The grumpy thread

9,621 · February 13

1 hour ago, Zelandeth said:

..randomly slam on the anchors in full emergency stop mode out of nowhere when you're cruising on the motorway.

...lane departure warning system ..

The speed limit detection is absolutely awful as well...

this is the third vehicle with this feature we've had, and they've all done it.

Shit like this really brings out the inner Luddite in me. How the fuck have we got to the stage where we're allowing cars to randomly brake, change lanes (or prevent you from doing so), speed up, slow down etc with no input from the driver?
How does all this get through type approval, or is it like VAGshit diseasels where it manages to work properly for 15 minutes on the government's test rig but goes its own way when out in the real world?

What happens if a car doing an emergency stop on the motorway does cause a crash? It's all very well saying the car behind should be following at a distance they can safely stop but if you (or your dim-witted autonomous car) suddenly jams on the anchors for no reason at all, you can and should be prosecuted with dangerous driving.

February 13

I had a brand new merc AMGline A200 in 2021 as a company car and that tried to kill me several times, lane departure through roadworks trying to stuff me into the cones, emergency stop activating whilst pulling out into a busy/ fast roundabout, and 'hey mercedes'. telling me I had 18 miles of fuel left and then conking out several seconds later, in lane 3 at 70*. Shame because I kind of liked that car in the 21,000 miles I had it for, those shit features* ruined it.

That was enough to confirm that I would not be driving anything made after 2005 for the remainder of my driving life.

9,146 · February 13

I'm grumpy because I made an assumption:
MoT advisory on a sticky caliper, I looked and found locked/rusted sliders. Got new pins etc etc and went to fit them tonight - nope, bloody caliper itself is as much use as a chocolate fireguard.
Bloody new pads, discs, tools and shite all over the floor that I now have to tidy away until new calipers get here.
Bollocks.

9,621 · February 13

13 minutes ago, MVX11V said:

...lane departure through roadworks trying to stuff me into the cones, emergency stop activating whilst pulling out into a busy/ fast roundabout,

I've said it before and I'll say it again, any car that does that to me even once is getting left at the side of the road and set on fire.

15,419 · February 13

4 hours ago, alcyonecorporation said:

Will anyone listen, or will I get shouted down?

Colour me interested

2,304 · February 13

49 minutes ago, High Jetter said:

Colour me interested

And me - its a fair view if both side are expressed.

25,746 · February 13

On 12/02/2025 at 13:34, Split_Pin said:

Severance pay is not taxable under £30k, I'll be fine.

This is true for the compensatory ("redundancy") payment, but those for notice and 'leave entitlement accrued but not taken' are taxed as salary.

33,320 · February 13

54 minutes ago, chaseracer said:

'leave entitlement accrued but not taken' are taxed as salary.

I'll admit I'm not sure what that is.

I'm being made redundant and getting 5 weeks money for every year I've been working there, plus half my bonus. According to Gov.uk if that's under £30k then it's not taxed?

To add to my increasing anxiety, I've applied for 12 jobs now and got knocked back for 5. I think I'm going to need to start investing a bit more time in my applications now, see if that works.

8,397 · February 13

11 minutes ago, Split_Pin said:

I'll admit I'm not sure what that is.

I'm being made redundant and getting 5 weeks money for every year I've been working there, plus half my bonus. According to Gov.uk if that's under £30k then it's not taxed?

To add to my increasing anxiety, I've applied for 12 jobs now and got knocked back for 5. I think I'm going to need to start investing a bit more time in my applications now, see if that works.

I didn’t have to pay any tax on my redundancy, even with outstanding leave, so I’m sure you’ll be fine. I wish you all the best.

I’m applying for a job tomorrow, which I expect to get knocked back for. They want you to be within 35 minutes from base and I’m 45. Let’s see. I can’t see why that’s so important.

33,320 · February 13

Good luck as well chap.

