Viking

We've already had icy roads and a covering of snow up here. Grit wagons have been out and about as well throwing salt and sharp stuff at peoples cars.

I put mine on at the weekend. Straight swap of alloys on the Jetta with the summer wheels coming off and getting cleaned before being put away, and the already clean winter wheels going on. The van got a treat, a set of four Toyo Snowprox S943 tyres on, and new shockers on the rear. I've been out in the van a few times and done about 300 miles on them, and I have to say they're a step up from the S942 I had on last year. Much better grip and less road noise.

205/40/17 for me.

Keeping quiet about a security flaw is pointless. Telling the world so they can buy a set of lockers which are safer is better.After all, you can bet the tea leaf community pass on such tips.

Using the excuse he couldn't move over as he was being overtaken himself is not valid. If he had insufficient space to overtake the cyclist safely then he should wait until he has.

It's not an advert as such. It's real video shot by the fireman while on a job, edited (I presume with permission) by Go Pro, and used as advertising. There are other unedited (and differently edited) versions on the web. Unfortunately, the kitten died the following night, but still a worthwhile attempt by someone to save a life.

It's an old joke, and not actually true in the sense the video males out. Snopes.

Seen someone doing that on a Saxo or something, and set fire to the rear bumper.

Your english is better than some people (on other forums I might stress) who were born and bred in this country, and are supposed to be writing in their native language.

There's another vid here showing how the advert was made. He was wearing a harness at one point in that, so I guess he was wearing it all the time.

Scaffold boards would be the thing for me.

Very thoughtful. Makes a difference when little things like that are done prior to the job. When I had the windscreen replaced earlier this year I sprayed the wiper spindles the night before and loosened the nuts. Then the next morning I popped the wiper arms off with a puller so he could get straight on with it.

Something the dealers omit to tell people buying dpf equipped cars is the fact that they need replacement about 80 - 100k miles. It doesn't sell cars very well so they "forget" to mention it. If you take it to a back street garage somewhere they'll generally remove the dpf, and stick the air hose & pressure washer through it to clear the ash out, then refit it. Much cheaper than buying a new one and the dealers sending the old one away to be recycled.

Rich, don't carry a lot of weight really, usually empty boot and at most a couple of kids in the back.

The car's done just over 100k miles and it was just the bottom end of the spring brolen off. I had a broken spring on the Seat Altea we had before this at 140k miles, so it might be common. The ignition barrel and spring were out of warranty, and had it serviced at the same time. Total bill was £242 and pence. My mate's the service manager....

Quick update. Car went back to VW last week for a warranty claim on the bonnet. Paint was bubbling on the front edge, and it's a fairly well known issue. Fully covered by VW so no issues there. Had a call from the dealers to say the bonnet is not worth repairing so it's getting a new one fitted and sprayed. Also, a quick check over revealed that there's a broken rear spring. And I reported an issue with the doors locking and unlocking occasionally when braking and accelerating, so a new ignition barrel required. And a day before it went into the dealers the service light came on, so they've given it a service at the same time. While they've ben doing this I've had a loan car. A brand new VW Golf SE Bluemotion technology, with a list of toys. So, going to pick mine up tomorrow with a final bill for the spring, ingition barrel, & service of £242. I like my main dealers.

Either the punk is a crap shot, or it was blanks. I reckon blanks.

Well, it must've been something fairly localised as the door mirror hasn't gone, and the wheel arches are intact. So something took a line right down the side between those two points.

No, the tyre stand. If you go onto lidls website (here) and on the right hand side you select sign up for the newsletter, you get a couple of emails a week telling you what specials are coming in the following week.

That was on sale in Lidl a year or so ago at £12 or so. I bought one, and I wish I'd bought two.

Yep, me as well. Had it fixed just in time for the mot, and then sold it.

I've driven VAG group cars for the past 10 years and had 1 broken spring on the rear of the Altea, and that was at 140k miles, mainly because the wife loaded 150Kgs of marine salt in the back and drove off with all the weight on the rear axle.

Well, went and collected it this afternoon. No damage to the alloy (which we discussed before I left it there, and he promised he'd be careful), all new shiny stick on balance weights, and a new valve. Repair seems okay, although there's nothing to see as the nail hole wasn't worth drilling out to refil. Just a vulcanised patch on the inside apparently. No pictures due to the fact it was refitted and balanced etc. and there's nothing to see on the outside. However, I don't think I'll go back again. Simply because even though he was careful with the alloy he's caught the sidewall on the inside of the tyre and cut it somehow. It's not down to the cords, and only a flap of rubber, and he pointed it out to me. Now it certainly wasn't there when I dropped it off, and you'd think given the fact that he was repairing the damned thing that he'd have offered to patch it down or something, but I'm mildly annoyed. I'll stick it down with superglue and make a note to use somewhere else next time I have the need. Or I get my mate to remove the tyre and take it in bare. Still, he did knock a tenner off the price which helps a little. All in all, I have a repaired tyre for much less than the cost of a new one, and I've learned something new.

Looking at this pic its about 2mm off the wear markers , you dont run winter tyres anywhere near as low as summer ones they rely on the tread depth to work properly If you look at this picture of a Blizzak for sale on Ebay, it's listed at 4-5mm... I've highlighted the first set of wear indicators which disappear at about 5mm Look closely at my tyre and you can see it's nowhere near down to the wear markers there. Still got plenty of life in the tyre, despite your eyes deceiving you

Yep, as their website says here. Link. New tyre is about £120. Plus fitting and balance. It's got 6 - 6.5mm left on it. Edit: Just measured it and the lowest tread measurement is 6.7mm, going up to 6.9mm