August 2009
My son has lived in Brighton for the last 4 years and consequently I've got quite used to the run from Gloucestershire - but I've always avoided Bank Holidays for obvious reasons. I need to go down on Sunday (the only day we are both free) to deliver quite a bulky item to him so the train is not an option.
I normally just do M4 (join at Bath) thenM25/M23/A23 and it's normally ok unless there's an accident but I have been caught in summer months by long tailbacks on the A23 at the junction of the A27.
Looking at the map I think I could avoid this by leaving the A23 at Hickstead and going around Burgess Hill on the ring road and then Hassocks, Ditching, and over the South Downs past something called Ditching Beacon (?) and then then into Brighton (but avoiding the London Road) or head up via Falmer (by the University) and down to the coast entering Brighton from the east which is where I need to be as he lives just off the front by Kemp Town.
Anybody local -ish and can give any advice wether this is likely to be clear or any other useful route advice for this B/H Sunday? I'll need to arrive in time for lunch and will start the return about 6 i expect.
thanks
Jacks Read more
The Alfa Romeo’ 166 has come out as the worst depreciating car in the UK, retaining 14.4 per cent of its original price after three years.
Cars from the ex Rover and MG factory, such as the 45/ZS and 75/ZT, fare little better, holding on to 20 per cent of their values over the same period.
Also models from quite a few other manufacturers feature in the bottom 10 - including Proton, Mitsubishi and Nissan - and none of these achieves a residual value better than 25 per cent.
All from glasses of the values of all three-year-old cars available in the UK - over 6,500 model ranges in total.
mmmmm makes you think Read more
£2k for that - he's having a Turkish, surely?
Getting a New Golf next Tues as part of Scrappage Scheme.
Have chosen Solid Black Paint as colour (I begrudge paying VW £400 for metallic paint that costs them a quid or two).
Is it best to buy detailing products (Polish/Waxes,etc), then clean and protect straight away, or will the factory coat protect the car for the first few months.
Car was built in Germany at end of July.
Does anyone have recommendations for a good wax for Solid Black paint that lasts a long time.
Also any recommendations for a good alloy wheel sealant to help protect the wheels?
Thanks for any suggestions.
njsb
Read more
There is plenty of information out there about detailing of cars. Google for it, that is assuming you want to waste hours on this rather absurd pastime, or visit www.uk-mkivs.net where there is a forum on how to look after your VW, where people spend days, it seems, claying their cars, cleaning, polishing and waxing etc.
Me, I love a clean car. I just wash it regularly, at least once a week and give it a go over with Autoglym's Resin Polish a few times a year.
Don't know if anybody had noticed this but I saw on a German website yesterday that VW are offering the Golf in Germany with the 1.8 engine out of the Passat. This is the 160 hp version. This is specifically (it says) due to the fact that they can't make enough of the 1.4s to meet demand. Apparently, this 1.8 engine will cease to be offered once the 1.4 supply problem has been solved.
Also, because the 1.8 is slightly less economical, they're offering a 600 Euro discount on it as compensation.
This might be of interest to those on here who've posted about waiting for their 1.4s. I wonder if they'll offer the 1.8 here? Read more
Starngely enough someone I know was quoted £75.00 for a VW engine rocker cover/gasket the other day.
Dear members of this society,
I am viewing a 'W' reg Jimny today as a 'dog' vehicle for my Labrador activities. It is an Auto with 110k under it's belt. It will be over a pit for a proper viewing etc. Apart from the obvious is anybody aware of any little foibles that I should be aware of. I think I recall a comment in the dark and distant past of having to change something in the fuel tank!!?? at this age. I know that sounds a bit vague, bit I have a niggle in my memory somewhere.
All help appreciated as usual. By the way it's a £1,000
Regards.........Martin. Read more
Tyre pressures shown for the 05MY auto are 23 psi front and 26 rear which
would have been for Bridgestones I expect. We run 25 front and 27 rear for
Nokian WR 205/70 x 15s which are an all-season winter tyre if that makes sense.
The original fit Bridgestones were awful in icy conditions.
