StuartFZR400

+ address + business use + upto fully comp' , from 3rd PFT such a ripoff. I questioned it at the time and they told me to like it.

stuff the uniform lads, I'd go for this shapely beast: ------- http://forums.vwvortex.com/zerothread?id=2224141&page=2 ps - dont think STP is going to sort the rattle on that VW :lol: Im going to be here all lunch

Ok; its not that time of year yet for me, but someone in the office put me onto this site Confused.com. I checked my current insurance against it and got a shock! This years renewal was, lets say, £400. Then i wanted to change details such as address etc, and Norwich.UD added another £400, making it roughly £800/year = ouch! Upon trying this site, i got a quote for £360.... wait for it.... with the same company, Norwich U D. :mad: :)

OUCH! - How true is this then? Anyone here have experience? From my experience of France, the locals drive in two manners, either dead slow or dead fast. Motorways you can sit there at 70 and never overtake anything except the odd lorry; all cars seem to do 100+ When we drove about in France this year (in a springy Scenic) we found the speed limit signs odd too; the 30kmh is taken off when the village name is corssed out with a single line. Seems many villages are 30kmh (not 30mph). Once we came out a village and the old gene dame (plodds) we standing there with tripod waiting for peeps, as my mate floored it; we guessed they took us for Brits and couldnt do with the hastle.

Does anyone remember that millionaire getting caught in some Euro country where the fine is a percentage of your income that year? Was it Sweeden, Switz or Holland??? :?:

cheers lads

195/95/15 - should hope not, as that gives a 185mm tyre wall. Hope it to be more like 50 or 55 profile. From my experience there are many factors in handling. But what is your main reason for choosing alloys? - Handling, LOOKS, lack of maintenance, Comfort ? For all of those above, I'd go for 16". Why?... ........................................................................................................ Im now on a completely standard set up, 15", with my '94 2.0 rado and I wouldn't choose this setup again. Okay, the handling is good for a 10yr car, but has lost its go-kart feel compared to when it was on a very different setup. It was on 40mm lower spings with 205/40/17 Toyo Proxes, obviously on 17" alloys. As much as these Dunlops are no good (195/50/15) on these 15-BBS rims, and are the cause of sliding & understeer (on private roads of course) etc; there are additional factors: 1. Massive body roll due to softer standard springs. This means the car takes time to settle, other wise you're turning and the momentum is going straight on. (lower springs, meaning lower centre of gravity helps too) 2. Profile of tyre:- Going to a larger wheel, eg 17", means you're going to run a smaller profile tyre. The tyre wall will be stiffer, thus you will feel the bumps more. One advantage is that it will be more rigid and give a firmer ride and hopefully better handling, however, you might find the car skips over bumps like a stone over water. Hence I'd go for 16" = compromise 3. A bigger wheel often (not always) means a wider wheel and thus allows a wider tyre. Yes you're going to get better grip, but its also going to become "like a bus" on slow speed manouvers in the carpark (but who cares). 3. You mentioned rubbing. Get the right setup and it shouldn't happen; upto a 17" wheel, as far as i know. All depends on Offset & if you intend to 'Lower'* it too?????? *. Lower & harder springs help obviously, so contemplate that. But realise you're going to get a stiffer ride, with much less comfort; so this xams Santa might be buying you a backbrace for those drain grids; and you'll also avoid Speed-hump roads too. Note: if you choose larger wheels; try running a lower tyre pressure than that stated in the book; say 33psi **Ask kevHaywire what he's running on *** Looks - have a look on the forum and you'll see lots of people asking for oppinions on looks, giving photo examples; its a real eye-opener !!

Anyone know of a well priced place that sells springs for the 2.0L , that are between 20 to 30mm lower? Loads of places sell -40mm springs, but Im not interested. Cheers Stu (Coventry/Warks, Mids) ps - anyone interested in the standard springs for £40?

Correct, and in the past I've also informed the garrage about the scenario; so that when he gets a call off plod, he knows to say its booked. All you need to give is your Reg.

Nick, dont tell me you owned up to the speeding. Surely if it was the case that the signs were down, could you not go back, ensuring the signs are 'as they were', and take a photo? I am one of the few people who slowed down for the roadworks on the M69 last summer; as even at 9pm there were guys working there, and thier lives are more important than my arrival to the gf's. Timo - i mostly agree with you, but there is an element of 'attitude'. Theres no way Id become a plod, simply becuase i disagree with a lot of the implications and this Camera business is a classic example. As afrementioned, yes its inappropriate speed that kills. However, if people are honest and made comment, you'd see a massive difference in oppinion. People i know often say how they thinks its ok to speed in any limit; you see the mdrive and yes they are very swift through town, then come the lovely country roads they struggle to make 50. I've known plod to look the other way at a bit of excessive speed in my time when it was safe to do so (empty country road); cameras dont look the other way. And to add to this; the amount of people who drive to and from work in an aggressive manner is amazing; and in these worse condition of autumn they must be on the limit. And yes the electric gizmos with traction control + abs all help avoid acidents, but they forget thay Fred in his 10 year old Astra will not stop in the same distance. Im finding the rado doesnt stop as well with these naff 195/50-15 Dunlops, compared to the 205/40-17 Toyos; I leave large gaps for breaking to only have a BMW jump in, with his ABS fully engaged - sh*t.

