Your fleet running reports

[GG.]

F***. Why is it the only part of government that works efficiently is the traffic PCN system. Two in a week

One for a verboten U turn and another for missing my turning and accidentally taking the next exit down a one way street. I strongly think that Southwark have a camera installed above every single bus lane, no entry and no u-turn sign at this point.

[Jobbo]

F***. Why is it the only part of government that works efficiently is the traffic PCN system. Two in a week

One for a verboten U turn and another for missing my turning and accidentally taking the next exit down a one way street. I strongly think that Southwark have a camera installed above every single bus lane, no entry and no u-turn sign at this point.

That's harsh. Driving in London used to be quite fun; 25-30 years ago at least. There was a very pleasant drop in traffic when the congestion charge came in that incentivised me to drive to work occasionally from St Albans; SJ Berwin had a fairly empty car park so it was easy to get a space, and there was a newsagent just down the road from the office where you could pay your £5.

[Gavster]

I spent a decent amount of time in the late 90s and early 00s driving around central London and loved it. Everything from driving to clubs and parties across town in the middle of the night, shopping trips on weekend afternoons browsing cars or ICE at TCR, also worked as a delivery driver in uni holidays. Hacking around town was always a blast before everything was 20mph and there was a camera on every street.

The big turning point for me was c.2009-12 when I started getting PCNs from CCTV footage, that really put an end to the fun.

[GG.]

Yes the CCTV footage did turn it into full big brother. I remember back around that time waiting on a double yellow outside a supermarket in Islington for sub-5 minutes whilst my wife, then girlfriend, ran in to grab something. Engine was running for the duration so I could drive off if a parking warden walked by... still got a PCN in the post.

I've actually gone several years without one so was doing quite well... until this week

[Mito Man]

It's still not too bad. The difficulty is you need to be driving in London frequently so you can keep up with the changes otherwise it gets overwhelming. A lot of it is just terrible road design. So many roads which are not signposted in advance where they turn to a left or right turn only and you get pushed into a bus lane. Lanes merging just ahead of a yellow box. Residents only roads. Roads only accessible at certain hours. I believe taxi drivers used to get past the no U turn thing by doing a 3 point turn but that's not allowed now.

Traffic never recovered to pre covid levels despite many roads being narrowed or permanently closed. It's reduced further this year with the oil price however one weird thing I've noticed is that the Tesla supercharger is now also empty in the evenings despite it not changing it's prices.

[GG.]

I believe taxi drivers used to get past the no U turn thing by doing a 3 point turn but that's not allowed now.

There is one prohibition on the south circular near here that I circumvent if needed by driving into a church car park and then pulling back out again. No law against that so far as I'm aware!

The recent incident was annoying as I was just trying to get back to where I started after google maps took me down a road only for it to be blocked off at the end. Still not showing as blocked!

https://maps.app.goo.gl/h5L7ePg7Dih3ZA5H7

[Rich B]

Got to keep the council tax rates down!

[V8Granite]

A sister who worked for TFL doing traffic flow/ roadworks management and a friend who is a London Cab driver. It would be dangerous to put them in the same room

Really don't enjoy driving in London anymore, when the wife did a sausage making course at The Ginger Pig many moons ago I had a great night driving around car and architecture spotting in the Merc.

Dave!

[DeskJockey]

I've lived in London for 16 years, and in that time I've driven into or through central London three times. I have no desire to do it again.

I'll rather go out to the M25 and take a longer route (in distance at least).

My wife worked in Chelsea during lockdown and really enjoyed the 35-40 minute drive from home to the hospital on empty roads and with free parking. Once the restrictions lifted, she was back on the train.

[Rich B]

i used to drive in and park in the NCP under marble arch every day before they extended the congestion zone - i used to start early and finish early back in the days i was a site manager. i still don’t mind driving in London, but trying to drive around in rush hour is totally pointless.

[Matty]

Talking of expensive parts that can be gotten cheap....

I've been concerned about the pop-out handles on the Honda, it's pretty much the only common problem (now they've done a recall on the brake simulator). The official fix is a full replacement, at a cost of £850+fitting per side. They get gunked up, corrode and stop popping. I've seen some overly complicated fixes, but someone's posted that you can split the mechanism apart and just replace the motor.

It's from a DC5 Integra TypeR. £8 each side, plus an hour of your DIY time. Sometimes, just sometimes, I am thankful for some of the strange people you find on Facebook.

[Rich B]

i got some new nuts to sort the bodges in my seatbelt fixings and fitted the passenger side harness today. My passenger seat is fixed so i couldn’t slide it forward to access the 17mm bolt that holds the seat belt in place, so i had to use all (most) my extensions together so i could go from the centre between the seats to the bold on the b pillar. Stupid, but it worked.



The Elise is so simple, but you need to be tiny with 3 elbows on each arm to realistically access everything.

[Explosive Newt]

Think the Tesla will need new rear tyres to get through the MOT. I have always gone with the Tesla-specific acoustic Pilot Sport 4S in the past but wonder if it is time for a change.

Still getting used to the Cayman. Low profile tyres and a stiff suspension has made me realise how appalling the potholes are in any town.

[DeskJockey]

A set of car keys went through the washing machine.

Galaxy key survived, Zoe one didn't.

Taking the Galaxy key apart was a rather icky affair. I had forgotten how much gunk, dirt, and ick gathers inside it. Some of it looked like belly button fluff

[Explosive Newt]

Taking the Galaxy key apart was a rather icky affair. I had forgotten how much gunk, dirt, and ick gathers inside it. Some of it looked like belly button fluff

To be fair I'd like to see a car key that is a better shape for extracting belly button fluff than the Ford group ones.

[Matty]

Still getting used to the Cayman. Low profile tyres and a stiff suspension has made me realise how appalling the potholes are in any town.

Unless you know the road, driving along it when it's wet, or dark is unfortunately a risky business these days, moreso with modern big wheels/small profiles. There's a great 2 mile stretch by me that's usually quiet, but there are a couple of crippling potholes there that would probably bend a rim.

[IanF]

Nice lunch yesterday, but on a 3 mile journey I managed to get some metal into rear tyre… too close to side wall for repair so replacement MPS4Ss ordered (S5 still not OE approved for BMW) and fitting this afternoon nearby.. 13000 miles on rears so not bad I suppose, £640 - I feel like I’ve been paying similar for tyres for the last 15 years!

Michelin website stated as 4x4, they recommend all 4 tyres being replaced, but of course they do!

[GG.]

Still getting used to the Cayman. Low profile tyres and a stiff suspension has made me realise how appalling the potholes are in any town.

Unless you know the road, driving along it when it's wet, or dark is unfortunately a risky business these days, moreso with modern big wheels/small profiles. There's a great 2 mile stretch by me that's usually quiet, but there are a couple of crippling potholes there that would probably bend a rim.

IIRC the Pirellis on those are not actually too bad either. The MPS4S I've changed to seem worse for ride/compliance in cold weather than the ones I had on my 997 - they crab horribly on full lock particularly when wet.

The pain also continues with the RR. The hydraulic anti-roll bar bushes need to be replaced which is another £650

I need to start taking it to an independent to get non-warranty maintenance done as the main dealer rates are ridiculous.

[mik]

Swapped Mrs mik’s ETron into its winter wheels / tyres yesterday. Winter be a comin’