The new news 24 thread

[reb]

Every vehicle in my immediate vicinity right now is pre-2000

[Snake Charmer]

I spent some time this afternoon wondering if after so many years in production, did anyone confront the total seanut who placed E-Type rear brake caliper bleed nipples without an access panel or a remote hose. Series 3 V12 brake fluid change, l hope the whole team receive a stiff biff on the bugle. FFS.

[lesapandre]

Road pricing 'debate'. zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

I can tell ya all the infrastructure put into London's ULEZ was not to catch a few old vans (which disappear off the road each year).

https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2024/oct/10/uk-road-pricing-infrastructure-electric-vehicles-35bn-tax-shortfall

Also this doozy:

"Although some schemes exist in the UK – including the M6 Toll, Mersey Gateway bridge, and London congestion charge – they are far more widespread in other countries such as France and Germany."

In France only some autoroutes are tolled - and the system is seen as a strategic distribution and fast long-distance travel network - with limited junctions. There are always alternatives - and many French people don't use the network at all because it is too expensive or only rarely for long distance trips. Any comparison with the UK is lazy journalism. The UK experience is completely different. Very few miles of overall French roads are tolled - and...there is no road tax...

I drive a lot in France - it's easy-ish to avoid the tolls. 

Also any comparison with the Congestion Charge is wrong - the CritAir restrictions in French cities are about pollution not revenue raising  -   though they rather let the cat out of the bag if they say the Congestion Charge is to garner revenue. 

Serco, Capita and the rest will enjoy implementing this. ££££££

One thing that is omitted from all this is the clapped-out nature of a lot of the UK motorway bridges - probably billions needed.

Hilarious. 

[Popsicle]

19 minutes ago, Snake Charmer said:

I spent some time this afternoon wondering if after so many years in production, did anyone confront the total seanut who placed E-Type rear brake caliper bleed nipples without an access panel or a remote hose. Series 3 V12 brake fluid change, l hope the whole team receive a stiff biff on the bugle. FFS.

Make your own access panel, thats what angle grinders are for.... 🤠

[wesacosa]

just seen my first CyberFuck monstrosity. Will go have a proper look if its there when I get back later 

 

[stuboy]

Collegues husband to be had a day out at the zoo and the monkeys picked out most of the aftermarket parking sensors, so this now sets off the loud beeper all the time, she said could I have a look, took out the glove box and traced wiring to a 12v feed of the back of auxiliary fuse box, whipped out the fuse, taped all up and refitted it all back.... 

[lesapandre]

6 minutes ago, wesacosa said:

just seen my first CyberFuck monstrosity. Will go have a proper look if its there when I get back later 

 

Is this type-approved for UK roads or was it on foreign plates?

[wesacosa]

4 minutes ago, lesapandre said:

Is this type-approved for UK roads or was it on foreign plates?

it's in the US. I did read there might be issues is people want one in UK

[lesapandre]

4 minutes ago, wesacosa said:

it's in the US. I did read there might be issues is people want one in UK

I think Hungary have been registering them and the EU overall are opposed without mods. It can't meet European wide pedestrian safety codes. It may also be overweight for some driving licences.

The steering wheel is ridiculous.

[hairnet]

29 minutes ago, lesapandre said:

 

 

Also any comparison with the Congestion Charge is wrong - the CritAir restrictions in French cities are about pollution not revenue raising  -  

 

this.

 

[Popsicle]

9 minutes ago, stuboy said:

Collegues husband to be had a day out at the zoo and the monkeys picked out most of the aftermarket parking sensors

Many years ago the monkeys at West Midland Safari Park pulled the washer jet up, bit through the plastic pipe and peeled the wiper blade rubbers off on my cavalier, destructive little buggers. My mate was in the car behind, he had a Saab 900, was laughing his tits off, till they pulled the windscreen seal off his car!

[hairnet]

6 minutes ago, lesapandre said:

 It may also be overweight for some driving licences.

midge over 3 tons without people or cargo so yes mibbe

[lesapandre]

Anyone want to attend the 'Highways UK' Annual Conference and Exhibition at the NEC - details here:

https://www.terrapinn.com/exhibition/highways-uk/index.stm?utm_source=partners&utm_medium=nec&utm_campaign=part&trc=part

Appears to be free.

[wesacosa]

more pics. A small part of me wants to think it's cool, but its so obnoxiously big. It also flashes its lights at you to tell you to fuck off if you go near it

 

[lesapandre]

British Leyland panel gaps.

[lesapandre]

EU delays biometric entry system - seems indefinitely. Now to see if the visa scheme comes in next year. 

So no changes for the time being at ports.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cgey0vvxxw7o

[somewhatfoolish]

37 minutes ago, wesacosa said:

more pics. A small part of me wants to think it's cool, but its so obnoxiously big. It also flashes its lights at you to tell you to fuck off if you go near it

 

The nickname Deplorean seems fitting.