Found the info. I have 4 Bridgestone's on there about 1/10 used I would say. Sticks like you know what in the dry, but have yet to experience wet or indeed, Icy. If I keep it Off road tyres next I guess.
Thanks 'H'. MD
1.3gx auto 5dr '99
I will be selling this at some point after I obtain a larger vehicle.
However it has a different colour tailgate to the original (sourced from a breakers yard) but nonetheless looks rather spiffy as it is metallic blue on a metallic silver car.
I have had compliments on it from people of all ages not just boy racers ;)
Realising that selling and buying is a leverage operation, I'm not so optimisitc about the impact on value, I was wondering how much this will this effect the resale or trade in value as a percentage?
It wasn't in a shunt and the the body and fitting points are completely unwarped and undamaged
I can respray it silver if push comes to shove, but time is in short supply at the moment
Read more
I bought a Citroen ZX diesel estate off Ebay a couple of years back. It was dark metallic green and had a dark red tailgate/ no damage to car so don't know reason. I thought it looked quite nice. Buy it now price £180 with a bit of ticket. Was for my SIL who'd just scrapped one. It gave 1st class service for over a year until the head gasket killed it.
A good case of Bangernomics !
Ted
330 Ci Convertible soft-top. Stereo randomly pops and then switches off. Does this a few times then fault goes away. Today when I was driving it popped and the whole stereo unit turned off and won't come back on. I've taken the unit out and apart and replaced it and it came back on for a split second before popping and completely dying again. Any advice as to what this could be???
Also if it helps I have an intermittant light on the drivers display which is a headlight symbol on the passenger side lighting up in red sometimes when I start the car. Either it goes away or after turn off and on, it disappears. Maybe these two occasional (up until today) faults are connected.
Maybe my car just dislikes that it's raining in August and wants me to take it to spain or something, but failing that any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks. Read more
No, not the results of a recent curry engorgement but another story in the Manchester Evening News.
5 year old girl walked off the kerb in her own road and smack into the side of a Prius running on electric. Fortunately it was only doing about 10 mph as it was a council 'patrol ' car looking for ASB etc.
Little girl received cut and grazes, presumably from the tarmac and told her mum and police that she didn't hear a car coming.
Refreshingly, the mother attached no blame to the driver and, for a change, it seems no pound signs lit up in her eyes.....unlike so many others !
A slight niggle in my mind is why a 5 year old is allowed to cross the road on her own....but I don't know the road so I can't judge.
Just glad she was ok.
Ted Read more
I think we had them in Manchester until 68 on the routes to Ashton under Lyne. I think the ones in London with the headlight in the middle were nicknamed the 'Diddlers'...or was that something else ?
Ted
Did a really stupid thing in trying to jump start this car from another whose engine was running. I attached the jump leads in the wrong sense on the Clio and didn't realise until the leads got hot. After this the Clio won't start ! There is now a near short on the chubbyish cable which runs from the battery + back in towards the dashboard. The short (4.5 Ohms) appears when the ignition key is turned to first stop.
Two questions:
1. What is the most vulnerable component on that cable after the ignition switch ?
2. Where can I get a reasonable free circuit diagram - in English ?
Any assistance in getting me out of this ka-ka (I'm in France) would be very gratefully received. Read more
Your welcome. Regards Peter
This speed trap detector @ 145, as mentioned on this site?
I've looked hard, but can't see.
Can you see it and if yes, what do you think? (Btw, direct me to it please)
www.honestjohn.co.uk/news/item.htm?id=6767 Read more
Hey paul2007
Just to let you know the 3Zero does exsist and I found a link to it here:
www.snooperuk.com/products/3zero/index.html
Hope this helps.
Col
Browse
Yes its west... Shows how good my directions are.......!
If you do go on the A281 after Henfield , take the A281 towards Poynings . You come to a roundabout where the A281 bears left but you go straight on towards Saddlescombe and Devils Dyke. Its called Beggars Lane and brings you eventually into Devils Dyke Road . This then brings you to the A27 junction at Westdene and takes you down Dyke Road Avenue and Dyke Road and onto North St by the Palace and to the Palace Pier and seafront.
If its sunny on Sunday Brighton is going to be packed whichever way you go in...