April 2009
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Just announced in the budget
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Hi all, first time poster here so please be kind.
I remember reading a while back on here about scams in supermarket car parks, and i can't find the thread after searching on here. I've recieved a Parking Charge Notice as my vehicle "returned during the 'No Return' period" at the location. The notice is from what appears to be an independent parking services company.
Normally i wouldn't be worried about this, but it has photographic evidence of my car in the form of two pictures clearly showing my car entering and exiting the car park, as well as the date and times.
The "contravention occured on 5/4/2009", and whats adding to my worry is that i've been back to the location a few times since and might be guilty of this each time i've been there! Call it stupid but i don't go searching around car park's each time i visit a restaurant, you just presume you are welcome to come and go as you please!
Any advice would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks a lot. Read more
I bet that the OP asking the question over a year ago isn't watching this thread for an answer ;-)
Hi
I've been caught for speeding by a parked up police laser van iin a 40 zone doing 48 and I asked to see the evidence. The photo is of the front of my car but at the time II didn't have a front number plate (was damaged in a shunt) so the registration is not visible in the photo. I presume they got my reg from the rear plate using the ANPR camera in the front of the van - or a plod was quick with his notebook - but my question obviously - is this ticket legal given that at the point the speed was measured by cars indentity could not be known and should I plead not guilty , or could they use the ANPR evidence to back it up even though it won't have a speed readout?
Thanks for any help
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You're right.
I have had a 2008 Mazda 6 diesel for a year. The fuel consumption in general is very good until the car decides to rev higher than normal. I keep the computer set for average fuel consumption because of the infuriating problem the car has. On a long journey the mpg gradually increases and then all of a sudden it starts to drop. This can occur after a hundred miles or so and there is nothing I can do when it happens. If I drop the engine into neutral the engine will tick over at approx 900-950 rpm. If I set the computer at present fuel consumption the car is shown as running at 27-30 mpg at 60 mph. This happens about twice a week. When I took the car back to Mazda the car was checked out and no faults were found .... because it behaved itself (typical).
The car is driven fairly steadily in general. Has anyone experienced a similar problem?
Thanks in anticipation. Bill Jones. Read more
What is fuel consumption is the car actually giving you ignoring what the computer says?
But it's not only what the computer is telling me. Even after 60 or 70 miles, when the car is stopped, the car will tick over at 950 rpm, or 200 rpm above normal. This cannot be correct.
I have checked the accuracy of the computer. I filled the tank to it's maximum, drove 500 miles and then refilled the tank once again. I calculated the figures and they tied up with the computer within a gnat's whisker.
I'm looking around to see what to buy once I've passed my practical test which hopefully won't be too long as I've left it later than most (I'm 46). I've been comparing CO2 emissions and safety charts as well as prices until my head spins but I feel most drawn toward the Hyundai i10 followed by the Suzuki Splash (although it's a bit expensive) or maybe even the Alto as I like the fact that it's got electronic stability control as standard.
Just wondering if anyone has had experience of one or more of these cars. It's basically just for my daughter and me (she's still at schol) for me to drive by myself for shopping and local errands and to pick up said daughter from friends' houses when it's late, that kind of thing. So mainly for use in London although I'd like to be able to drive us to visit family in Hertfordshire and Norwich or even take short holidays now and again. I've read some negative comments about luggage room in the i10 but wondered if it would fit the bill for the odd week away for daughter and self plus a couple of cases with the back seats down?
Of course if you've got any other suggestions I'd be very grateful too.
Many thanks! Read more
Following on from TurboD's suggestion for a used car:
for similar money to the above 3 new car choices, you could get a tidy 2007 Toyota Yaris 1.0 T3 from a Toyota dealer (typically with 15-20K on the clock). Well equipped, great image, solid and a decent drive.
Hopefully there won't be any 'bumps and scrapes' as a new driver though!
Hi,
Im a new member but have been an active reader for a few months :)
My question is I have seen a Volvo S40 diesel for sale. Its a 2000 w reg. 163000 miles with full history. Looks clean and tidy. Asking price is £1450.
are these cars any good? I dont know where I read it or heard it. ...are these renault engines?
Are these as well built as the larger volvos we always here about with starship enterprise miles?
Any known problems or anything to watch out for?
I need the car for a 100 mile daily commute so a cheap reliable diesel is the way forward (I think)
Any opinions from current / past owners?
Cheers Guys
newguy Read more
I have a long motorway commute too - although not quite 100 miles each way and not often five days a week, thank goodness. I do it in a six-year-old Volvo S60 D5, which is pretty well perfect for the task and does a good job of making it tolerable.
I have to say, though, that the S60 is in a different league from the old S40 / V40. I've driven S40s as dealer courtesy cars and didn't like them at all, and certainly wouldn't fancy spending four hours a day in one.
