The grumpy thread

[Metal Guru]

7 minutes ago, Spiny Norman said:

DRLs are dangerous.
It's been noted before but the number of fannies driving round in the dark in cars with no rear lights has never been greater than it is now.  Every time I'm out in the dark I see a couple, including one on the M6 in the pissing rain last night.

This pm it was dark here before 3 pm. I’m swearing at people not signalling and then notice a tiny yellow slit completely masked by stupid patterns of over bright LED DRLs. 
Do we really need every light surrounded by a pattern of LEDs?. They look really naff anyway.

[timolloyd]

3 hours ago, Talbot said:

It would make SO MUCH MORE SENSE for safety partnerships to be set up as a roadblock somewhere on road, and just did a cursory check on every single vehicle's tyres as they go past rather than SCamera partnerships running speed cameras.

It would take about 5 seconds to have a look at the state of the tyres.  Every vehicle that is OK is sent on their way.  Even slightly questionable ones get moved on.  Anything with fuck-all-tread or cords showing gets pulled to the side of the road and points/fine issued.  And you're not allowed to go any further in a defective vehicle so have to call up for mobile tyre fitting there and then.

Gets dangerous cars off the road, prosecutes twats for driving on dangerous tyres and makes the local tyre place a mint.  Win-Win.

I'd much rather have someone driving at 35 in a 30 on decent tyres than someone doing 25 in a 30 on cords-showing-fuck-all-tread in the rain.

I like this idea. Particularly because I feel sure the people who take chances with tyres are often the same people who still think there’s a week’s grace with MOT expiry dates, insurance etc.

[Metal Guru]

2 minutes ago, timolloyd said:

I like this idea. Particularly because I feel sure the people who take chances with tyres are often the same people who still think there’s a week’s grace with MOT expiry dates, insurance etc.

I think you’re preaching to the choir here. If people aren’t interested in cars ( or only interested in the badge), they treat them as domestic appliances. It’s there to do a job at minimum cost and only do any maintenance if it breaks down. They don’t understand ( nor want to) the difference between good tyres and those with cords showing and any weird noises are dealt with by turning up the stereo.

[sheffcortinacentre]

Road side tyre checks aren't cost effective several staff (wages,etc), scameras need one or no personal (wages).

[Spiny Norman]

1 hour ago, Metal Guru said:

This pm it was dark here before 3 pm. I’m swearing at people not signalling and then notice a tiny yellow slit completely masked by stupid patterns of over bright LED DRLs. 
Do we really need every light surrounded by a pattern of LEDs?. They look really naff anyway.

All my driving life I've been on the wrong end of 'headlamp wars'. First cars I had were fitted with feeble tungsten bulbs when all the newer stuff had halogena. Then when I started getting more up to date old shitters with halogen lights all the BMWs and Aldis had upgraded to Xenon which were pretty blinding in the mirror or worse, coming towards you,  and when I got my first car with weapons grade xenons a couple of years ago everyone else on the road has graduated to billion watt LEDs which automatically home in on my retinas when they're coming towards me.
I can't win.
 

[New POD]

3 hours ago, Spiny Norman said:

DRLs are dangerous.
It's been noted before but the number of fannies driving round in the dark in cars with no rear lights has never been greater than it is now.  Every time I'm out in the dark I see a couple, including one on the M6 in the pissing rain last night.

But you saw them ?  So not as dangerous as not seeing them.  

Have seen a few too.  But I did it the other day in my wife's car.  My car is almost identical, but has automatic lights. Hers doesn't. Doh. 

[Christine]

2 hours ago, New POD said:

But you saw them ?  So not as dangerous as not seeing them.  

Have seen a few too.  But I did it the other day in my wife's car.  My car is almost identical, but has automatic lights. Hers doesn't. Doh. 

How does your good lady feel about that? You having a better spec car , and hers just a basic ?  They get touchy about trivial things ,do women ! 

[beko1987]

10 hours ago, New POD said:

The tyres might not kill you, but what about the smoking? Give that up and you could afford the best tyres..

[beko1987]

3 hours ago, New POD said:

But you saw them ?  So not as dangerous as not seeing them.  

Have seen a few too.  But I did it the other day in my wife's car.  My car is almost identical, but has automatic lights. Hers doesn't. Doh. 

I've done it too! Couple of years ago I left dad by the concert venue and fetched the car (his car). Got in, dash lit up, the road front and back lit up and I drove a few miles back to shepherd's bush green. 

To dad franticly waving at me from the side of the road saying the headlights weren't on... He turns the switch manually off and on as he doesn't like the auto lights... 😂 Turned the stalk and everything got even brighter! The drl's and front sidelights on his ioniq are as good/slightly better than the main beams on the Xsara and tbh I didn't notice

[EyesWeldedShut]

5 hours ago, Spiny Norman said:

o everyone else on the road has graduated to billion watt LEDs which automatically home in on my retinas

I thought it was just me?
On a wet night, sat down in the Bini (or the 940), unlit country road I can see feck all when there's an oncoming SUV towering over me. At narrow points I'm almost at a halt like some old giffer.

Oh, hang on, now I mention giffer....
 

[New POD]

1 hour ago, Christine said:

How does your good lady feel about that? You having a better spec car , and hers just a basic ?  They get touchy about trivial things ,do women ! 

Hers has an electric handbrake. That's what mine hasn't got. 

[Rocket88]

4 hours ago, New POD said:

But you saw them ?  So not as dangerous as not seeing them.  

Have seen a few too.  But I did it the other day in my wife's car.  My car is almost identical, but has automatic lights. Hers doesn't. Doh. 

I’m staggered that car manufacturers get away it. It should a legislative thing that front AND rear lights are on

[beko1987]

47 minutes ago, EyesWeldedShut said:

I thought it was just me?
On a wet night, sat down in the Bini (or the 940), unlit country road I can see feck all when there's an oncoming SUV towering over me. At narrow points I'm almost at a halt like some old giffer.

Oh, hang on, now I mention giffer....
 

I've come home from work before in the dark and rain guided mostly by the white lines in the road at times. Even with fancy anti glare glasses... 

Do those tinted colour blocking sunglasses do anything? 

[Metal Guru]

5 hours ago, New POD said:

But you saw them ?  So not as dangerous as not seeing them.  

Have seen a few too.  But I did it the other day in my wife's car.  My car is almost identical, but has automatic lights. Hers doesn't. Doh. 

While bright lights maybe better than no lights, being dazzled hides other things, which is just as dangerous. The other night , I was on a city centre motorway, needed to change lanes but looking in the mirror all I could see was a wall of lights. Had little idea of how far away the were and could have easily missed a close up car with normal but much dimmer lights.

[EyesWeldedShut]

2 hours ago, beko1987 said:

I've come home from work before in the dark and rain guided mostly by the white lines in the road at times. Even with fancy anti glare glasses... 

Do those tinted colour blocking sunglasses do anything? 

No idea - in theory they filter out blue so should diminish LED dazzle. Google suggests mixed opinions on them though - ditto the ant glare yellow coloured ones.
White lines by the side of the road help but, around here, there's no middle line in places as two cars won't fit - if you both follow the sidelines it could be interesting

In the van/lorry I'm fine as I'm above the dipped beam level of the oncoming stuff - I'm guessing SUV drivers get the same road view so see no problems?

[horriblemercedes]

1 hour ago, Metal Guru said:

While bright lights maybe better than no lights, being dazzled hides other things, which is just as dangerous. The other night , I was on a city centre motorway, needed to change lanes but looking in the mirror all I could see was a wall of lights. Had little idea of how far away the were and could have easily missed a close up car with normal but much dimmer lights.

I'm with you there. Given the choice, I wouldn't allow LED headlights. I regularly find myself dazzled by them and really having no vision until the oncoming car has passed

[captain_70s]

4 hours ago, beko1987 said:

I've come home from work before in the dark and rain guided mostly by the white lines in the road at times. Even with fancy anti glare glasses... 

Do those tinted colour blocking sunglasses do anything? 

I had some fetching yellow aviators that seemed to take the edge off while making me look even more like a serial rapist.

I am also completely blinded by headlights. My go to tactic is aim to the left of the oncoming supernova and hope I don't end up in the ditch.

It's fine in my van, and presumably in crossovers/SUVs that ride higher but in my older cars it's quite hellish.

The Acclaim doesn't even have tinted mirrors/glass so a car behind me will usually blind me via the door mirror unless I drive with my right eye closed...

[SiC]

I'm ever so slightly long sighted. My optician said to me that those that are long sighted are more likely to be dazzled by on coming headlights at night. Iirc its to do with how the light in the eye is focused slightly off centre and ends up reflecting around the inside the eye more. 

[GeordieInExile]

The C6 coolant hose is on back order from Citroen. I asked the garage when I'll have the car back. "Could be this week, could be next." Mmmm...hmmm.

[horriblemercedes]

1 hour ago, SiC said:

I'm ever so slightly long sighted. My optician said to me that those that are long sighted are more likely to be dazzled by on coming headlights at night. Iirc its to do with how the light in the eye is focused slightly off centre and ends up reflecting around the inside the eye more. 

Interesting that you say that. I've started to wonder if my vision has been changing over the last few years. Maybe I should get it checked out 

[SiC]

7 minutes ago, horriblemercedes said:

Interesting that you say that. I've started to wonder if my vision has been changing over the last few years. Maybe I should get it checked out 

Eyesight degrades as you age. 

If you use a VDU predominantly through work, you can get your employer to pay for an eye test. 

[jakebullet]

It's death by chuntering today. Remember the post office doing all stamps must have a bar code? Well Ma sent off a shitload bought from the self service in the post office. Having moderate levels of chunter that they've not come back yet n it's shitmas n got to send a card to someone you met 40 years ago who's prolly dead by now.

So goes in post office, huge queue. Goes on self serve machine.......... which spits out stamps identical to ones sent off without bar code. Ahead, chunter factor 5! She grabs the minder and accuses him of selling invalid fake stamps. Oh no madam, they're perfectly valid. He then gets it with both barrels why did she have to send hers off then and when are they coming back?

It's 5 hours later and she's still chuntering about it.

[Back_For_More]

And the ungrateful bastards just keep on giving....... 

To be fair the Forester has just had me up to Wolverhampton and Stourbridge without issue early this morning.... 

Black circles had failed to deliver my tyres for the 330 - I leave for Belgo land tomorrow - FUXTIX 

Off to friendly local dude and a sheaf of notes handed over for 2 new tyres.... 

Missed call..... Hmmmmmmmm

Mate confirms circles showed up as this pair were being fitted - DOUBLE FUXTIX  - trying to be positive and think of them as being prepared for the next mega pothole damage but this is really pissing me off and kicking my wallet in the nuts all over. 

Then heard a bang as I came away from the tyre place - something kicked up on the dual carriageway... 

Forester is crying death tears..... TRIPLE FUXTIX 

Looks like something hit the sump amd pierced it...... So off to order more parts and cry into my very large Gin. 

Anything else and I'm fucking everything off and hibernating 

[Pieman]

1 hour ago, jakebullet said:

It's death by chuntering today. Remember the post office doing all stamps must have a bar code? Well Ma sent off a shitload bought from the self service in the post office. Having moderate levels of chunter that they've not come back yet n it's shitmas n got to send a card to someone you met 40 years ago who's prolly dead by now.

So goes in post office, huge queue. Goes on self serve machine.......... which spits out stamps identical to ones sent off without bar code. Ahead, chunter factor 5! She grabs the minder and accuses him of selling invalid fake stamps. Oh no madam, they're perfectly valid. He then gets it with both barrels why did she have to send hers off then and when are they coming back?

It's 5 hours later and she's still chuntering about it.

Seriously, grow a set and confront them instead of just telling us about it all the time.

[New POD]

1 hour ago, SiC said:

Eyesight degrades as you age. 

If you use a VDU predominantly through work, you can get your employer to pay for an eye test. 

Or just tell them your dad has Glaucoma. 

[High Jetter]

2 hours ago, horriblemercedes said:

Interesting that you say that. I've started to wonder if my vision has been changing over the last few years. Maybe I should get it checked out 

I would, you don't notice the slight deterioration. Best get checked every 2 years, unless advised otherwise.

[Rocket88]

Tentatively floated my Scimitar on Facebook Scimitar site….. had an enquiry from someone, who after asking where I was located, decided 80 miles was “ too far”….😕

[Zelandeth]

16 minutes ago, Rocket88 said:

Tentatively floated my Scimitar on Facebook Scimitar site….. had an enquiry from someone, who after asking where I was located, decided 80 miles was “ too far”….😕

On what planet is that too far?  

[Dick Cheeseburger]

23 minutes ago, Rocket88 said:

Tentatively floated my Scimitar on Facebook Scimitar site….. had an enquiry from someone, who after asking where I was located, decided 80 miles was “ too far”….😕

Even in 1750, with a horse and cart on a rough track cut through the countryside, it wouldn't be too far. What mode of transport was the fella entertaining- space hopper? 

[Rocket88]

He does live near Rochdale……so the horse and cart analogy might not be too far adrift……