on the road. Read more
Just a thought - from the car by car 'Massive front seat room for biggest and tallest of drivers' Vectra C. Have you tried one? Fantastic prices at the moment.
Took the child seat out of the back of my car about a month ago. There were some 'dents' in the seat that haven't come out. I thought they might disappear in time, but there is no sign of the seat returning to 'normal'.
Any tips? I'm pretty obsessive about looking after my car and they're driving me mad. ('Er indoors can't understand what I'm moaning about...they just don't understand the male mind!) Read more
Not sure if its possible to remove the covers to get to the foam as not sure what car you own, but I spent a week working at Land Rover on work experience in the upholstery section. They would use the steam from a kettle to bring foam headrests back into shape after trying out different covers.
This probably belongs in Technical Discussion, but it is relevant to all makes and models with air conditioning.
There are some handy guides to A/C problem diagnosis here:
www.nissens.dk/uk/index_auto.htm
Nissens is a Danish company. I have had two of their aftermarket radiators installed. Purchase at very keen prices from GSF and no problems to date. Read more
It snowed overnight in Manchester and my house is high up above the road with a steep drive. I gingerly edged the car down the slope, but gravity took over and it slid into the road where the nose hit a passing car. ABS doesn't work on snow - as we all know!
No-one was hurt and driver of hit car was very calm and philosophical about it.
Damage to the passing car (a 14 year old Merc E-class estate) was nearside rear door and wing scraped and wheel pushed into the arch. Suspect broken driveshaft and suspension bits.
Damage to my car was extensive, but I could reverse the car back up my drive (with difficulty given the snow) and out of the way. I will need new off side wing, front bumper, bonnet and lots of other bits hidden behind. Doesn't appear to be mechanical damage.
Waiting to hear about the repair and wether the car will be written off. If I were to buy the identical car now, it would cost about £11,500 from a Subaru dealer (assuming no discount).
I'm gutted. Read more
Yes, winter tyres would have been helpful. I didn't buy the Outback for its 4x4 greasy road traction, but for general quality of drive, build, comfort etc etc, but I have used the 4x4 facility lets say when accelerating out of roundabouts etc.
I have two friends, both of whom ride motorbikes. One now has a broken ankle and the other, almost did this week. Yesterday morning, a cyclist fell off his bike trying to turn the corner in front of my house. He slipped on black ice and the bike went from under him. Luckily the van following him, was sufficiently far behind to avoid injuring him or damaging the bike. He was very fortunate.
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>Why can't all little confrontations be resolved like this!
The problem is you have a nasty little suspicion that the whole thing may have been deliberate ...