January 2020
It is reported today that Electric scooters may be allowed on roads with perhaps a max speed of 16mph quoted. Presumably these silent machines will also find their way onto pavements and cycle paths. Do the things even have brakes let alone insurance? This sounds like a very bad idea to me from both a motorist and pedestrian perspective! Read more
I'm looking to buy a nice second car probably spending 10 to 15K, the only thing is it will have relatively little use maybe average 50 - 100 miles a week (not short journeys) It would sit on the drive exposed to elements. I am mindful that the car might deteriorate. Is this a valid concern or am I worrying about nothing? Read more
The battery and the brakes are the most to be concerned about.
Some cars are more susceptible to their brakes binding (sticking on) and/or the discs warping if not used for more than a week or so on a regular basis, especially if they are kept in a damp and cold environment. Using the car at least once a week with a reasonable amount of braking should be ok on that front....
Hi all,
This morning on my route to work driving through the city centre it was very busy at one point. As I approached to go through a set of traffic lights which were green may i add, because it was so busy I think I actually ended up blocking the pedestrian crossing, but when I went through it, it was green. There were lots of people wanting to cross but i felt i had the right of way to go. Then the cars at the other side started to move. It was quite scary to be honest.
I am quite worried about it, should I be? Read more
Paul Valentine
No mate nothing has changed. But just be aware guys n gals, the lass has only been driving for 4 years so still has stuff to learn, the fact she is asking the question is a good sign, and hopefully learnt from her mistake like we all have done....
One of the downsides of engaging 'cruise control' in your car is that it is uses more fuel than allowing the driver to have full control over the throttle opening. Assuming that you are travelling at a reasonable and legal speed on a dual carriageway or motorway and that you are not 'in a hurry', then a significant fuel saving can be made by allowing the car to gently gather speed (and momentum) on each downgrade, up to say 65 or 70 mph, and then try not to further depress your accelerator on the upgrade, such that the car progressively but slowly reduces speed on the following upgrade, resulting in the speed falling to maybe 55 or 50 mph at the end of the uphill gradient. The efficacy and benefit of this technique can be seen most clearly if you reset your Trip Computer to read cumulative average mpg immediately before reaching your intended cruising speed, at which point the trip computer will be at its most responsive to changes in throttle opening and it will be seen that the average mpg displayed will progressively increase. Switching between the cumulative average mpg and the instantaneous mpg settings of the Trip Computer will indicate how successful your 'fuel saving' technique is and whether you need to be more gentle or less so with your throttle opening adjustments. Admittedly, adoption of this driving style on main roads will irritate lorry drivers who like to cruise at a constant 56 to 62 mph uphill and down dale, but on dual carriageways or motorways they will usually have plenty of opportunity to overtake you. By using this technique on longer journeys in a number of conventional 5 door hatchbacks, I have been able see average mpg figures approaching or even occasionally exceeding the old NEDC ‘65.7 mpg combined’ economy from door to door in light traffic conditions in the daytime, when making my regular 35, 47 and 58 mile journeys in Essex and Cambs - both there and back (i.e. both with following and ‘head on’ prevailing winds) - two up plus luggage - in my current car. ... Read more
The techniques for driving to conserve fuel and wear and tear are one in the same. Driver awareness is key. Slowing down naturally before junctions, lights etc to reduce braking. Accelerating smoothly away to the desired speed in the optimum gear. A light right foot. All pretty standard for the 53 years I have driven vehicles. I enjoy that driving style, which is why I appreciated the diesel cars. Also where you live makes a difference. When working I lived in North Yorkshire and worked all over the North and Scotland. Apart from the M62 corridor the traffic is less than the South and South east so fuel consumption is also less. The M74 is a fine motorway and relatively lightly used so it is eminently possible to cruise along with fewer vehicle to contend with. I regularly used to achieve over 60mpg from my Skoda Superb on these runs. In your own vehicle it makes so much sense to treat it well and drive carefully. It is win win all the way with the benefits of lower fuel costs, better tyre and brake wear, fewer repairs etc etc. Cheers Concrete
Hi all,
I've been involved in an accident 2 days ago. When the police took my details they have found out that my driving licence has been revoked 7 years ago, of which I obviously didn't know.... Read more
PS lets keep politics out of it, DVLA is not a political party.
If that's aimed at my reference to immigration status then you're barking up the wrong tree....
I don't buy newspapers any more but read some online. I find the tabloids either grossly right or left wing, the Torygraph,...... well, enough said, the Guardian a little too over-opinionated and left wing. The BBC is my main source but I find increasingly has their own agenda and way too PC. I'm not familiar with any of the other online sources except Reuters and was wondering if there are good balanced factual sources that try to give an intelligent unbiased overview? Or is it best to read them all and form one's own opinion, as I tend to right now? Read more
The Guardian has become a sort of cult news sheet for the BBC/Liberals/Labour, what I don't like about their editorial policy is that anything controversial that might prompt opinions the editorial team don't want expressed have the comments disabled.
TBH The Telegraph does exactly the same, just on different issues. Even they (despite them being called 'alt-right' etc by some) had been 'going woke' with many an article that you'd have thought was written for The Guardian.
That all the MSM have collectively gone nuts over COVID-19, producing sensationalist articles one after the other, inducing panic and not being responsible means that when all this is over, they will be included in the Great Reckoning.
To me, this new version looks far better than the new VW Golf, and the rear of the car reminds me of the latest KIA Ceed. Read more
@Engineer Andy I get your point re 1.5TSIs. My concern is that this 1L engine will be too small for a car this size.
I understand that they do that to be in line with the latest emission tests, but what about the MPG (it will not be close to the official figures) and reliability in a long run?...
Powered by a 796 cc two-smoke triple - the eco-loons will be doing back flips! Read more
COLOR enhancement. after spraying the other 2 and doing a comparison. I felt that the F11 actually did enhance the color https://19216811.cam/of the paint xender.vip/a bit, adding a bi https://testmyspeed.onl/t of pop to color. looks are very SUBJECTIVE but this is what my eyes saw. but like I said in the negatives, it did not polish or remove any defects.
I’m a mid-20’s single professional male looking for a new (or used) car but I just cannot find one perfect for my situation. My budget is max £25k, normally go for something with less than 10k miles on the clock and less than 3 years old. I need something which is head turning but professional, preferably a coupe, not too big (no bigger than a A4) as I have poor eyesight but has to go like stink (sub 8 second 0-60). I do about 12k miles a year either in gridlock town traffic or empty motorways (a diesel hybrid would be perfect but very rare). Any advice would be much appreciated, thanks in advance. Read more
I think an autonomous car would be best for the OP.
Will have to wait until he can get one though
Surely you mean
www.honestjohn.co.uk/news/owning-1/2020-01/mot-tes.../ Read more
Paul Valentine
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