The grumpy thread

[cort16]

I've caught 5 mice in the last few weeks and that's bad enough. Rats though, fuck that!

[brickwall]

My wee Parson's Terrier sorted all those things at my house.

 

The winter button on me Volvo just makes the car skite all over the road. I have good M+S tyres on the Rangie and they worked a treat last year, but typically, I'll get stuck behind some person that cannae drive in the snaw!

[Spiny Norman]

 I have good M+S tyres on the Rangie and they worked a treat last year, but typically, I'll get stuck behind some person that cannae drive in the snaw!

 

That's the thing in this country. You can have all the knobby tyres and GR84SNOKAOS 4x4 you like but the chances are you're still going to end up stuck in the traffic jam caused by some numptie who can't cope with a half inch of the white stuff.

 

[myglaren]

Have had to move out of our flat temporarily due to a massive rat problem. Missus saw 3 run outfrom under the sofa, called her country bumpkin sister who extracted a whole nest. Pest controller is coming back tuesday, we are now living at my mums and we had to take eva to hospital last night to check she was ok (which she is) but the 90 miles I did last night have fucked my fuel budget, as have a few other emergency purchases and now we will be fucked in about a week, which is a week before payday.

 

And the XM has gone rock fucking hard again, an issue that I took my anger out on by driving very fast along a shit road last night to teach it a lesson. And It's become apparent to me how fucking shit the dipped beams are on it. Due to tiredness at 2am this morning I drove with the fogs on as well (which helped a bit), and blended right in... I think I should also go to an eye quacks as I'm blinded by everything coming the other way, to the point of slowing to 20 in a nsl to be safe as I went blind.

Have you done the relay mod on the lights?  That and a pair of better bulbs can make a significant improvement.

[myglaren]

 

I just made the following complaint to the Advertising Standards Authority about the annoying ad for the Volvo XC90 that's on the radio at the moment

 

The copy in this advertisement implies that half an inch of snow causes the UK to grind to a halt.  It then says that two feet of snow does not cause a problem in Sweden.  It then claims that UK drivers can avoid getting stuck in the snow by purchasing a Volvo XC90 vehicle with winter pack.

 

This advertisement is misleading because the implication is that Swedish drivers avoid getting stuck in the snow because they have four-wheel drive cars.

 

This is generally not the case: the reason drivers in Sweden do not get stuck in the snow is because they use winter tyres on their vehicles (drivers in Scandinavia have two sets of wheels which are changed over before winter).  Relatively few drivers in Sweden have 4x4 vehicles, and in any case a 4x4 car with summer tyres offers little benefit in the snow.   The 'winter pack' that Volvo mentions does not include winter tyres.

 

Not only that.  Scandinavian drivers educate themselves to cope with snow and ice, unlike the UK residents who just always wing it and fail miserably (a fair few exceptions on here of course)

[Junkman]

That's the thing in this country. You can have all the knobby tyres and GR84SNOKAOS 4x4 you like but the chances are you're still going to end up stuck in the traffic jam caused by some numptie who can't cope with a half inch of the white stuff.

That's why you should buy a RX7 roadster with mismatched rear tyres for Winter, like NextGen did.

You still get stuck, or wrapped around a tree, but it doesn't annoy you as much as it would with a 1lifelivvitt.

[vulgalour]

Up to note number 4 in the nameless barrage of bitchy notes left on my car by (presumably the same) neighbours.

 

This one's so pathetic it's hilarious.

 

 

I wonder, have you contacted your local Council/Police to discuss the harrassment and intimidating behaviour you're facing from this neighbour?  If you know who it is, can they be talked to so that you can try and make them understand they're being an insufferable arse.

[cort16]

Here's me enjoying my Christmas night out after a couple of quiet drinks.

 

danger by cort16, on Flickr

[beko1987]

Have you done the relay mod on the lights?  That and a pair of better bulbs can make a significant improvement.

Relay mod? Nope, not done that. Have been thinking of getting a new, decent pair of bulbs though. Need to find out what H code the dipped bulbs are...

 

Anyone know?

[Richard]

I think they will be H1, they were on the Xantia. Nightbreakers or Silverstars will help a bit but you're farting against thunder, the headlamps are an awful design and no amount of light will change that. The relay mod, which is documented on Citroen forums if you want to try it, makes sure all the volts find their way to the bulb- but again it's making the best of a bad job.