8,718 · February 13

On 11/02/2025 at 19:05, alcyonecorporation said:

Accepted a lift from a friend of a friend with a Tesla.

On the A14 the stupid piece of shit mistook a gantry for a wall and phantom braked.
'Oh yeah, it does that sometimes,' he said.
Oh, really? Well, I'm not OK with that. A lorry nearly flattened us, and you're willingly driving around* with this thing freaking out at gantries?!

Not getting in a Tesla again. Fuck that.
The bloke driving didn't even say sorry.
Perhaps you can get the self-drive to take you to EMR Metals, mate, then forget to get out, yeah? Perhaps it'll crash into a gantry/wall on the way there, and you can save everyone the hassle.

*By the way, before theTesla apologists come on and point out that you can turn said system off, I really couldn't give a fuck.
People are so bastarding lazy when they drive these days that for every so-called self-aware EV driver, there's 10 more in Model 3s on tick relying on systems that are barely Alpha tested. Keep your shit 1:1 Tamiya cars; I fucking hated them before and hate them even more now. It tried to kill us, I don't care what your 'counter' is. If it can't fucking tell a gantry from a wall, it shouldn't be on the car.

Heard from my mate (friends with the bloke whose Tesla tried to 86 us).

It apparently did something similar on the M11 last night while his wife and sons were in the car.

He's now told the finance company/Tesla (not sure which) that he will not be renewing the lease (presumably for another Tesla?) in three months time.
Wife now refuses to travel in it, sons have gone from loving the car to being terrified of it.

I sent him the number for EMR and even feel a bit sorry for him now. Even if he was a total bell-end when I used the door handle on his car to open the door on his car. To get out. With a door handle. Located on the door. Of the car.

6,410 · February 13

8 hours ago, alcyonecorporation said:

Many, many, many years ago, I had a similar incident with my 306.

If the pads/shoes are low they (and ZXs, I believe) stick the handbrake light on permanently, even when the handbrake is off.

One of my smart arse housemates, sitting in the back, decided to yank the handbrake up 'because it won't do anything if you say there's a fault and I don't believe you.'

She decided to do this as we were rounding a bend and a bus was coming in the opposite direction.

Yeah, cheers for that. Massive accident narrowly avoided.

I didn't allow her in the car again.

If someone did that to me they'd be instantly kicked out of the car and left to make their own way home. What an absolute moron!

8,718 · February 14

1 minute ago, Pieman said:

If someone did that to me they'd be instantly kicked out of the car and left to make their own way home. What an absolute moron!

oddly enough

28,365 · February 14

5 hours ago, Spiny Norman said:

Shit like this really brings out the inner Luddite in me. How the fuck have we got to the stage where we're allowing cars to randomly brake, change lanes (or prevent you from doing so), speed up, slow down etc with no input from the driver?
How does all this get through type approval, or is it like VAGshit diseasels where it manages to work properly for 15 minutes on the government's test rig but goes its own way when out in the real world?

What happens if a car doing an emergency stop on the motorway does cause a crash? It's all very well saying the car behind should be following at a distance they can safely stop but if you (or your dim-witted autonomous car) suddenly jams on the anchors for no reason at all, you can and should be prosecuted with dangerous driving.

The moment that scared the crap out of me was when you're stuck in a 50mph average speed limit through road works, and the lorry behind you *really* doesn't want to slow down to 50, and insists on sitting 1" off your back bumper trying to intimidate you into speeding up. If the car chooses that moment to slam on the anchors (and when there's clutter around like that seems to be where it's most likely to do it), some poor emergency worker would be mopping us up off the road and the M6 would be closed all day while the fatal accident is investigated. Doubt anyone would give the emergency braking systems a second glance.

Thankfully the only injury we've had from one so far was me nearly breaking my nose on the centre console when it happened on one occasion (I was reaching down into the rear foot well from one of the rear seats to retrieve a Practical Classics magazine that had made a bid for freedom). Cue lots of blood and me having an air vent shaped bruise on my forehead for a week. However yes, I do reckon it's only a matter of time until this kills someone (assuming it's not already happened and just been blamed on driver error).

