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11056

General Discussion Area / Re: Breakdown cover question please

« on: 19 August 2011, 19:52:49 »

Thanks all 

Seems that we've all had good, and bad experiences with the companies.

Makes it more confusing knowing what to do for the best  :-? .  Have to do some more research on this one I think.

In the end it all comes down to the bloke who comes out to you at the time. I don't see how you can research that. Pot luck isn't scientific!

11057

General Discussion Area / Re: Breakdown cover question please

« on: 17 August 2011, 21:37:33 »

As a recovery driver, I see all sorts of problems when people haven't read the paperwork that goes with their cover.

First thing to check is exactly what they cover you for: you NEED national recovery, most of the local ones give you 10miles, which isn't enough to get you from one side of town to another.

Secondly, many of the cheaper ones will only give you one recovery, so if you breakdown late at night and have the car taken home(which you would), then they won't take the car to your garage. AA, RAC, GF, Britannia etc ALL give you the continuation.

Third, many of the cheaper ones will give you the run around about where the car goes; I waited nearly an hour last month whilst the member argued for his car being taken to the garage he'd used for over 30 years, as they insisted that there must be a garage closer than 25miles! Had another when the provider rang the member while I was recovering her car to tell her that if she had it taken home(as was the plan, she had a hospital appointment) rather than a garage(and demanded an invoice to prove it!) they would charge her £90 - twice what they were paying us!

NONE of them pay the specialist charges; that's winching out of ditches, getting an immobile car out of a multi-storey carpark, use of skates for a car stuck in park(you wouldn't want it just dragged up the bed would you?) etc etc.

If you expect a man with a van, tools and parts to turn up and fix it, then join the AA or RAC. And if they're really busy you may still end up with a contractor who will be setup more for recovery rather than repair. Although we will always look at it first! Don't forget that modern cars are not likely to be fixed with 'get you home bodges' as was possible with old cars!

It's not up to the driver where to take YOUR car! So try and have a rough idea at least.

All this means that there are a couple of providers that I wouldn't touch with a barge-pole! Just because you pay ABC insurance does NOT necessarily mean that they are the company that arranges the callout.

Hope this helps,
Nick

11058

General Discussion Area / Re: Did not realise they went this cheap!

« on: 17 July 2011, 09:06:37 »

This from Honest John:
Car must NEVER be started then shut down without reaching full operating temperature or petrol washout will harm rotor seals. Car must not be used for short runs from cold.




Bit of a worry that. :-/

That is essential advice; if you ignore it then you can guarantee that it won't start due to severe flooding. VERY common problem. They are a nightmare to get going again, I manage about 1 in 10. Mazda changed the plug specs and upgraded the coils, but it's just like upgraded K-series head gaskets, the problem is improved but not totally cured.

Personally, I think the RX8's reliability/durability(it doesn't have any!)/economy record is proof why the Wankel isn't suited to car use, although it does have other applications.

11059

General Discussion Area / Re: just had a right do with the wife

« on: 16 July 2011, 12:32:07 »

And everone should realise that if you accept a car from someone, or hand it back, then you MUST have their paperwork with a condition report.

And keep the copy.

No paperwork; no car. In either direction.

11060

General Discussion Area / Re: Old age & Autos

« on: 10 July 2011, 11:01:51 »

.....
Been driving my own auto since the age of 25 and I have never got my pedals enen remotly wrong. (46 now)

Just wondering if anyone else thought similar ?

I too have been driving auto's for years, and in recent years I've been driving both on a regular basis. I have a habit of using two feet for the autos and recently started to left foot brake when in my manual Astra, trouble was I had started to brake using the clutch pedal. For that split moment I couldn't understand why the car in front was getting very close very quickly & the 'brake' wasn't doing anything.
My excuse was that it was early in the morning 

both of my current cars are autos, and besides on and off the truck, I haven't driven a manual car in months. When I do, it's not braking that causes me problems, but stalling when I come to a stop. Then wondering what's wrong with the bloody thing until realisation sets in that perhaps a foot on the clutch might be a good idea?

11061

General Discussion Area / Re: Old age & Autos

« on: 08 July 2011, 21:35:24 »

Only a couple of weeks ago I pulled a 206 off a low wall at the top of the owner's drive. The drive was steep, and she was turning hard right to park on top of the garage(well it IS hilly round here!)
 Got the usual explanation - "I don't know what happened, I've been parking here for over 30 years" or accurately - "I was confused which pedal does what, and hit the throttle instead of the brake"

I've seen enough of these; straight down the drive across the road(miraculously missing the traffic) down the neighbour's drive and park carelessly in their conservatory; to change my mind about my mother having an auto - I know I'd be rescuing her from a similar crash. At least a manual will stall in such a situation

11062

General Discussion Area / Re: marmite

« on: 07 July 2011, 17:19:51 »

Love it.
And I'd thoroughly recommend the Marmite XO if you can find it. Smoother and slightly more subtle flavour.

