"I can see in a saloon would be the extra security if you often needed to carry valuables in the boot"
That's one thing the Passat had I liked - a boot and the seat back were lockable (and they were) with a key. The Mondeo had neither. The Mazda6 seat back release at least is in the boot.
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My VW Bora has substantial locks fitted to the split rear seats for additional security - I've always had saloons because, although I appreciate the versatility of a hatch, security is not as good.
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But the excess on the van might be high if you damage it... hiring the man with a van is another cheap option if you've got the junk ready.
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Was at the tip on Sat evening around 7 pm, ditching old radiator, old carpet and paper from bedroom walls (yes, I'm decorating...) Our tip is being redeveloped and in the week is only open from 5 - 8 pm - people say it's crowded then But they have linger weekend opening hours, so either early or late is generally good for no queues.
Certainly easier in the hatchback Vectra than the old Omega - and it would be one of the reasons I'd go for a hatchback next time.
Edited by smokie on 17/11/2008 at 23:38
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whereas hiring a Transit for a day and going to the tip a few times will be more like £40-£50.
Around the outskirts of London, if you turn up in a van the chances are that they will want to charge you as 'commercial waste'
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They would do that near us - and the nearest will not take commercial waste either.
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Been two or three times this year. Last time on Saturday to take the old central heating system (Boiler and 7 radiators). All into to the back of my Passat with no problems.
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Yesterday-various containers full of rocks and concrete from digging out a drive.A few drops when passing will save paying for a miniskip.As a bonus found a lovely woven top footstool in immaculate condition,had to wait for the supervisors attention to be diverted as one is not supposed to remove things.
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Last Sunday, and the Saturday before. We have a lot of trees and we soon fill up the green bin so it's either take them to the tip or have seven or eight bin bags hanging around - inevitably getting wet when it rains.
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3 Tonnes of hardcore taken to our recylcing centre last week via golf estate and trailer. Freecycle and ebay also contribute to the usefullnes of having an estate in the household, its amazing what you can pick up and the price you have to pay if you'll put yourself out and collect.
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A few times this year as I've cleared out the shed, garage and loft.
I will miss the Grand Scenic in a lot of ways when we get rid of it, but without a doubt the thing I'll miss most is how it converts from a comfy family motor to what is basically a reasonable sized van in 2 or 3 minutes, but which doesn't incur the van charges at the local tip. With all the rear seats removed, it's vast.
Edited by DP on 18/11/2008 at 14:48
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About two hours ago....:-)
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Just come back now! - first time i've been for about 2 yrs, took a bit of assorted garden rubbish down (in bags) in my mates car and trailer. The "Tip" is now a "recycling centre" everthing goes in different segregated skips!, we were turned away because we had no license!!!! We were told if we took anything in a van or trailer we need a council - issued licence, but if we were on foot or just using car boot we were ok. So........(you've probably guessed it) we backed onto the verge just outside the gates, transferred bags from trailer to car boot/ back seat (whilst mr jobsworth watched!) un-hitched trailer, and were allowed in to "Recycle" our waste!. No wonder fly-tipping is a problem around here! Grrr!
Oh motoring link - it's suprising just how much you can squeeze in an Astra if you must!
Billy
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I took a battery down last week and was given the third degree over lost tokens."You can`t tip" Eventually, after being held at the side for 10 minutes, they let me in, telling me I had been located on the computer and a token had been "ticked off".
I`ve been down with used engine oil from DIY servicing and turned away, with the big tank full and another time a burly employee came over and stood watching "to make sure it`s not left at the side". (direct quote)
OK of course, to stand there in protective gear and watch a much older bloke walk through the oily ground and try to pour it in without getting it on clothes.
I`m tempted actually just to put all this stuff in plastic bags in the bin at home and let them sort it out themselves (or not as the case may be) as it appears on the landfill site.
Actually, shortly after the battery experience I had an old PVR recorder to dump - guess what I did with that.
;)
Edited by oilrag on 18/11/2008 at 15:32
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Towbar on Yaris and small trailer - we have tickets with your car number on so you can't use another car for trailer - also the tip entrance has a bar across at 6ft something so no Transit vans or even some 4x4's -- batteries go to tat yard - £4 is £4 -- waste oil is mixed with creosote and gets painted on fences.
I do miss my old country abode - burnt most stuff on woodburner or garden fire
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Not just around London, either, pmh.
I rented a trailer to remove the remains of an old greenhouse from my Mum's back garden in Lancashire. On arriving at the tip (sorry, 'recycling centre'), I was accosted because the trailer had twin axles - which apparently meant 'commercial'. I had to plead with a council official over the phone to allow me to unload my rubbish.
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I've got an Erde 142 trailer which is useful for going to the tip - or it should be. But traffic arrangements outside the tip are so bad now (queuing on a bend) that I avoid going there unless I really have to. What makes things worse is that they now shut the gates every time they need to use a digger or move a lorry in the site. The gates seem to be shut 50% of the time, with cars queued on the dangerous bend.
