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91

General Discussion Area / Re: In a world I can't identify with

« on: 02 January 2024, 09:31:51 »

Surely, in the case of item 2, she just removes the headset? 

Shush you!

This is 2024, there's no space for that kind of practical no nonsense thinking anymore. 

92

General Car Chat / Re: So what have you done to your car today?

« on: 01 January 2024, 00:49:14 »

Took out the rear springs on the Zaf for a quick wire brushing and paint (another MOT advisory) on my way to the trailing arm bushes.

Given it's six degrees here, I wasn't going to carry on in the rain, so I put some penetrating oil on the bolts and retreated to the garage to clean up the springs. Then borrowed a blower heater off the in-laws so I can get some paint on them in the morning  .

It's debatable whether this will work as well on the subframe 

93

General Discussion Area / Re: That's Christmas done then.

« on: 30 December 2023, 14:58:27 »

Funny you mention that , my eldest Grandson was talking about going there next year, had never crossed my mind at all.

If you can afford it then I could say go for it. Just make sure you get a balcony cabin so you can see the scenery. I can heartily recommend the wildlife tours too. This was from our whale watching excursion...

https://imgur.com/gallery/84O6k1Z

94

General Car Chat / Re: So what have you done to your car today?

« on: 30 December 2023, 14:51:49 »

Changed the inner tie rods on the zafira. Very straightforward job other than trying to get the rubber boot back onto the rack on the near side. 

I don't know which imbecile thought that placement was a good idea, or who went on to give them a job designing inlet manifolds for JLR but I honestly couldn't get tired of punching them.

Is there some sort of trick to getting this done? After faffing about for far too long I used a jubilee clip and folded the boot back over it, then used the same jubilee clip to secure it to the rack. Worked out ok in the end, but one hell of a performance for something that should have been so simple.

95

General Discussion Area / Re: That's Christmas done then.

« on: 30 December 2023, 09:00:20 »

I would love to have the time to do a couple a year, living the retirement dream!

Have you ever been up to Alaska? We went in May last year and it's honestly the best holiday I've ever done.

96

General Car Chat / Re: Can I have....

« on: 30 December 2023, 07:54:47 »

No, personally I would not buy a car that looked like that.

I may be being unfair (which after all is what the internet is for) but that looks like it was owned by someone that would rather spend money on some 4d number plates or carbon fibre-ish tat than having the car maintained properly.

97

General Discussion Area / Re: That's Christmas done then.

« on: 30 December 2023, 01:31:00 »

TB: I've done about 5 or 6 so far, either on Royal Carribbean or MSC. I was similar to you, in that I thought it would be a terrible idea but my partner and family have always done it so persuaded me to try it. A few observations:

The boats never feel as busy as the numbers on board would make you think they might be. The only exception to this is Round the swimming pool(s). For engineering reasons these have to be small and inevitably get crowded.

Don't sail out of the UK for anything less than 7 days. If you do you're likely to get a lot of stag and hen parties, with all the bullsh!t that entails.

Having a balcony cabin is a big bonus as it means you can always just sit and watch the world go by with no one around.

I would always book through an agent - I've personally used vacations2go (denominated in USD but have thousands of cruises listed in a very no nonsense website) and cruise.co.uk. it's usually worth using these as you can typically get a good chunk of discount.

Finally, all cruise lines have a different ethos and target market they cater to. So think hard about what type of holiday you want as picking the wrong line will likely lead to you having a poor experience. We've booked the Carribbean for Easter 2025 with MSC, 2 adults and 2 children for 10 days and it's £3,500 'all inclusive' which for the Easter holidays is cheaper than center parks. That said, we picked MSC because it's family focused, tons for the kids to do and lots of shows. But it will be busy and it will be full of kids. Although Rangie hasn't said, unless he's going with grand children I'd be surprised if he's booked the same cruise line as (in his position) I wouldn't want to be surrounded by children on my relaxing beach holiday.

Lastly, on your sailing from the UK point, I found out this week that my partner has booked a 7night cruise from Southampton in may for my 40th. That route is Southampton -> at sea -> Bordeaux -> Bilbao -> la coruna -> at sea -> le harve -> Southampton. We will probably stay on board at le harve, but the other stops will doubtless have something interesting to offer.

98

General Car Chat / Re: Can I have....

« on: 30 December 2023, 01:10:15 »

As a newly converted BMW fan, I could recommend the F31 Estate. But go for the larger 6 cylinder engine. Mostly diesels around, very few petrols in the Saloon/Estate.

