Omega Owners Forum
Chat Area => General Discussion Area => Topic started by: miked on 30 December 2006, 15:02:35
-
I need two new tyres.
I have Pirelli P6000 on the front (done about 6K) and Michelin Pilot Sport on the back (need replacing).
Thought I would support my local small business as apposed to the large franchise groups, so called in at Basic Tyres in Stone (sorry if I should not be naming feel free to edit out???).
Thing is, we were in my wife’s Rover 25, not the Omega. I explained that I needed two tyres for an Omega (no age or model given), told him the size, he asked about the speed rating V or W (V goes up to 150mph he told me, which should be more than enough for me). Then he came out with it..... left me a bit speechless actually
"Don't take this the wrong way, people buy these Carltons and Omegas cheep but if the computer breaks, they are a wright off. I won't touch them myself but I can get them fitted at a place I know which I'll include in the price"
:o
I was silent for a little while whilst I tried to understand what he had just said. I was a little taken aback otherwise I would have really laid into him but as it was, I questioned what changing tyres had to do with 'the computer' (whatever he meant by that)?
"There are delicate complicated bits that can get damaged easily which is why I won't touch them"
All I could summon up was that if he was in danger of damaging anything by taking a wheel off, I wouldn't want him doing the work at all, then I walked out.
Never come across anything like that before, quite extraordinary...
-
........ I needed two tyres for an Omega (no age or model given), told him the size, he asked about the speed rating V or W (V goes up to 150mph he told me, which should be more than enough for me). .......
But (donning flame proof coat as I type ::) ) if they were being fitted to a 3.0 Elite/MV6 which have Z/W tyres as Vx's factory fitment, V rated tyres wouldn't be fast enough (unless they were being fitted to a Catera in the USA where apparently "they don't drive as fast as we do in Europe" - quote from Michelin)
-
I need two new tyres.
I have Pirelli P6000 on the front (done about 6K) and Michelin Pilot Sport on the back (need replacing).
Thought I would support my local small business as apposed to the large franchise groups, so called in at Basic Tyres in Stone (sorry if I should not be naming feel free to edit out???).
Thing is, we were in my wife’s Rover 25, not the Omega. I explained that I needed two tyres for an Omega (no age or model given), told him the size, he asked about the speed rating V or W (V goes up to 150mph he told me, which should be more than enough for me). Then he came out with it..... left me a bit speechless actually
"Don't take this the wrong way, people buy these Carltons and Omegas cheep but if the computer breaks, they are a wright off. I won't touch them myself but I can get them fitted at a place I know which I'll include in the price"
:o
I was silent for a little while whilst I tried to understand what he had just said. I was a little taken aback otherwise I would have really laid into him but as it was, I questioned what changing tyres had to do with 'the computer' (whatever he meant by that)?
"There are delicate complicated bits that can get damaged easily which is why I won't touch them"
All I could summon up was that if he was in danger of damaging anything by taking a wheel off, I wouldn't want him doing the work at all, then I walked out.
Never come across anything like that before, quite extraordinary...
What an absolute d*ckhead.
-
thats astonishing.......wonder what cars he works on confidently and competently as theres a hell of a lot of more fragile cars out there than vauxhalls....
mind you i can see his point...... that bone china wraped around the front discs just under the royal doulton wishbones means changing tyres should only be done by your local vauxhall technician!!
'dangle berries' to him >:(
-
thats just bull!!
Only thing i can think of is someone sued him for damage to their car....
-
I love these type of people.....I bet he drives a french car you know, one of those with the reliable electrics.
Remember this......hes a tyre fitter.......nuff said!
-
Ensure you have the speed rating fitted as specified by manufacturer - not doing so may invalidate your insurance...
All 3.0l have W or Z rated tyres...
-
'dangle berries' to him >:(
My feelings in three words.
Its a real shame, I really like to give my business to local small businesses. My local garage (Fairway Service Station for anyone in the area) are fantastic. I sat in the passenger seat of the wife's car wondering if I had actually heard what he said correctly.
Ensure you have the speed rating fitted as specified by manufacturer - not doing so may invalidate your insurance...
All 3.0l have W or Z rated tyres...
I will check, although I only have a 2.0l :(
Oh well, there are plenty of other people willing to take my money off me, even if I drive a cheap fragile car that could become a wright off at any second...
-
'dangle berries' to him >:(
My feelings in three words.
Its a real shame, I really like to give my business to local small businesses. My local garage (Fairway Service Station for anyone in the area) are fantastic. I sat in the passenger seat of the wife's car wondering if I had actually heard what he said correctly.
Ensure you have the speed rating fitted as specified by manufacturer - not doing so may invalidate your insurance...
