August 2009
On the radio news this morning I heard that something like 1 in 20 cars on the road is uninsured generally and this goes up to 1 in 5 of the cars owned by people in the 17 to 21 age group.
The youngsters (bless 'em) apparently say that insurance is too expensive or they were unaware that they required it.
I think the second excuse is just that - an excuse, and I don't believe it for a second. We all know insurance is expensive but if you can't afford it you can't have a car, can you? Tough.
But where's the ANPR system then? You can't go on the road without being tracked by cameras and police forces like to hold onto the data. But what are they doing with it? Why can't it be used to take uninsured people off the road?
If you put this together with the suggestion the other day that 1 crime is solved for every 1000 CCTV cameras, you come to the conclusion that the sacrifice of our privacy to all sorts of snooping cameras isn't worth the benefit in the maintenance of the law.
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Spot of insomnia last night.
Found myself wondering how steep the slope on a road would have to be before a car (let's assume an average car with tyres in average condition) would just slide down it. Read more
>>The road from Edale and round back of Mam Tor where it leads you out to Blue John Cavern
Isn't that Winnats Pass?
www.castleton-rocks.com/winnats.html
I have distant memories of setting the front brakes on my (automatic) Triumph Dolomite on fire while making good progress down Winnats, using it as a short-cut across to Sheffield in the late 70's.
www.rural-roads.co.uk/winnats/winnats11.jpg
I am looking to buy a small Rover Diesel for our son, I came across something strange in the VED band for what is essentially the same car with the same engine.
I am looking at the 101 PS TD L engine that can be found in the Rover 25 the MG ZR hatch and the Streetwise.
I am looking at a 2004 models and see that the band for the MG and 25 is F (£125/year) however the ved for the Streetwise is G at £150/year.
I thought these are the same cars with different badge and trim, how come the streetwise emits more carbons out of essentially the same body/tranny/engine? Read more
Gear ratios are probably the same, 0-60 time is unchanged between SW and 25.
Weight of comparable 25 is only 10kg different, I think it's the extra height (and slight width) that's causing extra drag - so drinking more fuel. 6mpg difference in fact!
The top speed of the SW is also slightly lower, suggesting extra drag through the air too.
We have a dispute with a car supersite and would like to make sure of our facts before complaining too loudly.
This concerns the automatically adjusting cambelt tensioner pully on the Skoda (VW) 1.6L petrol engine. When you hold it in your hand should it spin freely as a bearing should, or does it feel sticky ?
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Can anyone help please I have a yaris 1.3 (05 plate) which "creaks" when I steer it (mainly when I turn left) it feels like something needs greasing but I am worried it might something more sinister ! Any ideas ? Read more
It seems any slight movement causes the creaking but more apparent when you turn left for some reason.
I will investigate the shocks . Thanks
Hi there,
I have an L Reg Renault Clio Oasis, which has recently developed a problem starting from cold.
The engine turns over fine, but it just won't start. In order to get it to eventually start, I have to keep the key turned and put my foot flat on the accelerator. When it eventually starts, it coughs and splutters (and is generally lumpy) for about 2 minutes and then runs fine.
Once the engine has warmed up, it runs perfectly, although there may be a slight increase in fuel consumption.
Following advice on this site, I have changed the CTS, but this has had no effect. The main problem is, that I can only test the fault when the car is stone cold, as even up to 4 hours after it has been running it will still start ok.
Any further suggestions greatly appreciated and as I'm a bit of a luddite, can you also advise of the location of any other sensors you may mention.
Thanks in advance. Read more
I'm sure most contributors on here will have some idea of what I mean by the 'spirit' of motoring, you know - the freedom of the open road, man and machine in perfect harmony, the spirit of adventure etc etc.
My question is; which developments in the world of motoring have eroded these values over the years?
I'll start with a few suggestions.
The Motorway.
-I think they're great, a very efficient way of moving large quantities of people over great distances but they are frightfully dull. When driving on a motorway you are simply transporting yourself from A-B, there is no time to savour the journey and explore the sights. There is no challenge, no chance to enjoy a car's handling finesse.
Traffic calming measures.
-Including mini-roundabouts and such, they take away the motorists freedom to take the car where he pleases, they confine and restrict motorists like cogs in a communistic machine.
Auto-gearboxes.
-Again, I quite like them but they do take away some of the mechanical interaction from the driver.
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But have you ever heard anybody say "I'm useless at driving I'm a really bad
driver"?
That's a bit like the Jasper Carrott routine where he says that everyone he meets say that their kids are "above average", and of course this is statistically impossible.
I'm quite happy to admit that I am a below average driver, but I am saved from being amongst the 10% worse drivers by the fact that I concentrate on safety and try to anticipate as much as possible. In other words, I take care because I know my limitations.
The absolute worst drivers are the ones who think that they are good, even though they are poor in reality. They overreach themselves and cause problems for everyone.
Was happy driving along when car conked out. Clutch not engaging and whines when fully depressed. Gear lever seems to have shifted sideways. Advice received varies from "new gear box required" to "centre clutch plate out of line". Sorry to say fairly new driver with limited mechanical skills. Am arranging a tow to garage but could someone help with ideas of cause please.Thanks in advance. Read more
Broken engine mounting perhaps?
Kevin...
Here's an easy one... I have just bought a 55 reg 2.0 TDI GT, incluing a CD multichanger, and some of the instruction booklets were missing. The one I need is for the radio - anyone got any ideas where I can get one from? Read more
Never mind the booklet, did you get the control code number? Came on a separate credit card sized card. You'll need it if the unit is disconnected at some time in the future. If not, try asking the original supplying dealer.
Is it the unit with the built-in 6dc changer (RCD500)? It's fairly easy to use, though there is one thing that I've never sorted out: like many VAG units, it has the excellent capability to replay Traffic info broadcasts. You can also set the unit to record these in advance, seemingly at 2 times so that eg you can check recent TAs before you set off in the morning and after work. The manual is not very clear how it works and I'm not sure I understand it either - however I've got it working ready for the morning departure!
Hi
Just bought a cheap Polo for our son to learn to drive in. He was out with his mum over the weekend and drove through a deepish puddle, causing the engine to cut out. It started up again not long after, no harm done we thought.
Well last night it cut out again and refused to start, it had to be towed home. A friend who knows a fair bit came to have a look before I towed it and seems to think it's the immobiliser or key transponder. I'm not convinced, especially after googling around, because of the symptoms, such as the engine turns and turns but won't start at all (not the "classic" firing up, then cutting out). He checked the HT leads and said there's no spark from the coil but didn't think the fault was with the coil itself as there would still be a weak spark?
Well I've had a better look in daylight and taken some pictures, the coil looks knackered to me (cracked/charred plastic, light corrosion within). Here's some (big) pictures...
img156.imageshack.us/img156/3875/dsc00177w.jpg
img401.imageshack.us/img401/9902/dsc00180ghl.jpg
I've also checked the connections to the immobiliser box under the steering wheel and they seem good. Does that coil look knackered and should I start by replacing that, or should I check anything else?
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Looks pretty sad. Time for a new one. Regards Peter
Browse
I was going to post that lifting the cars could be done by PCSO's or some other support but thought that might not be legal. If it's ok, the evidence of the uninsured car could just go to the area where it's registered and an agent of the police could go round with a truck.