[chaseracer]

Do all of the above AND make sure the plastic diffusers between the bulb and the lens** haven't yellowed.  I have many headlamps in the lockup, should you have need.

 

 

 

** WTactualF, Citroen? Top idea...

[cobblers]

I put some 100w halfords ILLEGAL AS FRIG RALLY BULBS in my golf last night, just for the main beam (H1) and it's made such a difference, I can see stacks more now. £9 a pair on trade, twice that if not. Turns out the ones I removed were Osram fancy ones.

[Richard]

** WTactualF, Citroen? Top idea...

 

It seemed to be an early 1990s fashion, the Mondeo was the same. I have a theory that everybody who knew how to design useful headlights was rounded up and shot in 1989, and they came back for the people who knew how to do visible indicators a few years later

[dollywobbler]

Sounds about right. The 'bubble' Rover 400 is pretty bad, especially with main beam. Should Citroen be blamed for making the headlamp a styling feature rather than a nice, circular lamp? (Ami, 1961).

[ShiteRider]

Getting old is shit, on the piss last night and still feel rough as arseholes now.

[chaseracer]

I've had a headache for a week now.  No booze involved, sadly.

 

Prolly shouldn't be staring at a computer... 

[Conrad D. Conelrad]

Sounds about right. The 'bubble' Rover 400 is pretty bad, especially with main beam. Should Citroen be blamed for making the headlamp a styling feature rather than a nice, circular lamp? (Ami, 1961).

 

I'm beginning to think the Americans had the right idea forcing everyone to use the same sealed beam lamps for everything. 

[plasticvandan]

people who moan that they have no money yet own loads of cars

[dollywobbler]

people who moan that they have no money yet own loads of cars

 

Hold on. I'm one of those people! Mind you, all of the cars are rusty old heaps. Can't afford to put petrol in them though. The 'emergency contingency fund' is paying for the already-booked trip to Scotland next week. I got paid today - almost as much as the insurance renewal, but sadly not quite. Not expecting any more money in until well into the New Year (though it is at least owed). Happy sodding days. It's a good job my wife and I ignore the commercial 'must buy presents for each other' nonsense of Christmas. 

[MrDuke]

people who moan that they have no money because they own loads of old cars

 

 

EFA

[coalnotdole]

people who moan that they have no money yet own loads of cars

 

I've got 5 cars and no money too, so it does happen. I've just about balanced the books this month after paying for car insurance on 4 cars at once. I probably wont have any work to speak of until the new year now...

[beko1987]

Do all of the above AND make sure the plastic diffusers between the bulb and the lens** haven't yellowed.  I have many headlamps in the lockup, should you have need.

 

 

 

** WTactualF, Citroen? Top idea...

I've read about the diffuser, might take the lights out, have them apart and check that.

 

The ZXs dipped beams were fucking ace, and the bulbs were fuck knows how old. Rarely used full beams in it. I use them loads in the xm and only sometimes do people notice...

[plasticvandan]

i learned a while ago that apart from the obvious fact that you cant drive more than one at a time,having more than one old crock just means constantly looking at work,depressing because you cant keep them up together,and they all suffer ultimately,aside from being penniless. now im at a stage where ive savd up enough to get some plastic shite after riding 4000 miles on a c90,and im goiing to put all my efforts into that.

[Mr_Bo11ox]

I've got loads of cars and no money, Mrs_Nuts and myself had a right old barney about me buying that Rover recently.

[jakebullet]

Ma Ma had a foot operation done yesterday so I'm on cooking duty. Following her instructions to create a meal for one I have seven spoons and 3 forks to wash up. Methinks tomorrow I'll be buying spuds from the jacket potato man and no washing up.

[Mr_Bo11ox]

Learn to cook man, its for winners

[jakebullet]

I did a cooking course to try and be less mental, meet bored sexy milfs etc. I can still burn water, still mental n the only one who would talk to me turned out to play for the other team.

[dollywobbler]

Learn to cook man, its for winners

 

I sort-of get it, but like cleaning cars, I can't be arsed to put too much effort in. Steak and chips? Nae bother. Full roast dinner? That's ok as most of it involves waiting. Anything that involves more than ten minutes prep though, no way. 

[Richard]

Quite a lot of cooking can be done in less time than it takes to heat a ready meal.

[purplebargeken]

I put aside £40 just in case I needed it. Can I find it? Can I balls. Have excluded all my usual stash points. Arse.