The new news 24 thread

[Mr Livered]

My 53 plate Mazda 323F came (from factory) with a stereo that plays both CD and cassettes. The cubby box between the front seats is the right size for either, depending on which way around you put them.

[beko1987]

My XM occasionally tells me it has no changer connected, which is spot on as it doesnt!

 

And never will either! Looking at either a new headunit, connecting cables for the steering wheel controls, DAB+ powered aerial and bluetooth module for hands free shizzle OR one of those parrott mki9200 jobs.

 

Or just carry on as I am, £3.99 asda tape to aux, with my phones mobile data turned OFF as it produces a stupid amount of interferance. Phone on the passenger seat means I can still hold conversations by only slightly shouting

[vulgalour]

Chod action over on iPlayer: http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b03f438q/Impact!_A_Horizon_Guide_to_Car_Crashes/

 

So far I've seen a Thames Trader, a Reliant Rebel and a now rare base model Princess L in Sandglow.  There's chodtastic busses, lorries and general scenery for all to enjoy and, being a BBC Four programme, you'll be sure to learn something too.

[barefoot]

OK, just spoken to my uncle, he's about 65 and drives a 2009 Skoda Octavia with a factory cassette.

He's a bit of a dinosaur, didn't do VCR or cd or computer and has a mobile phone with a hand written Iist of phone numbers stuck to the back of it.

[Mr Livered]

has a mobile phone with a hand written Iist of phone numbers stuck to the back of it.

Fantastic! Class.

[Micrashed]

Looked at the bike this morning and wonder if I have bitten off more than I can chew....

Then spent the rest of the morning underground in a disused reservoir which is due to be demolished...

 

 

Underground Reservoir Clayton Le Woods by Micrashed, on Flickr

[oman5]

 

Looked at the bike this morning and wonder if I have bitten off more than I can chew....

Then spent the rest of the morning underground in a disused reservoir which is due to be demolished...

 

 

Underground Reservoir Clayton Le Woods by Micrashed, on Flickr

 

Fantastic. you into the urbex thing then?

[dollywobbler]

Chod action over on iPlayer: http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b03f438q/Impact!_A_Horizon_Guide_to_Car_Crashes/

 

So far I've seen a Thames Trader, a Reliant Rebel and a now rare base model Princess L in Sandglow.  There's chodtastic busses, lorries and general scenery for all to enjoy and, being a BBC Four programme, you'll be sure to learn something too.

 

Good call. Enjoyed that. Even made me reconsider my views on Mr Nader!

[The Moog]

Dodging the rain yesterday I did a full fluid green blood change on the Xantia. I say green but it was browner than a brown thing.  Reveling today in even more wafting ride and more importantly brakes that dont hesitate. Found loads of acorns under the LHM reservoir, so we can safely say squirrels like a bit of french

 

On the downside Missus has decided that she doesnt like the pug so it is going to be sold. Shame as I really liked it and loved its decent MPG. She has got it into her head that she needs a tax free automatic car. I did suggest a 1971 car but she gave me that look. 

[dollywobbler]

DAF Variomatic Mr Moog. Sorted.

[The Moog]

Now that's a good call. A box I would love tick

[trigger]

I think I may have drop a clanger, My old Pirelli tyres on my Focus were getting quite bad in the middle and wasn't tracking very well so this afternoon I've been out and bought a new pair of front tyres.

 

Being a massive 225/40/18's I knew they wouldn't be cheap but I'm overdrawn at the moment so i didn't want to spend much so I ended up buying some cheap ones for £140 all in, the trouble is I've just googled them and the reviews are awful, they are Infinity INF-05's, I did notice that it was wheel spinning up the hill in the wet near mine on the way back but put that dowe to being shiny new tyres needing bedding in.

 

As anybody got any experience in these? Are they that bad?.

[Jim Bell]

Volvo 340 Varios are probably the cheapest car in the world. Nobody wants them.

And theyre great fun. Just a big, comfortable, reliable DAF really.

[Spiny Norman]

 I did notice that it was wheel spinning up the hill in the wet near mine on the way back but put that dowe to being shiny new tyres needing bedding in.

 

As anybody got any experience in these? Are they that bad?.

 

If they're anything like the YingTongs on the back of my Merc, yes, all that and more. It's all over the place on a wet road if you go anywhere near the throttle.

If I wasn't used to OMGRWD handling I'd have stuffed it a wall long ago.

Is your Focus an RS or is that the size of tyres they fit to cooking family hatches these days?

