Category Archives: Cars

No Win No Fee

Posted on by
Reply

When I see those adverts on TV they do grate on me. Once over if something bad happened to you, you would have to lump it, if you were lucky and someone was found negligent they may face time. But not now, now you are entitled to money. The only reason I mention this is that the other day as the wife was driving to her mother’s (in the rain) she hit a massive pot hole. Now we have all done that but unfortunately it’s knackered up her front axil and her neck.

Now the neck she is living with, mainly because of pain killers but she is annoyed at having to get the car fixed as she wants to sell it and this added pain is costing her money. So I thought after seeing these no win no fee ads that maybe we should try and get the cost back from the council. Anyway I sent a letter off this morning to them stating the damage, where she hit the pot hole, plus I went out in the rain and took a picture, showing how deep it is and how it’s hard to see when it’s wet.

I’m hoping they will just send us a cheque and we don’t have to involve a company to take it on. But I got me thinking, all the time you see in the news about jobs worth councils putting the damper on events citing health and safety and all the rest yet they can’t apply that to fixing pot holes. They are dangerous; in the rain you can’t always see them nor gage how deep they are especially when concentrating on other things such as driving safely. Their rules only seem to apply when wanting to extract money out of businesses or spoiling the public’s fun.

It reminds me when I once went to help out a mate building a conservatory. He had his own business, which was just him. Sometimes he needed help so would employ mates on a cash in hand basis. Back then it was before all this health and safety malarkey and it was a bit of a make do and mend situation with tools oh and there was no safety equipment either. His general rule was you’re a bit of a pussy if you need a hard hat.

Anyway now I would imagine he would be fined left, right and centre, plus picked up by HMRC. Good job he moved to Spain 10 years ago, building houses without planning permission for old British expats. Did I mention what a great guy he was, with such great morals, no ha!

Tips on Cleaning your Car

Posted on by
Reply

After been out last weekend up and down the motorway and dust country roads my car is a bit of a mess, plus add to that birds use it as their toilet it could do with a good clean. For a change we have had good weather so this morning I got out in the sunshine and gave it a good clean.
Unfortunately after shampooing my car I realised I didn’t have any wax (it’s been a while since I cleaned it so I had forgotten I had run out). So I scoured the internet on tips to what else I could use (shampoo BTW).

Shampoo

So if like me you forgot to buy ore wax or are tight fisted, then shampoo is a good substitute as it leaves a nice shine and also repels rain. However I doubt it has the same protective qualities as car wax.

Fizzy pop

Apparently fizzy pop is good to get rid of the dry grime and residue built up when it’s dry which causes streaks. All you have to do is put a towel across the bottom of screen to protect your car then pour over the glass. The pop will fizz away all the dirt. Just make sure you wash off the fizzy pop thoroughly.

Window Cleaner

You can use window cleaner to polish your lights. Ideal if your car like mine has a lot of glass covering the lights. Squirt and give it a good rub (Ssh… those with dirty minds).

Window wipers

You can use a solution to keep your wiper blades clean. Mix 1/4 cup household ammonia to 1 quart cold water and wipe your blades with a cloth soaked in the solution (gloves are needed). Then wipe them with a clean cloth to dry. You can also use the same solution on your windscreen to, if you don’t want to use the pop.

Don’t air dry

Always use a cloth or chamois to dry your car rather than let it air dry, otherwise you will get water marks left and any dust around could dry on it.

Wheels

My own personal tip; I find using an old washing up brush is best for cleaning wheels, it can get right into the alloys and easy to get the grime off before blasting with the hose.

Poor bank holiday weekend

Posted on by
Reply

Unfortunately the rain kept coming this bank holiday weekend, so the wife and I decided to sort out our paperwork and get our finances in order. I have recently been on a bit of a spending spree so keeping on top of all that wasn’t easy and in the mist of my new car and buying a garden room we just about forgot about the wife’s car and the fact that it needed a MOT, taxing and insuring again for another year.

I’m not too chuffed at having to pay out for the missus car, so will be looking to get a cheap MOT test after all the plan was to get a new one before all this stuff came up, but we just forgot. So once her car is sorted and our finances are sorted then it will be time to go car shopping again, although there is not much chance of me spending as much money on a new car for her as I did for myself!

I was hoping to do some work in the garden but the fact that it kept pissing it down yesterday and that I had a stinking hangover rather put me off, so instead spent the afternoon slobbing out on the sofa, watching football and playing the Xbox, not bad really.

Well with Leeds season now over and a loss for our final game our position and GD really sums up how dire this season has been. Mediocre really from players and manager but nothing a good influx of cash wouldn’t have helped. Unless something changes next season then I fear we will be looking at similar dismal results if not worse.

