StuartFZR400

Whats that nippy Golf like, yu know, RS - is that 4wd?

and...... surely something you'd expect nowadays with a modern car??? dont get me wrong, I think may of us see your point about things moving on and getting better; horses for courses. Should I go rice, I'd fancy that boring not super quick car...... yep a S2000; all the fun and summer delights of the MX5 but so much better !!!

We've got a duel-carriageway that was a national. Due to there being many crossing points in the 4m wide contral part, there were many nasty accidents. They've closed all those now = great, but they also dropped the limit to 50 :( Which did work for a while, I remember the first week people didn't realise. Then for the next 1 month everyone stayed to 50, especially by the flashing sign. However, every day I get (mostly women) easing past at 60 - 65. (maybe the blokes have got too many points to risk it, lol) * I hear your pet hate; most peeps dont know the braking performances. However you gotta give people room; there could be any number of reasons they do it; they may have lost control at that junction on grit before, or whatever.

You're getting an MX5 in trade for the missus? Where? lol but seriously - definately a girls car -------- but then it'd look like a Daewoo; a fast one that poops all over my C :oops:, but still a boring look

rather than clear repeaters I've got dark ones as my car is the deep purple - I'd do the same on yours if its as per your sig I like clear rear clusters on some C's, but I think mine get a good contrast on the purple; even if a tad old/retro looking. what 'mm of drop you going for?

gotta laugh, Highwaycode says: "112: If you need to change lane, first use your mirrors and check your blind spots (the areas you are unable to see in the mirrors) to make sure you will not force another driver or rider to swerve or slow down. When it is safe to do so, signal to indicate your intentions to other road users and when clear move over." How often do people on the motorway pull out and make you touch the brakes? Mirror, signal, manouver means you gotta use the mirror for a reason, not a makeup check. Yet be considerate : "slow down and hold back if a vehicle pulls out into your path at a junction. Allow it to get clear. Do not over-react by driving too close behind it." . And considering how many people dive infront of me because I leave a 1.5 car length gap in 5mph congestion, I gotta be cool and just enjoy my tunes, even though you know the've just jumped half-an-hours worth of que. Then Scarlet, no its not ok to undertake at anytime, only when someone is turning right it appears:: "139: Overtake only when it is safe to do so. You should -not get too close to the vehicle you intend to overtake -use your mirrors, signal when it is safe to do so, take a quick sideways glance into the blind spot area and then start to move out -not assume that you can simply follow a vehicle ahead which is overtaking; there may only be enough room for one vehicle -move quickly past the vehicle you are overtaking, once you have started to overtake. Allow plenty of room. Move back to the left as -soon as you can but do not cut in take extra care at night and in poor visibility when it is harder to judge speed and distance -give way to oncoming vehicles before passing parked vehicles or other obstructions on your side of the road only overtake on the left if the vehicle in front is signalling to turn right, and there is room to do so stay in your lane if traffic is moving slowly in queues. If the queue on your right is moving more slowly than you are, you may pass on the left give motorcyclists, cyclists and horse riders at least as much room as you would a car when overtaking" then this is a classic; trains of traffic doing 30 in a nice 60::: "145: Do not hold up a long queue of traffic, especially if you are driving a large or slow moving vehicle. Check your mirrors frequently, and if necessary, pull in where it is safe and let traffic pass." Only last night I was doing 30 in my town after a good blast and some woman was all over me; no way could she stop if I had a small 'moment'. There was no que forming or anything, but I still decided to pull over to let her pass; to only find I caught her up in the 60 that skirts around the town. Laughable.

Phil, I think that you're reason is a fair one and as long as you do it all safely within the law, then how can anyone complain. As for me, its not always a time issue, but can be just a 'I want to be making good prgress and have a pleasurable drive'. And as for your 'racers' , choosing to overtake isn't a boyracer attitued (so dont feel bad) as such but deciding to race is just wrong (in my humble oppinion). Back onto the lane-hogger thing, as this has hit a nerve with some. The outside lane hogger is an odd one. Every day I see people queing in the outside lane with the middle fairly empty. I can understand why they are doing it; its most likely the case they dont wat to be doing 65 and want to go quicker but can't due to the build up of traffic and refuse to undertake. I reckon that situation is cause by the middle lane hoggers who trundle along at 60 and dont bother popping into the 20-car-gaps between the slower lorries in lane 1.

:lol: I love the way this has turned into Motorway lane-hogging. 33hz - I think you may have a point there, more crashes etc. Putting 3rd lane hoggers to one side for now, I think I know why middle lane hoggers exist. They dont use thier mirrors and cant judge distance+ speed; hence if they use lane 1, then every time they catch a lorry up or see several cars coming down a slip road to join, they would want to move to the middle lane, which as you know requires an observation of traffic behind/alongside - this is a task they dont like to do. So if they were somehow encouraged to use the correct lane discipline then maybe there would be a few more crashes, although I reckon from practice these people would get the hang of it.... maybe. I take it your duel-cariageway is NOT a national speed limit?? (as that makes it a 70 zone) And even then I doubt very much I would undertake you, because whos to say you're not a silly-billy and not turning atall and just accidently left your indicator on - hence safer to wait. Yet, if you've got no central reservation lane and you're slowing down to an almost stop in this quick road, then I'll slide under.