[trigger]

It's just a 2.0 TDCi Titanium model, to be fair the drive into work tonight felt much better without the crashing and tramlining but I'm not sure how it's going to be in the wet, I wish I had the normal 16" titanium alloys.

[cort16]

I got a set of cheapo part worns put on my Jag and today is the first day I've driven it in the wet and it's lethal! It was much better with the old worn out Pirelli's.

[DaveAspley]

Who mentioned Roadkill on you tube? Dammit I didn't need to be this distracted by v8s and mischief!! Muscle truck ooh yeh!

[saucedoctor]

I had the recommended P6000s on my S Type and they were bloody awful even when not worn out. Sacked them off for Kumho Ecstas which were excellent, and only 60 notes a corner.

[Mr_Bo11ox]

I've just dragged Ms_Ba11s' tired old Astra down the MOT shop. Noticed as I was getting it ready (i.e. hooking it up to the A-frame) that the rad is squirting water out, as well as the brakes being moody, headlamp lenses half-opaque and the CV boots looking suspect. Great, I would weigh it in but she paid £6k for it a few years back from Network Q and has driven it 120,000 miles so theres an emotional tie which means we cannot chuck it away.

[overrun]

I had the recommended P6000s on my S Type and they were bloody awful even when not worn out. Sacked them off for Kumho Ecstas which were excellent, and only 60 notes a corner.

 

I fitted a set of Kumho's to my Mondeo to replace the worn Pilot Sport 2's. Cost me about £310 for all four iirc.

They are crap in the wet.

 

Mind, they're not Ecsta's. They're the numbered ones. I think they replaced the Ecsta.

I only considered them because as you say, they are usually a decent middle of the road make.

 

Spot on in the dry. Shame I live in England, really - and not just because of tyres.

[Alexg]

The Chevette wiper motor was wailing like a harpooned porn star, seriously I've never heard a thing like it. Well I never will again probably as it gave up the ghost last week just before some guy from Essex wanted to come buy it and drive home in a monsoon. Searching had proved fruitless so the ever reliable Allegro took over for shite activities, except that the wipers on that too have just randomly packed up last night. Ace. Luckily a guy from Chevette forum has what I need and Royal mail are whisking* it to me, although the interested buyer from Essex has fallen as silent as the kaput motor. I'll investigate Allegro later....

[cort16]

I've just dragged Ms_Ba11s' tired old Astra down the MOT shop. Noticed as I was getting it ready (i.e. hooking it up to the A-frame) that the rad is squirting water out, as well as the brakes being moody, headlamp lenses half-opaque and the CV boots looking suspect. Great, I would weigh it in but she paid £6k for it a few years back from Network Q and has driven it 120,000 miles so theres an emotional tie which means we cannot chuck it away.

 

You can wet and dry those Astra headlamps then give them a squirt over with laquer and they come up a treat.

[Mr_Bo11ox]

Yeah I was thinking I might attempt some sort of shoe shine job on them

[overrun]

My pal did that to his Bora. Worked a treat.

[wuvvum]

The Carina E rolled over 75,000 miles on the way into work today.  It's currently attempting to be interesting by popping the live terminal off the battery at random intervals - it's one of those wanky bent-bit-of-tin terminals so I can't tighten it any further.  Might have to try and fit a proper terminal at the weekend.

[Mr_Bo11ox]

Astra failed the MOT on a track rod end!!! Amazing car that.

[dollywobbler]

I've just dragged Ms_Ba11s' tired old Astra down the MOT shop. Noticed as I was getting it ready (i.e. hooking it up to the A-frame) that the rad is squirting water out, as well as the brakes being moody, headlamp lenses half-opaque and the CV boots looking suspect. Great, I would weigh it in but she paid £6k for it a few years back from Network Q and has driven it 120,000 miles so theres an emotional tie which means we cannot chuck it away.

 

Allegedly, toothpaste will improve things. As an Autoshiter, I think you're duty bound to try it. If nothing else, your Astra will have lovely fresh breath.

[rml2345]

Apparently metal Polish is good for reviving cloudy headlamps but when I tried it on the Yaris it made very little improvement. It's also pretty dear...

Toothpaste must be worth a whirl.

[r.welfare]

Solid motor. I have a similar dilemma every time the Accord has an MOT, my old man bought it 3 years old and 18000 on the clock, he lobbed 100k on in 5 years then I inherited it. Sentimental value indeed.

[cms206]

Just jacked my job in. Tossers.