March 2024
The background, coming back from seeing elderly in-laws in Bedford. Empty road at half ten at night. Speed limit is 30mph. The technology in the car is set for a visual and audio warning of speed excesses. 36mph should and does triggers these. It was quiet enough to hear the warning and distractions, such as lights, for the visual warning. Subjective I appreciate but my wife and I are convinced we were within the speed limit. So, what should we do? Who's technology is right? My friendly solicitor says to suck it up and ask for a speed awareness course, which I know is sensible and pragmatic. But the sense of injustice we feel makes me wonder what other courses of action could I explore? Read more
I finally bought a new used car. The car has manufacturer tinted windows on the rear passenger windows and rear windows. I never thought about this on the test drive, as it during day light.
When when driving at night and checking my mirrors, visibility is n't great. All I can are two headlight. I can't make out the colour, make or model of car. This is useful, as I like to keep out of the way of faster cars when overtaking. ... Read more
These are manufacturer tints. I thought tints that dark were illegal.
They are, but only on the windscreen and front door windows. But think about it, if dark tinted glass on rear and rear side windows was illegal for safety reasons, you'd have to also ban vans...............
I was in Chelmsford today for lunch at Writtle, popped in to the Dealers to get screenwash.
Two things.... Read more
I see the much-ridiculed Austin Allegro "Quartic" steering wheel has made a comeback! shorturl.at/ajTXY
Found these searching tonight for a cheap estate ( under £3k )
Of these 4 if you were only driving 4000 max a year which is reliable and the best value ?... Read more
I took a Panda 4x4 for a spin yesterday. Brilliant car, but just a little too small for my needs and the engine is very noisy.
Surely no smaller than the Twingo?...
Saw this.
Other newspapers available.... Read more
This bit never sat right with me:
The platform allowed shoppers to buy, part-exchange and finance vehicles entirely online. People could order while sitting on the sofa, and the vehicle would be delivered to their home in as little as 72 hours, with a seven-day returns policy....
This week's Bangers and Cash.
Toyota Corona 2.0l 4 door 1974, 31,000 miles, in original condition.... Read more
Thanks for the replies to my 70s Toyota query everyone. It is really quite impressive that a company has maintained quality standards for so long, when many other makers have not (Mercedes comes to mind, as does Honda given the current thread re Theophilus’s CRV
I have a 07 Astra petrol 1.8 hatchback . I was driving last week everything seemed ok .
I parked out side the house went in for about 10 mins went back into car and it was as if there was no battery in the car there was nothing no dashboard lights , no clicking ,the remote locking didn't work the battery was totally flat. I put a charger on the battery the car started and I drove off. I drove for about 30 mins with lights on there was no dimming of lights , no battery light on dash as soon as I turned the ignition off it went flat again . I have done the fuse test , cleaned the earth connection , checked no lights on , checked alternator all ok . ... Read more
If the voltage is dropping like that there's a short, surely? But why is it not present when the car is running, and why has it not blown the main fuse?
I wonder if the voltage is being measured at the actual lead battery post?
Hi,
As anyone used Autoscratch. I assume they are a national franchise but I wouldn't mind any info on them. They have good on-line reviews buut for all I know that could be friends and family... Read more
Not sure I understand why it was worth paying £350 to Autoscratch, but not worth going through the insurance?
Any claims you make (irrespective of fault) have to be declared to the insurance companies for 5 years. This increases the premium for 5 years (irrespective of NCD). This also applies to all policies which you are a named driver on and not just the policy in your name (which you claimed on).
Hi guys
Brand new here and at my wits end. New to all this so please be kind. Bought a 91 Mk1 Golf back in April last year. Car of my dreams. Within 2 weeks of owning, car had to go to a garage to have £700 worth of repairs but the trader covered this cost. Since September, roof on the convertible has been leaking like a sieve. Went back to the trader who said nothing to do with them any more. Took the car off road, kept it covered in the garden. Interior was sodden, condensation and mould everywhere. So gutted by it. Eventually saved up enough money to get a replacement roof (£1900). Took the car to the guy to fit the roof, and he said the roof that was on the car is not the original roof, it has been replaced by a roof that doesn't fit. He put the roof down and showed me that the roof was hanging on to the frame by duct tape and cable ties. The inner pad was covered in mould and was sodden. He showed me the back window was held in place by staples and masking tape. The roof was never going to be watertight ever, due to the inferior materials used and the fact the roof had no proper fixings.
I bought the car from a classic car dealer, not from some bloke down a dark alleyway, so I thought the proper checks would have been carried out. I have gone back to him and explained that the man who fitted the new roof had to carry out an additional £400 worth of repairs (including getting a fabricator in to weld a new frame for the roof as the one I had was riddled with rust due to all the water just sitting on the inner pad). He said the only reason I needed a new roof was due to the existing roof not being the right roof and not fitted correctly at all. The car dealer is saying he is having nothing to do with it. He didn't fit the roof, I know that, but surely as a classic car dealer, there are checks he should do before selling a car on? The roof fitter showed me all the issues and said these would have been obvious to a dealer who knew what they were doing.... Read more
Just a quick update. After many discussions and a few legal letters, the garage that I bought the car off has agreed to pay half of the new roof for me. What a result! I am pleased with that and have accepted their offer.
I think you have done fairly well there. When you get the car back, I am sure you will look it over more thoroughly than the first time ? One worry for me would be that a car which has had a leaky roof for years may have rust lurking where the sun don't shine. I remember looking at a 205 soft-top many years ago which was dreadful in places - but I suppose some owners don't look under rear seats and such, and annual MoT tests may not either.
Was looking through the Facebook Marketplace Glasgow, this evening
A 2016 BMW 118 D M Sport Auto, caught my eye. Mileage was around 58000... Read more
Thanks for all the replies. I knew I would get some good impartial advice.
Ive been having a think on the purchase,and with hindsight, I think it was more a want than a need. I currently have an Astra GTC auto.Nothing wrong with Car. I need to stop looking at Facebook Marketplace. And as commented it’s like the Wild West on their. Virtual Minefield....
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Just to circle back on this. I was indeed offered a course, which I will take. The car's speedometer was checked and comfortably within tolerance (over reading by 2mph at 70). And, most importantly, my wife was visiting her mother and took her shopping. Since she was close to the spot she showed her where I was caught speeding. And Sod's law, she is now waiting to see if she will join me on a course!