August 2006
Has anyone any experience of them? I've been lusting after one for years, but there's always a niggle about safety.
I don't have the height in the garage for a 2 or 4 poster, but have seen one or two lifts in the form slightly similar to a manual fork lift - push it underneath from the side, adjust the arms to locate at the jacking points and press a button an up it goes. Another type is one you drive over and likewise adjust the arms (Machine Mart? but no longer listed). I've even seen one that tilts the car back and forth as well.
Or am I just dreaming?
Martin
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Hi all.
Just thought I'd share a general observation, which I've become more aware of over recent weeks.
On the daily commute from B'ham to Nottingham, I often ( 2-4 times per week) have cause to either flash my lights or sound my horn, particularly on the motorway. I never do it in an aggressive way I have to say, but simply to make them aware of my presence when they have moved into the lane that I am in and 'cut me up'. I'm always doing 70 max and moving into lane 1/2 when it's clear.
The response from the driver is either a hand gesture, foul language and stamping on the brakes causing me to take aversive action, or the driver just floors it to escape the situation at well above the speed limit. Why can't they just make a 'I'm sorry mate' gesture if it was a genuine error of judgement?
It seems that some people (perhaps the majority of us?) take it as a slight on their whole being when they receive a visual or aural reminder that they've made a mistake.
Sorry to sound like an old grumpy man here!
TT (33 years young)
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Top Turkey - the fastest hands in Brum Read more
Propranolol and Diazepam in my case and has been now for thirly odd years - in fact very odd years.
Driving back from Stansted to Cheshire Sunday night at 11pm:
M6 Spaghetti Junction: 40mph average speed camera. No-one working on it, A38 (M) road into central B'ham. Why should I keep to 40mph if they can't keep their end of the deal? As my friend said, if they're going to shut a section of a motorway that's that busy and that important, they should be working 24/7 on it.
Same further up near Stafford.
I have NEVER seen anyone working on any of these roadworks, and am at the end of my tether about it.
Who do I complain to?
As someone says in another thread, the politicians appear hell-bent on bringing the UK to a standstill, and I'd LOVE to know the reasons why. Read more
Just wait till they start widening the M6 up to Manchester from Brimingham, that will be a proper laugh, mayhem. They need to whack a toll road in then widen it as well. Too little, too late. The M1 between Luton and London will still be a traffic jam when they get round to finishing widening that. Then they'll decide they need 5 lanes and not 4 and it will start again. Some people don't like toll roads but give me the choice any day and they're welcome to it.
Was anyone caught in the horrible traffic jam yesterday evening between 4pm and 6:30PM+ ?
This nightmare seemed to be caused by some Highways Agency contractors simply doing a bit of survey work. Why do they have to do this nonsense during rush hour on a known traffic hot-spot ? It took me 3/4 hour to do about a mile, and those who joined the queue 20 mins after me must have been in even worse shape. Read more
The French take a totally different view and try at all costs to keep traffic flowing.
There was a particularly nast accident ,in May, on the south bound carriageway of the A20 near Limoges. Instead of closing the autoroute the Gendarmes waved traffic through on the hard shoulder whilst the emergency services tended to the victims.
I am sure many of you will have seen this, but nice to know that a technologically enabled Basil Fawlty is alive and well. And he thought 1100s were bad...
h************************uk/
MGs Read more
No it wasnt to Time Online it was actually to a website dedicated to deleted (all one word) dot co dot uk. But I think w************s sounds more fun, certainly than sitting here with the Archers about to start. I dont really lead a sad life. MGs.
{Due to the content on the site of which I've just removed reference to, it's not allowed here because of amount of naming and shaming that has been posted on that site, and therefore we don't wish ourselves to be associated with it or give it the publicity that it doesn't deserve. Thread locked. DD}
I know public transport isn't the favourite topic of conversation around here but thought I'd ask anyway.
We live close to a bus route and one of the buses which passes by several times a day sounds as if it's about to explode. It's easily heard from half a mile away or more and the noise sounds like it's being massively over revved all of the time. I contacted the bus garage today and they told me it is due to an electrical problem with the engine fan which works at full tilt permanently. The problem has been apparent for some weeks yet they apparently cannot fix it and have no idea how long it will be before something is done. I obviously have no idea if this is true but the thing is incredibly noisy and I'm fed up with being woken up from my much needed beauty sleep so I'm wondering what, if anything, I can do about it. Foolishly I then contacted TFL who very politely took all the details (built my hopes right up) and then said they'd forward them to the bus operator (hopes dashed). When I told them I'd already done just that they said there was nothing more they could do.
