The new news 24 thread

[dollywobbler]

In my experience, appealing is always a wise move. I had a season ticket for parking in Peterborough but twice got ticketed for using the wrong car park. Twice I appealed as it took me a while before realising my mistake. "Honestly, can the warden not see my pass or something?" No further action both times. Did feel a bit silly though...

[beko1987]

Fuck that, I watched ours be pulled out by a team of doctors and it was still to much! Go get yourself a nice bottle of something strong for when you get back home.

 

Well done mate! Far more newsworthy than an old ill man dying...

[vulgalour]

Congratulations to brookjim and lady_brookjim on the arrival of brookjim_mk2.

 

Congratulations also to Alexg for his ambassadorial exploits in tat.

 

WackyWill is in the wrong and not in the wrong.  From what I learned with my ticket when I parked under similar circumstances, those double yellows are broken and therefore invalid (really, this is apparently a thing!) and it looks like that's a private parking scheme rather than Council which I think means they can't take money off you anyway due to recent law changes.  If you can get out of paying it then do, I absolutely hate the fact that when I attend the hospital as a patient I have to pay for the priveledge to try and park in their always-full spaces and that any attempt to park within sight of the hospital is met with restrictions and fines.

[brickwall]

Congrats on the wee mechanic arriving

[Sloth in a bowl]

My front tyres were on the legal limit and the rears are just pants so I have now got 4 new Kumhos at £55 a corner.

It already feels like I can use more throttle without spinning a wheel, so first impressions are good.

 

I also got to have a good look under the car while they had it on the ramp for tracking.

All I can say is that Volvo's rust proofing in 2002 was blooming good, lots of the underside has no surface rust at all and nothing looks like it will be anything but very solid for years to come.

[Mr Livered]

Just delivered our first child in the bathroom at lunchtime!!

Do you mean that you delivered the mini_brookjm, yourself, in the bathroom?

 

Whether you did or not, congrats to you both, and enjoy

[dugong]

Yay for babies delivered in bathrooms and BL booze cruising*

 

*Mrs looks well happy Alex 

 

'Civil Parking Notice' or some such shite is the name of the council lookalikey ticket left on my screen after dumping the Leon here at A+E after finding the car park as per usual overfull.

 

Yeah, I saw the double yellows, they have been there for years and unlike normal no one else was parked on the verge but tucked it well out of the way as I have done many times before.

I did also, after getting out the car (took some doing, as did walking hence the need to be at A+E) spot these signs.

I did then think twice but quickly assessed that my health was more important than stressing over the inadequate hospital parking and new designed to scare signs.

Hell, for all I know they could of been there for years and I've never spotted them, I'm usually in the van which gives me the option of approx 40 parking spaces (frankly racist anti van height barriers are erected on the other far flung car parks). This London hospital serves gazillions of people, so yeah, most often it gets banged on the grass especially when I'm in a rush ferrying moby dick loved ones as has been the case more times than I care to remember. Sometimes I have purchased a ticket from the machine, in this case as in many before I didn't give it a second thought and was in no fit state to walk far.

 

I ain't paying shit, they can get to fuck.

My hunch is just to ignore the ticket but I have an urge to appeal, explain my displeasure, point out the failings of the hospital parking and generally just piss in their chips and crap through their letter box.

I wouldn't appeal as it's a PPC. You're communicating with them which is a waste of time and unduly stressful. Appealing to them directly won't cancel the ticket. Yes, there are 'legitimate' appeal channels via POPLA which you can force their hand and [sometimes] get the ticket cancelled, but I'd sooner ignore it. 

 

I'm not familiar with their name, either. With the exception of Parking Eye (who pursue people with missionary zeal and have actually won several contested cases) I'd jib these two-bit chancers off. Write to the NHS if you're going to make a fuss. Worked with me and RoadChef against CP Parking Plus, and I didn't have to go near POPLA. 

