91
General Car Chat / Road tax
« on: 30 May 2016, 11:29:36 »
When did my 'road tax' go up? 
It was 'only' £485 last year, but now a nice round £500 
It was 'only' £485 last year, but now a nice round £500
- 09 May 2021, 21:03:33
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92
General Discussion Area / man's inhumanity to man
« on: 07 May 2016, 20:40:27 »
I heard about this http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-kent-36224015 this afternoon. 
There really are some evil barstewards around around!!! Can only hope they have an 'accident' when they're nicked
There really are some evil barstewards around around!!!
Can only hope they have an 'accident' when they're nicked
93
General Car Chat / Used car salesmen
« on: 18 April 2016, 20:28:41 »
I told him I'd share my experience of his garage with everyone I know so here goes ......
I've thought about retiring my Smart Roadster to weekend toy so considered a 'normal' fortwo Smart and saw this 84bhp version ie turbo'd, similar to my Roadster. Fortwo
By default they do NOT have power steering and after a drive of AN Other Smart for sale I've decided that (as small as they are)I'd prefer PAS.
I phoned him this morning to specifically ask if the car had PAS. He said yes, I asked if he was sure because they don't all have it and in an air of superiority said YES again. So I drove the 45 miles or so to get there, got stuck in traffic in the centre of Bratford and arrived an hour & three quarters later. I eventually got see him after wandering around the premises for 10 mins and resorting to phoning him from outside. He wandered up with the key & opened it. I asked if I could start it. No he said!! I said I wanted to confirm it had PAS. His reply was ..... 'why would it NOT have it?' I briefly & curtly explained why . He started the car, after he found the ignition in the middle, tried to turn the wheel & meekly shook his head & said no.
What a CITY BANKER!!!!!!!!!!! I expressed my delight in my wasted time & walked ..... before I said anything else.
So if you want to waste 4 hours of your time going to see a car that you've asked specific questions about and not even be allowed to start it, then Wilsden Autos http://www.wilsdenautos.co.uk/ in Bratford is THE place to go.
I've thought about retiring my Smart Roadster to weekend toy so considered a 'normal' fortwo Smart and saw this 84bhp version ie turbo'd, similar to my Roadster. Fortwo
By default they do NOT have power steering and after a drive of AN Other Smart for sale I've decided that (as small as they are)I'd prefer PAS.
I phoned him this morning to specifically ask if the car had PAS. He said yes, I asked if he was sure because they don't all have it and in an air of superiority said YES again. So I drove the 45 miles or so to get there, got stuck in traffic in the centre of Bratford and arrived an hour & three quarters later. I eventually got see him after wandering around the premises for 10 mins and resorting to phoning him from outside. He wandered up with the key & opened it. I asked if I could start it. No he said!!
I said I wanted to confirm it had PAS. His reply was ..... 'why would it NOT have it?' I briefly & curtly explained why . He started the car, after he found the ignition in the middle, tried to turn the wheel & meekly shook his head & said no.What a CITY BANKER!!!!!!!!!!! I expressed my delight in my wasted time & walked ..... before I said anything else.
So if you want to waste 4 hours of your time going to see a car that you've asked specific questions about and not even be allowed to start it, then Wilsden Autos http://www.wilsdenautos.co.uk/ in Bratford is THE place to go.
94
General Car Chat / Corsas
« on: 05 April 2016, 13:22:26 »
Daughter is looking at Corsas. I know the 1.0 is only half a V6 and is best avoided, but are the 1.2 & 1.4 belt driven cam shaft or chain? If belt, I assume the default 4 yr/40k 
TIA
TIA
95
General Discussion Area / school boy error
« on: 04 April 2016, 19:34:53 »
Daughter phoned me at work today to tell me that, she'd Googled the noise coming from her caar when braking & decided that she needed new pads. So my task when I got home was changing a Siecento's brake pads. She was right, it needed new pads because one of the pads had stuck so the opposite pads was almost down to the backing plate.
While pushing the pads back I noticed something wet dripping from the drive shaft ....... completely forgot about the master cylinder level
Pads changed in about 20 mins at most ...... another 10 mopping up brake fluid
If only its 'fan belt' was as easy! PITA
While pushing the pads back I noticed something wet dripping from the drive shaft ....... completely forgot about the master cylinder level
Pads changed in about 20 mins at most ...... another 10 mopping up brake fluid If only its 'fan belt' was as easy! PITA
96
General Discussion Area / Sturgeon still for indendance
« on: 13 March 2016, 00:24:02 »
I though the Yes No vote was going to be a once in a life time ...... 
