Honest John's Motoring Agony Column 08-12-2018 Part 1

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Sat 8 Dec 2018 11:14
- Engineer Andy
Re:

1. 'A little off colour' - what an idiot. 5 mins on their website or looking througha brochure in the dealership would tell them what colours were available and what the actual colour of that two-tone car was.

The advert is quite clear, obviously showing the top colour to be grey. Not in a month of Sundays would I in any way consider that colour to resemble 'pink'.

2. 'Smooth operator': Yet another muppet who can't understand that it's the tyres that do most of the cushioning in a car's suspension, and that swapping an older Auris with standard tyres for an expensive Rav4 or RX450h with wide, large diameter tyres (never mind if they are the lowest spec 60 profile [18in] ones or the wide lower profile 19/20in ones), it will end up costing them far more than just changing their existing wheels and tyres on the Auris to higher profile, smaller internal diameter ones (as I did on my 13yo Mazda3), or just buying another c-sector car with a decent ride quality generally and 60+ profile/16in tyres that aren't more than 205mm wide.
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Sat 8 Dec 2018 13:01
Honest John's Motoring Agony Column 08-12-2018 Part 1 - Keith Nason

Engineer Andy - thanks for making me smile by calling Smooth operator a muppet then going into a detailed and technical explanation that most people wouldn't understand, let alone know off the top of their head. Just because you understand all this it doesn't mean everyone does or should, that's why Q+A sections like this exist.

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Sat 8 Dec 2018 15:55
Honest John's Motoring Agony Column 08-12-2018 Part 1 - Engineer Andy

It's not that hard - low profile tyres and big wheels = break easily, don't last long and cost a fortune.

Higher profile tyre + smaller wheels = are long-lasting, more resistant to damage and cost significantly less.

How hard can that be? HJ has said as much numerous times before in his column and me and many other Backroomers have said as much on the Forum several times as well, both of which can be easily searched on this website.

Also, personal experience and from friends, colleagues and relatives can easily show this as well.

Hardly rocket science.

Edited by Engineer Andy on 08/12/2018 at 15:56

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Sun 9 Dec 2018 12:39
Honest John's Motoring Agony Column 08-12-2018 Part 1 - IrishNeil

'Smooth operator': Yet another muppet

Oh Engineer Andy, I wish I was as clever as you and had as much time on my hands to criticise the questioner. In my job, no question is a wrong question. Asking a question is how human's coordinate their knowledge and develop new idea's & solutions. Being criticised for asking a question that one maybe two maybe three readers will find useful, only reflects onto you and your perfect intellect. Bless!

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Sun 9 Dec 2018 19:32
Honest John's Motoring Agony Column 08-12-2018 Part 1 - Engineer Andy

'Smooth operator': Yet another muppet

Oh Engineer Andy, I wish I was as clever as you and had as much time on my hands to criticise the questioner. In my job, no question is a wrong question. Asking a question is how human's coordinate their knowledge and develop new idea's & solutions. Being criticised for asking a question that one maybe two maybe three readers will find useful, only reflects onto you and your perfect intellect. Bless!

Given that it take all of 5 minutes for someone visiting this site to find out the answer, without needing to email HJ himself (yet again) rather proves my point. The whole point of the 'Ask HJ' is when you come up empty on searching for answers on the rest of site, as it looks like people are rather lazy in expecting HJ to do all the legwork for them.

They should at least TRY first, which evidently isn't the case on numerous occasions. Perhaps if you were a fuller participant of this website (and especially the 'Back Room' forum), you'd know this.

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Mon 10 Dec 2018 00:02
Honest John's Motoring Agony Column 08-12-2018 Part 1 - IrishNeil

'Given that it take all of 5 minutes for someone visiting this site to find out the answer,' or perhaps they are brand new to this site and hopefully not put off by your name calling - you have form, you depend on insult's. Have a nice day, remember, most people are decent. You shouldn't be frightened of decent curious people.

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Mon 10 Dec 2018 13:05
Honest John's Motoring Agony Column 08-12-2018 Part 1 - Engineer Andy

There' s big difference between 'curious' and 'lazy'. My point was that many people asking similar questions don't bother to spend what often amounts to a few minutes checking this website (and others) first to find such basic information.

I could understand it more had the person wrote to HJ via the Telegraph (e.g. an actual letter) if they were elderly and weren't very (if at all) computer literate, but they didn't appear to be as they emailed him.

Even my Dad (who's not that computer literate) could've managed - whether he actually could be bothered is another matter (which was the crux of my point all along). people will be far more willing to help if you've been seen to make a decent effort before asking for help.

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Mon 10 Dec 2018 21:44
Honest John's Motoring Agony Column 08-12-2018 Part 1 - IrishNeil

There' s big difference between 'curious' and 'lazy'. My point was that many people asking similar questions don't bother to spend what often amounts to a few minutes checking this website (and others) first to find such basic information.

I could understand it more had the person wrote to HJ via the Telegraph (e.g. an actual letter) if they were elderly and weren't very (if at all) computer literate, but they didn't appear to be as they emailed him.

Even my Dad (who's not that computer literate) could've managed - whether he actually could be bothered is another matter (which was the crux of my point all along). people will be far more willing to help if you've been seen to make a decent effort before asking for help.

fair point, but it's true, this forum is for the everyman. Your response's sometimes let yourself down, try not let the great unknowing rent your brain! [have a peaceful enjoyable Christmas my friend!]

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Sun 9 Dec 2018 15:01
- SteveLee
The guy says "I really like the luxury ride and feel of the BMW. " and HJ recommends a Lexus IS250! They ride like skateboards! A Jaguar XF would be the better place to start.
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Sun 9 Dec 2018 16:54
- jchinuk
RE : Natural phenomenon, I can't speak for the car park in question, but locally there is an option to pay fees via an app on a mobile phone. I understand that the car park operators expect people to use this in the event of broken paying machines.
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Wed 12 Dec 2018 13:05
Honest John's Motoring Agony Column 08-12-2018 Part 1 - Marcus T.

This wouldn't work at the NT area up the road from where I live, and as I suspect many others as there isn't a phone signal.

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Sun 9 Dec 2018 23:58
- TICKENHAMTIGER
Has PC of Wakefield tried a McKenzie roll? They really are excellent.
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Mon 10 Dec 2018 20:12
- Cromp85
RE: Morris garaged, as a fellow owner I think it is about time the MG Rover & ARG cars were all given VED exemption. Why are the products of Britain's last volume Car company not Historic vehicles? Surely they are that rare now, the cost in lost tax revenue would be unnoticable.
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