I find pretty much any VAG product made this century impossible to get comfortable in anyway as I'm just not the same shape as the Industry Standard Human their seats are designed for. So I'll just stick to my 2007 Volvo thanks if I've got to cover any real ground.

14,707 · February 14

8 minutes ago, Zelandeth said:

The moment that scared the crap out of me was when you're stuck in a 50mph average speed limit through road works, and the lorry behind you *really* doesn't want to slow down to 50, and insists on sitting 1" off your back bumper trying to intimidate you into speeding up. If the car chooses that moment to slam on the anchors (and when there's clutter around like that seems to be where it's most likely to do it), some poor emergency worker would be mopping us up off the road and the M6 would be closed all day while the fatal accident is investigated. Doubt anyone would give the emergency braking systems a second glance.

Thankfully the only injury we've had from one so far was me nearly breaking my nose on the centre console when it happened on one occasion (I was reaching down into the rear foot well from one of the rear seats to retrieve a Practical Classics magazine that had made a bid for freedom). Cue lots of blood and me having an air vent shaped bruise on my forehead for a week. However yes, I do reckon it's only a matter of time until this kills someone (assuming it's not already happened and just been blamed on driver error).

I find pretty much any VAG product made this century impossible to get comfortable in anyway as I'm just not the same shape as the Industry Standard Human their seats are designed for. So I'll just stick to my 2007 Volvo thanks if I've got to cover any real ground.

It has been posted several times that HGVs drive at 56 through roadworks using the speed limiter. Indicates 56 is probably 53 ish , not fast enough to get done for speeding but it will be on your bumper if you’ve on cruise at 50.

9,621 · February 14

It's like Smart* motorways, people are going to have to die before the powers that be take heed and start curtailing all the automatons we've sleepwalked into allowing into our cars.

5,442 · February 14

People have already died because of smart motorways, but no one has the decency ( fear of prosecution) to admit there dangerous & don't work.

21,122 · February 14

1 hour ago, Zelandeth said:

it's only a matter of time until this kills someone (assuming it's not already happened and just been blamed on driver error).

this is one of my biggest concerns about these "driver assist" systems, I really do wonder how many accidents they have already caused, but no ones actually knows because that part of things have not been properly investigated?

also im really quite surprised, just based on the number of reports on this forum alone of these systems fowling up in such dangerous ways, that this has never been looked into? surely during the devlopment of these vehicles/systems, they will send them out with a test driver into the real world to test them out? it wouldn't be hard to send someone out in a test-car doing a loop of the M25's various roadworks etc, and have the system setup so it just just logs every time it wants to take action, rather then *actually* take action, and then the logs can be reviewed along with footage from cameras on the car to try and debug it all

in that regard i'd almost be tempted to setup some sort of interior and dash view dash cam to record everything, so next time it tried to send you off a cliff you can scoop all the footage up and report it to someone...

5,442 · February 14

As valentine's day 2025 crossed the globe no one noticed a pattern of rear end collisions at 6.47 pm that also crossed the globe, no one that is except SKYNET that deep in it's algorithms registered TEST SUCCESSFUL.

2,685 · February 14

18 hours ago, alcyonecorporation said:

I wasn't involved with this, but it's a howler. A big one.

It's inexcusable, but I can give some context as to why this might have happened if you like.

I'd be interested, but appreciate that's not exactly a good reason for Breaking Your Silence and Speaking Your Truth.

5,959 · February 14

11 hours ago, Split_Pin said:

I'll admit I'm not sure what that is.

I'm being made redundant and getting 5 weeks money for every year I've been working there, plus half my bonus. According to Gov.uk if that's under £30k then it's not taxed?

To add to my increasing anxiety, I've applied for 12 jobs now and got knocked back for 5. I think I'm going to need to start investing a bit more time in my applications now, see if that works.

