I need some advice here folks.

I've had a full UK licence for 3 yers now and got my first insurance policy in July 2006 to July 2007 and generated 1 years no claims bonus.

In November 2007, I changed my car (a P reg Ford Fiesta 1.4 Ghia, which was my dad's car) & got an X-reg Ford Focus 1.8 LX. The insurer quoted me a much higher quote than I though (yet the Focus was in a lower insurange group than the Fiesta) was acceptable, so I cancelled my end of tem and went to a different insurer, which offered a much more accebale quote.

I made no claims during the time with this new insurer between November 2007 to November 2008. However, in early November I received a letter from them stating 'unfortunately we are unable to offer you an insurance quotation for the forthcoming year, with the information we currently hold on our systems' but said we may be able to offer you a quotation upon further information from myself.

When I phoned to enquire, they told me that they were unable to insure my dad as a named driver as he was now over 70 years old, but they were able to insure myself.

As I wanted to keep my dad as a named driver (I am also a named driver on his insurance policy & he has no trouble getting a policy either), I felt rather annoyed (this is just being ageist) and I decided not to renew with them.

Upon using a price comparision site, I started looking for quotes. I had a phone call from a person from the site saying he found me an insurer with an even lower quote to what I found online.

I went for this insurer and filled in the relevant documents.

However, there is a bit of a grey area with my no claims bonus. I put down that I had 2 years no claims, having one years built up with my first insurer, but I didn't receive anything in writing from my last insurer regarding my NCB being updated, even though I had no claims and had (& still have) no penalty points on my licence or any motoring convictions either.

My current insurer are asking to try and get proof that I have 2 years no claims, and did sent them proof of my 1 years NCB with my first insurer.

What I'm asking is, can I still ask my last insurer to send me proof that I have 2 years NCB which is what my current insurer is asking for, even though my policy with them finished in November? I am able and willing to send proof for my 1 years NCB to them.

Any help on this matter would be greatly appreciated.


made make/model non specific and shouting subject line hushed Read more

Hi All,

We are updating to get a 7 seater due to the imminent arrival of the next baby and have pretty much decided that it will be a Galaxy (or one of the sister cars). Looking at probably an 03 or 04

We drove an Alhambra TDI 130 last week and liked it, and just wondered if there was much of a difference in real world between that and the 115 bhp? The more powerful varient appears to be a little more economical and very slightly quicker, but other than that not much else between them.

Would there be any differences between the 2 that I would need to know about, I guess in terms of reliability, or are they both essentially the same engine, but just retuned?

Thanks in advance.

Nick Read more

And i don't mean the tear em up type of film where young chav types go blasting sideways round the streets of Tokyo looking cool and mean either.

My lovely stepdaughter bought me a lovely Christmas present.
I'd been trying for ages to get the 70's series ''The Winds of War'' on DVD, well the beautiful girl found it and bought it for me.
I also managed thanks to her to find a week later ''War and Remembrance'' which was filmed some 6 years later, some 40 hours long altogether, they don't make em like that anymore, more's the pity. (they have all been released fairly recently it seems)

Anyway i enjoyed the series' when they were released and its an emotional experience to see them again, some of the scene's are harrowing and IMO this series should be aired again.
Alright its an American view of the time of the Second World War, but its a truly classic portrayal of a time.

But to the BR point, the second and third epics especially features some of the finest cars ever made and filmed in excellent quality in very realistic settings as to their point in history.

I got to thinking of which films show the finest of automobile history in their true time scenarios, not imaginary eccentrics running round in 40 year old cars set in the present day.
I'll name one, but its not really a film, the Poirot series which the marvellous David Suchet has made his own.


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My trailer is in need of some new tyres - it has mini hubs on which originally had 10" wheels - I have some 12" metro wheels and tyres on it now but I have spent this afternoon going through all the tyre suppliers and no one came up with any 165/65 x12 -- are they a discontinued size - if not does anyone know where I can get some from -- I dare say my local tyre depot would be able to source some but it would be handy to have an idea on price.

Thanks Read more

Hi, a month or so ago I had an mot and it failed due to emissions. They ended up saying that they had to bypass the ERG Valve to put it through the mot.

They said that I really need to have a new ERG Valve and since then I have noticed that the engine management light comes on on the dashboard at different times.

It also seems as if I am using more diesel than before and also there is a lot of smoke on ocassions from the exhast.

I have seen that you can buy an ERG Value on the internet for around £80 but was wondering if it is a job that you can do yourself or if I take it to the garage to have them do the job how much do you think they would charge? Would it be more than say £150?

Thanks, hope someone with mechanical/garage knowledge might be able to help, its a 1999 vauxhall astra 1.7 diesel Read more