Did you not get smacked down enough by Avant for your last lot of spouted nonsense, John F ?

"If it were mine", he says. This is coming from a man that will boast about his once-a-decade oil changes, his 20-30 year old 'in perfect condition' tyres, and, of course, not forgetting his amazingly well-built (as they all were) TR7.

Take any advice he gives you with an amazing amount of caution. Or just view what he says as 'alternative facts', a la Trump.

Nonsense? Smacked down? I don't think so.

My factual records show that I renewed my TR7's oil & filter in 1989(51,000m) 1993(56,000) 1997 (58100) 2002 (60900) and 2013 (66600). Before then it was every 6000m as per BL recommendation.

So only once has it exceeded 10yrs. It still runs perfectly with no need for top ups between changes as unlike some modern engines, e.g. Mini, the well-built pistons fit properly in the well built cylinders. If it wasn't well built it would be scrap by now, like most of its Speke predecessors, many of which were indeed badly built.

I might remove the cam cover this summer for the second time in its life to check the valve clearances (last done in 1987 at 41,000, they needed no adjustment then). I will let you know if I find any sludge.

Where, in all my posts, have I 'boasted....about 20-30yr old tyres in perfect condition' ? My records show they were 24yrs old when I changed them - uniformly worn with slight superficial cracking but still perfectly legal and most unlikely to blow out as TR7 tyre pressures are so low by modern standards.

There seems to be lot of sometimes vituperative nonsense expressed on here by those with a vested interest in car business who dislike my opinions. By all means disagree, but do please try to do it pleasantly and with some evidential authority.

Where, in all my posts, have I 'boasted....about 20-30yr old tyres in perfect condition' ? My records show they were 24yrs old when I changed them - uniformly worn with slight superficial cracking but still perfectly legal and most unlikely to blow out as TR7 tyre pressures are so low by modern standards.

What complete and utter nonsense.

They might be uniformly worn but that does not mean they are safe.

You say the cracking was superfical but that is only what is visible, at 24 years old what is happening withing the carcass.

Low tyre pressures does not mean a tyre will not suffer a blow out. If the "superficial" cracks develop and they loose pressure suddenly you will soon find yourself in a situation you would have rather have avoided. At that age and with cracks you would be charged and the garage carrying out MOT's should loose their licence.

Avant, its about time JohnF was prevented from having his unique and potentially life threatening opinions posted on this forum. If another person thought these were valid and suffered a catastrophic failure (or worse) who would be responsible in our ever more "where there's blame there's a claim" society.

Answers on a postcard please.

Don't worry about it;I'm sure John F will be happy to buy you a new engine when your belt fails before 133,000 miles.

When I bought my Leon 1.4 TSi the belt drive engine was very new and the recommended change interval varied between the diiferent makes in the VAG group. VW said it was fitted for the lifetime of the car, Skoda said 12 years or 100,000 miles and the delaer I bought the car form said 3 years or 36,000 miles.

There is no way I would want to follow VW's or even Skoda's advised schedules but the one specified by Seat was the shortest interval I had seen since I had been driving. High mileage drivers could be changing the belt every 2 years or less and at almost £400 it would make the car uneconomical to own for many people.

So I sent Seat an e-mail and got the following back:

"I am delighted to confirm that on your SEAT Leon, we recommend the cam belt is first checked at 60,000 miles, and every 20,000miles thereafter. If there is no damage at these points the cambelt will not need changing. If the belt is not changed, regardless of condition, it must be replaced at 120,000 miles or when the vehicle is 5 years old, whichever comes first."

Sounds pretty much like Audis recomendation for the A5.