I can't imagine this bus is working within acceptable environmental limits so is there anything else we can do to solve this problem ? other than move :)
Cheers! Read more
>>I agree that some of these buses are noisy,but on occasions bus drivers do actually rev these for no reason even when stopping to pick up.
I've been on a bus once where the driver kept the revs up a bit as the idling engine was sending a bone shaking vibration through the whole vehicle.
In Guildford Arriva have some fairly recent DAF buses which are quiet with a nice sounding turbo. They seem fairly clean and I've not noticed much exhaust smell from them. However they often release a lot air from the brake system.
Guildford also have some old Dennis ones (10 - 13 years old) which are noisy and stinky but oddly enough don't smoke. Lots of fan noise when the engine's at high revs and on some of them the revs flair up horribly as the autobox changes. Most of these have less than half the rear lights working and squeaky brakes. I guess they only check the lights work just before the MOT.
I need some advice.I sold my car two months ago,& canceled my insurance at the time.The insurance company is named after a {deleted} .I'm sure you can guess the rest {Although you haven't specificcally named them, the clues you gave still break the no naming shaming rules of this site - hence the deletion because you are acusing them of ripping you off - DD} ..When I canceled,I returned my Insurance certificate,& phoned them to confirm cancellation,&stop payments.They forwarded me a letter to confirm cancellation,& proof of NCB.
Now out of the blue they are asking me for money to pay an undisclosed admin charge!They have threatened me with legal action.If I don't cough up.There is nothing in my policy about this,& nothing was said at the time of cancellation.Can they do this legally?
Steve. Read more
>>the various parasitical levels of this legalised racketeering outfit.
I wouldn't argue with that, but I'm afraid that we positively encourage them.
Mrs. S6's Yaris needs a new rear wiper blade. Both a branch of a national chain, and local 'corner shop' motor factor tell me it's a dealer only supply. The problem is the local Toyota dealer - we had a long running dispute with them, and I'm reluctant to let them have a penny of my money. Does anyone know of a supplier for this item? A quick Google search picks up every type of blade apart from the one I want!
Thanks in advance for any answers
S6 1SW Read more
sorted now - went to a local motor factor found through e-bay. thanks to all that replied.
S6 1SW
Hi
I'm looking for some informed advice on my next car purchase.
My basic criteria:
Diesel
Price <7k
Hatchback
1.4-1.8
up to 4years old
mileaqe <30000
paying cash
going to be used for motorway travel mainly, approx 20kpa
I don't have any particular preferences make wise but the Ford Focus seems like a nice car but looks to be slightly above my budget.
Any recommendations would be much appreciated
Cheers Read more
You'd have difficultly finding a Focus-sized car with that's 02-reg or later with less than 30,000 miles on the clock - remember that diesels tend to be bought by high-mileage users.
Unless you really need the space I'd look for a SEAT Ibiza or Skoda Fabia that possibly still got warranty (so up to 3 years old) with the 1.4 TDi or the 1.9 TDi engines. VW engineering, bargain price.
If the Megane II and Stilo weren't so troublesome I'd give them a nod too...
Afternoon all.
I am considering changing my car from a small renault Clio Diesel to an Audi A4 Avant. No I have not got Kids yet but just need a bigger car.
I am looking for the new style but want to know forum members views on semi high mileage diesels, either the 1.9 or 2.5. Are there any major problems with mileage over 85,000 that members know of. Anything to stay well away from either.
Your views are sought.
Many thanks. Read more
We've had two non-PD 110's to 130K. Timing belt/tensioner/water pump as already mentioned.
MAF is problematic.
Front suspension arms - dont bother with the cheapy replacements - they dont last.
economy varied between 47 for a full time quattro doing 7 mile commute and 55+ for 2wd doing 50 mile trips.
Browse
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Thanks guys. The tipping one was like ebay item 330005910077 with a duff motor.
There was a couple of new scissor lifts for around a grand in Hull, but I was on holiday when they popped up (as little brother grinningly informed me).
Two grand is off limits for home use for me - maybe in my youth when I could have said OK if it would give me 20 years of use.
I'd though that the frame/arms would get in the way of long stuff, but so far, most of my work has been at the ends rather than the middle. I could see how a clutch change wouldn't work though (RWD car).
Thanks again
Martin