Probably not relevant to the original poster, but as I read somewhere, "if you ride at 100mph, practice hard braking from 100mph"

I'd have thought that ABS can only be a good thing, although observation and smoothness is still important.

Although I've no urge to do the car IAM, I am tempted to do the bike one this year.

I felt like that on Saturday.

It was about 1degC. I had on a jersey, a Merino, winter gloves and a waterproof.

After getting to my centrally-heated home I ended-up wearing a long-sleeved cotton top and 2 jumpers. I still felt cold and had a throbbing head.

I realised afterwards that I was quite de-hydrated which probably explained it. Having guzzled numerous brews, a couple of pints of water and dose of paracetomol I felt better and started warming up again.

6:30 on a sunny morning over one of the classic Alpine passes in the Ferrari or on the Desmo would be my idea of the perfect start to a day.

Nice car! I've never driven anything quite as exotic.

When I saw the video I thought, "That's Horwich" ….then I noticed the caption.

blipping the throttle and stepping it out a little bit, and 2 young lads walking home from work stopped and made "we're not worthy" homage gestures and clapped

Personally, I'd be less interested by what other people thought, but I take your point.

Although I'd like to drive a Ferrari, I'd probably be more keen to have a go at one of these:
although it would probably be less of a shock to the system than when I was given a go on a Fireblade a few weeks after passing my test 😉

Back on topic:

I heard Mr Gosling (a man, I have to say, of whom I was not aware) on the Today Programme yesterday.

He sounded like a bewildered old man who didn't know quite what he was trying to say. I got the impression that he was looking for attention and getting a bit muddled. As somebody else has pointed out, I'm not sure that is a good poster-boy for the mercy killing lobby.

Off Topic:

I have no issue with homosexuality, I wish no harm to homosexuals and get along with homosexual people that I know and have met, but do find 'campness' in men irritating, especially when, as others have said, it is only adopted post-coming-out. It's quite possibly due to 'campness' not fitting in with the commonly accepted male or female behaviour -rightly or wrongly-, but is not fear of homosexuals (homophobia).

My wife had one.

The 1.2 was a good, revvy engine, but not a lot of low-down grunt which would be more suitable for a town car. My wife doesn't constantly drive to keep the engine 'in the power-band' so prefers the more torquey (less peak power, but irrelevant) engine in the Fabia.
It had a few inherent faults, including timing chain stretch (EXPENSIVE) and electrical gremlins in the central locking and lighting.

The Boot is tiny

The suspension was very soft, the body-roll was excessive and handling was very soggy. It is not good, at all.
-My wife hadn't noticed how poor it was until she got a Fabia when she appreciated the better suspension, so it depends on your point of reference.

It had been value-engineered to within an inch of its life, it was flimsy and felt like a toy car.

Don't believe the traditional view of Nissan build and reliability. It is not an 80s Sunny, it is part-Renault.

Verdict:
Rubbish.
Get a Fabia or a Fiesta. Much better dynamics and/or quality.

Wooden frame with narrow & waxed steel runners.

binners – Member

What have I done? Good question. It would appear, according to my dad, that the state of the econmony (among other things) are all down to me

Are you Gordon Brown?

Call that a handbag?

Another Hallmark Cards marketing opportunity.

Humbug.

hora – Member

Oh aye yeah. Everything else round it has been designed with different tolerances and for a different purpose.

you appear to post on anyhting to do with cars, but I get the impression that you know ****-all about them beyond reading What Car at the dentist and probably talking b*ll*cks about them with your recruitment colleagues.

binners – Member

Anyone any experience of this? Do you miss 'em? Or glad to see the back of 'em?

Eh?

Why? what have you done?

Ideally -for a recruiter-, a candidate will be found a job that is identical their previous job (which the recruiter will fill with a new candidate) they'll stay for the minimum period for payment and then consult the recruiter to find them another identical job. The recruiter will then find someone to fill their now vacant position and a new position, ad infinitum.

Basically, recruitment agents are just there to facilitate a sort of jobs merry-go-round and take a cut. There are finite candidates and finite vacancies, so the process requires stabbing people in the back, vague promises and, if the sale of various elderly relatives helps, then so be it.

molgrips – Member
I frigging hate working, although my actual job isn't that bad, if that makes sense. I mean going to work day to day is ok if a little boring.. but when I start thinking of the whole world of stuff out there I get a bit sad…

Same here. Life is mostly good. It should really be at least an 8.

Healthy, comfortable, happily married, good friends, but I've always been underwhelmed by work and feel guilty about not getting any satisfaction from it all. It's ok, pays relatively well and isn't damaging to my health, other than lack of exercise.

Going to work just feels like a waste of time, even though I know that it pays the bills.
I'm probably too inquisitive and looking to expand my knowledge and experiences -sitting in an office for 40 hours a week doesn't satisfy this.

It sounds like a wonderful environment to work in….

If you can reach out and punch the passing vehicle that has just skimmed you with its wing mirror then it is too close.

Recruitment agents are parasites and the nature of their game attracts/makes them behave like w*nk*rs.

Applying for a position via a recruitment agency is to be avoided as far as possible by anybody sane.

One of their other less-than-subtle tricks is to ask lots of details about your current work-place so that they can cold call your current employer to peddle their services to them. Just say no and, if the position applied for is 'no longer available', then get them to cross your name off their list.

I'd go so far as to suggest that recruitment salesmen(they're not 'consultants') are worse than estate agents.

New lean burn tech (stratified charge) where direct injection of the fuel into the commbustion chamber is utilised run similar fuel pressure's to that of diesel of about 120 bar

I think that Common Rail diesel pressure is of the order of 1000-2000 bar.

