Ask a Shiter

[gordonbennet]

Can I chuck my old paper counterpart licence in the bin now or do I still need it?

 

I've kept mine due to the DVLA having form for losing licence entitlements and then refusing to accept that someone who's been licenced and riding/driving a particular vehicle type for 40 years was ever entitled, this applies mainly to motorcycle licences but wouldn't the first time they lost HGV entitlements either.

 

So mine kept just in case i ever need to prove entitlement.

[cort16]

what's the point of the chiny chin chin on this recovery wagon?

 

[Norbert]

Loads of weight in the chin bumper to help counterbalance if something heavy is on the spec lift?

[rantingYoof]

My 2 penorth...

 

Cam belts do not break in service.

 

Water pumps, pulleys, tensioner and idlers seize or snap out go loose or whatever but the fault is never the cam belt.

 

This above came from a gates sales manager and I have no reason to disbelieve him.

 

The car I had in mind started off in life having 8yr 80k intervals but the tensioners kept going after just 40k or 4yrs, which would have pretty much the same effect (as I have learnt that they are under highest strain stop/starting frequently), so the manufacturer lowered the interval!

 

 

I did a proper gamble with Mason the Lexus, which had a stamp on the engine showing a change at 60k or so in the year 2000...but when it's your own car that you've sourced yourself then you are happier taking the risk.

[cort16]

Loads of weight in the chin bumper to help counterbalance if something heavy is on the spec lift?

 

That makes sense. The guy is selling 2 wagons that are the same make and model but only one has the chin, which confused me.

[Richard]

Could it be a crude sort of impact cushion?

[Timewaster]

Loads of weight in the chin bumper to help counterbalance if something heavy is on the spec lift?

What he said.

 

Stops the truck doing a wheelie.

I had a mate with a transit spec lift and his front bumper was cleverly fashioned out of a section of lorry trailer chassis.

[Noel Tidybeard]

what's the point of the chiny chin chin on this recovery wagon?

 

somewhere warm to sit with mug of tea/coffee whilst you watch the apprentoid "learn the ropes"

[The Moog]

Is there any issue with taking a non high performance car on a trackday? 

 

Specifically thinking about the Starlet at Knockhill.  Is it going to be mega disappointing as everyone is caning it round very fast? 

[scdan4]

No one is timing you. 

 

Go, have a ball.

[skattrd]

Is there any issue with taking a non high performance car on a trackday? 

 

Specifically thinking about the Starlet at Knockhill.  Is it going to be mega disappointing as everyone is caning it round very fast? 

 

A mate took a base spec Carisma around Cadwell, which was quite humorous.

 

My little Daihatsu Cuore was always the slowest thing on straights on track, which never bothered me. In slower cars you learn to brake later & carry the speed more, I find it quite rewarding.

[320touring]

I've has 320i and a saab 9-3 lpt on trackdays at the hill-guid lolz

[The Moog]

Cool. Looking at the knockhill one on 28th August.

[stephen01]

If a car goes for a retest, should it technically go back in the garage? or can they 'look' and pass it?

[twosmoke300]

Depends if it's failed on any measured items ( brakes , emissions or headlight aim )

[stephen01]

two tyres and poor spray on the washers, thing is the garage never even checked the items just handed out a cert.

[twosmoke300]

They must trust you

[stephen01]

it was a friend, she took advantage of one of these cheap MOT's only to then be charged a re test fee of 15 quid, she was miffed that they didn't even take her car back in.

[loserone]

SWMBO's K11C micra was treated to a new* exhaust a few months back.  It sounded like it was blowing, but I couldn't see or hear any leak.

 

Took it back to the garage which fitted it, and they could also find no leak, but agreed with the noise.  They returned and exchanged the backbox, thinking it might be a duff baffle or something.  The noise remains.

 

Prior to this escapade, she was getting 290 miles from a tank, but now only 250.  

 

What gives?

[Richard]

On the back of a Haynes manual, it lists the covered engines as:

 

1.6 litre (1588cc)

1.8 litre (1731cc)

1.9 litre (1855cc)

2.0 litre (1948cc)

 

Why isn't the 1731cc engine a 1.7? Its closer to 1700 than it is to 1800.

