General Chat

I've never had a MiL, or anything similar - well possibly a couple of ex's spinster aunts, who I rarely had anything to do with.

However, I wouldn't call them spiders - far too complimentary! :-D

The GSS is OH's mother. She would put the wobblers up anybody!

I'm an arachnophobe. I find this thread very distressing.

I probably won't look in again.


Actually, I'm fine with spiders.

I will not be repairing the Great She Spider!

Somebody else can get her over the pit!

No changing that GSS, Sharron. :-D

You'll note, I remembered to put all three letters in there. ;-)

I ain't losing the plot as quickly as some people think I am. ;-) :-D

Interesting that Rollo recomends a home diagnostic system.

That's fine if you can do the repair yourself. But if you then have to take it in for repair you will be told that the fault doesn't show up as it has already been downloaded. At least, I assume this will happen. It certaily did when I called out the AA and my garage couldn't then identify the fault as the AA man has used his own computer to check it out.

Well, I'd never have known!
Who'da thought cars would have changed in 50+ years.

Just as well we've been told, I may have gone out and tried to service some random car! :-D

Working on pretty well any car made in the last 30 years is quite tough if your last experience was with an 1100 or Moggy Minor. Such traditional components as HT coil, carburettor, contacts, distributor are long gone while formerly simple tasks such as changing headlamp bulbs or clutch can be complicated and expensive. Installing used brake parts will immediately invalidate insurance. Filters can be tricky to replace well hidden eg oil, pollen air. Power streering can spring expensive surprises.

It helps though to have an idea of what is wrong. Pro mechanics use expensivee digital fault systems but the ordinary person can easily obtain a simplified system which can be run from an iPhone or SmartPhone .

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Scanner-Adapter-Android-Windows-Diagnostic/dp/B07883V8KC

btw: it is illegal to have unmatched front tyres with the only exception being the get-you-home max 50 mph supplied with many cars until recently.

I love spiders, with the one exception!

:-D :-D :-D :-D :-D
At a quick glance then, I thought JoyLouise was putting the name 'HMS Warspite' forward as a name for Sharron's FEBFM :-D :-D :-D
It sounds very appropriate!

Please don't insult spiders!

:-D :-D :-D

Just put 'The Great She Spider'.

Sorry, Sharron, I know you’ve said that before but I gave her the ‘honorary name’ as it was quicker to type. :-D.

I’ll try to remember to refer to her as your FEBFM …. of course you’ll realise I’ll never remember that in a couple of days time. :-D ;-)

You’re right Inky. Even on 0-60 figures alone the car’s performance ought to look better. (Lower weight, less drag?)

No manufacturer of any kind of product ever misses a trick, do they?

First or all, Joy Louise,she has never become my ma-in-law. People have been to refer to her as my future mother-in-law and I tell them that, no, she is my future ex-boyfriend's mother!

She made the wrong choice and we have been holding off her control for thirty-four years now nearly.

As for who sh has in the jeweller's, I have no idea. I owned no jewellery then and the same now. Was advised to not wear it when I was training and had no use for it anyway. I do own a trolley jack though even if it gets no use anymore!

I think one of the reasons for new cars not having a spare wheel as 'standard' is weight.
We bought a s/h Yeti 18 months ago as a replacement for a Civic that was past its sell-by date. A waggon for our two dogs. No spare wheel, just an electric compressor and a cannister of gunge.
This was the first time ever that we had a car without a spare. So I asked for one to be supplied. £260 later the wheel was in the car. Wheel-wise a Yeti is the biggest car we have had. And that spare 'weighs a ton' - maybe the weight of a very heavy suitcase. That weight would surely have an impact on the new car test figures?

Can’t go wrong with a trolley jack, Sharron. :-D

At least, I don’t think there’s a variety of them.

On the other hand, a piece of gold jewellery with a ruby stuck in somewhere would not be so good if the preference was for silver with a sapphire, :-D

Did your ma-in-law have someone working in the local jewellers picked out for her boy? :-D

I had to be taught, Jot Louise and my Smarts don't even have spare wheels.

When OH and I were first engineered together by his controlling mother she was forever dropping hints about getting discount at the local jeweller ( any girl would do for him as long as she got the white wedding!).

Being good boy and doing as he was told, he duly asked me what I wanted for Christmas. Well, there were a couple of books that I needed but my hearts desire was a trolley jack.

Sharron, I wouldn’t know where to start.

Almost 55 years ago, OH showed me how to change a tyre in case I ever needed to do that.

The only time it happened - many years later - a motoring organisation came out with a new tyre for me as my car did not have a spare. As far as I know, if new cars come with anything similar, it is a temporary tube that will take you to the nearest garage and not much further.

Times they are a’ changing. :-D

I love that diagnostic machine that garages have now. A sick car??? :-D