It is irritating me how the BBC keep saying things along the lines of: "Toyota, have spent decades gaining a reputation for reliability. What will consumers think?!!?!?!??"
Probably nothing, until the BBC start spreading the (sacks of) seeds of doubt….

FWIW, I'm now no more or less likely to buy a Toyota.

It reminds me of THE CREDIT CRUNCH when the BBC appeared to be attempting to talk us all into financial oblivion.

it's not snowing anywhere in London

…or anywhere conveniently located on the nearby motorway nertwork, like Basingstoke, which headlined the news for a day or two when it had about 3" of snow and some cars had to queue in traffic, before everybody else got more 😉

In fairness, the 1.9TDI is actually a good engine and more 'robust' than more modern, common-rail engines.

To get over the inherent problems with emissions and 'refinement', diesel injection systems work at extremely high pressures which can be harsh on pumps and injectors.

Turbos (on whatever type of engine) wear out, quickly if not looked after.

For want of a better phrase, a modern high-output TD engine is basically in a 'higher state of tune' than a similarly-sized petrol.

Probably 2-3 times a year, at the point when I get dirty just approaching it.
I clean the interior slightly more often.

Turbo Diesels are good on the motorway and grunty. They're often a bit frustrating for 'spirited' driving though and NOT actually as fast as people think they are. An equivalently grunty petrol will be thirsty.

The cost benefit isn't that great unless you do a lot of mileage and if the fuel pump, turbo, injectors etc. pack in then the benefit will be instantly lost.

I have a diesel but may go back to a non-turbo petrol the next time I buy a car.

get the impression she painted herself into a corner when angry and can't find a way out.

Sounds that way. Making strong allegations wouldn't be the normal way to get out of it though.

Anyway, each to their own…..

I think people can be too quick to condemn this girl

On the basis of what was written and personal experience (others seemingly having had similar), I'd certainly want nothing more to do with her.

It might seem harsh, but it sounds like a ridiculous situation to me.

Distance makes life more difficult, but insane jealousy causes real problems and damaging property as described is not the behaviour of a level-headed person.

It is not a good relationship.

No, but it does seem more common in the NW of england than anywhere else I've been thus far.

I think it's fair to say that every region and city has areas where anti-social-behaviour takes place.

For example, I've never seen anywhere with more burnt-out stolen cars than the suburbs and hills on the outskirts of Dublin. (I know that it is not in the UK)

I think part of the problem is people are crap at reacting to danger in cars

That is very significant.

People feel very safe driving along in modern cars and relatively few have experienced loss of traction/blow-out/sliding on a poor surface….until an emergency situation when they don't know how to handle it.

Your typical enthusiastic mountain biker knows about maximising traction and controlling/riding-out a slide without panicking -often through having a few offs at relatively low speed off-road, which has to be an advantage.

Fail to read the road on a motorbike or just slam on the brakes in a corner and you'll be off too.

Most car drivers have no idea at all.

Zips on pockets (or safety pins -saved my wallet on the St Petersburg Underground) if you're going somewhere busy/dodgy.

Alternatively, keep your hand on your wallet.

Never put your wallet in a back pocket.

Only time it's going to happen is accidentally in an emergency stop/big footed oaf situation or some nobber kidding on he's colin mcrae, designing that "feature" out sounds a good idea to me.

So doing a nice, smooth down-shift or gaining a bit of traction in poor conditions is only for "nobbers"?

Remember all the people crashing and failing to cope with the snow about 2 weeks ago? Were they not the real "nobbers"?

To do it properly you should really use a piece of knapped flint with a small log as a mallet.

I'm considerably more kindlingly than you.

(Although I do wonder why Toyota don't cut the engine when the brakes are applied like many others do. Actually, I must try this in mine).

It's a bugger if you're trying to left-foot brake or heel-toe though.

Interfering Health & safety. Let drivers control cars.

For all its popularity & pretension, Chorlton and the surrounding area suffers terribly from crime. I've always assumed that it is like a sweet shop to the scallies of the nearby ghettoes.

Most of the people I know who live/have lived there have had their car damaged/stolen and/or been burgled.

I wouldn't live there. Sorry.

It is possible to fit them into a space the same height as the wardrobes. ie. virtually no clearance, but it is a 2 person job. Build in-situ.

If you're hanging doors on, then the rail/clips may need modifying slightly.

not the oldest I've dated :-p

You've got a mother-complex?

Seriously, live a bit and don't waster time on someone you've nothing in common with.

I'm 23, she's 32

You sound like a decent bloke with plenty of time to find a decent woman …..after travelling the world, buying fast cars and doing a lot of biking.

Yup, Sun holliday, when you look at what's included in you'r £9.50 its actualy pretty crap value

Quelle surprise!

Once the novelty of pulling an older, real woman, has worn off -which it obviously has-, your basic values are different to hers and she's got you making all the compromises and sounds to be taking advantage of you.

It sounds harsh, but do not waste your time with her.

We do love each other, just sometimes she makes it so bloomin difficult (and usualy manages to blame whatever the problem is on me)!

Hmmm… Believe me, I've been in similar situations and it can be much better than that. I'm now married to a great woman.

As a matter of interest how old are you both?

Is that a holiday from The Sun? That would be an instant disqualification from me.

At only 4 months your entitled to opt-out. Easily said, but with the benefit of my own experiences of nut-jobs.

The longer you leave it the more difficult it gets.

I know of 2 blokes who've just tolerated their girlfriend …just fell into moving-in together …eventually reluctantly agreed to marriage after years (sort-of-being)together, tried to ignore it and then called it all off less than 3 months before the massively-extravagant wedding.

You can imagine the fall-out….

assuming you don't work with her or have lots of mutual friends, just tell her straight and never see her again.