All 3.0l have W or Z rated tyres...
I will check, although I only have a 2.0l :(
Oh well, there are plenty of other people willing to take my money off me, even if I drive a cheap fragile car that could become a wright off at any second...
It may be related to the balancing - Omega is very fussy on balancing, maybe his machines aren't accurate enough...
-
It's a known problem actually.... wheel nuts over tightened by previous fitter, so do not budge, tyre fitter uses a brakers bar with very long tube as extension, wheel nut gives suddenly, tube extension flies off in the air, through the office window and lands on the PC smashing it to pieces... yep, very common.
-
It's a known problem actually.... wheel nuts over tightened by previous fitter, so do not budge, tyre fitter uses a brakers bar with very long tube as extension, wheel nut gives suddenly, tube extension flies off in the air, through the office window and lands on the PC smashing it to pieces... yep, very common.
;D
It may be related to the balancing - Omega is very fussy on balancing, maybe his machines aren't accurate enough...
OK, why not say so. It would have shown experience and knowledge which I would have probably appreciated.
-
I need two new tyres.
I have Pirelli P6000 on the front (done about 6K) and Michelin Pilot Sport on the back (need replacing).
Thought I would support my local small business as apposed to the large franchise groups, so called in at Basic Tyres in Stone (sorry if I should not be naming feel free to edit out???).
Thing is, we were in my wife’s Rover 25, not the Omega. I explained that I needed two tyres for an Omega (no age or model given), told him the size, he asked about the speed rating V or W (V goes up to 150mph he told me, which should be more than enough for me). Then he came out with it..... left me a bit speechless actually
"Don't take this the wrong way, people buy these Carltons and Omegas cheep but if the computer breaks, they are a wright off. I won't touch them myself but I can get them fitted at a place I know which I'll include in the price"
:o
I was silent for a little while whilst I tried to understand what he had just said. I was a little taken aback otherwise I would have really laid into him but as it was, I questioned what changing tyres had to do with 'the computer' (whatever he meant by that)?
"There are delicate complicated bits that can get damaged easily which is why I won't touch them"
All I could summon up was that if he was in danger of damaging anything by taking a wheel off, I wouldn't want him doing the work at all, then I walked out.
Never come across anything like that before, quite extraordinary...
If life was a movie you would turn into Jet Li and kick his a***, what an idiot. Traditional case of someone that wants to sell but cannot be bothered doing any work. I'm disgusted, best thing is name and shame people like that,
-
OK, why not say so. It would have shown experience and knowledge which I would have probably appreciated.
and admit his equipment was old and sub standard by today's stuff...
-
It's a known problem actually.... wheel nuts over tightened by previous fitter, so do not budge, tyre fitter uses a brakers bar with very long tube as extension, wheel nut gives suddenly, tube extension flies off in the air, through the office window and lands on the PC smashing it to pieces... yep, very common.
;D
It may be related to the balancing - Omega is very fussy on balancing, maybe his machines aren't accurate enough...
OK, why not say so. It would have shown experience and knowledge which I would have probably appreciated.
MJ is joking ;D
TB might have a point....tho i did think that maybe he didnt want big omega wheels on his balancing m/c.....maybe it broke one.... :-/
-
I have seen this so many times......
Many of these tyre fitters have either poor balancing machines or dont operate them properly....
The Omega (and many otehrs these days) have wide wheels, some machines simply work out a centre balance and the fitter puts a single weiht on to balance it, on a wide wheel this causes problems as the wheel is not truely balanced, it works great on 145/13 tyres on fiestas!
What you need to do a good job is a unit that balances by calculating the weight requried for both the inner and outer edge of the wheel and idealy carries out the measurement at more than one speed (this is often turned off to save time).
So, its not the Omega (it will occur on any car with wide wheels), its the fitters and/or the crap balancing machines they have.......
But, the bloody idiot should have explained the reason why...i.e. they cant balance a wheel properly!
-
I'm speechless at his incompetence :-X I only use local tyre fitter and he asks me to bring the car back after 100 miles to rebalance the wheels of they don't feel perfect. :) And he uses stick on weights everytime without me having to ask. :y
-
......
And he uses stick on weights everytime without me having to ask. :y
That's a first then. ;)
-
......
And he uses stick on weights everytime without me having to ask. :y
That's a first then. ;)
I don't like the damage the other ones cause to the rim and the stick on ones on the inside do a much better job ;)
-
.....
I don't like the damage the other ones cause to the rim and .....
Like wise
the stick on ones on the inside do a much better job ;)
I know! ;D
-
You know, this has really chafed (and I know it shouldn't). The more I analyse the event (and I am that annoyed) I don't remember seeing a wheel balancing machine in the place? I will keep a look out for a decent local source and if anyone knows of a place...