Briefly said, you could spend that kind of money, but the cheapest way would be to buy cheap springs, say £100. Do the spring swap your self at no cost but then have the camber adjustment done, which if you cant do this your self (quite normal), then thats an additional £40 to £80. I found the 40mm drop on mine a bind on speed humps and also found the NCP carpark a nobrainer as it was impossible to get in. I'd like to find a 30mm drop set. The wheels are purely preference and you could spend anything. I've got almost standard BBS which cost about £250 2nd hand. You can buy them off me if you like; as Im after some 16"s You've got loads of people backing your 'Standard' idea. Im inclined to agree mostly, as Ive gone standard my self as I respect the car so much. However, I feel the age of the car, the high suspension that allows body roll, small wheels with large tyre profile, so I'd go along with chrishill. But I wouldn't buy regular chav alloys that are seen on any old box-hatch-back; the C can look instantly naff with those. Sounds like good advice to make the mods simple to reverse. 8)

1. thats obvious, as said, "Highway code" etc. Safety first ;) 2. Bunching is a big problem, as for Mr 911. I personally hate it in the car because I KNOW Im going to be stuck for a long while; so yep Dom, I sit much further back as it requires much less concentration than bumper hogging; although it seems hopeless that in a 60 you catch them up whilst trying to drive slowly at 40 , as per my Van thing - hence I chose to nip past. 3. Lifes too short - in general yeh; if Im in no hurry, Ive been know to take a (slower) country side road just to get away from the train. But theres loads of roads like this near me and it makes more than 2mins difference. Im also of the mind that if Im in a zombie mood I often endup taking 20mins longer to get to work.

worth Wiki - ing ?? ;)

Dont see how there can be a right or wrong there g-man, think of how many different C are on this forum alone; some standard and some clearly not. Everyone to thier own 8) As for my own oppinion on the car; I gotta appreciate anyone who spends that much time effort and money on his C; a bit too bling for me. And the wheels wouldnt last 2 minutes where I live. The doors can only help in tight spots and I never want to be close to other cars anyhow - Mr shopping trolley - and as for looks, you'd look a tad chav, as they only suit real high performance cars (look at me and my fancy doors as I get into my... VW).

I've emailed you a few but not happy with them all yet; I'll edit them once Im inspired a tad, lol

You'd have thought so, but you're making an assumption "driver that knows". The same person who hoggs the outside lane will be the same idiot who changes lane without indication back into the side of you as you undertake. We need a point of blame and so make a rule. Much like if you crash into the back of someone its always your fault, even if its not in that one instance. (although many insurance claims seem to be going 50/50 nowadays). It should make you very aware of whats ahead of you - you'd think it would prevent tailgating... I see lots of people undertaking, as there seems to be a trend that people 'think' they 'own the road'. This mentality just sucks; much like that Van driver I mentioned !!

Stan - I think you got you answers here already; Dr Mat & Kev both picked up on the high state of tune allowing a higher rev range, which simply put, means less reliability/endurance - which is less of a case on a bike which is much lighter, less resistance&effort. Interesting stuff huh, and I bet you're tempted to get tuning your car now huh; so what if you half the life of your car engine on a low-mileage car. We could talk all day about tuning and what tollerances you can get away with - best left to the experts. just a ps note; with a diesel engine not having spark plugs, they ignite by massive compression force instead and thus explode, right?

stigman - I think you've gotten onto motorway driving there, which is just another peeve, but less of one. Middle or outside lane hoggers are a pain in the butt and I understand you want to undertake but its definately wrong and the old Bill will jump all over your head if they see you do it and totally ignore the anoying driver ahead of you. If the traffic is very dense I might choose the middle lane as the outer lane slows down (or brakes as they often do), and filter underneath. And no, undertaking isn't safe - whats the bet that the same driver will pull back in without an indicator, not realising you're underneath them??? -- Ok, I know what fueled my question. In advanced riding, its the school of thought that if you catch someone up, that means they're going slower than you and they need overtaking at a safe point. Yet Im not always in the 'mood' to be 100% comitted, as it takes total concentration as you know, to get it right. However there is a cut off point of how slow I will go and being used to overtaking everything on the bike, I expect to get good progress in the car too; so when I catch 3 vehicles doing 30 in a 60, then I choose to overtake. A recent example had me overtake a van (that had dissapeared ahead of me from the 30) on a, great view, downhill. Next up were two cars; the slow car in front and a Polo tailgating him. Well, as steve_16v suggests below, I blatted through the last bend, popped out and took a look - all clear - so overtook both cars. Pulled back in and made progress. All until I hit a que of traffic and as I sat there there is a sliproad off to the left, the van came up beside me and stopped and clapped at me - sarcastically, obviously - why? I mean there was no traffic coming the other way to make it dangerous. The only thing I can think of is that he was either jealous or miffed I had to drop in hard across his bonnet as the gap he left was small (say 2 cars). What a ****** I suppose I do expect people here to agree with option B but then again it could be a mirror of regular drivers; and Mat may think that everyone here will choose option B, but a guy here at work who owns an Alfa GT reckons its rare that you should overtake. Onto a slight slant on this; I often find people exceed a 30 zone and will tailgate you if you're doing say 33. Go ahead for all I care and speed, its not my license, but for gawd sakes, can you please stop tailgating and just overtake me - or dont they know how?

