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16

General Discussion Area / Re: Happy Hogmanay

« on: 31 December 2011, 21:57:56 »

Thank you Hotel21 - may I join you in wishing all OOFers a happy Hogmanay? 

Here’s tae us and wha’s like us (damn few, and they’re a’ deid) 

17

General Car Chat / Re: Cam cover oil leak. Plug leads recommendations.

« on: 31 December 2011, 21:33:50 »

Thankyou very much Chris for your time over the last 2 days and to Mrs. Gixer for the brews. It is most appreciated.
(I noticed she did run smoother on the way home)

P.S. I have the magic tape on standby if required!

 

18

Omega General Help / Re: 3.2 vented rear brakes

« on: 31 December 2011, 21:30:37 »

True - that's why I was careful to say the same fitment.  You can get pads that fit, work and are sold by Vauxhall so are presumably not likely to kill you at the first touch of the brakes. 

Maybe it is indeed worth five times the price for a different friction material - I would have to try it out for myself before offering an opinion on that.   

19

Omega General Help / Re: Auto box oil change

« on: 31 December 2011, 21:13:13 »

I am lucky enough to have a sloping driveway.  So I made up a pair of ramps with the same gradient so the car is left horizontal with just enough room to work underneath.  They run the full length of the car, made from railway sleepers and scaffold board - over engineered but safe and simple to use.  I'll post a pic next time I use them.

Not wanting to be a pedant against another pedant but, your wrist goes upto your oxter/armpit, irrespective if your hand is higher or lower than said oxter/armpit.....      

We moved from Scotland when the kids were young.  I remember one of them coming home from school confused by the local dialect and asking me "What's an armpit?".   

20

Omega General Help / Re: 3.2 vented rear brakes

« on: 31 December 2011, 20:46:19 »

Takes the same £10 TC pads (not that they are listed on TC website, but are still available) as the earlier calipers, despite what EPC says (EPC lists the OE pads (at £50) which include the fitting kit, its the fitting kit that varies).

So the Vx dealer will quote the expensive version with the extra fitting kit because that's what the Electronic Parts Catalogue (EPC) says.  But the actual pads that come in the box are the same fitment as the ones they sell for £10 without the fitting kit. 

21

Omega General Help / Re: 3.2 vented rear brakes

« on: 31 December 2011, 17:40:07 »

... or, if  you prefer, £10 from Vauxhall as TB said 

22

Omega General Help / Re: Tramlining

« on: 30 December 2011, 23:33:12 »

mine is similarly inclined to wander aimlessly along like a lost sheep.....    ever since i had new wishbones,  drop links AAR buses  and  all round OE Shocks , 4 new  tyres + rear springs)

GooseMan - where's your avatar when we need it?   

23

Omega General Help / Re: wheel bolts

« on: 30 December 2011, 21:27:22 »

Agreed - definitely M12 x 1.5

24

General Discussion Area / Re: new year...

« on: 30 December 2011, 16:42:04 »

Log fire, Laphroaig 18yo, shortbread.  Not been well lately so no parties for me. 

Where can you get black bun in these southern climes?

25

Omega General Help / Re: My MV6 is using too much fuel

« on: 29 December 2011, 20:41:41 »

Agree with all above.  Also, since it's free and easy to check, it the temperature getting up to mid-scale (90ish)?

26

General Car Chat / Re: Don’t buy an Avensis

« on: 29 December 2011, 19:50:56 »

The Avensis is dull and boring, but I found it "OK", and stupidly reliable. Uninspiring, but made it from A-B.

Insignia is similar!

Agreed - dull and boring when driven sedately, but positively pants-filling when trying to press on.  And the one I had broke after 3 days!  Luck of the draw, I suppose. 

27

General Car Chat / Re: Don’t buy an Avensis

« on: 28 December 2011, 21:31:52 »

Oops - just noticed I put this in Omega help - sorry Daz!

28

General Car Chat / Don’t buy an Avensis

« on: 28 December 2011, 21:30:37 »

... not that I thought you would!

Had a minor fender bender last month – no escape route so I was forced to watch a dozy Ford Ka driver pile into my back bumper.  The insurance company loan car was initially a Toyota Avensis 1800 estate with 5K on the clock. 

Although it is styled in homage to a house brick, there is nothing remotely solid about it; everything feels as loose as the morning after a dodgy phal.  The front wheels tramp horribly in first and second and the front end lets go at every possible opportunity.  Combined with brakes that snatch, I would say the car is lethal. 

There is plenty else I could mention but little things that stick in my mind are the bright green idiot light that urges you to change up a gear every time you go over 1500rpm and the figital handbrake switch cunningly hidden at arms length and out of sight somewhere under the steering wheel.  On the plus side, the engine is pretty gutsy for an 1800, and it returned over 35mpg in moderate town driving. 

Just as I was getting used to its all-round uselessness the air bag light stuck on, which I took as an excuse to get a replacement.  This turned out to be an Insignia 1800 SRI with 6K on the clock.  Oh joy!  It has suspension, steering, reasonable road holding (for a WWD) and brakes that work properly.  OK, somebody has let a limp wristed designer loose on pointless curves that compromise functionality, but only on unimportant things like switch positioning and rear visibility. 

So would I recommend this car?  Errm... no.  Although it feels nicely planted, there is roughness at most revs and the engine is totally gutless, especially lacking in grunt at normal overtaking speeds.  Drop from 6th to 3rd before an overtake and you need to set an alarm clock before pulling out. 

Just to cap it all, it averaged 31mpg which, considering it was mostly motorway use, is worse than my 2.6. 

... or perhaps I should say worse than my 2.6 was before its thermostat stuck open   

29

Omega General Help / Re: plenum pipes

« on: 26 December 2011, 23:09:29 »

Take a look in the Maintenance Guides Index on here - there is a V6 Cleaning Crankcase Breather System guide that I found useful.   

30

General Car Chat / Re: Never in 25yrs of driving...

« on: 24 December 2011, 21:40:27 »

... and, in the name of balance, an alternative approach from a BMW driver:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q4Qxic6qj3E