[Rust Collector]

24 minutes ago, lesapandre said:

EU delays biometric entry system - seems indefinitely. Now to see if the visa scheme comes in next year. 

So no changes for the time being at ports.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cgey0vvxxw7o

That’s a result. Whilst I don’t plan on doing any crimes, I don’t like the idea of having to hand over that sort of information, just in case it turns out I do need to do some crimes or something.

The visa isn’t too much of a worry as it’s not much money. A good reminder to sort out the kid’s EU passports though.

[High Jetter]

1 hour ago, lesapandre said:

Anyone want to attend the 'Highways UK' Annual Conference and Exhibition at the NEC - details here:

https://www.terrapinn.com/exhibition/highways-uk/index.stm?utm_source=partners&utm_medium=nec&utm_campaign=part&trc=part

Appears to be free.

Anything involving registering, or (shudder) networking, ain't gonna be free.

[New POD]

17 hours ago, Popsicle said:

Many years ago the monkeys at West Midland Safari Park pulled the washer jet up, bit through the plastic pipe and peeled the wiper blade rubbers off on my cavalier, destructive little buggers. My mate was in the car behind, he had a Saab 900, was laughing his tits off, till they pulled the windscreen seal off his car!

I went through the monkey enclosure at Knowsley back in the summer.  One jumped on my bonnet. I was doing about 1 mph. Put my foot on the accelerator for a millisecond and then applied the brake hard. The little bugger rolled off the front and ran away. Probably left the bonnet at 4 mph. But fuck off letting him near the window seals and wiperblades. 

[New POD]

13 hours ago, High Jetter said:

Anything involving registering, or (shudder) networking, ain't gonna be free.

Often the conference is funded by the exhibitors. ( advertising) and often the speakers have bias relating to the companies they work for. 

[richardmorris]

[richardmorris]

31 minutes ago, richardmorris said:

I had a test drive in the red eC3 behind. 

[catsinthewelder]

2 hours ago, New POD said:

I went through the monkey enclosure at Knowsley back in the summer.  One jumped on my bonnet. I was doing about 1 mph. Put my foot on the accelerator for a millisecond and then applied the brake hard. The little bugger rolled off the front and ran away. Probably left the bonnet at 4 mph. But fuck off letting him near the window seals and wiperblades. 

Wouldn't the better idea been not to go in?

[reb]

42 minutes ago, catsinthewelder said:

Wouldn't the better idea been not to go in?

No, obviously committing vehicular assault against a primate that doesn't know any better is the answer.

[Popsicle]

3 hours ago, New POD said:

I went through the monkey enclosure at Knowsley back in the summer.  One jumped on my bonnet. I was doing about 1 mph. Put my foot on the accelerator for a millisecond and then applied the brake hard. The little bugger rolled off the front and ran away. Probably left the bonnet at 4 mph. But fuck off letting him near the window seals and wiperblades. 

I think the Outbreak film had recently been released, with Dustin Hoffman fighting off rabid monkeys, so any contact was not happening!

The size of it, particularly its teeth, meant I was not prepared to argue with it. The way it peeled the wiper blades like a banana proved it had far more strength than me.

 

[EyesWeldedShut]

21 hours ago, wesacosa said:

to fuck off if you go near it

Sprog had a 22 plate Dacia that did that - gave me right turn when I walked past it in the dark around 5am. I did wonder if I could flatten the battery by setting up some sort of mechanical waving dummy just for a laugh. It'd probably take a couple of years on a CyberFuck though?

[EyesWeldedShut]

Happy days - wife's Bini passed the MoT, it's only done 2,400 miles since the last test. That's something to do with @Keymaster kindly donating his CLK to her. Trying to get her out of that is like prising a penny from the fist of an Aberdonian on a street flag day (can we still make those sort of jokes?)

[Keymaster]

Happy days - wife's Bini passed the MoT, it's only done 2,400 miles since the last test. That's something to do with [mention=5417]Keymaster[/mention] kindly donating his CLK to her. Trying to get her out of that is like prising a penny from the fist of an Aberdonian on a street flag day (can we still make those sort of jokes?)

Pleased that the CLK has been behaving itself for her and so all the money I pumped into it was worthwhile after all @EyesWeldedShut

[Popsicle]

As the couriering caddy has been in hibernation pretty much all year it has inevitably thrown a wobbler over the past few weeks. Coolant has been leaking and from my quick investigation, backed up by a very kind Green Flag breakdown driver who saw me faffing under the bonnet on a retail park last week and offered some free assistance, it appears to be coming out between engine and box below the tandem pump. As I'm fat and lazy I booked it in with the friendly garage I use and told em to have shufty and do the slightly overdue cambelt kit, waterpump and front console bushes while they're at it.

Dropped it round yesterday and told em no rush, got a call this afternoon all done. Split hose going into the side of the engine block was replaced, genuine VW cambelt kit/waterpump and console bushes all done too. Hopefully should be good for another 80k miles now, if I'm ever allowed back to work.....