The grumpy thread

[Pete-M]

The smoking ban in its current state is utter lunacy. Complete madness. It has finished the pub trade and sent all the good music gigs underground.

 

Yes, there should be smoke free areas. That is common sense. However, the way the smoking ban was introduced was just insane, which is why it is quite largely ignored in most non-corporate places and why a lot of pubs, clubs etc have gone to the wall. Yet you go to any restaraunt and nobody is smoking. Even in little cafés. Nobody smokes on trains, and it's very rare you'll find a train station platform (outdoor) where anybody is smoking.

 

It's not that smokers want to kill you, it's that the places were it's legal and possible to smoke in public are less frequent so you'll find a higher concentration of smokers in one place.

 

Basically, the laws have made the problem worse for everyone. The 'breathing, man, it's natural' crowd are pissed off because now they can't go to some places and the smokers are pissed off because those who don't like them are still fucking whining. They're also wondering where everyone has gone. Truth is, there are now more groups of people sitting at home with a can of beer, listening to tunes, playing music and smoking a joint than ever before and they can't be bothered with the whining from those who seek to curtail their freedoms.

 

We weren't far from the right balance before the ban was introduced. The ban went too far, which is why it'll continue to be ignored, and rightfully so. It's one of the reasons I love the Czech Republic. Pubs there are still full and lively. If you're not someone too feeble.

[CreepingJesus]

What is auxiliary heating anyway?

 

An independant heater, usually a little ceramic matrix thing (kinda like a catalytic converter really), which runs off the vehicle's fuel, and blows the hot air into the cabin. AKA 'night heater' in a truck, but commonly used in the frozen parts of the world to keep the cabin usable, and the coolant unfrozen.

 

Lots of diesel engines are getting thermally efficient to the point that very little surplus heat is produced when cold.

Hence the auxiliary heating.

Some of these are programmable ie to come on before you leave in the morning, or operated by remote control from your warm house.

 

I'm sure Webasto make a purely electric one, which runs off the mains. Pop your car in the garage, hook it up, and come back to a toasty car in the morning. Hmmm lovely.

Besides, I'm not so sure about the thermal efficiency thing. Notwithstanding the improvements in the thermal qualities of the new type nodular casting irons, it's environmental regs that have driven the move to cooler running. Bigger cooling jackets to help silence the combustion process, and give a bigger operating margin for EGR systems.

The internal combustion engine's dreadfully inefficient, in terms of work done for energy expended. Always has been, always will be. Certainly, when I was actually studying the subject, 20% overall efficiency would have been pretty good. A turbo can help, but it's still only going to harvest a few % out of the 20% that disappears out of the exhaust manifold...

Time for another JPS. Because A)I temporarily woke up the brain and need to go back to being dense again, and B)there's too much talk of the 'delicious bastards' (copyright The IT Crowd)!

[warren t claim]

The smoking ban is also to blame for the extinction of the V12 Jaguar dizzy cap ashrtay you used to find on the counter at all the best motor factors.

[eddyramrod]

it's very rare you'll find a train station platform (outdoor) where anybody is smoking.

 

You've never travelled on Merseyrail, obviously, Pete!

 

Anyway, I've ranted enough about this for tonight, it's silly o'clock in the morning now and I haven't written a word of my romance novel, so I should probably get some kip. I've done enough grumping for one day.

[pdg]

A dint is not a small dent, it's any of the definitions on Urban Dictionary.

[RedSparrow]

Hey guys, if only there were forums:

 

1. To discuss car politics.

2. To discuss Peykan Hunters.

3. To visit when this forum is down for some reason.

 

Sadly I am unaware of the existance of any of these.

[ashmicro]

I'd agree with Pete-Ms post at the top of this page re: pubs closing etc, and would go further concerning people just having a swall at home vs going out. It depends where you live, of course, but these days there seems to be more and more dickheads (of both sexes) who don't know how to have a night out and behave themselves at the same time. I'd also point out that in my experience the troublemakers are by no means always young people.

 

It's one thing if I'm out locally with half a dozen mates. We get no hassle or cheek from anyone, since most of my pals are nails looking and covered in tattoos. But a fortnight ago my GF (now-ex) and I were waiting for our taxi when some pissed-up bloke in his forties came right up to her and attempted to cop a feel. He got a boot in the stones from me for his efforts, but Katie was pretty upset.

