RichardS

I am currently driving a new Merc E320cdi (another story!!) with the 3.0 v6 tdi and it is hard pressed to reach 30mpg. My SLK350 can (just) manage 27mpg during normal driving over the same trip to/from work and it's quicker to boot!! Sure the smaller engined diesel VWs can get superb MPG but like Rich says, the bigger engined cars cannot (apparently) and with the price difference between petrol and diesel I can't see the benefit in a 530d over a 530i...... ........apart from the torque maybe;) Richard:D

I went to the IOW in March - I hadn't been there for 19 years until then....... ......and it hadn't changed much at all! Which is a good thing;) Julia and I really quite liked the Island. Our hotel was dead nice too - I'd recommend it to anyone! http://www.rylstone-manor.co.uk/rylweb/entrance.htm Richard:)

I hate Smart cars:D I was unfortunate to have some dick-head drive into the back of my SLK last week. Luckily I was only 5 mins from the local MB garage so I drove straight there; anyway they gave me a Smart car to get home in and it ranks as one of the crappiest cars I've ever driven. Absolute shite IMO - they all need burning:rofl: Still it's gone now and I have a nice brand new E320 CDi for the next month whilst my own car is being repaired. Courtesy of the Dick-head's insurance company:nana2: Richard:)

Sorry to hear about your loss Dave:cry: My condolencies and best wishes to you and your family. Richard

I have the same problem at the mo - it's definately the tension rod bushes! I also found out the Nissan ones cost around £45 plus VAT each and will take a while to arrive. I tried Luke at the Z Centre - http://www.zcentre.co.uk/shop/index.php?cPath=21_28_58 - for ES poly bushes as they are only £35 plus VAT a pair and don't supposedly don't have the rod-snapping issue attached to them unlike other types. However they are on back order so I chose the adjustable rods, all in at £130 plus VAT. I got them next day - like Mike, Luke is also a top guy! Richard:)

Nice one Si:dance: Was that from the interview you attended before we met up the other month? Richard:)

0w, 5w or 10w - it makes no difference on a hot engine! The "w" figure represents the ability of the oil to circulate quickly around the engine from a cold start; the lower the better. The second number (ie the "40" in a 0w40; 5w40 or 10w40) is more significant as it represents the oil's ability to withstand breakdown under load when hot. So a 0w40 performs exactly the same as a 10w40 at full operating temperature! A "40" rating, as mrogers says, is more than sufficient for a relatively standard TT engine;) Richard:)

I'm a true gentleman......:D But doesn't one have to move one's gaze to something else just when one is about to get caught looking? Richard;)

I may have a suggestion for you there........! ........the girl I work with gave me a lift home yesterday and the gear knob in her 06 plate Fiesta Zetec looked very very much like that one! Sure it wasn't leather but I'd guess that a 'knob from the top of the range ST model may be better trimmed; perhaps other cars in the Ford line up have similar knobs too? Richard:cool:

That doesn't sound too good mate....... ......mine recently had trouble changing up to second (RPM would go into the red red in 1st until I eased off the gas); it would then go straight into 3rd. From there it would not go into 4th. The solution - a £1200 full rebuild:wack: Mine is now better than new but I hope your's is not as serious. Richard:cool:

Hi Alex, Most tyre centres now have "brake specialists" - eg Kwak Fart or ATS. You could simply pop into one of those and get them to check the discs. ATS do the whole safety check thing for no charge IIRC. Richard:cool:

No worries mate...... ........From what you said, I'd just set the mileage on you new/fixed odo at around 70k ! Richard:cool:

Any excuse for photo-whorring Si........:nono: Still your ZX is one of the best here by far; so if you have it flaunt it...........:bow: As for my most unique mod - i'm not saying as I want it to stay unique....:p Richard edit - actually I lied about the elusive mod, there are no unique ones:wack:

I feel gutted for the fella - not just on losing the £60k but for having his son do that to him. But I for one would never keep £60,000 in the house!! In fact I never keep more than £60 at home. Money is safer in the bank; even though you are taxed on your earnings and again on the interest the money makes you are still better off. At the end of the day though it is only money, the loss of love and trust between parents and their son must hurt more. Richard

There is a link to instructions for repairing the odometer - search and you should find it mate! (sorry I cannot be of any more help). As for finding out the mileage of your car, if it's an import with no paperwork you never will unfortunately. It's possible that the previous owner logged the recorded miles with DVLA when he taxed it and old MOTs will show what was on the clock at the time. At the end of the day though, unless you have a UK spec car with a GENUINE stamped service book and the supporting bills/MOTs to prove it, then whatever the odometer says should not be relied on. Consequently, the recorded mileage should not matter to any one buying a ZX now. The overall condition of the car, expecially given the age if it, is far more relevant! By the time a car is so old and gone through a few owners no-one would believe the odometer anyway! Richard:cool:

..........................If you are not happy with your lot at work, don't strike, just turn up and do a half arsed job..................... Some wise words from Homer Simpson.....:bow:

I think he should be released......... ........through a trap door with a rope around his neck:mad: That's Britain under New Labour for you - real criminals get off with a slap on the wrist whilst us poor motorists get butt-f#cked at every opportunity. Richard:headvswal

That's so true. In the time I have owned it, this is the first real spend on fixing a problem so for a high performance car of its age, £1600 odd in 5-6 years is nothing really! It's certainly nothing in return for the driving pleasure I get from the car and of all the cars I've owned, nothing has ever "moved" me as much:bow: Richard:cool:

I've not seen that one before...... .....but I quite like it - well all except the rear spolier. That would have to go IMO! Richard:cool:

So true Si..... ........whenever I thought about the car locked in my garage doing nothing I felt it was a terrible waste. I'm pleased it's fixed now and once I got it back out on the road, doing what a ZX does best, I forgot about the small matter of recent cost etc:hyper: Richard:cool:

Yes..... .....and my hopes up. All for nothing:cry: Richard:p

I got my Z back last week - it's the first time ever it has been off the road. Initially it failed its first MOT (during my ownership) back in April on HICAS joints. I got that fixed a month ago but the auto box was playing up so I still felt a bit negative towards the car....... I thought about a manual conversion or buying a 2nd had auto box etc etc, but in the end decided a 2nd hand box (either auto or manual) my fail again in the near future. So one full 'box re-build later and the car is as good as new:hyper: I used the Z all weekend, and, after smoking almost a full tank of Shell's finest in just 185 miles (:nono:) I remember why I love this car. It feels so good passing lines of slow traffic on a rural A-road on a Sunday morning:cool: Even after spending £1200-ish on the 'box and over £400 in parts and labour on the HICAS bits....!!! Still, in over 5 years it's still the only real expense I've had so I don't think it's all bad. I've just the wheel allignment to get sorted (and maybe the front tension rod bushes) now and it will be perfect!!! Richard:hyper:

Always had a soft spot for the Manta and still do:hyper: Richard:cool:

I was expecting breasts...........:mad: Richard:p:cool:

Me too Si.......:hurl: And as for the 924 - I've never liked it. The 944 was a much better looking car IMO as the 924 had to rely on the "stuck on" arches etc to appear semi-complete. Richard:nono: