November 2016
Hi there, I've just got a USB FM transmitter gadget that I'd like to hide behind the dashboard of my Fiat 500 somewhere and then power it. How can I do this? I've found this
I have literally no experience doing this but I'm willing to give it a go! I've found this DC 12V to 5V inverter with a female USB adapter, is this what I need?
Also, I have a black box in my car which is no longer activated, would it be easier to just to remove that and then just use the power for that?
Any suggestions helpful, thanks! Read more
An engineer once told me "If you have any respect for your engine never use supermarket fuel. In fact, only use Premium." My Classic Car buddy (retired from the oil industry) tells me that using Premium all the time can have an abrasive effect on the engine, he suggests Premium every fourth fill. Do you have a view on this subject? Read more
I don't think there's anything wrong with supermarket fuel. I just think the branded end product is better and that engines run better on it. I had an Octavia 1.9TDi that definitely lost a bit of edge when running on supermarket diesel. So I stopped using it and filled up at my local filling station. Within 100 miles the car performed just like it used to. A work colleague had a V8 Range Rover and he said exactly the same.
Could we have more time to edit our posts. I often get caught out by the time limit after I spent 10 minutes carefully editing spelling mistakes, bloopers, and other stuff. This tablet of mine does not allow me to type at 120 wps.
I often like to rephrase and tweak my original post to remove potentially contensious statements which takes time.....only to find......damn.....page did not load as expected. Read more
Thanks, Avant & Kalpesh - your efforts are appreciated although not always noticed.
Chaps and chapesses. I am keen to understand your views on winter tyres in the U.K. I understand the benefits of having them and how they perform much better than standard tyres below 7 deg C. My logic is that we probably have too few days that are lower than 7 deg in our winters (unlike when I lived in Norway) so is it worth fitting winter tyres at the next change point and keep them on year round. I.e. - just fit winter tyres and keep them on the car permanently - what would be the pros and cons ?
PS - I cannot seem to get all season tyres in my size. Read more
I have never had winter tyres. Last time we had a lot of snow, the roads were fukk of stuck cars the ditches full of 4x4s. The latter were due to owners neglecting to realsie 4wd is no good if you are on summer tyres- which many are - and/or you are on ice...
I have never used them either, and in all the cars I`ve owned, only one caused me severe grief, a Triumph 2000....
I have just read an old debate about head gasket failure which advises gentle driving first thing on very cold mornings. One of the many reasons for not thrashing a cold engine is the theoretical chance of microscopic movement at the interface of a too rapidly warmed cylinder head and a cold block.
Not sure whether this applies in practice but just thought this might be helpful for those who, like me, run old engines. Read more
I used to live North of Aberdeen : Near Macduff to be precise..
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Does anyone know how long this system should take to activate the rear wheels?
I'm aware of how it works and it's not a 'proper' 4WD system.... Read more
It's all down to the electronics - the Hyundai Santa Fe used the same 4wd system as the Porsche Carrera 4 (yes, really!) but their electronics are very different - there's a slight noticeable delay on the Santa Fe when the fronts scrabble and then grip as torque is transferred to the rear - no such delay on the Porsche.
Sorry I missed out the year - it's a 2003, AFAIK it is all mechnical. I don't believe it even has traction control. There's no ESP OFF button and no warning lights when the wheels lose traction.
I know, before people shout. Got rear ended, in a state, didn't get vehicle registration number. Got mobile number/name that's all. Bloke said "of course I'll pay" and now of course he has recinded! I know!!! Is there anyway of me getting his address from his mobile number.
Has said he has blocked my number.... Read more
Thank you DVD,
So, for my own clarification (in case of future incidents!), there is no obligation to report an accident to the police unless personal / vehicle details are not exchanged, or unless there has been a physical injury to either party (or presumably any third party)....
Following on from something I said in my last post on the new 2017 BMW 5 series. I would be interested in knowing peopl's view on how they rate the engineering quality of a car and what cars they think are the best engineered.
I know this is a varied topic but for me engineering is mainly about reliability, durability and what the company focuses on when the car is designed and built.... Read more
I think that's why (not just having careful owners) the vast majority of older, 'non-classic' (i.e. not having oodles of money and time spent restoring and keeping them in good order) cars on the road are Japanese, and particularly Toyotas. There's an early 90s Carina E in my town that I often pass, and it looks almost as good as new. You do notice that lesser-engineered cars tend to die very quickly after they reach double figures in age.
Surely - apart from the small proportion which are kept for sentimental reasons and are carefully owned for years - the usual reason for cars dying after 10 years is that they have almost no residual value, so owners assume there is no point in spending any more?
Reading reviews recently on the new 5 series - looks like it is going straight back to the top of the class. I d like the way that BMW are able to combine both handling and comfort, a trait that seems to be unachievable by Audi and Mercedes although to a lesser extent in that MB deliberatley set out for mainly comfort with the E class.
One thing I wish journalists would stop saying about BMW is that their cars are always evolutionary. That is a well known fact in the motor industry that BMW evolve and just continue to make things better rather than start from scratch. A colleague of mine worked for BMW in Munich and it was standard practice. He was even told that is why the cars were codnamed with an E prefice (E39 etc.) as the E was all about evolution an dtaking things and just making them better and better. It is staggering how ill informed the majority of motoring journalists are in the autocar and autoexpress field - but then I suppose most of them are just kids anyway.... Read more
1. Not being able to raise the seat while sitting in it, that's ridiculous, it's easy. Both myself and my wife drive our car, and there's about 8" difference in height between us. If she's been driving the car I reach in for the fore/aft mover and shift the seat backwards before I get in, then once sitting I just lift the seat about an inch. Takes moments.
2. The steering wheel moves up, down, in and out, as standard on all BMWs. Once again, both of us (5'11" and 5'3" tall) have no problems at all.
Hi All.
I'm a massive fan of keyless entry in cars. Working in the community out late at night, sometimes on my own and not always in the best of areas the last thing I want to worry about is finding my keys.... Read more
I like the Sportage but if that's too large then one car springs to mind. The new Honda HRV.. It's a well made, comfortable, pleasant looking small SUV that's more compact than the Sportage and in top spec EX it has keyless entry and start and slots in within your budget. The 1.6 DTEC diesel is an excellent engine, strong, quick revving for a diesel and amazing on fuel. We have it in our heavier CRV and we've never found it lacking and it manages to better 60mpg on a run which is outstanding for such a large vehicle, the lighter HRV will better this. The 1.5 petrol is fine around town and excellent on fuel for a petrol but it lacks torque for overtaking. Honda also has a enviable reputation for reliability and the HRV is proving popular so it's likely to hold onto its value well. Combined with class leading economy it'll be very cost effective despite the high initial purchase price. You're right regarding reviews. While they serve a useful purpose by comparing cars against rivals they also put too much focus on handling prowess which is largely irrelevant with regards to cars like this which aren't bought for their ability to post quick times on a racetrack or entertain on a B road blast.
Never even though of a Honda. I'll go and do some research. I love this site and the people. Thank you all so much.
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Ok cool, thanks for the help, I'll have a look!