Today (Thurs) at 8:15am, Dark Corrado , 5-spoke alloys (not standard), looked low; on the A38 Birmingham heading towards the spine road.

Any of you who buy MCN (Motor Cycle News) paper will have seen the article about Drink Driving. A guy drove about in an open top car, beer cans stewn across the place and tried to drive recklessly but within the law. He followed police cars through town with beer cans and a straw stuck to his cap. He drove for about 400 mile through several counties and NEVER got Stopped. Ok, so he drove within speed limits, but some shoddy swerving etc and kerb crawling past the station should raise an eybrow from plodd. And i know the article is about poor vunerable bikers but its still applicable to all road users; hit a drunk driver head on in your Rado and you gonne be in A&E. The amount of times i've driven home at night, seeing the dedicated dog owners taking Trixy for a walk, and sure enough you come up behind p*ss-head driving at 20mph in a 40 zone. So if i can find a handfull of drink drivers every night, why cant plod? - simple, the pubs would go bust!

Ha, and car boys are less fortunate too. Lets say that doing 90 on the bike has been known to be a simple telling off and mind how you go. Thats why cameras stink, it takes no consideration for conditions!

VERY LUCKY Suppose you wait and see now. But i presume he gave a ticket there and then? Next step is to send off your license? Hope it doesnt affect insurance too much 4 u I presume it was a quiet country road and you overtook in safe areas, hence leniance. I understand there are many loopholes in all this malarky too; but many you cant use. For instance is it not true they have to do a vehicle inspection of thier bike/car everyday, and if they miss it you cannot be done - but what fuzz is going to own up to that?!!

GIX - I use GUNK on the bike to get all oily stuff off. But as I hope you know you cannot let it get into contact with rubber, so what i do is leave the hose running on the drive and dampen the tyre wall. However Im not going to use GUNK on the car wheels. My multispoke BBS are a pain to clean & polish. However, I still have to agree with people above - PREVENTION is THE KEY ps - you going to the NEC Bike Show? Bring your license as theres loads to do this year.

Kev, those 6.5" go in the back or fit into the 5.25 front space? Typical price?

Sat Nav + Camera detectors: From what I know, Road Angel are bringing out a Navigation system out in 2006 which includes all bells & whistles like the current 'New Road Angel'. However it costs a packet (£600) Someone mentioned the otehr day that his phone for £100 has Sat Nav, which enabled him to find our house, and it also has locations of fixed cameras. Thats cheap. But as we all know, its those pesky Vans that are the trickiest ones; only the 'New Road Angel' gets those (right?). Its that part of the device which uses a laser which will be outlawed, which can simply turned on or off on the New Road Angel, as far as Im aware. ;)

Stuff gets better each year. Shame about the face of most units though :( UGLY Bought the JVC LH811 (keep wondering if the Calrion would sound better). The sound is just fine. Time to save for some speakers. Took a short while to figure out the wiring in the VW is different to most other makes; it now doesn't loose its memory.

Recommended pressures for standard 15" wheels, 195/50 tyre are 38 front and 33 back. Having tried this, it is much better than lower pressures as the tyre wall is not as stiff as a 40 profile tyre.

Good question & answer. Was hoping to find more feedback for oppinions. I think the minor adjustments make a difference for your own preference. Tyre make differes too. Im not happy running 32front, 28back at the moment on my Dunlops. But then the same pressures on the Toyos were GREAT. Going to swap my Yokos off the back to the front to see if that helps rid the understeer. ;)

My 7x17's had 205's, front & rear, profile 40. Springs 40mm low. Only minor rubbing at front on the inside of the arch (not outside). Choosing between profile, 40 or 45, you must remember that you're increasing the diameter of the entire wheel, as its 45% of 205. Then gets bigger still on a 215 if you take 45% of that. This measurement added on to the wheel size of 17" - means that all these different setups can affect your speedo by a couple mph, mine under read by 1mph, so reading 40mph meant an actual speed of 41. Its very minor, as if you read the manual for possible settings, its all over the place.

I can only find the Alpine 9812 and 9855 for £250 & £280 respectively at a cheap place. The 9835R seems to be asking £400+. Which is fair enough if thats your boat lads. Not quite for me; cannot agree that you get the same experience as you can get in a decent sized room at home. Thats an idea; do yu think the Celestions will fit in my boot? haa maybe not :D

Cheers lads. I think this will be a good thread for anyone looking; so keep comments flowing. So it seems to be a toss-up between going super cheap & naff, or saving up a tad to do it properly, including speakers. (much like my kenwood stacking syst at home; lasted me years and quolity is top).

Dinkus you're a STAR, but sadly Ive got a pootler 16v 2.0 any other such offers lads??

Okay the old ones packed up and time to replace it. Standard rado speakers are well, lets say dated. Anyone bought a decent cheap system recently? Ones I've looked at: Alpine CDE 9843 R/RM 4x45 £110.00 Clarion DXZ 558 RMP 4x52 £135.00 JVC KD G611 (4x50) £117.00 Kenwood KDC W 5031 £120.00 Panasonic CQC 3301 £86.00 Pioneer DEH 4700 £86.00 Sony CDX R 6550 £100.00 or do you go up a level a bit to the likes of: Panasonic CQC7301 4x50 £160.00 JVC KD LH811 4x50 £160.00 ??? Or is it all much of a muchness and when you're buying cheap it doesnt matter cos it'll always sound naff; so buy what looks best?????? :?: