July 2021
I have been reading for the last week about the concept of installing overhead electric tramlines on the motorway sometime around 2040 Electric HGVs will pick up current as they drive and revert to battery if they overtake or leave the motorway. So Jeremy Clarkson was not too far out when he suggest covering the Mway with chicken wire like the dodgem fairground. Sounds OK until there is a crash and something brings the system crashing onto the carriageway. Read more
MOT:
Should I be concerned about comment on MOT about warm engine.
Engine oil temperature check: Temperature gauge showed warm engine.
Read more
Just for info, the maximum fee that can be charged for a cars MOT is currently £54.85 as set by law. Garages can charge less but never more.
I realise probably impossible to answer but is the average price of number plates rising or falling ?
I have a three letter name with 3 digits and have been offered less than I was a few years ago. Read more
Fun fact: along with Queen Elizabeth and her personally owned cars, the Lord High commissioner of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland is also exempt from showing a number plate on their official car.
Had full service two weeks ago, all fine. Car had MOT same garage, it failed on the anti roll bar as it split. He said it’s quite recent, my car is 8 years old. I’m ok with it, though I wander if the garage would have noticed any worsening parts of the anti toll bar during servicing. It will cost Me £96, though at least car will be safe. Read more
Thanks
Hi everyone!
I'm after some buying advice - i've fallen in love with this car once i test drove it and i'd really like to buy it. However there are a few red flags:... Read more
A thirteen year old car approaching 150,000 is always going to be a gamble - and that's how the OP should see it. It's rare, and its powerful diesel engine (Audi are renowned for these at Le Mans) will have done little hard work. The quattro system is robust. With the above dealer advert for a similar car in hand, he should be able to negotiate a price reduction.
"A new addition to the RS 3's repotoire is Audi's promise that the new car will be fun (not just devastatingly fast) in bends"
On which public roads though? Read more
Presumably with limiters you will be able to accelerate hard to 70 in a vehicle like this in just over 4, get to maybe 90 with momentum and then trickle back down to 70.
Improving training could arguably be a better router to safety rather than nannying for the lowest demographic
Getting an electric car soon Read more
I believe electric cars are a great choice for the UK, given the country's commitment to reducing emissions and the increasing availability of charging infrastructure. My husband owns an electric car, and he always makes sure to have three necessary things in it: a first-aid kit, a flashlight, and a portable charger. Speaking of safety, a warm jacket like rainbow fleece can be a must-have in case of an accident on the road, especially during the colder months. It's important to stay prepared for any situation, and having the right gear in the car is essential.
Ooh the delights of this process.
We had our street done yesterday. Spray tar, lay chippings, repeat, leave site.... Read more
Due to the excess of chippings I have avoided using the street for the last three weeks. We had a sweeper twice, but the chippings are still everywhere.
Yesterday I had no choice but to use it and guess what? Temporary lights, Northern Gas are replacing gas pipes. New surface alteady dug up for about 100m!...
Here around sunny Basingstoke the County council has marked off lots of road space for cyclists who are hardly ever seen in it. Lots of dual carriageway has been hatched out for whatever reason and ridiculous road furniture has sprung up all over, things like give way to oncoming vehicles in the middle of nowhere.Try to complain, Basingstoke council says roads belong to the County Council, they are very very difficult to contact with their redoubts of automated answering etc. Basically Hampshire is anti car and has no intention of listening to the public. Recent 'improvements' to some roundabouts are downright dangerous with drivers having little certainty as to which lane to take. Black Dam RA has seen numerous accidents including me getting bumped by a lane switcher and recently a serious one. Now they are going to 'improve' yet another, let's hope they get this right. Read more
I don’t buy it either, there is a demonisation of cars in this country. Cyclists around here are pretty rare users of the cycle lanes preferring to use pavements while the motor vehicles have less and less space. As said the people with money go where it suits them. I avoid London as much as possible now and go to provincial theatres, hotels and concerts etc.
Helping get more people cycling and finding ways for all road users to use the roads does not mean there is demonisation of cars...we just need to find better ways to share the space we have.
This has only just become a 'thing' for me. For the last couple of weeks, I was aware that the O/S rear tyre on my van was losing pressure, not a huge amount, but enough that I topped it up every morning I was working. Got fed up of this and decided to put the spare on with the intention of either fixing the leaky tyre or replacing it when convenient. Not sure why exactly, but the notion of directional tyres popped into my head, so I checked the spare which, inevitably is pointing the wrong way!.
Just to clarify, I have actually ordered a set of four new tyres, but was hoping to wait till I have some time off (in 7-10 days time depending on weather) before getting them fitted.... Read more
I was worried they (Michelin Primacy 3) were directional too, so it couldn't just be turned around. Seems not, so I will ask them to spin and balance it.aà
Browse
The system would be similar to trolley buses as Bradford used to have many years ago, a regular sight was a bloke with a long pole re attaching the electric arm to the overhead cable. The old public transport system was cheap to ride...as the trams in Leeds etc. Beeching b!@£$%^&* the railways when you could get anywhere in the country from a local station with a few connections. Round my way a bus goes to Town once an hour and it's all round the houses.