11063

General Discussion Area / Re: The Beer has landed!!!!

« on: 05 July 2011, 20:01:55 »

I've 45litres of homebrew that should have been ready 3 weeks ago, but it's all still a bit lively and not drinkable yet.
Hopefully it will be ready for the end of the month when we're away at a hot rod show.

11064

General Discussion Area / Re: Ehh lad its grim up north

« on: 05 July 2011, 20:10:35 »

We've the Boddingtons advertising campaign of over 20 years ago to blame for the pointless froth on the top of every pint.
 Southern beer simply shouldn't have a large head, which is proved by the 'need' for the sparkler to force one.
 A properly kept northern beer should pour with a good head without any need for the sparkler.
 Any other way is just wrong and shouldn't be allowed! Complain if the barman tries it.

Nick
(steps down off the soapbox and heads off for a decent pint of Shepherd Neame's seasonal ale)

11065

General Discussion Area / Re: I have bought myself a code reader......

« on: 29 June 2011, 21:49:18 »

useful things, but won't work on a lot of Omegas!

11066

General Discussion Area / Re: fitting upvc door frame

« on: 01 June 2011, 23:17:58 »

I used a rawlplug type thing specially for fitting UPVC windows.
http://www.screwfix.com/p/window-anchor-8-x-100mm-pack-of-10/16018

basically drill a hole straight thro the frame and into the brick, put in the fixing, a light hammer in, a last turn on the screw to tighten and jobs a good 'un. A quick seal with sealant helps if the brickwork is uneven and keeps it water tight. The idea of using wood to pack out is good, give it a good coat of paint first. Pressure treated is a good idea, lots of timber merchants have it.

Its so easy to do, makes you wonder why they charge so much to fit windows 

Ken

Vast majority of "proper" window fitters won`t touch those with a barge pole

Why ?.

Ken

I'd like to know too, as I used to buy and issue thousands of the things to window fitters.

That said, one of them was insistent that he only ever used foam and no fixings, even for doors. He wasn't with us for long!

11067

General Discussion Area / Re: Tool box recommendation

« on: 25 May 2011, 23:02:33 »

Shouldn't you ask his boss what tools he's going to need to start with?

As for insisting on Snap On, some of it's worth the money straight away; ratchets, commonly used spanners and sockets. BUT, they're not the only tools of that quality, and they are seriously expensive.
I certainly wouldn't be buying a SO BOX if money's tight; it would be better spent on the tools to go in it.

I'm a big fan of the Halford's Industrial boxes(the black ones), which are frequently on offer, and to my eye as good as similar sized SO ones for a fraction of the price. I see them in garages and workshops all the time.

 I also bought a middle box to go with mine earlier this year(I ran  out of room) which Halfords don't do. It's  Britool, and exactly matches the current Halfords boxes(mine are earlier models), and that's a brand the tool snobs can't easily turn their noses up at!

I've been using a Halfords professional(advanced now) socket and spanner set every day for the last 8 years and can't fault it; only had to replace a small ratchet and sockets because I lost them - something that's easier to accept when the whole set cost £70, not just the ratchet!

I snapped one of their 1/2" breaker bars standing on the end of it trying to undo the truck wheelnuts; when I took it back the bloke looked at it and asked what I'd been trying to undo with it. When I said "wheelnuts" he just smiled and got me a new one!

11068

General Discussion Area / Re: The size of parking spaces

« on: 12 May 2011, 17:48:09 »

Cars are getting bigger e.g.:
 ......

Yep! Have you seen a MK1 Golf recently? They look tiny compared with everything else on the road.  :-?

Similar size to a Lupo when I last saw one, maybe a touch bigger.

This is true of a lot manufacturers; their cars have grown so much they need a 'new' small model. Like 1 series BMWs, Lupo/Fox, Ka instead of the Fiesta etc etc. Even something like a Triumph 2000 estate, considered a large car at the time is about the same size as an Astra.

Plus, look at the weights of modern cars; a mk1 Golf was around 800KG, a current one is about 1500!

11069

General Discussion Area / Re: what other vehicles do you own and drive

« on: 09 May 2011, 22:25:55 »

Buggered if I could afford to run, tax, fuel and maintain a second vehicle, just the Omega costs me enough!!

pick the car right, and it's less than 2 tanks of fuel for the Omega.

My Avenger is £103 a year to insure(fully comp, european breakdown cover etc), and free to tax. That just leaves £35 for an MOT. Maintenance is dirt cheap, when the head gasket failed last year(my fault, hadn't noticed the leaky core plug and drove it until it stopped) cost £12 for the set and took about an hour to do -try that on a modern car! Plus it's worth more than it's cost me which is handy!

11070

General Discussion Area / Re: what other vehicles do you own and drive

« on: 08 May 2011, 18:54:12 »

My drivable 2 are the Omega estate and a 72 Hillman Avenger.
Plus I've a Standard Flying 12 Drophead to build a hot rod out of when I've finished all the other stuff on the go.