Junction 23 of M6 where it joins A580 - east lancs road.

Large and complex roundabout. The traffic lights there seem very peculiar. If you watch the sequence, for some reason, when one set goes amber before going red, the other set goes amber at the SAME time almost, so both sets are momentarily on amber at the same time.

You get some high speeds there and the usual "amber gamblers" (showing my age). I know it so am aware of the risks but plenty of times as I get a green light I will get someone speeding across my bows.

It's also one of those roundabouts that you can go straight through if you' dont need the mway, only having to go round if you want to go north/south. But people forget and try to turn right onto the M6 after missing the ramp so in effect are stationary in the fast lane of a dual carriegeway. man, you got to stay awake there. Read more

Just got a plug core replaced as steam was coming from the engine. A pinhole was found in it. There still seems to be some steam coming through the grid on the bonnet. Could be possibly caused by the cold weather. Any thoughts ?


shouting in subject line silenced Read more

Getting rid of my now rickety Ford Focus Zetec 1.6 2001 Y plate 89000miles, Ford Dealer offering me a Ford Fusion 2005 1.4 TDCi 05 plate for £4000 cash plus my old Focus as a trade in. He started with a £6000 ticket for the fusion.

The fusion is a lovely and clean model with lots of added extras including a overhead DVD system for the backseats, 12 months ford protect warranty and only £35 road tax!!! It appears on paper (well through Parkers) to be a great deal... is it? Read more

Will the headlamp units from a face-lifted mk1 focus (01-04) fit the earlier 98-01 car? Would it be possible for a garage to do the job? I know the new ones have incorporated indicators but these could be left unconnected.

The reason I'm asking is that there is a pair lumped in with a set of new wheels I'm thinking of buying. Also, they have a separate main beam lamp for superior night time vision. Read more

Now its run up to a shade under 37k and ive owned it 10 months - Im doing more miles in it than I thought and most likely far more than the average Charade owner judging by the 25k my car had on it at 4.5 years old.

Am I still happy with it? On the whole yes. Given the miles I do in it and the use as a work vehicle to carry equipment, something Im sure its makers never intended.
It copes extremely well and when I had a Fiesta loan car while mine was in the dealer, I realised just how much interior space they squeezed out of the tiny dimensions compared to the Fiesta which struggled to fit the same kit with the seats folded - infact it didnt and I had to put stuff both in the front footwell and on front seat, something that I dont have to in the Daijit.
The gearbox is a bit noisey but I think that when it has its 6th year service and its first gearbox oil change, this should certainly quieten it down so Im waiting to see how that effects it. Its not irritating, you just become aware of it.

Running costs. I pay £24 a month to insure it which I think is just fine, road tax is the ever useful £35 a year and buying that Im sure will never get old, its a guilty pleasure for a penny pincher. Economy has stuck around the 57-61 mpg mark on ordinary UL which to my mind compares well with even the newest city cars and it is easily attainable. The lack of weight seems to mean that even on light throttle, it flies up hills and even making reasonable progress never feels like it is being pushed which Im sure helps towards the real life economy.
Maintainance has been limited to a Cambelt on its 5th birthday using genuine Daihatsu belt, an MOT check over and test which it passed with flying colours and tracking which cost £236 ( £135 of which was the cambelt change which seems very reasonable to me ).
Ive also had to spend out £125 on the brakes as after driving through a rather deep puddle, I endured 3 months of sticking brakes, first the NSF, then OSF and then the handbrake linkage.
After all this was done I still wasnt happy so in it went again and a comprehensive clean and lubrication job was done by my local dealer - this has totally solved it now and it feels like it used to. this was FOC as they didnt spot it when they checked brakes and only did the handbrake.
I was going to replace the air fliter but at £31 I thought it could wait as the old one isnt in bad nick! Cheap it is not!
Parts ive needed due to my own fault are limited to a sunvisor which was £39 inc VAT.

I think the rear shocks are perhaps coming to the end of their working life Im sure due in part to my carrying alot of stuff in the back but we shall see at MOT time, if it passes, it will go another year.

Reliability issues. Only thing that has stopped working is the central locking on the passenger side door but since the C/L only works on the two doors anyway ( boot is by key or internal release ) and I can easily reach across from inside such is the width of the car, I havent made any attempt to get it fixed as its very minor issue.
It has never failed to start, no warming lights have shown themselves and it runs as sweetly as ever, infact I think the regular and decent miles have loosened it up somewhat.

Overall, it is still to my mind one of the best city cars of its time as it doesnt sacrifice space to get small size and economy unlike many of the city cars we looked at before buying our Sirion.
Its far less of a compromise than I ever expected it would be and that is why after this much time, I still have no desire to change it as I honestly dont think I could better it.
I was driving it today and its eager, point and squirt style still brings a big grin, safe in the knowledge that its still sipping fuel at a misery rate. I look forward to changing the factory tyres as I read other owners have made decent gains in front end grip by choosing a different make.

Still 5 stars from me. Read more