Assuming this is a new job, so you've not yet tried out the commute to see how it affects you, I'd advise you to be very careful in considering your options. If you must drive every day, you need a car that is comfortable and capable - not just the seats, but the noise level and the ability of the engine to keep up with the flow on a busy motorway without leaving you frazzled by the effort of keeping it going. Without all these, you'll be little use to your employer or your family, and you could be a hazard to yourself and your fellow road users.
But I agree with the others here that if you have to be there every day, you should look into staying away at least a couple of nights a week. If you work normal office hours, I also fear you're deluding yourself if you think you'll be home in time to deliver more than a bedtime kiss to your under-fives. That's been my experience over the last two years, so I do stay over from time to time.
Personally, I put up with the long drive because I enjoy my job but would rather live where I do than on the western fringe of London where I work. I can also work at home, and I travel abroad on business, both of which reduce my driving time. And finally, the job I do pays me enough to cover the cost of running a car that's up to the task of getting there. I obviously don't know your personal circumstances - and I don't mean to pry - but this seems an awful long way to go for a job that leaves you only £1,000 to spend on a car.
DP will be along in a minute to tell us how he picked up an old S60 for a song and is delighted with it. You could probably have my D5 for not much over £3,000 if I had any inclination to part with it - by which I mean to say that there are comfortable options available for not much more than the budget you've set. You might even find a Citroen C5, which would be wonderfully wafty and probably very cheap. Look carefully, and make sure you're comfortable. You're taking on a tough assignment and I wish you well with it - but if your original question was 'Should I buy that old Volvo?', my answer would be 'No'.
Is it just me or is the hysteria out of proportion to the actual figures ?
'Calls for A-roads to have their speed limits reduced to 50mph are expected to be part of a new 10-year road safety plan launched by the Government today.
Councils will need to give good justification for keeping single carriageway roads at the current 60mph limit, as part of plans which also include creating more 20mph zones in built-up areas near homes and schools.'.
'Maps identifying the location of all the accident black spots in Britain will also be published as part of the initiative to save 10,000 lives over the next decade.
The maps will show the site of a death or serious injury on the road, and may also include information on whether the victim was a driver, passenger or pedestrian, as well as the type of vehicle involved.'
tinyurl.com/c5jy7h
'There are now less than 3,000 road deaths per year.'... and thats the killer punch. With a population of 60.6 million is it really so bad as to need another draconian set of measures for the motoring public ?
Saving 10,000 lives over a decade works out at 2,000 a year so that is an even smaller percentage of 60 million.
Other discussions currently going on merged with this thread, and this thread given a less vague title Read more
Heh heh Manatee ...
DPF: God's way of calling you a mimser...
Where i live it is now getting harder to find a parking place. It is mainly thanks to each house having at least two cars. When their offspring pass their driving test another car appears. Would be bearable if they park properly and not take up space for two cars. Father took a photo of me when i was 10 years old (35 years ago) standing by the road. All you could see was one car.
Won't be long before arguments flare up. I think each house should be limited to two cars. What do you think?
Header given a more meaningful title Read more
How do these teenagers afford the cars and associated costs. ?
They use the same system as always,,, C.O.D. ( Call On Daddy )
I have received the following in a message from a lady friend:-
"The always dependable Bora went into the garage for a good service. It was agreed the cam belt needed changing. On Thursday there was a telephone call to say they had completed the service and it was being test driven by a mechanic when there was a very loud bang and it shuddered to a halt.
Apparently you have to be precise with the cam belt and it had sheared the valves. It had to be low loaded back to the garage. Very decent of them to say we could keep the dinky toy.. sorry courtesy car....they also said THERE WOULD BE NO CHARGE FOR THE EXTRA WORK". Are they mad. Confused
It would be back on Friday. Friday came and went and they said it would be back on Monday. Monday came and now its going to be Wednesday "But don't worry Sir, you can keep the courtesy car"... Well thanks.....
It is being said that the car will never be the same again. I don't know about that."
What does the Backroom make of this saga, and particularly the (OK -- unidentified) garage's story? And what advice can I give her?
Header given a more meaningful title Read more
Mapmaker, I think you'll find it's the same thread. There was some confusion over whether this was a VW Bora or Maserati Bora - which has now been cleared up.
okay folks i need to find the ecu, checked the places that the manafacter states its at "oh no its not" i kniow its going to be a b to get at but would like to find it before i tottally remove dash, any one out there that has actually done this job, Regards TB ps due to its sensative nature you can pm me with the info pps had a look on the frontera forum registered to join but not had authority yet, have searched all the previous post found some info but nothing specific, cheers Read more
trust me it has one, factory fit dongle type wave in the general area of the steering column, it has atws, c/l as well, vauxhall epc list atws seperate to immo !
Browse
I expect it will all be resolved by May 2010 - just as the scheme ends...