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-scotland-politics-35788489
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-scotland-politics-35788489
97
General Discussion Area / image of girl's meningitis
« on: 17 February 2016, 22:33:08 »
A tragic loss of a little girl .........
If you've not already seen the image, it's not nice.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-kent-35596857
If you've not already seen the image, it's not nice.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-kent-35596857
98
General Discussion Area / Google's Euro Boss
« on: 11 February 2016, 18:16:41 »
Anyone else not know what they earn ........ 
http://www.theguardian.com/technology/2016/feb/11/google-matt-brittin-salary-public-accounts-committee-tax-deal-grilling
http://www.theguardian.com/technology/2016/feb/11/google-matt-brittin-salary-public-accounts-committee-tax-deal-grilling
99
General Car Chat / 3 point star Defender
« on: 04 February 2016, 18:35:58 »
Whilst waiting for a lift home I had a wander around Merc's show room. There was a Go-faster Bi-turbo V8 G Wagon/G Class in there £140 000 .... and they're 'Horrible' to drive says Plato
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v9g7YPtuVEw
not a bad tow car though
.... and they're 'Horrible' to drive says Plato https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v9g7YPtuVEw
not a bad tow car though
101
General Discussion Area / Lottery 'win'
« on: 23 January 2016, 18:52:22 »
I could very well be wrong, but I can't help but think 'liar liar your pants are on fire' 
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-hereford-worcester-35391419
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-hereford-worcester-35391419
102
General Car Chat / Airmatic problems now
« on: 19 January 2016, 13:20:39 »
Went to my Merc yesterday and it was kneeling down on the FOS Turned the key & it immediately lifted back up .... Not what I wanted to see. Drove down the road and back & then parked up. Tea time it'd sunk again ...........
I priced up today as a worse case scenario ie complete new strut (they only do the complete assembly, though just the bag seems available as an after market part) & fitting at Mercedes.
Brand new strut ....... £800 something + vat
or Mercedes exchange unit ....... £550 +vat (plus old unit)
plus 2.2 hours at £100 +vat
= near enough £grand for an exchange unit fitted
makes the C3 'stat sound quite reasonable!
I'm exploring the alternatives
Turned the key & it immediately lifted back up .... Not what I wanted to see. Drove down the road and back & then parked up. Tea time it'd sunk again ........... I priced up today as a worse case scenario ie complete new strut (they only do the complete assembly, though just the bag seems available as an after market part
) & fitting at Mercedes.Brand new strut ....... £800 something + vat
or Mercedes exchange unit ....... £550 +vat (plus old unit)
plus 2.2 hours at £100 +vat
= near enough £grand for an exchange unit fitted
makes the C3 'stat sound quite reasonable!
I'm exploring the alternatives
103
General Car Chat / Citroen C3 'stat
« on: 18 January 2016, 22:52:56 »
Anyone care to guess how much fitted ...... fitted at a dealer partly due to on going niggly problems that, I have to give the dealer credit for and haven't always charged me for looking. Unlike any other 'stat I've come across, it's not a waxstat but an ECU controlled motor driven affair ......
£265 if anyone is interested
£265 if anyone is interested
104
General Car Chat / Heated seats
« on: 11 January 2016, 19:31:48 »
No, not in an Omega, but in a Smart
The base heated mat has failed in my Smart. Unlike the Vauxhalls, the base & the back are obviously not in series because I still have a warm back. The Smart has a push switch that toggles on low/on high/off so my question is ........ what's the likely hood of a simple replacement with a generic heated mat? Do seats with different heat settings vary the voltage to the seat?
With a bit of luck, the original mat might be fixable
OE replacement is stupid money because it's part of the fabric like heated Omega leather
The base heated mat has failed in my Smart. Unlike the Vauxhalls, the base & the back are obviously not in series because I still have a warm back. The Smart has a push switch that toggles on low/on high/off so my question is ........ what's the likely hood of a simple replacement with a generic heated mat? Do seats with different heat settings vary the voltage to the seat?
With a bit of luck, the original mat might be fixable
OE replacement is stupid money because it's part of the fabric like heated Omega leather
105
General Discussion Area / Ed Stewpot has died
« on: 09 January 2016, 22:47:09 »
I only listened to him on Christmas Day
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-35273252
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CDUB_ykG1Oo
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-35273252
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CDUB_ykG1Oo