[hairnet]

^^this

 

its a notice not an invoice

 

write to the hospital airing your displeasure and maybe they do something but

 

money with menaces fook em (had it at preston while parked on the platform (allowed) told them to FRO

[vulgalour]

 
Brazil is a place of great wonderment when it comes to long production runs and very specific model variants, but they are about to lose quite a few due to new safety legislation as I found out when this popped up in my Twitter feed thingy.
 
http://ranwhenparked.net/2013/12/06/fiat-to-end-uno-production-in-brazil/
 
 
I didn't even realise they were still making the Uno/Mille nor had I realised the Kombi (VW Van) was still going there, a vehicle that's been in production now for over half a century with surprisingly small changes over that time period except for it to become uglier as the decades rolled by.
 

[barefoot]

Well done on the baby in the bathroom.

 

 

In other news, you may remember me grumbling about the Scirocco exhaust grumbling from the middle section.

I found and ordered the part from an exhaust/moto factors on the bay on the 26.11 and its still not arrived.

The ebay dispute route appears to have kicked them up the arse and it was apparently dispatched today.

I wont be using XXXXXXXXXXX again then.

 

I'll name them when I've got the pipe & checked that it fits.

[Lord Sterling]

Rover Sterling decided it didn't want to do the daily commute so failed to start. The battery was to blame which to be honest is on its way out. Of course at that time of the morning I couldn't find any of my jump leads and I'm too bone-idle lazy to find them when coming home so plumped to buy yet another set of leads which WILL this time actually live in the car.

 

I took the Micra_Sterling_Shed to work instead which revealed some scary shit about it. Something either by the downpipe or at the back of the stereo vibrates quite loudly and rather violently. The downpipe doesn't help so I'll be looking for an OEM jobbie and getting that fitted as soon as. When I've (or, if I ever) got some time on my hands, I'll be looking to see what the heck is making the dash so noisy too. I'm seriously not happy with it.

 

Sterling needs the front belt doing quick as its rather noisy when cold. That and the bootlid might be changed at some point.

[dollywobbler]

You've just reminded me that the Sirion's exhaust has started rattling REALLY loudly again. Another clout with a hammer. May have to concede defeat and replace it at some point. I also need to find out why the cigarette lighter has stopped working. I'm sure this has nothing at all to do with me removing the centre console to fit a better stereo...

[vulgalour]

Could noisy Micra dash be at all related to stuff stuck in the blower fan or the blower fan itself operating at a less than optimum standard?  Large dead leaves can make a right old racket.

[Parky]

I wouldn't appeal as it's a PPC. You're communicating with them which is a waste of time and unduly stressful. Appealing to them directly won't cancel the ticket. Yes, there are 'legitimate' appeal channels via POPLA which you can force their hand and [sometimes] get the ticket cancelled, but I'd sooner ignore it. 

I'm not familiar with their name, either. With the exception of Parking Eye (who pursue people with missionary zeal and have actually won several contested cases) I'd jib these two-bit chancers off. Write to the NHS if you're going to make a fuss. Worked with me and RoadChef against CP Parking Plus, and I didn't have to go near POPLA.

 

Had exactly the same thing Jon. Thing to remember is if it is a PENALTY charge notice, it is issued by Police or Councils and is enforceable.

 

If it is PARKING charge notice, it's an unenforceable invoice. If you bought a ticket, the landowner hasn't lost Any revenue so what are they going to do you for? Take you to court for Parking all wonky like? I don't think that's a criminal offence yet.

 

I parked at a local ice rink, while using the facilities at considerable cost, and got hit because I didn't realise I had to put my number plate into a machine in the foyer. Sixty quid fine. I did some research online, found there wasn't much that they could do so rode it out.

 

Sixty quid fine

The a reminder

Then hundred quid

Then hundred and fifty

Then reminder or else a debt collector would be contacted and a bailiff would come round and take my stuff (which they can't do unless I have ignored a CCJ and I hadn't been contacted by any courts)

Then debt collector letter with demand for four hundred quid

Then photocopied solicitor letter threatening court

Then second letter threatening court

Then letter saying all charges would be dropped if I paid the sixty

And that was it.....

 

Parking Eye did win a case - they got the 15 quid charge out of someone who didn't get a ticket. However their Barrister cost them five grand and the judge made them pay their own legals. Spending five grand to win fifteen quid isn't a great business model.....

 

If the hospital say its nothing to do with them, remind them of who actually employed the Parking company. Therefore it was their decision to employ them and they have the right to tell a supplier what to do.

 

Cor, I am well keyboard warrior tonight!