Has there been a mass 'cull' of people with your skills by your firm?

I had this when firms stopped all development work due to Y2K and the market instantly became saturated.

8,718 · February 14

18 minutes ago, chadders said:

Has there been a mass 'cull' of people with your skills by your firm?

I had this when firms stopped all development work due to Y2K and the market instantly became saturated.

I'm up to 735 applications (11 months in) and haven't heard a peep from most of them. Occasionally I get a 'sorry you haven't been successful' email.

33,320 · February 14

4 minutes ago, alcyonecorporation said:

735 applications

Christ 😳

8,718 · February 14

20 minutes ago, Split_Pin said:

Christ 😳

Trying to move out of a moribund (but not yet buried) industry with a specific but not quite transferrable skillset will do that.

Also, the entitlement of jobs, especially low salaried roles, is insane these days, frankly.

*Awaits the "you need to lose that attitude" rebuttals*
Feeling's mutual, lads.

You ever actually *read* the job specs for the dogshit wages you pay, or did you copy-paste it from every other role, like everyone else?

25,746 · February 14

4 minutes ago, alcyonecorporation said:

*Awaits the "you need to lose that attitude" rebuttals*
Feeling's mutual, lads.

I do what I do mainly because I'm pretty sure I'd be unemployable elsewhere. @Floatylight will be able to provide useful insight here.

8,718 · February 14

My favourite is 'you'd be perfect for this job'

*applies for job*

'oh sorry we went with someone else, you weren't even shortlisted'

5,959 · February 14

1 hour ago, alcyonecorporation said:

I'm up to 735 applications (11 months in) and haven't heard a peep from most of them. Occasionally I get a 'sorry you haven't been successful' email.

The time before last was over a year for me, a bit worrying with two young lads to support. In the end I was head hunted by someone I'd worked with a couple of years previously who knew I wouldn't bullshit him.

20,165 · February 14

1 hour ago, alcyonecorporation said:

My favourite is 'you'd be perfect for this job'

*applies for job*

'oh sorry we went with someone else, you weren't even shortlisted'

Took time off to go to an all day recruitment day, treated like new graduates with bullshit team exercises, all.the other candidates were 50 plus and experienced engineers in their own fields. Lots of different roles. I could do all of them.but focused my actual interview of role X that really would have been a piece of piss.

Recruiter came back. They think.youd be perfect for the X role but unfortunately are filling all those roles internally.

What about the other roles?

They thought you would fit the X role.

Which isn't open to me. So about the other roles.

They didn't say.

Okay well, shall I send you a bill for sending me for an interview for a job that doesn't exist?

....grrrrrrr.....

20,165 · February 14

1 hour ago, alcyonecorporation said:

My favourite is 'you'd be perfect for this job'

*applies for job*

'oh sorry we went with someone else, you weren't even shortlisted'

One tip.

Before applying try to.get to.speak to the recruiter*. Tell them you wanted to check a couple of things before you apply as you might be over qualified.

Once you apply, phone them again and say "having a problem with email, just wanted to check you'd got my CV after our discussion earlier"

Your CV is now at the top of the recruiter's mind.

*LinkedIn/phoning switchboard with a name off the advert. If there is a named person you can find them.

10,739 · February 14

Trying to get from Castle Donington to Hemington today, a distance of about 1/2 mile?

'Road closed, follow diversion', so I did. It took me about three miles to the other end of Hemington where the signs also said, 'Road closed, follow diversion' with an arrow sending me back the way I'd just come. Followed second road into village to find that the road was indeed closed - if I'd followed the original route everything would've been fine. So I got out to have a friendly word with gas board operative. He began by telling me that the diversion signs were nothing to do with him, which I pointed out was a little bit like buck passing. He then suggested that maybe I shouldn't follow the diversion signs in future, so I walked over to the sign which read, 'our operatives deserve to be treated with respect', kicked the fucker over and called him a twat.

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