A warning for getting insured on your parents policy on your car:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/programmes/moneybox/7052569.stm

Van insurance is costly. My van is officially group 3 but costs more to insure than a group 10 Golf GTI. (im 24 with 3 years NCB).

Derv cars tend to be of a lower group than the equivalent petrol model so if budget stretches go for a derv as they tend to cost more in the first place.

If it's your car you cannot get insured as a named driver on a parents policy – if you have an incident they won't pay up and you'll be fined/charged for being uninsured. By driving the car more than the policy owner, this becomes the case.

If you're set on a van, consider a Citroen C15 1.5 n/a (non-turbo) diesel. It will cost about £600 to buy a half decent one and could be very cheap (relativly) to insure in comparison to other vans, maybe cheaper than a car too. Look into it. A friend has had 4 of these in succession and loves then for the simplicty/field car-esque reliability. He drive from Loughborough to N. Wales and back with a snapped clutch cable just by slamming the gear lever through and matching revs! Engine lasted another 5 months before needed a swap.

+1 am40

If, like me, you have a less-than-ample leg length, then normal trousers have to become turn-ups to fit.

I rock the trend daily (out of necessity rather than fashion, it must be said).

last but not least who has the hottest air hostesses? singapore?!?

Thai.

Stripy $10 baselayer trousers from NZ under normal baggies, but over lycra.

Toasty

If the civic is too big, the Jazz has a similar seat setup.

tis good.

swarf, innit.

COD4 and 6 are among the best for online action.

Was there a big river just out of shot they needed to avoid?

fools.

yeah, get 160gb classic with lossless music for your application (if you want an apple product).

Yup flat bar 10sp shifters (overpriced- YUP!)

Cheers all – yup brant – its one of 'yours'.

Granfors – Small Forest Axe if you want a quality item.

I hit 52kph going down a tarmac hill towing my trailer on my inbred- rather irresponsibility overtaking cars.

Much fun.

Starting isn't the problem – its keeping it going that is!

Resistance of glow plugs is ok.

I still think its a problem with the fuel 'waxing'. The tank was filled way before the weather got cold (some 2 months ago) and still has 1/2 tank left so thinking it may have some 'summer'-grade fuel in it. Got a blow heater under the block so i'll give it a while to thaw the ice off the block and then try again.

Gonna look at the plugs in the morning – would a bad plug/plugs result in the car stalling after a few seconds of idle? I thought they would lead to non-firing at all? The dash light goes out when it should.

Glow plugs were changed in the summer – less than 3000 miles ago.

Fuel filter not changed for 20k but manual states its a 60k interval job.

Its odd because he took it on a decent drive two days ago – but now it can't even get off the drive, all of a sudden.

Saw these a few days ago on the app store – i'd like to know more too! At last!

As a kid i used to get a large number of headaches and the doc told me to cut out cheese, choc, and marmite?!?

Not sure what they have in common but didn't help me.

Have a look to see what links those foods.

It was just a question I am thinking about as its time for an upgrade and was weighing up my options.

When I lived nr Caernarfon, I could only get Vodafone but that turned out to be poo in other areas of N. Wales. Still with vodafone now im in West Wiltshire and its really bad in my home – no coverage.

That aside, most of England has reasonable coverage from every network but I have found that the S. Wales trail centres to be dodgy for coverage and my frequent forays back to N. Wales keep me thinking that i need to switch from Vodafone.

I run 2.35" Nevegal rear and Blue Groove front when I ride up there.

Most supermarkets sell them at the checkout – have a look.

XC717 on XT.

Rides good – have yet to put it through its paces but it is sprightlier than my previoues 456 and seems as good as the old 80mm inbred (a personal benchmark).

Very happy with it for the price. I built it up as a 'second' bike with my Cove Hustler as my main ride, but can see that this may well get used more/as much.

Spot in if you ask me.

I had an old inbred with 80mm forks which I loved and was trying to replicate the 'feel' as much as possible. I think 100mm fits the bill as the newer frame have a slightly revised geo for longer forks.

If I was in the market more a new compact, i'd look at a Canon S90.

Seems good on paper.

2009 Reba Team 100mm

I just replied to your other thread with pics.

not so shiny anymore. 🙂

That's awesome – many thanks for taking the time. Happy new year!

Cheers.

LOL at hora.

I moved out first over 8 years ago. I was just living with the parents as a stop-gap post uni.

Either way, I'm already a nerd. 😉

Cheers for the hope!

yup – will be renting. At uni I lived in a shared house for 4 years with a decent garden so that worked well. Might try to find somewhere with a garden/parking so I can leave the bikes in the van til dry.

have you noticed just how close to the deck the vrs is?

Errr… Yes. You are right too. TBH, I think I'm switching my hunt to a 1.8T (150) 4×4 estate – although they seem to be even rarer than the vRS. Sods law.

Passat is a good 2nd choice, it's just the Octy has more internal space for less external space.

I'm 24 so a 3l V6 is a bit pricey on insurance (and fuel and tax), but nice car non the less.

I think my heart is set on an Octy TBH.

The 1.8T is the most fragile engine in the mk1 Octavia

Interesting info – so what do you reckon is the most reliable? Most of the derv ones I've been looking at are pre-PD. Are these better than the PD ones in terms of reliability?

EDIT: nice looking motor!

Very hot.

-5 with a 15mph NE wind gusting to 35mph. I was in a buffalo with nothing underneath, next to skin, as I walked gently up Helvelyn. I was dripping in sweat in about 5 mins with all the vents fully open. not comfortable.

and i am a softy southerner.

I'm looking at a mk1 Octy not mk2 – my budget is £4k. It needs to be an estate. I'm also thinking of the 4×4 1.8T (150bhp) – maybe it's this cold weather!

£32 if I remember correctly.

EDIT: From here

Get a Paul Chain keeper. Slightly cheaper and blooming less fugly: