March 2011
Over the last year or so I have seen an increasing number of people riding mopeds/scooters/ motorcycles with one foot (and sometimes both feet) just above the ground. I am not talking about being at a virtual standstill but at speeds above walking pace. The reason I find it scary it that when I broke my leg some years ago there was a guy in outpatients who had done just exactly that. Unfortuneately his foot had dug into the road and in his own words he had polevaulted using his leg. This resulted is a very unpleasnat compound hip fracture as his femur had been forced into the pelvis. Extremely nasty! So why do people do it? Read more
Me again. Problem with the Peugeot again. Grrr! The car starts fine from cold, but in the last couple of days, it has started to stall as soon as I come to a stop (for example at traffic lights or a junction). The revs just die - even though the clutch is disengaged. It starts up again immediately, but I have to keep the gas pedal slightly depressed to keep the revs up. HOWEVER - when I eventually park, switch off completely, then start up again but DON´T actually move off, it doesn´t stall at all - and continues idling just fine. The idle only dies when I come to a stop from a moving position.
Any ideas/tips/suggestions welcome - including taking an axe to it (as seems likely by the day!)... Read more
It was low on fuel when the problem occurred a few weeks ago. Infact, it was only 2 days later that I tried it to drive it again - and went straight to the petrol station nearby for a fill up (because I didn't want to stray too far from home incase it stalled for good). But you may be onto something when you mention the stall only occurring when in neutral - because that day, the stalls only happened when I tried to bring the car to rest from a moving position and in doing so, I would naturally press the clutch down in order to take the foot off the gas pedal and onto the brake.
The other problem that I'm still sometimes having (same car, regardless of amount of uel)) is that when the engine is cold, it almost always strats first time. But after a journey, if I switch off for 5 or 10 mins and then I try to start again, I still get that 'choked cough' response - then I turn the key back, wait a few seconds, and try again. It usually starts after the 2nd or 3rd ignition. ...
Hi, bit of a dilemma...I have agreed to (finally!) make the change to an MPV for the wife, 3 kids and 2 dogs (bit of a squeeze in a 10 year-old Mk IV Golf!) I can't really avoid changing as I'm swanning (very comfortably) in a 13 year-old E39 BMW 535i (absolutely gorgeous to drive, smooth and reliable, but drinks the juice at 24mpg, and I'm really starting to feel this in my wallet!) But which to sell - the Beemer or the Golf (worth about £2.5K each, I reckon). Both due MOT in Oct 2011; Beemer's immaculate, Golf clean but EPC light on and beeps "Engine Workshop!" warning every start-up (I left it with a good independent garage (ex-BMW/VAG) who cleared the EPC code and fitted a new brake switch but this didn't solve the problem - driving perfectly well though). I've read the MkIV Golf isn't so reliable and I guess I'm concerned things are going to start going wrong. Against that the Beemer is a bit longer in the tooth (94K done,regularly serviced) but then again, all the depreciation is out of the car. BMW insurance £450/Golf £250 annually.The Golf will do 32mpg(urban),50mpg(extra-urban) and the Beemer averages at,as I say,24mpg. So which motor to sell? And what to get? I'm thinking sell the Beemer and get a 1 year-old Zafira....any ideas? Or is getting rid of the Beemer stupid? (in a couple of years, it'll qualify for classic insurance!!) Read more
if they're both worth about the same, if I were you I'd try to PX the Golf for the MPV - you might get more against another VW (Touran) than a Zafira. Toyota Verso, Mazda 5 and Ford C-Max are also worth looking at in that size of MPV.
You could then do most of the miles in the MPV and just use the 535 when two cars are needed. 94k is just nicely run-in for a 535 but the Golf by the sound of it could start to get expensive at 10 years old....
I need a small automatic as I have arthritis in my feet but all the cars I have looked at have exactly the same accelerator as in a three pedal car. It is just too narrow and too small. I have been advised to contact an adaptations expert but that costs money. If I have go to do that just for the pedal adaptation would I not be better off forgetting about the pedals altogether and having both the brake and accelerator on hand controls? Why do UK automatics have such an unhelpful accelerator when North American cars I have rented have such a broad and user friendly "gas" pedal?
Ted Robertson.... Read more
Think this is a function of UK being in the awkward squad, i.e., having the pedal box on the right. On the left the left foot rest can be on the wheel arch, and there's plenty of room for larger pedals; whilst on the right the space is usually limited bythe centre console.
In passing, noting HJ's passion for left-foot braking, it's not an easy matter in some left hand drive autos. The brake in the LHD Golf, for example, is offset well to the right of centre, and is a considerable distance from the foot-rest.
Saw an advert by Dovercourt stating that they sell twenty-seven makes of car-are there twenty seven? Read more
I believe Volkswagen are the largest car manufacturer in the world they overtook Toyota.
The Germans have never giving up their manufacturing base which we unfortenately lost in the UK.....
Hi,
I have a 1963 mini which I've fitted with a 1980 A+ engine. Everything works fine, but it is clear from driving the car that it would benefit from one (or perhaps two) additional steady bars, over and above the single steady bar fitted as standard to the Mark 1.
Can anyone advise which type of bar should be fitted, taking account of the fact that the Mark 1 bodyshell does not have any additional 'hard-points' for this purpose?
I know that later models had an additional steady bar at the rear of the engine which connected to the body somewhere near the hole for the gear stick.
The engine I have fitted has a bracket on the front of the engine near the sump plug. I am not sure what this is for, but it may be for a steady bar. If so, the other end would presumably have to attach to the front subframe crossmember. This would seem ideal if such a bar exists; but the crossmember would certainly take some drilling - it's much tougher than the bodyshell.
Thanks Read more
Hi,
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It shouldn't have taken an hour to realise you were with a rubbish salesman.
Has anyone out there had a similar problem? I bought a brand new Mazda ts petrol thats been ticking/clattering since only 800mls. After 5000mls and 5 attempts at repairs they got mazda tech,who finally said it was piston slap! and would recommend a short engine. What exacly is this? i'm hoping its an all new engine unit from the factory. Surely there must be a problem with dvla and engine no;s on log book.? Should i accept this or insist on a refund? Read more
Hi Med, the problem started within 6mths, consumer rights said i have to give them 'chances' which has taken 5 tries up till now, almost 1yr! Unfortunately 'Lifestyle Mazda' are 25mls away in Horsham and I'm a full time carer of my mother who's 96 with severe dimensea, so my only car is needed. They're not saying its unrepairable (i wish they would) but so far they may be fitting a 'short' engine. They won't admit of course that it could cause other problems, metal swarf, dvla, engine nos., resale value and explaining the 2nd engine to a buyer etc. I assume you also had a customer welcome pack !! Yes, we do have legal assistance on the car ins, Thanks for your help and web info,very interesting, but so worried to start something i can't finish! Thanks Med, Regards, Barry
Hi
I recently drowned my pug in the ford I have got the engine out and stripped her down to find the conrods are the cause of the problem so looking at rebuilding the engine or putting a replacement unit in... Read more
There's no easy way to put an HDi in, you'd practically need a whole donor car for all the various bits and bobs, if you had room, you could pick up an XUD engined ZX or 306 for peanuts, swap the engines and send the rest to the scrappy and near enough get your money back.
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Over the bank holiday weekend I saw someone riding a three wheeled scooter with their nearside foot about 2" above the road. They were doing about 30 mph. Truly bizarre!