Also its going to be a bit of a close call for the Premier League both Manc teams level on points only Citeh are ahead on goal difference will laugh if they win just by goal difference cause that will be really annoying for Manure tee hee!

Rainy picture courtesy of Daniel R. Blume

Poor football results

Posted on by
Reply

Well as I write this post Leeds have just lost against Southampton, it wasn’t much of a game really we had a couple of shots but nothing came of them I just wish we had got a point at least, however as Southampton are sat at the top of the table I can’t really complain. I hope we can make it into the play offs but I highly doubt it, as I honestly don’t think we have anything to get use there.

I am glad however that we do have a manager and I do think that maybe, Neil Warnock could be up to the challenge of keeping us in our place, not much else though. I’m not sure that even this Promotion specialist can get us back into the Premier League and that’s mainly because Bates will probably never spend his money on players needed.

On another note, the cars going good and I haven’t had a fag for nearly a month now! Anyway must go have some DIY to do, which I will tell you all about when I get it done!

New car

Posted on by
Reply

Okay so I have had my new car now for a couple of days and its fantastic. I have been pretty much driving it constantly since I picked it up, the wife loves it because I have hardly been at home and well she rather likes the car too! I can’t fault the service at my local dealership, they provided an excellent service and were really very helpful, keeping me updated on my cars progress to the UK and to the dealership!

I am still getting used to driving it, like all new cars you have to meld it into how you drive which after a while happens but it is so comfortable I cannot believe. I am quite worried that if I do any long motorway journeys I am liable to doze off because of the comfort! Other noticeable points is that it obviously is a lot quicker than my old car, which is down to the five-cylinder 2.5-litre turbocharged RS engine, which has 340bhp so it does go like shit off a stick!

I have taken a couple of mates out in it and turned them green with envy, on the outside it looks mint, with sexy 19-inch alloy wheels and a trim which flow nicely together I didn’t go for the matte black alloys with red detailing, because I wanted them to stand out against the pearl black paint of the car.

I have a feeling the A3 will cost me a little bit more in petrol than my old car, but that will mainly down to the way I drive it, eeek! I just hope petrol doesn’t go up too much.

A little dating update

Posted on by
Reply

I mentioned last year that my brother had started using online dating sites after coming out of a long term relationship. He has been through and exhausted a couple of dating sites with no look, as I mentioned a lot of men seem to just use dating sites for a quick fling rather than anything long term.

However in the autumn my brother started using the gay Parship site and has had much more luck on here than the previous dating sites he had used. He came out with a lot more viable dates, (those which lead to a second, third or even fourth date) and also met a lot of great people, some he is now friends with. But most of all he met his current partner who is a great guy. We met properly at the beginning of the month when my brother came up for a visit. It was nice to see my brother happy again and I am also glad to see that online dating actually worked out for him.

Only a short post today, I have something very special to do today, yep you guessed it I finally get to pick up my new car I am so excited I am afraid I may wet myself ha! Anyway the missis is coming with me too because she now also wants a new car, she has her eye on a Audi A1 the cute little bubble cars, although she also liked the look of the new TT although I know which she has more chance of getting! No way is she having a car which costs more than mine (foot down).

Test drive

Posted on by
Reply

Well today I went out to my local Audi dealership to test drive the Audi A3 Sportback and the RS 3 Sportback and well in a couple of weeks I will be picking up my brand spanking new R3 Sportback! I first drove the A3 Sportback and really enjoyed it, great handling, smooth controls and really comfortable. Then I drove the R3 and nearly wet myself with excitement, straight way I knew it was for me!

I think I always knew that all along I would go for the R3 Sportback, I just wish the other half wasn’t there and saw the price, I think she too will now also be wanting a new car because I spent gone £40k on mine (typical).

The 340 PS, turbocharged 2.5 litre TFSI engine really goes, but I suppose anything does when comparing to a car you already have which is older and worn! It gets to 62mph in 4.6 seconds but the ultra-powerful five-cylinder engine keeps a respectable 31.0 mpg. This model has been designed with racing in mind and although I won’t really be doing much racing in it, it does make for an excitable ride! The R3 uses Audis Quattro four wheel drive technology which really gives it great handling!

I have gone for Phantom Black, pearl effect exterior finish with 19” x 8.5J ‘5-arm Rotor’ design alloy wheels finished in titanium with 255/30 tyres front and 225/35 tyres rear. Inside is all black Nappa Leather, black carpet and trim to keep it clean and sleek. I also have privacy glass for my windows, which are basically fancy tinted windows so it looks super cool! I also added the BOSE® premium sound system which is where I think the missus decided she too should get to spend some money! I also added electric seat adjustment and lumber support and because I am getting old I went for heated seats to keep me warm!