 

Seriously though, have a look at Pepipoo.com and there was a solicitor on watchdog who said don't pay these fines as they are not enforceable. See what you think and make a call yourself. Some of the letters are quite threatening and I know lots of folk who have paid up to avoid the hassle. I also know plenty of folk who have appealed with quite legitimate reasons for the appeal (machine not working, ticket fell off screen LOOK HERE IT IS!) and they never win. Engaging them makes them think you might pay, ignoring them means that their letters might not be going to the correct place or you might have left the country or something.

[Richard]

Has there not been a change recently that means these fines are, or will be, enforcable?

[Parky]

That's interesting - did a quick google search and nothing obvious came up

 

JON - best double check on this!

[Richard]

I can't remember where I read it and it's entirely possible I imagined the whole thing. Actually I have a dim memory of reading it on MSE. As you were.

[Lord Sterling]

Could noisy Micra dash be at all related to stuff stuck in the blower fan or the blower fan itself operating at a less than optimum standard? Large dead leaves can make a right old racket.

I doubt it, I have previously cleaned the out the blowers before now and it does blow pretty well still.

 

The noise has really only been noticeable since the change of downpipe. The old one was an original one on the car since new, as it was an OEM part it had all sorts of shrouds and coverings on it. This new pattern part one was a merely a single pipe, so its a lot louder than normal which will vibrate and rattle. Also, there is a problem with the 5th gear reluctance spring which springs it back into a central position. The loudness of the downpipe seems to affect 5th gear too.

[HMC]

Do you mean that you delivered the mini_brookjm, yourself, in the bathroom?

 

Whether you did or not, congrats to you both, and enjoy

 

Yep, I did. Quite a day! Mrs_brookjm was due that day (yesterday) had a routine midwife appt that morning. By 11am a had a call from her saying she thought the baby was on its way. I left work, got home and things progressed quite fast. We called the midwife and she suggested ringing an ambulance but before he arrived things really started to happen and i had to deliver him on the bathroom floor!!!

 

Like those films (where in reality it never happens like that) 3 mins later the ambulance crew knocked at the door......

 

Mum and baby were taken to the hospital and checked over but seem just fine.

 

Talk about inheriting his mums German efficiency genes- almost midday on the due date and out like a rocket!

 

Thanks for all the well wishes guys!

[HMC]

Meanwhile I may have taken my number plate obsession too far....

 

The jag I discovered from a jag daimler heritage trace, was originally registered 1XHW in july 64 before it was exported, then registered ENP395B on its return in 1991. I tried to get the old reg re issued on a non transferable basis and a DVLA guy from the jaguar enthusiasts club was confident with the trace and subsequent to his inspection of the car, it should be approved-  But the reg was being held on retention so that was scuppered. Or was it? I did a bit of digging on the internet and found it advertised- for- 7K!! so yes that was the end of that.

 

A couple of months later I saw a similar Bristol reg, also issued in july 1964 slightly later that month. It was being sold as a cheap cover plate and was nice and cheap. I transferred that to the jag and had a set of ACE cast gothic number plates made up with the slightly larger pre suffix/ prefix characters

 

 

 

 

 

 

[cobblers]

that looks stacks better, but I bet those plates weren't cheap!

[dollywobbler]

Took the Sirion to Kwik Fit where the chappy reckoned the air con had been over-pressurised. It's certainly demisting nicely, so hopefully that's job jobbed. Remarkably, they did not try to sell me any other services nor report that anything else on the car was broken, even though the exhaust baffles are rattling like a nervous robot in a bucket. Quite a few of the mechanics did walk around the car and laugh at it though. Is the Sirion the new 2CV?

[greengartside]

Just delivered our first child in the bathroom at lunchtime!!

 

Celebrating in style with cheap tescos beer

 

Congrats brookjm! I've got a mini GG about to make it's entrance into the world in the next few days

[wuvvum]

This morning I got the train down to Lewes to buy this.

 

 

I'm having a temporary moratorium on buying any more cars since the Laguna turned out to be a pile of shit, but I'd already won this and made arrangements to pick it up before the Renner shat itself, so I couldn't really back out.