However, (not quite like familyman's journey ::)) but on Boxing Day, the wife and I drove to Otley (her parents) then to Harrogate (my parents) then to Hornsea (my grand parents, with my parents in the back), back to Harrogate (drop the parents off) then back to Stone.
403 miles, one tank of fuel, empty to empty.
More importantly, parents commented about smoothness of ride, quietness and space in back. I did all that driving and could have done another couple of hours, easily.
In my job, I do a lot of driving in company hacks. This summer I've been at Tilbury power station, 4 hours average drive. Mondeo Diesel, Passat estate diesel, Renault Laguna diesel, Saab something petrol, Vauxhall Meriva 1.6 petrol (Oh dear :-[) and a BMW320d are a few of the cars I have had. All but the BMW were no way near as comfortable as the Omega. The BMW was a nice car, poorly equipped and not as good a finish as I expected.
I'll stick with the cheap car option I think
-
Just put it down to experience Mike. The guys obviously never gonna be any competition for kwik-fit is he? ;D
-
However, (not quite like familyman's journey ::)) but on Boxing Day, the wife and I drove to Otley (her parents) then to Harrogate (my parents) then to Hornsea (my grand parents, with my parents in the back), back to Harrogate (drop the parents off) then back to Stone.
403 miles, one tank of fuel, empty to empty.
I've done Brackley to South of France in a day before - convoy of us, Veccy-C diesel, Meriva 1.4 (rare apparently!), and me in the MV6. We had walkie talkies. Only time I requested to stop was for fuel :-[. We had a break for 15mins every couple of hours (Meriva couple had a 1yr old, so obviously needed regular breaks). The girls did a couple of hours driving around early afternoon so the blokes could sleep (was a 4am start). Arrived 9pm, to find that they did not have my or Mrs TB's booking. The others were amazed how calm I was (they were all getting a bit tired and ratty by this time), but I put it down to the easy, comfortable journey...
-
However, (not quite like familyman's journey ::)) but on Boxing Day, the wife and I drove to Otley (her parents) then to Harrogate (my parents) then to Hornsea (my grand parents, with my parents in the back), back to Harrogate (drop the parents off) then back to Stone.
403 miles, one tank of fuel, empty to empty.
I've done Brackley to South of France in a day before - convoy of us, Veccy-C diesel, Meriva 1.4 (rare apparently!), and me in the MV6. We had walkie talkies. Only time I requested to stop was for fuel :-[. We had a break for 15mins every couple of hours (Meriva couple had a 1yr old, so obviously needed regular breaks). The girls did a couple of hours driving around early afternoon so the blokes could sleep (was a 4am start). Arrived 9pm, to find that they did not have my or Mrs TB's booking. The others were amazed how calm I was (they were all getting a bit tired and ratty by this time), but I put it down to the easy, comfortable journey...
I've got one ;D
-
It seems that 1.4 was never an engine option for retail customers for the Meriva, but was available if requested...
-
Either way, it must have been a hell of a journey in such an underpowered car. No wonder he looked absolutely knackered...
-
The wife's Rover 25 is a 1.4
We've done Harrogate and back once and once was enough. Thats only 120miles
-
The wife's Rover 25 is a 1.4
We've done Harrogate and back once and once was enough. Thats only 120miles
Our 25 is a 1.6, and frequently drive to my mums in it (84miles each way). Wouldn't want to go to south of france in it though....
-
The wife's Rover 25 is a 1.4
We've done Harrogate and back once and once was enough. Thats only 120miles
Our 25 is a 1.6, and frequently drive to my mums in it (84miles each way). Wouldn't want to go to south of france in it though....
1.4 16v Meriva is very well geared and has a lovely smooth box. I had a choice of 1.4 16v or 1.6 8v and the performance was better on the smaller engine + more mpg. 1.4 has Corsa box & 1.6 is from an old Astra which is not as smooth. 1.8 was my choice - but wife would put it in a ditch going around the first bend due to its top heavy feel - so 1.4 was best choice and it never goes over 80, I don't think it can, so speed wasn't a factor - it also stops my Omega from having to park in those tiny NCP spaces.
-
i've got to learn how to park my megga properly... i can't parrell park it for love nor money.
Can judge the front down to the mm, but its the back i can do, too stuff behind me, huge seats parcel shelf, huge boot.
Although i could park the estate easily i had, but thats cause your can see the back pillar
-
i've got to learn how to park my megga properly... i can't parrell park it for love nor money.
Can judge the front down to the mm, but its the back i can do, too stuff behind me, huge seats parcel shelf, huge boot.
Although i could park the estate easily i had, but thats cause your can see the back pillar
try reversing sensors ;)
-
The wife's Rover 25 is a 1.4
We've done Harrogate and back once and once was enough. Thats only 120miles
Our 25 is a 1.6, and frequently drive to my mums in it (84miles each way). Wouldn't want to go to south of france in it though....
1.4 16v Meriva is very well geared and has a lovely smooth box. I had a choice of 1.4 16v or 1.6 8v and the performance was better on the smaller engine + more mpg. 1.4 has Corsa box & 1.6 is from an old Astra which is not as smooth. 1.8 was my choice - but wife would put it in a ditch going around the first bend due to its top heavy feel - so 1.4 was best choice and it never goes over 80, I don't think it can, so speed wasn't a factor - it also stops my Omega from having to park in those tiny NCP spaces.
I was in no way knocking the 1.4 Meriva - its job as a 2nd car for darting around town it is very good at. I was just saying, it is not a car to do our France trips in - getting back up to speed (85mph ish) from the toll booths must have been hard, and if you got behind slower traffic in outside lane (the rule is, the lead car never turns cruise off, as we had time limits)...
-
.......
I was in no way knocking the 1.4 Meriva - its job as a 2nd car for darting around town it is very good at. I was just saying, it is not a car to do our France trips in - ....
A bloke where I worked used to have a house somewhere in the south of France. When the phrase 'tighter than a ducks bum in water' was invented it was for this bloke. He used to happily drive there in a Citroen 2CV! :-?
-
.......
I was in no way knocking the 1.4 Meriva - its job as a 2nd car for darting around town it is very good at. I was just saying, it is not a car to do our France trips in - ....
A bloke where I worked used to have a house somewhere in the south of France. When the phrase 'tighter than a ducks bum in water' was invented it was for this bloke. He used to happily drive there in a Citroen 2CV! :-?
blimey. i think 2cv is 600cc. how long did it take him...
-
.......
blimey. i think 2cv is 600cc. how long did it take him...
Err! I think you'll find they're 606 cc ;) He used to leave work after our night shift and start his journey south. I can't remember now but it was a lot longer than I would have been prepared to spend in one of Citroen's finest upturned-prams
-
.......
blimey. i think 2cv is 600cc. how long did it take him...
Err! I think you'll find they're 606 cc ;) He used to leave work after our night shift and start his journey south. I can't remember now but it was a lot longer than I would have been prepared to spend in one of Citroen's finest upturned-prams
So more than 10 seconds then ;)
-
.......
blimey. i think 2cv is 600cc. how long did it take him...
Err! I think you'll find they're 606 cc ;) He used to leave work after our night shift and start his journey south. I can't remember now but it was a lot longer than I would have been prepared to spend in one of Citroen's finest upturned-prams
So more than 10 seconds then ;)
I once drove one of 'em down the road & back years ago. I never quite sussed out what gear I was in. There was some kind of umberella handle stuck out of the dash that you were suposed to change gear with - apparently! ;D
-
My old boss bought his daughter one - white & green striped. She left it overnight near the local nightclub and found it next morning on it's roof ;D
-
.......
blimey. i think 2cv is 600cc. how long did it take him...
Err! I think you'll find they're 606 cc ;) He used to leave work after our night shift and start his journey south. I can't remember now but it was a lot longer than I would have been prepared to spend in one of Citroen's finest upturned-prams
So more than 10 seconds then ;)
I once drove one of 'em down the road & back years ago. I never quite sussed out what gear I was in. There was some kind of umberella handle stuck out of the dash that you were suposed to change gear with - apparently! ;D
Had one as a hire car in Crete once (well, the jeep type version of it), and remember the gear change well. I also remember the brakes, or lack of them....
-
My old boss bought his daughter one - white & green striped. She left it overnight near the local nightclub and found it next morning on it's roof ;D
:( They've gained a bit of a cult following - eco worriors etc No matter what kind of car you buy you'd like to think that you could leave it on a car park & return to find it was still the right road up. >:(
-
.......
blimey. i think 2cv is 600cc. how long did it take him...
Err! I think you'll find they're 606 cc ;) He used to leave work after our night shift and start his journey south. I can't remember now but it was a lot longer than I would have been prepared to spend in one of Citroen's finest upturned-prams
I dislike them - lawnmower engined things!
similar power to ONE cylinder of my car
-
My old boss bought his daughter one - white & green striped. She left it overnight near the local nightclub and found it next morning on it's roof ;D
:( They've gained a bit of a cult following - eco worriors etc No matter what kind of car you buy you'd like to think that you could leave it on a car park & return to find it was still the right road up. >:(
But they are the wrong way up! how do you get the baby in otherwise?