Anyway couldn’t get it straight away so now must wait a few weeks for it to be delivered so far I think it’s on a boat somewhere on the way to the UK no doubt these weeks will drag….. On another note some interesting games I am looking forward to tomorrow is the Man City Tottenham game been a bit in the press today and well Tottenham will be looking to get ahead of Manure. As I don’t like any team from Manchester I hope Tottenham whoop their asses.

Insurance renewals

Posted on by
Reply

I got a couple of letters through today, one for car insurance renewal and one for home insurance, as I mentioned the other day this weekend I am looking for a new car so I won’t be looking for car insurance quote just yet. I figured I would check out some comparison websites for my home insurance though, I have had a small increase but I do like to double check I can’t get a better deal before I commit for another 12 months.

In the past I have found better deals offered even by my own insurer online, no longer do you get discount for loyalty, even if you haven’t claimed. It only seems new customers are the ones who can get the best deals, unfair if you ask me, especially as swapping can be a bit of a pain making sure you are covered for everything you were on your old policy.

To be honest I could do with a good deal on the home insurance, after all no doubt I will have to pay more to insure the new car I want, unless I get one of those free insurance for a year deals on it! I do need to make sure my contents is fully covered, even if it is insurance companies have been known to wriggle out of paying a claim on a technicality which is why I am put off looking for a new insurer because I know clearly what is covered on my current policy.

Future purchases

Posted on by
Reply

New car

I am thinking about buying a new car and was wondering how much is my car worth? It’s just over four years old and it doesn’t have a huge number of miles on it so I’m hoping it hasn’t depreciated that much. Its paintwork is also in good condition and touch wood I haven’t been in any accidents with it that have caused damage.

I had a quick look on Auto Trader to see what cars like mine (Volkswagen EOS 2.0 TDi) go for second-hand. I found that most go for anywhere in between £7,000 to £13,000 so I think I should get a good price when I trade in.

Now the reason for looking for a new car is two-fold 1) I like driving new cars, I like the feel of them, the new car smell and well I have a short attention span so like having a new if slightly expensive new toys to play with. 2) The EOS is a convertible and my mates tell me I look like a poofter or say ‘here comes the hairdresser’ when I pull up in my car. I don’t exactly know why they think that driving a convertible makes me look gay but I have had enough and thought I might get something less gay, a Audi A3 RS 3 Sportback 2.5 TFSI S tronic which  is what I have my eye on!

I would like:

Black (pearl effect), because in past conversations my mates have said white cars are gay (yes they are homophobic and yes I find them childish and annoying sometimes)
19” x 8.5J ‘5-arm Rotor’ design alloy wheels finished in titanium
Interior in black leather well fine Nappa leather and everything including dash etc. also in all black
Bluetooth
BOSE® sound system
Cruise control
Electric lumbar support seats (well I do have a bad back sometimes)
And well that’s about all I can get on this model.

I don’t really have time at the moment to hang around dealerships so I think I will start looking and negotiating in January whilst everyone else is skint after Christmas should be able to pick up a bargain.

Why do the rich escape punishment

Posted on by
Reply

I always wanted to be super rich, mainly because when I break the law I would like the option to get away with it like the super-rich seem to do. Case in point; the Man City whiner who recently avoided a motoring offence, because according to his hot shot lawyer he can’t apparently read English – Carlos Tevez. Now to most people that would seem fair if you were on holiday in foreign country, many traffic cops would let you off with a warning because of the language barriers. However if you have been living in the UK as long as Tevez has you should be able to read English especially when it’s imperative to driving. If you can’t read English you shouldn’t be allowed to drive on UK roads, simples.

Now originally this came out because although he admitted speeding at 38mph in a 30mph zone in February he failed to reveal who was driving his £140,000 Bentley at the time because as his lawyer argued he could not have understood the summons so that case was dropped. This quote however did make me chuckle; lawyer Gwyn Lewis told magistrates in Oldham: “He does not deal with his own post.”

How amusing so he could not understand his summons however he doesn’t handle his post so what’s the excuse? Anyway the overpaid oaf was fined £60 and ordered to pay a £15 victim surcharge and costs of £35 for speeding. To you and me that’s quite a lot of money to Tevez though no doubt that would be small change! It just goes to show that if you have the money you can get yourself out of anything, plus the most important thing if you have been living in a country for over five years why can’t you speak the native language? I personally feel that if you can’t learn English then you should be kicked out after a certain amount of time even if you’re a highly paid footballer!