 

It's a stupid time of year to buy a convertible, but the flip side of that is that they're shit cheap at the moment.  I've been Saabless for a while, so when this showed up on the Bay I decided to have a punt.

 

It's a V6 auto, with the old 2.5-litre lump out of the Vectra B.  While it isn't as quick as a Turbo, it has adequate grunt to make decent progress, and doesn't seem any worse on pez than the 2-litre version (which is admittedly pretty shit).  The interior is beige leather, and needs a good clean but seems in decent nick otherwise.  Other than that it's a relatively basic spec - I was expecting it to have cruise control (which would have come in most handy in the many average-speed-camera'd roadworks I encountered on the way home, but no such luck.  It drives OK, although like most Saab convertibles it has the structural rigidity of a damp paper towel so shakes like a bastard over bumpy roads.  I was expecting that though.

 

It actually worked out to be fairly cheap to get it home too - advance train ticket to Lewes was only £28 and the car had about £20 of pez in it when I picked it up, so didn't need to refuel until I hit the A11.  It's tested till the summer - I'm keeping everything crossed that it lasts that long...

[Mr Livered]

One of those Saabs with one of those engines sounds like a good buy Wuvvum. Nice one

[Sigmund Fraud]

After dozens of phonecalls, I finally managed to locate a motor factors that had the correct backbox for the Megane on the shelf. It was a poorly-made Klarius item, and ten quid more than they normally cost, but beggars can't be choosers.

 

So I got into the 740 and drove to Basingstoke to pick it up. The swedish beast probably got jealous of its french stablemate's new exhaust, and on the way back the downpipe detached itself from the middle box, producing an impressive cacophony.

 

Great. One car fixed, another broken.

[cort16]

Those Saabs are bloody horrible to drive. I approve of the v6 though I didn't even know they put that engine in these.  It's not a comedy sensonic is it?

[Sloth in a bowl]

Driving the Datsun last week and I noticed the dash voltmeter was running a little high, so today I decided to look at the voltage regulator.

 

A quick flick through the haynes and it all seems basic and obvious to tweak.

Problem 1: When the car was rewired somebody moved the voltage regulator to a position where it has to now be taken off before being adjusted

Problem 2: The screw (yes only one) holding the voltage regulator onto the bodywork is well and truly stuck, with the head wanting to chew up rather than move.

 

So a 10 minute job became a 90 minute waste of time, penetrating fluid has not yet worked.

I could drill it out, but knowing my luck I will trash something important in the process.

 

As the car still runs ok then it will be added to the list of ball aches that my mechanic can solve with far less hassle than I.

All I have to do for now to the keep the voltage at a reasonable level is keep the lights and fan on while driving, a proper autoshite style work around.

[phil_lihp]

The Rover's having a mixed week, flushing the coolant last week means it now runs a bit cooler but also now pisses even larger quantities out of the waterpump, presumably because the radweld that sixcylinder put in it has been diluted.  Don't know when I will get time to fix that now, I suspect the immediate solution will be to hide it in the lockup and forget about it.  It's also lost a hubcap somewhere along the line, shame really as it was wearing the originals even if they are a bit ugly and quite battered.

 

On the plus side, my bargain Dunlops have improved the grip considerably.  On the downside, with its new boots on a spirited run back and forth along the A377 has highlighted how knackered the steering rack is, it feels rather like the steering wheel's linked to the front wheels with ropes and pullies.  Funny how you can get used to it though!

[Lord Sterling]

Well. After Friday's battery fiasco with the Sterling, I finally got the thing started. I bought yet another set of cheap jump leads, connected them up to the Micra and jump started the Rover.

 

I jumped into the Rover today and made my way to work. About half-an-hour before my shift ended I took advantage of being pretty much the only one there (there was another agency worker there) and borrowed the hoover to clean the car out. As the worker is a passenger of mine the carpets got pretty much covered in bits of torn-off stickers and paper:

 

 

I'd also used the opportunity to give the leather seats a wipe over using the cleaning products available in this new job. I'd transported some crap my old garage in Streetly which gad marked the leather, even though the leather is pretty worn it still showed up. It gave me an opportunity to at least freshen the interior up.

 

Today, I also noticed that the n/s/f suspension has developed a squeaky noise when going over bumps and so on. Its yet another thing that'll need to be sorted soon.