GTAMADDOG

Going on from the previous post, it turns out the car was pretty much ready to kill me. I only wanted him to change the belt and tensioner, and look at my speed sensor, but he had a look around the rest of the car because he didn't have much else to do on Friday and I'm glad he did. He discovered the driver's side front tyre had a split in it on the inner side of the tyre (which you can't see unless you park with the wheels turned or with the wheel off entirely), to the point where you can see the canvas in places. Now I don't think I'm one to neglect my tyres, I check their condition and pressures twice a week, and I don't spin the wheels or go around corners too fast. But, that's what was found there, I knew the tread was getting low on it but it still wasn't near illegal in that respect. Then he moved onto the brakes and has pretty much said there's isn't much more life left in the front brakes at all and I need to get them changed as soon as possible (rears are OK). Luckily for both of these things I have a spare set of wheels and tyres and I'd already bought new brake discs and pads a month or so ago in preparation because I knew they'd need doing in the next few months. My old Auxilary Belt was described as a swear word beginning with the letter F (I knew that already, hence why I wanted it changed) and an earthing terminal on the battery was corroded. Only real good news from it was that the belt and tensioner got changed, the sensor got changed and so far I think that's fixed the speedo dropping out occasionally. Brakes are hopefully being done at some point this week and after Christmas I'm putting some decent tyres on all round because I'm fed up of looking at the ones I've got now even though the back two have 5mm of tread left on them. I might post a picture of the offending tyre later, but I feel like setting the thing on fire. Starting to wish I hadn't bothered passing my test and I'd stuck to going on the bus to work. £20 a week to do 250 miles, and I didn't have to worry about tax, insurance, tyres, fluid levels, diesel, MOTs or anything else.

Haven't asked for anything besides a rear wiper blade for the car :p Money towards a set of new tyres would be a welcome addition though.

Car's at a garage today (hopefully) getting a new Auxilary Belt and tensioner. I keep thinking of things I want to do with it because I've got the day off as well, but then I remember I don't have the car. I can see me going to get it and the guy saying he couldn't do it because of X, or the car will still be in pieces when I need it for Monday morning. When I say garage, I mean it's at a friend of a friend's (who is a mechanic) house. He has a proper workshop and everything but that car is a pain in the rear to work on, literally no space in the engine bay at all.

More 306 love, it does go around corners rather well:

This is pretty much the first thought that went through my head when the whole discussion started really. It's basically the same as people liking different music, clothes, games, whatever. That's what they choose to do/use/like and you don't have a control over it so just ignore it.

If it was that Candy Apple Red colour I'd probably have a crisis :drool: I'd only put stripes on it if it was a Fastback.

Manual for me, I can see why people would want an Automatic and wouldn't hold it against them. Sat in slow moving traffic I'm not bothered, if I let the clutch out slowly in my car it'll pull itself along (it'll even do it comfortably in 2nd) without me touching any of the pedals, that's obviously down to torque though. My clutch pedal is far from light, infact it's shocking how heavy/stiff it is to use after I've driven the Alfa or Skoda, but I personally find that makes it easier to use. Same with the steering, it's on the heavy side despite being power steering, but I feel that I can be a lot more accurate with it. To be honest though, when I look at cars, as soon as I see an Automatic shifter sat where a proper gear stick should be I turn my nose up at it and walk away without second thought. Can't be bothered with the slight impact on fuel consumption and the possible (expensive) problems it may cause later in life, not to mention I think that a lot of the Automatic shifters look ugly.

...and I've just started Christmas shopping. Sister's main present bought, dad's main present bought, mum's main present(s) bought, step-dads present bought. Just gotta hope they arive on time because I don't do retail shopping :p

Looks like it has the wheels like you'd see on a Zetec-S over here. I like that shape Mondeo more than the new one. If I was to have one I'd go for the full-fat ST220 though, obviously the ST doesn't make much sense as a company car with it being a petrol and a V6 one at that :lol: Nice car :)

Man, am I glad I didn't have anything to enter this week!

Each individual person has their own needs and wants really, even if they are a car enthausiast. Each to their own and all of that crap. Hell, what if they are an enthausiast but they've got a problem with their leg/foot which prevents them from driving a manual? Getting back on topic, the shed after a clean today: 306 HDI Dturbo by GTAMADDOG, on Flickr 306 HDI Dturbo by GTAMADDOG, on Flickr

Quad-bike. Car.

Driving home in the dark, just about to pass some cars parked on the opposite side of the road when some idiot coming the other way decides that it's his right of way and comes flying through, I slam on my brakes to prevent hitting him, only to slam my brakes on just before a pot-hole in the road, then a substantial *thud* and bad vibrations through the car. Still had my foot on the brake as I went through the hole, pretty sure I could feel something loose through the pedal itself so I'm not sure if I've done any damage yet. Got home and the tyre and wheel looks fine, but I guess I'll find out if it's done anything when I try and go to work tomorrow. Half expecting a flat tyre. The standard of driving in this country seems to get worse and worse by the day. I actually hate driving with a passion now, because so many people seem to be so incompetent of doing the simplest of tasks on the roads.

Lol, that's crazy. Heard this on the radio at work this morning and it's been stuck in my head all day :p

Chill-out song: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uWlXyzWdPhI

I love this interpretation of this song, I'd almost go as far as saying it sounds even more manacing than the original:

Those Passats are pretty tough I think. Can't remember what program I was watching but it was something to do with motorway cops or something. They got called to a crash where a lorry driver had passed out at the wheel, the lorry had crashed through the central reservation and carried on into the path of oncomming traffic on the other side of the motorway. First car it hit was a Passat doing 60MPH in the outside lane. When I first saw the damage on the Passat I thought it was going to be bad news, only to be proved wrong when the commentator of the program announced the driver of the Passat had got out and walked to the side of the motorway with a few cuts and bruises. Couldn't believe it. A very well put together car or a very lucky man. Probably a bit of both really.

Lol, I don't know really. When I was putting in the details for the quotes I was ready to start crying but I ended up plesantly surprised. Only other issue is buying the cars in the first place. I'll probably go for a Bora or Fabia vRS if the prices are relatively similar next year. To be honest I think I've grown up too fast and I feel like having a big old barge which I can waft about in, gliding over all of the pot-holes :p

Lol: Something a bit wrong there :p

I think I'm 3/4's the way through it, won't go into much detail and spoil it for anyone else but I've got to one of the points where it's partly a cut-scene but you're allowed to interact a bit and I'm meant to left click to shoot some guy. I left click like I'm possessed but it doesn't do anything and I get killed every time. Gave up with it and haven't played it since, infact I haven't played online since probably a couple of days after getting the game because it's average at best, as is Modern Warfare 3. Can't be bothered with them.

Quite strange how relevant a lot of their music is now as it was back then. :rolleyes:

INSURANCE PRICES Y U SO RANDOM!? If insurance prices hold steady for the next year (which they won't), I can insure a VW Bora TDI 130 Sport or Mondeo Zetec TDCI 130 or a Fabia vRS for just over £1000. Not bad if you ask me, considering England's insurance prices these days. I can't, however, afford the insurance for the following: Saab 9-3 TTID Aero Ford Mondeo ST220 BMW 530i Sport I really want a Mundaneo ST220 though..

Bah, I wish my photos were as crisp and sharp as Tom's and Icy J's :(