Bangernomics wheeled suppositories and time wasting.

[lesapandre]

They will get a pull by the gendarmes if spotted by the traffic control folk. But running about locally fine.

[lesapandre]

4 hours ago, artdjones said:

I haven't used the tolled autoroutes much, as a lot of motorways around Brittany and Normandy are free. And they have lots of trucks driven up to the limiter.

If the pèage roads are empty of trucks it would make you wonder whether having them is a great policy. One of the big points in favour of motorways is speeding trade communication.

All depending where you are and the time of day. Not much truck traffic moving at weekends. 

On the key routes like the pèage A28/E402 there is a lot of goods traffic - but it is pretty spaced out and if you can hit 50/55 it's not much hassle.

Most of the long distance truckers seem fairly friendly and polite but stick to the inside lane and try not to impede them on the long inclines to keep them sweet. I'm sometimes on the autoroutes - in an array of bizarre vehicles - never been a problem.

Tolls are high - and truckers often prefer other viable routes where possible. 

[bangernomics]

They will get a pull by the gendarmes if spotted by the traffic control folk. But running about locally fine.

Funny you should mention them, about five sets of bike plod pulling folks on roundabouts. Gave me a smile as i pootled past on the way to dropping the camper off to its new owner.

[bangernomics]

Need to figure out via LBC where is the most value for camper purchase in France and do a road trip to go view a few when it gets colder. We don’t have a huge budget, probably 15-20k. Will see what pops up.

[lesapandre]

2 hours ago, bangernomics said:

Funny you should mention them, about five sets of bike plod pulling folks on roundabouts. Gave me a smile as i pootled past on the way to dropping the camper off to its new owner.

Depending on the time of the day they are after drunk drivers and speeders. Beyond that it is commercial vehicles or a big 'catch-all sweep. All very cordial.

The really hard stops are the roadblocks with machine guns - then it's drugs. 

[bangernomics]

That is what it was then, was in a seaside town and they were armed to the teeth feeding one car through at a time.

Bit scary really having a bang stick pointed at you.

We have run out of FR reg stuff to flog now, down to the berlingo here. If I can clear the UK decks next, especially the 911 I can cut the insurance costs down given I haven’t worked for 7 months now getting a contract for winter will be a welcome change.

Porsche advertised on RR and will pop on c&c too. Autotrader is too generic.

[somewhatfoolish]

9 hours ago, lesapandre said:

All depending where you are and the time of day. Not much truck traffic moving at weekends. 

Don't they ban truck movement at certain times of the week?

[bangernomics]

Thats the germans which has a knock on effect.

[bangernomics]

Collection mission yesterday. We left the house at 6am UK time, got to Craigs at about 7pm. Car was ready and waiting, he even helped me dig myself out of his neighbours driveway. Yep brain off after driving for hours was my excuse.

Drove home lovely, the weather was awful, eyes tired. Reset the dpf and mil, took for a blast and it didn’t come back on. I suspect incomplete regen.

Airbag light is the one that I am more bothered about so whilst we wait in tight arse mode to tax at the start of the month I polished the headlights, and started looking at the airbag fault.

Code is for the drivers airbag so assume clock spring? Horn and wheel buttons work. What do you reckon? I am going to be pulling it apart first as apparently there is a couple of models of clock spring.

Battery off and push horn etc first? Any other tips?

[bangernomics]

Well pulled apart and applied half a can of contact cleaner as a bit of verdigris was evident. Put back together and no bingo.



Win. Engine will fall out now.

[bangernomics]

Noticed the squeeky back brakes as Mrs B cruised away yesterday. Had a shufty and it needs pads all round. Also ordered the TRE that was the only advisory. Total for two sets of pads and a TRE under £45! One of if not the cheapest car I have ever bought parts for.

Polo MOT is due in just under a month so booked in for the weekend. Pray for me.

[bangernomics]

Rear pads landed. No photo fixed thread.

14mm to undo slider/caliper bolt. Top one stays in.

NS 8 mins.

OS bastard seized slider which explained the dead pads. Managed to free it off, polished up, greased and back together 20 mins.

Such an easy thing to work on.

Airbag light back in though! Bastard.

DPF no light. Win.

[bangernomics]

Went to collect some quality items from ODM yesterday, and on the way back took a detour to see my BiL and my 2cv that is hopefully getting painted after being ignored for years. 
 

He has made it inside so that is promising. 
 

fingers crossed for a festive reveal. This is a first year of this colour I believe before 59 they were grey or grey unless you were the government then they were gris. 

[bangernomics]

Brown motion “70 mpg mingebag” has a fresh test with comedy advisories.

One numberplate lamp out and a discoloured rear indicator bulb.

Should get a medal for those.

[bangernomics]

Absolutely nothing to report on any of the ‘fleet’ everything is still soldering on. Been looking at something a bit newer to replace Mrs B’s xtrail that came off this place but can’t justify it just yet.

She has had a tough year in 24 losing both parents so want to keep her chin up but she seems to like the fuel economy compared with the L322 but she does miss the autobox and waft.