Still, I suppose that's progress!
Edited by Sofa Spud on 18/11/2008 at 16:43
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I go about three or four times a year. I drive an old Escort so I'm not bothered about the interior and I cant fill the driver's seat with rubbish. so my seat remains clean. I always go on Saturdays whilst everyone else is (or was) shopping. Never go on a Sunday as it's always too busy.
I usually get rid of waste oil from servicing my car or one of the rest of the family's fleet. You cant dispose of it elsewhere locally. I try to make sure the car is full so the petrol used for the trip isn't wasted. Theres always some garden rubbish or a family member wanting rid of some household items, old carpets or just generally having a clearout to justify the fuel used.
I always get lumbered with all heavy lifting/moving jobs, couple this with the fact that rubbish removal always seems to be a man's job and its not surprising I'm down there quite regularly. I miss my old car with it's sunroof. I could carry some really long, awkward items by having them poking out of the roof and running full the length of the car interior . Air Con just isnt as practical.....
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Many 'dream' saloon / sports / 2 seaters don't automatically mean the owner has enough cash to spend on a second practical car.
That said, I personally have a practical car to supplement my 2 seater, for duties such as going to B&Q, carrying people, parking where there is risk of damage and going to the tip (amongst others).
I refused to pay the £100 or so for a skip when clearing carpets/plasterboard from my living room refurb, but three trip visits covered it. It would have been two if I filled above the window line.
Fortunately, the high price of scrap metal means I can normally leave it lying around outside and save a tip trip. Bits of old copper pipe would be gone within the day. An 8-foot radiator was to big for the boot, but that took a week to go though.
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A bit off topic but scrap prices have fallen through the floor recently. I have read recent quotes of £20 per ton on other websites and other places not even paying for scrap.
Funniest thing I read was someone taking along a few kilos to weigh in and was asked "Which colour balloon would you like sonny?" (in exchange)
My sister has in the past few months used the trick of leaving metal objects outside and they have been picked up or "walked" but I suspect its no longer worth the diesel for the rag and bone men.
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The Berlingo probably goes to the tip once or twice a year.
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Re skips
www.theskip.net/the-skip-magazine/skip_hire_indust.../
There is another world out there !
A scroll thought this long item shows some "interesting" images.
Including
Skip Lorry Takes a Dip!
You've heard of 'skinny dipping', but 'skippy dipping' is a rather more rare pastime. Watch this speedy recovery by SRE Recovery, Croydon, of a skip lorry which crashed into Carshalton Ponds last month.
AVOIDING THE VIPER
An interesting item on ANPR + sensors to detect overweight vehicles
And watch out for this Subaru
www.skipcar.co.uk/video.html
And this
www.theskip.net/the-skip-magazine/scoots_you_sir.h...l
And a festive ending for those in Poole with A1 Budget Skips
www.theskip.net/the-skip-magazine/A1_santa.jpg
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I once took a three-piece suite to the tip (three trips), using the old Panda.
I roped each piece to the roof.
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I always thought of a little van when I retired - that`s not a joke.
Took an entire `bathroom` to the tip - toilet, sink, bath, panelling and so on. The bath protruded out of the back with the tailgate up - but it saved the cost of a skip.
(I get a kick out of things like that - sad or what? ;)
The amusing thing was not being challenged at all, despite three consecutive trips.
Different staff on duty when I was later challenged over taking the battery down, which was fortunate perhaps, given the reaction over the battery.
Edited by oilrag on 19/11/2008 at 09:20
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Sad thing that I've found is most of these places are staffed by jobsworths. I wouldn't consider buying a pick up truck as they won't let you tip without a permit, same goes for Transits and car sized van derivatives. I'm always bemused when someone asks "Are you throwing that out mate?" No I just thought I'd take it for a lovely Sunday run out.... Don't know why they want you to seperate it either, it all goes in the same hole ;-)
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The Berlingo probably goes to the tip once or twice a year.
Yes - best place for them.
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A mate of mine does landscape gardening, he managed a couple of visits in his Escort van before the tip staff twigged (!) that it was trade waste.
I've been about 6 times this year, last time about 2 weeks ago and need to go again soon as were clearing the loft out. Also go a 3-4 times a year with waste cardboard from the office; A1 size boxes so its convenient to drop the rear seats down.
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In deffence of the recycling centres Crewes Pyms lane depot have been really good to me over the last 6 years, I must have been 100 times over that period and only ever had one problem when a different company took over and declared trailers over 4 feet long needed a permit to tip. Its now trailers over 5 feet long and as mine is just under this I'm left to my own devices. The latest company even help you to unload and are polite, they even take asbestos providing you book in first. If you're about to renovate a house then I'd recommend an estate car over a van any day
10/10 ;o)
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ive twice got punctures having been to the local tip, i now prefer to fly tip
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Ours is block paved :oO
so is ours but its the "bricks in muddy potole" pattern
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