Likewise, why isn't the 2.0 litre a 1.9?

 

Is a 1702cc engine a 1.8? Someone please put me out of my misery.

 

Because the Marketing Department have decided they need a 1.8 and a 2.0 in the line-up, also they would end up with two 1,9s if they did it properly.

 

There have been a few examples, the 1769cc 1.7 XUD, the 928cc 1.0 Sunbeam, the 2144cc 2,2 Audi Coupé etc.

[gm]

Is there any issue with taking a non high performance car on a trackday? 

 

Specifically thinking about the Starlet at Knockhill.  Is it going to be mega disappointing as everyone is caning it round very fast?

 

I suppose it depends on who is running the event, what condition the car is in and how it is driven - I was up there on Sunday in my 1.6 mx5 sharing the track with some scarey quick cars - racing evos, skylines, a track prepped ferrari, but driver etiquette was very good all round. I got out of the way on the straights then chased them round the twisty bits.

Occasionally you get some nob in a knackered bm (I'm not suggesting that you are btw) who thinks he's at driftland and needs to be sent home.

 

August 28th is a 'hot hatch' day so your likely to be in the company of saxos etc, I reckon you'll have a blast in the the starlet - it's loads more fun when the cars are of similar performance.

[gm]

a couple of stills off me video

 

Ferrari sneaks past Mazda

 

 

about two seconds later

 

 

what a noise the thing makes - like a fuggin banshee !

[The Moog]

Brilliant!

 

Did you do much to prep for it? I guess new brakes and fluid, maybe spare set of tyres.

[skattrd]

I can see seats and harnesses ... Cheap to get when out of date

[Richard]

My work van passed* its MOT on Monday and I've been assured that it was taxed too. It's not showing up online, is it likely to be impounded and am I likely to be prosecuted if it is?

[tapir]

My work van passed* its MOT on Monday and I've been assured that it was taxed too. It's not showing up online, is it likely to be impounded and am I likely to be prosecuted if it is?

Paid car tax online on Saturday still not showing online, website states it can take five days to show for both mot and tax,

However last mot I had done was showing online before I had collected the car

[gm]

Brilliant!

Did you do much to prep for it? I guess new brakes and fluid, maybe spare set of tyres.

as long as the car is in good nick, you will be ok. check the usual mechanicals such as fluids, brakes and tyres obviously but there's no need to be spending loads on kit to get started.

 

I've been doing trackdays for around 10 years now, initially I used my bog standard road going mx5 which went well, certainly appropriate for my beginner ability. over the years (and five more mx5s) I've upgraded various bits and pieces, the current car is set up with : shocks, brakes, exhaust, roll bar, bucket seats, harnesses and fancy tyres - it all makes things a bit quicker but the important thing is that it still remains a whole load of fun ! I was on road tyres this week as the fancy ones are still at the old house, they took a pasting but survived and are still road legal

 

when I had the 944, I took it round the track and it was way too quick for my driving ability - I scared myself a few times so brought the mazda next time and never looked back. the other side of it has always been that if I wreck the mazda, I can tow it home, salvage the good bits and pick up another for not that much.

 

On Sunday, I had a mate come along from the mx5 forum who was wary of taking his own car on track (not suprising, he has a right nice looking car). we split costs and shared driving my car, he had an absolute ball and is now booking the next session for his own car. He did spin mine within his first few laps but no harm done and he learned a lot from it I think (note to self, get a darker colour bucket seat next time)

 

tl:dr go on track - it's great !

[D Spares & Tyres]

My work van passed* its MOT on Monday and I've been assured that it was taxed too. It's not showing up online, is it likely to be impounded and am I likely to be prosecuted if it is?

[Guest Breadvan72]

Triumph Dolomite heater - blows warm air briefly, then cold.  Temperature gauge tends to read well below middle of dial.    Engine seems warm.  Gauge dodgy?   Thermostat knacked?    Heater foutu?  Me iggerant.

[skattrd]

Sounds like a dodgy thermostat Gerard ... They're kinda shit nowadays, buy the best quality one you can find, so much Chinese crap around that doesn't last.

 

That said, it could be an airlock somewhere.