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202312014459794?sort=mileage&twcs=true&advertising-location=at_cars&body-type=Estate&make=BMW&maximum-mileage=80000&minimum-badge-engine-size=3.0&model=3%20Series&page=3&postcode=tw75qd&price-from=13000&price-to=17000&radius=1500&fromsra

313 BHP and presumably plenty of derv torque.

Exhausts look like a petrol car to my eyes.

Mine was exactly this, but in luxury trim, so no m-sport stick ones. It was hugely capable and I only got rid of it to fund my divorce.

I'd rate it as one of the best estate cars of it's age/size. Silly quick when you wanted it, but able to touch 50mpg when on a run on company time  .

And the exhaust tips were the same on mine.

99

General Discussion Area / Re: That's Christmas done then.

« on: 29 December 2023, 09:25:17 »

Got lots planned for 2024 starting with a Carribbean cruise in March so got to make it as its all paid for now. 😁

Very nice! Mind if I ask where to and who with? We'd always gone RCCL but with most wanting to charge kids full fare, even for our under 1y.o.  we've been with MSC the last couple of times and been fairly impressed. 

100

General Car Chat / Re: Can I have....

« on: 29 December 2023, 09:17:32 »

Thanks Jim, most of the S Max I looked at had starship miles and looked a bit tatty. They are bought to do a certain job and it takes its toll.

Too true, taxis or family cars. Either way, they seem to age in dog years and wind up inexplicably sticky 🤢.

101

General Car Chat / Re: Can I have....

« on: 28 December 2023, 20:51:30 »

Back to my original quest. Going to look at this tomorrow:

https://www.carshop.co.uk/used-car/FORD/MONDEO/NK68YFH

Looks nice! I guess ultimately it depends on what you want in terms of space. Whether it's boot floor size or overall volume that matters more.

An S-max might give you a higher driving position than the Mondeo (if that's something you care about) while being very similar underneath.

One thing I would say is check if the auto is a proper one, or a power shift dsg type affair. Those are well known to be problematic but I don't know when ford phased them out in favour of a more conventional slush box.

102

General Car Chat / Re: So what have you done to your car today?

« on: 28 December 2023, 09:06:08 »

Viral_Jim - don't know much able the mechanicals of the newer ones, as only driven them as hire cars, so tend to be fairly new.  Not a bad load lugger to be in either as a driver or front seat passenger (not every got in the back of newer ones), but glad to see yours is a manual, as the auto isn't well suited and makes it feel like a dog.

Not only is the auto a dog, it's also Ford's attempt at a DSG type setup that got them sued in class actions in both USA and Australia and was ultimately dropped because ol' Henry's boffins couldn't get it to work right.

So far I've only done about 250miles of mixed driving but it seems to handle well for a big bus. The 2.0 is much quieter & smoother feeling than it's 2.2l brother that's sitting in her Evoque. Not sure why this would be the case as you'd hope the Evoque has better sound deadening.

Being a ford there's a rattle from somewhere in the 3rd row seats and a squeak from the second. Both of which I will have to fix before they drive me insane.

Radio is mercifully beep free. Just one when turned on or the source is changed and it turns itself off (beeplessly) when you switch off and open the door. There's a disproportionate amount of bass, just like every Sony radio I've ever had, but it works well enough.

I haven't found any rust yet. Mostly because I haven't looked

103

General Car Chat / Re: Can I have....

« on: 27 December 2023, 14:29:00 »

But as a fellow owner of a JLR product, I am interested to hear what make part they are actually using, and what modification they make, as mine will soon be coming around to need doing again, as some are now approaching 6 years old...

...and having access to the warranty stats, I have a pretty good handle on the expected life and failure modes (generally switches or motor on the genuine part, add a piece of sprung plastic that controls the actuator that activates the switch setup on the chinese equivalent cloned part that is sold as the aftermarket option in the aftermarket network)...


If you want to be helpful, that is.

I have found an aftermarket part for swmbo's Evoque. Allows for simple locking and unlocking from the driver's seat and so far has proved 100% reliable. Also cost £2.99p.

https://imgur.com/gallery/EgeLOMY

I'm yet to establish why she isn't 100% satisfied...

104

General Car Chat / Re: So what have you done to your car today?

« on: 20 December 2023, 14:33:39 »

Hi Tunnie, long time no see!

How's the 435i? My old boss had one - nice bit of kit I thought and I still miss my 335d 

105

General Car Chat / Re: So what have you done to your car today?

« on: 20 December 2023, 12:59:43 »

Looks good to me.

.. but wait until TheBoy spots the Sony head unit.

Well sh!t, what's he got against the bastid head unit?!  

I was prepared for the comments on: rust, suspension bushes, DMF, DPF, injectors, EGR, glow plugs etc etc. What the merry hell is wrong with my stereo?!