Chris, yeh, dont get me wrong; I started off the thread with something else in mind. That was just a second thought - one which was a clear example of a bad overtake - no blame on Mr-slow and no blame on tailgaters either. Mr 911 had a choice and made a wrong decision. One car would've been close enough, 4 was a joke!! Backonto the question ------ if its SAFE ---> what do YOU do?

I normally park at the far end of a carpark at the empty end. Just last weekend I did that, got out and someone parked right next to me.... why? I stood, watched her get, then proceeded to get back into my car and move it. She must of thought I was mad!!

:roll: here we go......

We all love our cars and I can't think of anything better than driving along in the C down an open country road in the summer. Sounds nice huh; but as we know the roads are busy and too often you find you're behind traffic. How often have you driven from a 30 or 40 mph zone into a national speed limit, with no traffic about to only find you catch up slow cars ahead. Now you've got a choice: do you (a) doze off into another world and follow the traffic? ... or (b) find a safe* place to overtake? *assuming you adhere to the Highway Code ------- Now obviously I have an oppinion and its simple. The Highwaycode was thought out for a reason; regardless of whethere you agree with it or not, you cant blame someone who wishes to stick to it. So if they choose to overtake on a clear part of road with a broken white line, then it seems fine. I must admit I choose option B Now from my view, it seems so many people choose to be the Sheep and not overtake. Now that could be for any number of reasons; be it lack of confidence, poor performance car, etc. However it doesnt take long to create a long train of slow cars. And how often do these people drive too close and make overtakes for other people harder? Example of a non-safe overtake That gives me a classic example from a couple weeks ago. I was doing about 60-ish along a road and was so glad it was clear. My mind started to think as I entered a twisty wooded section. I wondered what would happen if someone came the other way at the same speed as me head-on, or if they made a mistake or somthing; subconsously I backed off to about 59. I came upto a right hander (shallow but restricted view) which is followed by a (good view) left, you can see straight across there. What did I see? Mr Porsche 911 on my side of the road Head-on. Now I cant remember if its a solid white line there or not; it doesnt matter in this case. Im thinking, ok he's overtaking a car (which I cant see from the trees across the right bend). As I get round the right hander and my view opens up, I see a solid line of 4 cars and suddenly realise Mr 911 has got to overtake all 4 cars. At 59mph it was all happening rather quick but that earlier thought had my foot covering the brake and so I was able to come to a very quick stop. .............. I waited. And sure enough, because the traffic was doing about 30, Mr 911 just about pulled it off, whilst I sat there. It soon occured to me that something might be coming up behind me at 60, so I pulled off thinking how lucky I was. That to me was a classic example of how a bad overtake was made worse by the fact all 3 cars were tailgating behind Mr-slow. I dont know what that proves - just tells me that you gotta get your overtake right. And why is it that I could keep going with many examples? I mean, just from within the past couple weeks I could list a few. The last scare I had was on the bike; back from Stratford, the narrower road, a new Mini decided to overtake his mate on solid white lines, head-on to me again; this was a very short straight section. He had a few mates in his Mini and was laughing, as the other car sped up, another lad who I presume was his mate - yes this means they were racing each other, on SOLID white lines; I watched in my mirror as they caught up a car ahead of them - no idea what happened as they went round the left bend. Lucky I was on the bike and had room to miss him. That road has just been reduced to a 50, yet it cant prevent t*ssers like that. I think Im going to get a bus-pass, LOL

- mi thinks Phil had his sleevless tank-top on and his shades and that the 'nice horsey lady' was chattin him up ;) ..oO(hmmm, peachy rear-ended horsey women) I knew there was a reason for slowing down for them

I'd love to comment Craig, but I'd be getting way off topic.

In my line of work it is common to accept a job then 4 weeks later when you about to start the following week, simply pull out and say no. Obviously it leaves a bad taste in thier mouth and you couldn't expect to get work off them again in the future. Depends how good this VW job is and how badly you need the money......

yeh, definately dont do BBS; I asked last year and the guy laughed - "havnt done them in ages". Maryl-Lite ; what size are you after? Read around herre, there are lots of alternative oppinions

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