To that end I have started idly shopping for yeti’s again but I keep getting drawn to xc90’s. Thinking of a lower spec yeti and then going down the L&K interior route as every L&K is twice my feeble budget.

Any back to filling the tiny side shed up as the garage conversion (I know heresy) begins on Monday when BiL returns to empty the coffers whilst I am earning again.

[bangernomics]

Having agreed the purchase on a leaf from Gruber I have started charger shopping, per my MO it will be used obviously.

I have also been educated by kiltox re the type2-type1 cable so I can have a charger suitable for the next logical step a newer ev once confidence has grown.

Downloaded zapmap? Any other apps I should get?

[Dave_Q]

Octopus electroverse is worth a look, it's fractionally cheaper at some chargers and if you get your energy from them then you can charge it to your next electric bill

[loserone]

ABRP

[bangernomics]

Thanks both I will read round those too thanks. Have a fix with fuse for elec atm so the experiment is more technical than financial at the moment.


X trail advertised and sold the same day, wow a bit of snow did the trick.

Leaf is landing when we get back from hols and I get on a train with my pal Rupert.

[bangernomics]

Being the tightwad that Ibam I also looked at lidl and their network. Not sure how 62p kw compares for fast charging but it seems 20p less than bp etc.

House charger is the best obviously. And when it is sunny again we should win hands down whilst in the uk.

Genuinely excited to try one.

[bangernomics]

“Won” a charger on ebay. A type 2 smart thingy.

Will fit and get sparky to do the CU end when we get back from hols next week.

Also need to pick a bluetooth odb2 dongle for leafspy/nissan app use. Will googlefu and amazon one.

[bangernomics]

No pic spotted Mk1 transit on Fuerteventura yesterday on the way from the airport.

Went for some uninspiring dinner last night and a few toyota things raised on massive tyres too.

Will take a phone with me later and add some undersealed up to the door handles quality.

[Dave_Q]

On 10/01/2025 at 23:14, bangernomics said:

Being the tightwad that Ibam I also looked at lidl and their network. Not sure how 62p kw compares for fast charging but it seems 20p less than bp etc.

House charger is the best obviously. And when it is sunny again we should win hands down whilst in the uk.

Genuinely excited to try one.

All Lidl chargers I've tried are broken. They've tried to move from another provider to the Lidl plus app but seems like it just doesn't work. Not on the ones I've tried anyway.

[bangernomics]

Should make the collection mission interesting then, funny enough in the lidl app it shows if it is available but I guess that just means not in use?

Hmm I may take the 33% hit and stick to the big boys on the way back.

[bangernomics]

El Cotillo chod.

[Tayne]

1 hour ago, bangernomics said:

Should make the collection mission interesting then, funny enough in the lidl app it shows if it is available but I guess that just means not in use?

Hmm I may take the 33% hit and stick to the big boys on the way back.

 

My local lidl frequently has cars plugged in.

I've never checked if they are actually charging, but i suspect they might be... 

[warninglight]

11 hours ago, bangernomics said:

No pic spotted Mk1 transit on Fuerteventura yesterday on the way from the airport.

We are off to Fuerteventura in a few weeks - keen for some recommendations, good and bad!

[bangernomics]

We are off to Fuerteventura in a few weeks - keen for some recommendations, good and bad!

Been many many times, this is the first minus a car as we decided our favourite bit is el Cotillo.

Funny as my dad was asking too about what is good and bad, it is somewhat subjective but I will add some bits here that I sent to him.


Its a block of apartments called cotillo sunset, nothing special but has a couple of pools, two jacuzzi baths one hot but the location is great.

The pictures on the booking site are old and it has been refreshed and looks 10x better.

We are here.
https://maps.app.goo.gl/AYvYu3rrtwsTdCbv8?g_st=com.google.maps.preview.copy

Booked via on the beach. The centre of el cotillo has some building work going on so don’t book the middle.

This is self catering but theres supermarkets and restaurants everywhere and a nice beach bar/restaurant here

https://maps.app.goo.gl/GT3m9qiEx8eaCNw1A?g_st=com.google.maps.preview.copy which is reasonable

Just don’t eat here https://maps.app.goo.gl/cySMi5DhLYbraYTP6?g_st=com.google.maps.preview.copy

Overpriced tourist trap with poor food

https://maps.app.goo.gl/hyZHzd3zEP9wTiMNA?g_st=com.google.maps.preview.copy

A little bakery/coffee place is nice/friendly and reasonable. Branded as french bakery now. Good all the same, we have been there many times. Will test again this visit.

[bangernomics]

Oh avoid corellejo unless you like (insert rhyl/blackpool equivalent) ok for a day trip or you stay inside the barcello.

I always aim for German & Dutch dense resorts as the service is better but the price usually reflects that.

Self catering isn’t a cheap option but certainly unless you like eating the same thing every day but dressed differently you will regret it.

[Dave_Q]

Worth having a look if there are any Tescos with chargers along your route.

They don't all have rapids but they have always been reliable in my experience and most of them have a cafe. 

£0.62/kWh.

I could be wrong on the Lidls, it was maybe Nov/Dec I last tried my local.