April 2009
I?m expecting to be taking a break (in June) in the Lot-et-Garonne (near Villeneuve). I know the area fairly well as we?ve been to the Dordogne area several times. I usually go from Calais on the toll A26, A1 and then turn off by C-de-Gaulle and take the N104 around the eastern outer suburbs of Paris until I reach the A10 then overnight at Orleans in the Novotel (now 90Eu!)and onto the A71 and onto the free A20 and exiting somewhere around Brive depending on where we are staying.. It?s usually quite straightforward.
However the tolls are creeping up along with the cost of fuel (petrol Mazda 6 2.0) and hotels.. I?ve often thought of heading out of Calais on the A16 past Boulogne then onto the free A28 to Rouen. Then on the RN to Evreux, Dreux, and overnight at Charters (there?s a nice Ibis for 39Eu) then picking up the A10 and A71 around Orleans.
The viaMichelin puts the distances virtually the same at 886km for the former route and 893km for the latter and only 30 minutes longer but considerably cheaper on tolls - in fact I see that if I take the N20 between Orleans and Vierzon instead of the tollA71 then the only toll part of the second route would be the stretch between Boulogne and Abbeville.
Does anyone use the second route (or part of) when going to south west France - I believe the roads approaching Rouen have been upgraded. Specifically can anyone advise if there are any problems around the Rouen - Everex -Dreux - Chartres route and the condition of the N20 Orleans to Vierzon (ie is it single or dual carriageway).
I?ll be travelling on a Sunday afternoon/Monday morning and returning a week later Monday/Tuesday. I?m an experienced European driver but I don?t want to pick a duff route with loads of delays.
I would be grateful to hear of any recent experiences.
Thanks, Jacks Read more
I have a prob with this ford escort. It will not start. It gives a couple of kicks as if it is going to but then dies again. It will only do this under full throttle and after cranking the engine for a while. I do not get anything from it with the throttle in idle. changed the fuel filter and re gapped plugs. the car has not been serviced for a few years (5). where should i start. Also before this happened i was geting poor mpg and the car was lacking power ( wont do over 65 on the mw) thanks for any help. Read more
Prob solved. Turned out to be a collapsed cat. Removed oxy sensor in down pipe. car started. Thanks to all who helped.
my 01 focus 1.4 ZETEC isnt idiling right.when idle it will rev up and down between 800 and 1400 RPM just constantly sometimes reving so low that it cuts out,i also have a small bit of oil in my air filter box and i am also using 1 litre of oil to every 600-700 miles.any ideas??? so far the coil pack,oil filter and an air flowmetre have being changed and still no joy Read more
Anyone had one of these before. I quite like the look of them, came 7th in jd power what are they like to drive. Anything you didn't like qabout them, are spares a problem? Thought about the diesel, but I don't think I can make the extra cost of it, even though the engine is good as I don't do many miles and the ones that I do are m-way. Any problems with the V6 did they suffer from head gasket problems? Read more
We have as mentioned on here many times a 03 Rover 75 Cdti tourer. Brilliant long distance car Been faultless in our 5 years of ownership. Very underated car sadly not made anymore.
Someone mentioned the Diesels were noisy?? Compared to some VAG Diesels its almost silent.
Tyre Noise on certain tyres can be intrusive.
The only petrol i would go for would be the 4.6 V8 :)
Hi
On my vehicle I have a rounded allen key bolt.
I have a screw extracting kit, but I am not sure what size drill piece I should use. Is there a rule of thumb to calculate this, or do I buy the same diameter drill piece as screw extractor.
With thanks
Gregory Read more
Just saw this and hope I am in time.
If you have access....grind a slot in the rounded Allen bolt using a dremmel ir similar.....then use an impact driver with a slot head fitting to remove it.
If you have no access to do this, drill carefully down the centre and try an easy out....but the slot would be better.
If none of these look feasible, try and find a socket or sleeve slightly smaller than the allen bolt, heat it and place it over, when cool try and turn it.
Last one is the knurled wheel attachments on the end of a socket wrench type extension, these will grip tighter the more you turn, if the head protrudes sufficiently to get a grip.
Hi all,
I am looking at a new company car with no limit on choice which has brought me to decision of an M3, RS4, S5 or similar.
This will be doing both business and private miles but no more than the agreed mileage that is set on the contract hire form 10-20k/pa.
I know the tax band is G so £400 a year, what other costs am I likely to incur?
If there are a lot of costs then I would like a good drivers car that is still 'flashy'.
Do you recommend any particular car that will look good, handle well but also help with tax benefits. It needs to be a good looking car to take clients out but also not cost the earth.
Thanks in advance and sorry if I am asking a question that has already been answered.
Adam Read more
If you want...
Performance and all else secondary: BMW M3
If you want Performance and a slightly understated look without manic costs: New Audi S4 (3.0TSI V6)
If you want class, sophistication and your clients to realise you are a man of true taste: JAguar XFR
Forget the running costs, go for the real gorgeousness and style of the Jaguar.
Hi I have a fiesta courier van TDI when you accelerate hard there isa rattle from the front end it only does it when you pull away hard.I cant find what it is anyone got any ideas.
thanks Read more
I have checked the heat shields and exhaust they seem fine but I have noticed you can hear it all the time now when you rev the engine up.
any ideas what to check or things it could be
Hi all.
Following on from the Breakfast at Guildford thread, "our lass" and I are going to Luton on Sunday morning from Darlington will be setting of early, so I was wondering if anyone knew of any decent breakfast places not to far from the A1M
Thanks in Advance
Read more
There's a decent place on the A1M in the vicinity of Peterboro
I am planning to go to visit relatives in Carmarthen on the second May Bank Holiday weekend, and have been mulling over using the train instead of the usual drive down the M4. This is because I have two children, one of whom is 16 months old and doesn't take kindly to being strapped in to the car for much more than about 15 minutes. Our ear drums can not take too much of it, and she sometimes ends up making herself sick screaming.
I live in Reading, so the train journey to Carmarthen is essentially dead straight, and should (in theory) be fast, comfortable and change-free. Hence the attraction.
However, having spec'd up the journey on t'interweb, it will involve 2 changes (not good with luggage and small children), including a final leg on a rail replacement bus (the ultimate horror), unless I go for the only available direct train which runs far too early in the morning for my likings. And the return journey is much the same, unless we get the only direct service of the day, which runs far too late in the evening for our needs. Not only that, the shortest journey times are around 3 hrs 45 mins, the longest well over 4hrs. The drive usually takes 2hrs 45 mins, although I will have to allow for a few breaks to release the children.
Not only that, it's 60 pounds per ticket, with 2 of us needing to pay full fare. Harumph. Not bad if you're travelling alone, but it soon adds up with a family.
We shall therefore, be sticking to the car, and adding to the weight of Bank Holiday traffic when a far more pleasant option should be available, but is not. I'd even be happy to pay the minimum 120 pounds even though we have a company fuel card and do not have to pay for fuel ourselves.
What a sorry state of affairs - are we still so far off having a proper, attractive, reasonably priced, useful train system still? How long is it going to take? Read more
Spend a few minutes checking out the railcards and early booking, can save you much hard earned cash.
Morning All,
Further to my post below, I am now the proud owner of a 2004 Varadero :-) Much fun has already been had riding it around the country lanes of Suffolk. The only downside is that despite the low miles, and full service history of my bike, the proevious owner has taken it upon himself to repsray it in a dark red colour. Whilst the Colour is OK, the finish is average, and as such I would like the fairings resprayed, maybe back to the original Silver.
Where might I be able to get this done? I have been to a couple of local bike shops, and drawn a blank so far. Also, what would be a ballpark cost for these works?
Thanks :-) Read more
Might be worth trying Morley Bros of Milton Road Cambridge 01223 423048.
Browse
I have lived in, and bummed around, France for the past 40 years.
Why arrive too knackered to enjoy it? Forget the autoroutes and the neolithic hotels. Look at www.logis-de-france.fr , use a map and take it easy -- and cheap. See a bit of France while you're at it.
You'll arrrive in better condition.