 

Can you blame people for staying in? Save money, smoke if you like, no dickheads to worry about, except maybe the ones on TV.

[wuvvum]

I'm probably in an unusual situation in that I work in an office of around 40 people, none of whom smoke. And none of the ladies seem to suffer from excess perfume syndrome either.

 

My grump is the number of spammers who seem to be appearing on here this last week or so. What's goin' on?

[fotorabia]

The smoking ban meant that all the outsider smokers which now encompasses the weed puffers who have exhaled a sigh of relief cos theres a smokescreen of normality around them now..i dont go out..theres SFA places and always a tendency to get picked on here..im actually gonna try and give up smoking next week..its 15squid for a 30g pack of rollies now..plus im sure im gonna kark it from the shit by now anyway considering ive been nervously rolling me own for close to 30 yrs..coff coff...

[Guest]

Shit, smoking.

 

Never done it bar the odd cigar and special roll whilst at old Uni. Many friends do. Had quite severe asthma attacks when young and lost a family member (on mum's side) to emphysema. One of the few new laws I appreciated was the smoking ban, sorry Pete. I was sick of going out and and humming like an ashtray when I got home. I have my views but I'm not about to go off like a militant cunt about it.

 

At the cunty call centre where I used to work, I kicked off about smoking breaks because smokers got an extra ten minutes added on to their paid breaks. I got non smokers the same 'personal time' created because I complained like a mong. Parity. About the only bloody thing I did achieve there, aside from being banned from 'productivity meetings' for being 'profoundly negative'.

 

[Guest]

In the Uni library. Again.

 

1. Twat on phone in silent area. SHUT THE FUCK UP.

 

2. Been told off for 'typing too loudly' on my laptop. FUCK OFF.

 

3. The 'lift arriving' buzzer on the adjacent Otis has a fault. It sounds like someone's attached a pitch bender to the tone when the lift shuts its doors and it's DRIVING ME MAD. They're restocking the second floor with books and they're using the lift to do it.

 

'Second floor. BING BWOOOOOOEEEEM.'

'Second floor. BING BWOOOOOOEEEEM.'

'Second floor. BING BWOOOOOOEEEEM.'

 

I BESEECH THEE, FUCK OFF.

 

AAAAAAARGHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH.

 

Have some farting back. In the silent area.

[dollywobbler]

I'm with you on the ban Wat. For some reason, 2CVers spend a lot of time in pubs, and I find it a much more pleasant experience post-ban. It's not just unpleasant to reek of an ashtray, it's unhealthy. There are benefits too - lots of smokers have found new friends via the outdoor chat. Must be crap if you live near a pub, but that serves you right for living near a pub.

 

Mind you, I have worked at companies where it's been fine for people to amble off for a fag, but I was seen as 'trouble' for wanting for go out for a quick walk in fresh air for the same sort of duration.

[Negative Creep]

I'm with you on the ban Wat. For some reason, 2CVers spend a lot of time in pubs, and I find it a much more pleasant experience post-ban. It's not just unpleasant to reek of an ashtray, it's unhealthy. There are benefits too - lots of smokers have found new friends via the outdoor chat. Must be crap if you live near a pub, but that serves you right for living near a pub.

 

Mind you, I have worked at companies where it's been fine for people to amble off for a fag, but I was seen as 'trouble' for wanting for go out for a quick walk in fresh air for the same sort of duration.

 

 

I love the fact I can wake up after a night out and my clothes don't reek of smoke. It's a disgusting smell that I'm glad to see the back of

 

Also the solution to the uni library is a pair of headphones

[morris_ital_lover]

For some reason, 2CVers spend a lot of time in pubs........

 

Shitsaxe, look what they drive! Who wouldn't require an IV full of vodka after a few miles of that shit.

 

Still, Capris never were a patch on the Ital.... (runs for nucleur bunker).

 

m0rris

[ashmicro]

 

 

 

The car the Capri could have been

[Vin]

I don't smoke, but i stopped going to pubs regularly after the smoking ban.

