September 2009
I'm planning to go to an auction tomorrow to view a Mini Cooper. It's an ex-lease car, three years old.
Here's where I'm confused...
Parker's guide reckon it's worth £11k, but there are a few advertised privately on Autotrader for £8k.
To be honest I saw the Autotrader first and thought I might be able to buy it for £6k if I was lucky.
Could anyone give me a rough estimate of what:
1) The 'reserve' price might be set at?
2) The price it might sell for?
Obviously, I'm just after rough estimates so I know if I'm wasting my time. I understand no-one can know exactly how much it will sell for.
Cheers. Read more
BBC item: news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/8247217.stm
NO IT DOESN'T !!
www.honestjohn.co.uk/forum/post/index.htm?v=e&t=77...6
:-)
(ok they say there's a link, not that it causes it)
People living near noisy roads are at greater risk of developing high blood pressure, a Swedish study suggests.
A Lund University team found risk rose above an average daily exposure of 60 decibels, which accounts for about one in four people in western Europe.
They said it was likely noise caused stress - and maybe sleep disruption - leading to blood pressure problems. Read more
I have posted this before here in the biker's caff probably: If you you own
one of the fastest vehicles on the planet why on earth do you want to
make it louder?
Having said that the bikes with racing cans are not necessarily in the majority -
you don't notice all the others passing on standard cans.........
And NOT noticing all the others is one GOOD reason to fit the noisy cans.......
Ive been observing and reflecting on Human behaviour, for some years and recently on what I call `leg action`.
Before the motoring question, here are some observations on gait and terrain.
A typical lower leg action out here in the Far East involves `flicking`the lower leg forwards when walking rather than the `stair climbing` motion typical of Europe and the West.
Further more, Far Eastern peoples in Europe often also have that `flicking` lower leg action. Why?
I put it down to observational learning in childhood and that once `patterned` by the brain, it`s a lifelong behaviour for that individual.
Furthermore I suspect that this originated as peoples moved out of Africa and east through the wide desert plains of the Gobi. It seems an energy saving leg action for flat terrain, while in Europe we were walking in forested regions and developed the appropriate (stair climbing) gait.
My point is, that the behaviour is `fixed`and continued by each successive generation. Right now the Gobi desert`s effects are contributing to a more efficient energy saving gait on the streets.
Now, I`m serious about that - but Is it original thought of mine or something I read once in one of hundreds of books years ago?
Question
Given the adaptive marvel of the Human body, it`s leg actions and energy saving potential through adaptive change, how do you operate the pedals? Read more
So are you saying you can spot a first generation automatic car driver from the way he walks? Or does it take several generations?
Apart from the fact that you drive an automatic car, live in Surrey, and have recently served in Afghanistan, I really know nothing about you Watson.
I had a couple of Avon ZV5s fitted to the front and immediately noticed an apparent balance problem from around 70MPH.
They originally balanced the wheels with 'knock-on' weights on the inside rim only. They replaced these with a combination of 'knock-on' weights on the inside of the rim and stick-on weights nearer to the outside of the rim.
I've still got a steering wheel 'shimmy' that comes and goes from around 70MPH. It feels almost as if the tyres are coming in and out of phase, if that makes sense?
Could it be possible that the tread isn't quite 'true' around the tyre and each tyre could be compensating for the other across the axle, but also combining for the wobble I can see and feel at the wheel?
Any other suggestions and how do BRs suggest I approach the fitters to rectify the problem (I've now done a couple of hundred miles on them)? Read more
Same problem with my Mondeo, the tyre fitters say that both my front alloys are buckled, will be getting my mate to verify this tomorrow and then ordering four replacements from Ebay if he confirms.
Enjoy a little late night fun in St Petersburg.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=H2JFL1Sk21Y
Not a Lada in sight !
Ted Read more
blinkers compulsory then?
Hello,
My rear Number Plate Lights on my Ford Mondeo Ghia, 2001 reg are not lighting up. I had taken the old bulbs out and put in new bulbs and they are not lighting up.
Any ideas what the problem could be or how to fix it?
Thanks Read more
You will need a voltmeter or a test light to verify power and earth circuits to the bulbs.Check for possible blown fuse or broken wires to tailgate/bootlid.hth
Earlier today, I was cut up by a bus at a roundabout, even though I had right of way.
Because of this, I had to slow down quite considerably though not badly - maintained 2nd gear all the way.
However, on putting my foot down to accelerate, the car made a grunting noise, almost as if I was in too high a gear for the speed!
Is this unusual? Surely you wouldn't expect to drop to 1st!!
Read more
1.3 petrol 05 reg and 15mph at the time though probably slower than this at the point of accelerating.
Hi All
Up until last sunday car was fine and only passed its MOT 4 weeks ago. Slowing down for a set of lights foot pedal went tight and vibrated. First thoughts was that the car had slipped on a manhole cover but it continued to happen intermittently. Have been told it needs to go on a diagnostic reader but as no light has appeared on the dashboard at any time will this show up the faulty ABS unit.
Many Thanks. Read more
Hi there, first-time poster here, hope someone can help.
I'm choosing between two Mondeo's both around £2,500. One is a 2001 plate, with v low mileage - 31,000 on the clock. It has no service history but the last 3 MOTs from 2006 onwards, showing miles circa 16,000, 18,000 (it was retested for resale, at Evans Halshaw - reputable I would think?) then again at 28,000 at Benfield Motors. It then had a final MOT when the current dealer got hold of it.
The other has FULL service history, but has done 59,000.
The former dealer has offered me a 12 month warranty to help allay my fears.
Anyone any ideas? Does service history always trump mileage?
Read more
I regularly sell Late Mondeo's with 130k + they drive just as well as a 80k motor.
Personally I'd go with newer car and higher mileage. Just make sure its in good condition as this tends to reflect how the car has been treated.
The latest speed limit reduction around here set me thinking ? increased time to do that now. The up-to-date limit on most roads is probably about the maximum speed that used to be achieved yesteryear. The acceleration qualities of the average car were not that good and by the time it had reached 50 mph it was time to slow down for the bend. On the roads around the Peak District that is fairly soon.
There are many more cars on the road now and some of the drivers need to be told to slow down. OK, I?ve heard the arguments about braking and suspension systems being improved, but some of the drivers I see seem to have a suicide wish.
In the 1960s / 70s I had a Morris Minor 1952, side valve engine, that could just about meet 50 mph on the level with a following wind. The rule of the road (common courtesy) said that if you were going downhill you gave way to the vehicle coming uphill. That would enable the vehicle to keep some way on and not be forced to stop, restart and crawl the rest of the way up. Imagine that nowadays !!
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How are speed cameras "fundamentally wrong" WP? They are a method of catching drivers who break the speed limit a rather heavy-handed one I admit but that doesn't make their use "wrong"... what is "fundamentally wrong" is the low level of traffic cops not the use of cameras...
They are wrong IMO, because their original intended usage has been warped and bureaucrats have been allowed to take them over to the detriment of common sense. They are now mostly the only safeguard we have for poor driving, yet only concentrate on legal drivers i.e. those registered or not driving something stolen. By far the majority of problems road safety wise are caused by low lifes who are completely illegal, yet a camera can do ABSOLUTELY NOTHING to stop them...but they can of course give your Great Aunt Maude a nasty shock for straying a few mph over a limit (whether or not it was needed at that time).
Then there's the revenue element... are we really happy with something that is revenue led, yet sold as a safety system? In other words let's keep the drivers driving at an unsafe speed through the (alleged) danger area and remind them about it within 2 weeks, by which time they're often hundreds of miles away. Shouldn't we be stopping that in the first place?...because it's dangerous? How about other systems that other countries have and mentioned many times before e.g. Portugal's red traffic light system.
If there was the odd camera about the country at recognised accident spots, i'd have no problem with them. Buy a new UK Atlas and see how many are littered in there. They have become a sort of 'big brother' item, but only of course to the generally law abiding.
Cripes, they can't be very good auctioneers if they don't even know the reserve! How can they handle the bidding? Can't be done.