 

The reason being that most pubs now smell of piss and stale beer

[Guest Leonard Hatred]

^^Agreed: Already outdated by the time it was launched, and continually saddled with build quality problems, the Ital soon gained a very bad reputation. In July 2008, it ended up second in a poll of "the worst British car ever" conducted by The Sun,[4] ending narrowly behind the Austin Allegro. (Stupid Wiki. )

 

Sun readers aren't very smart.

[autofive]

I don't smoke, but i stopped going to pubs regularly after the smoking ban.

 

The reason being that most pubs now smell of piss and stale beer

 

thats right

 

they always did smell of piss and stale ale, but the smokers helped to mask this smell

[messerschmitt owner]

For some reason, 2CVers spend a lot of time in pubs........

 

Shitsaxe, look what they drive! Who wouldn't require an IV full of vodka after a few miles of that shit.

have you ever driven a 2cv!

 

As if a 1300 Crapi is any better!

 

And if anyone can honestly, truthfully tell me a Morris Ital is worse to drive than a Gordon or a Powerdrive - I would say they were a lying, ignorant, know-nothing twat!

[fiatdaft]

that isn't an ital and crapi's were not cutting edge either.

[Pillock]

Hang on, isn't this Autoshite? Aren't we meant to stand up for the underdog whilst accepting the fact that underdogs are often underdogs because they're a bit poo?

What's with all this sudden leaping to the defence of stuff? 2CVs handle like a waterbaloon, Capris are ugly and the Ital was just plain British. There, sorted

[nigel bickle]

140 miles today in a Yugo 45. Nice

 

Living the dream..

[outlaw118]

^^^^ ^^^^^^^^^

I'm guessing that was typed from your local A+E with a shattered spine and blood coming out of your ears.

[RedSparrow]

Nice work Mr. Bickle!

I expect pictures!

[155V6]

Following the other thread,I've got a music video featuring a Yugo,but I can't get it to work on here

[dollywobbler]

Forget which forum it's on (I don't want another ranting session) but f*ck me this is a mess! Used to belong to a friend. Was a nice if rather too pink little motor. Then some twat gets hold of it and f*cks it up completely. What is the point in making it a pick-up? It now needs a BIVA test for being a modified monocoque. Why on earth would you remove the indicators and replace them with shitty little motorbike ones?!

http://retrorides.proboards.com/index.c ... 194&page=1

 

Like I say, I'm not against modifying but I do get fed up when people just ruin cars to make a bit of a lash-up. I blame Chop Shop.

[chaseracer]

Shit the bed - is that Stinkwheel's old 126?

[meggersdog]

Oh no not another eBay grump.

Bought a car off a neighbour the other day,2000 W.reg VW Sharan TDi (stupidly cheap).I've listed it on a personal account as I paid cash so it won't be going on my business account.Anyway I've driven it about and it all seems fine.HPi'd and it comes back clear.I've listed it as my neighbours car (true-ish),he's a lorry driver (true) who works away alot (not quite true),he had owned this car since 2007 (true)he's just upgraded to a newer Sharan (true it's an 05 plate) and this is now surplus (again true and why I bought it) so the car is listed with no reserve and will be sold to the highest bidder.I started it at £900.00 and within 12 hours it's already had a bid.

Today Johnny foreigner phones up and asks in his best pigeon English "how long he had car ?" erm since 2007

"does car drive good ?" well it's in the listing that I've driven it about and everything works as it should.

Next he asks "why he sell car" oh ffs did you not read the listing.

Then "I give you £900.00 can collect tomorrow" right ok I asked if he was the bidder "no,no,no" so I try to explain if the car has already got a bid offering the same amount to end the auction early,especially when it's been on less than a day, is a bit silly.

"ok,what you take for car" I told him whatever it makes,if it's £950.00 that's what it sells for.

"you end early" no it has had a bid alrea..... CLICK.

Thank's for wasting my time asking questions already answered in the listing,pal.

[55bloke]

Hang on, isn't this Autoshite? Aren't we meant to stand up for the underdog whilst accepting the fact that underdogs are often underdogs because they're a bit poo?

What's with all this sudden leaping to the defence of stuff? 2CVs handle like a waterbaloon, Capris are ugly and the Ital was just plain British. There, sorted

 

Yup - a bit too much mud-slinging going on on around here at times.

[fiatdaft]

banning some of the trolls that don't post much about cars might help.