metcars

Yes, very true. There's a car for everybody and not everyone wants a BMW/Mercedes/Audi

No offence, just an observation. The problem is that the picture is 'over exposed' and the contrast is iffy; and a little out of focus. This is down to your camera. The bright sky against the black car is too much for your camera to process. Your roof, screen and bonnet have "blown out". Just a small observation. Don't use a cluttered background, all those houses in the distance, keep it simple. I often use my local country park. Watch reflections, it looks bad if you cast a shadow on a photo or you can see the reflection of a bus stop!. Also, watch the road surface, it sounds a small thing but that patchy tarmac doesn't look nice. Nice car by the way, those three door Astra's are smoking hot at the moment. They seem to be appealing to a certain group of young guys.

You can talk! I thought with all the premier league footballers that live in Cheshire you'd be choked with white RRs?

Yes, photoshop, but photography is a hobby of mine so a little 'enhancing' is just fun. You'd be surprised at just how playing with contrast/brightness can improve a photo massively.

Does colour matter with these things?

Not my usual thing. An early one, 2005 5dr Urban with 105k. Full history and a new clutch. It will be 12yrs old in a few weeks, do buyers of these 'city cars' like them slightly newer?

Umesh is the man!

Just out of interest, what sort of vehicle age range?

Testing tow bar electrics is a good start, but yes I agree. You do some awful contraptions being towed about, usually in auction car parks. Plant trailers being used to transport cars etc

Testing caravans might not be a bad idea? What is your opinion on the idea of being able to levy fines for failure on some components as a precedent? If someone "fudges" their ABS light wouldn't that be equally serious?

"The DfT said: “Removal of a DPF will almost invariably result in a contravention of the Regulations, making the vehicle illegal to use on the road. Potential penalties are £1,000 for a car and £2,500 for a van." It appears that the details have yet to be hammered out, but it could be the thin end of an expensive wedge if VOSA are able to justify levying fines on vehicles with certain faults. God help us?

Just a small observation, and this is not my area of expertise. We're all men of the world and we all know the various wrinkles used to get through MOT's, especially where electronics are concerned. But being prosecuted for trying/doing it is a new power for MOT testers? I thought only roadside VOSA could issue fines/penalties for construction and use issues?

Some of you guys might find this interesting. MOT changes to be introduced in May following DPF investigation New methods to better detect the presence of DPFs are under development, Department for Transport tells GW Research to better detect DPF removal through emissions follows fears that the current MOT is failing to identify many cases of DPF removal because it only includes a ‘visual inspection’ of the hardware.Research to better detect DPF removal through emissions follows fears that the current MOT is failing to identify many cases of DPF removal because it only includes a ‘visual inspection’ of the hardware. Changes are to be made to the MOT as part of a revised Roadworthiness Directive which comes into force from May 2017 and new technology is being developed to detect DPF removal. In a statement obtained by GW, the Department for Transport (DfT) said: “Alternative methods of detecting the presence of particulate filters are under development and we are examining their suitability for use in an MOT. “Further research is required to ensure potential methods accurately determine a pass or fail.” The government investigation followed urgent calls for reform with claims that the current MOT is failing to identify many cases of DPF removal because it only includes a ‘visual inspection’ of the hardware, which can be welded back together. It is an offence, under the Road Vehicles Regulations to use a vehicle which has been modified in such a way that it no longer complies with the air pollutant emissions standards it was designed to meet. The DfT said: “Removal of a DPF will almost invariably result in a contravention of the Regulations, making the vehicle illegal to use on the road. “Potential penalties are £1,000 for a car and £2,500 for a van. “The legislation makes the owner or user of the vehicle primarily responsible for its condition. “Whether the person who had removed the DPF, or had offered to remove it, had also committed an offence would be a matter for the courts to decide.” Speaking earlier this year, Dave Garratt, chief executive at the Garage Equipment Association (GEA), said: “[DPF removal] has been going on for a long time and it is probably getting progressively worse. “The biggest hole in the MOT is that they don’t really check it. “[Visual inspection] does not actually tell you if there is a core in the canister.”

Hopefully not "doom blue" I think that 'white' is going to go down kicking and screaming. I can't see all those big luxury Mercs/BMW looking good in bright red, like a line of fire engines

In my neck of the woods white is still 'red hot'. Lots of prestige high end dealers are obviously focusing on white as 'the' colour. Some of these same 'high end' dealers are making small features of white cars, gathering them together on the front like a line of big expensive fridges. A Ford dealership near me has done exactly the same with 'red' cars, do they know something we dont

I agree with you. Ebay need to make non-payers liable for sellers relist costs. And while I'm here, and bearing in mind the nightmare I'm having with Hermes losing "two" parcels this week, courier companies should have a seperate feedback system as there is no accountability for them.

I used to 'block' a lot of cars with Manheim, but even though the trade selling rates (negotiable if you have the numbers) were pretty good, it became too expensive. It's a really fickle platform and sometimes cars just don't/won't sell when they should! Many, many years ago I knew two guys who did the "buy from one auction and sell at the next" thing. I used to see them at Manheim Colchester on a thursday evening buying a dozen or so cars, then run them up the A12 to Chelmsford auctions for the Saturday sale (which was brilliant for me back then, shame they stopped the Saturday sale). I think they did alright but it wrong in the end, I still see one of the guys. Today, if I needed out of a car it would go on ebay, especially if it's something really special. 'Blocking' bread and butter cars isn't worth it any more, at least for me. Just my opinion

Have you cantacted the garage that were supposed to have changed the clutch just to confirm it was actually done?

Probably the wrong place to discuss this but I have to say, as a dyed in the wool Lotus enthusiast, bought, owned and sold many early Lotus and love them all, warts and all. But the one that got away for me was the original Lotus Elite. So, I was curious to see what the program would cover and on the whole was disappointed. Very little actual spanner work, hardly any of the background to this wonderful little car. They didn't even mention the dashboard being styled to match the side profile of the car. They failed to explain the relevance of the fire pump Coventry Climax, designed to run at full revs from stone cold making it hugely reliable as a road car engine. The list is endless. Instead we had to endure that modern TV format of heart tugging back story and faux deadline. Shame on them!

Exchange & Mart?

You can't blaim them for trying, the BBC have a huge salary bill to cover these days

I had a huge falling out with BCA many years ago. They would have to do something really nice to win me back. Although I still feel that BCA has better stock and a better website, but ...... I think they know exactly what they're doing. Drawing attention to it is just a consequence. I'm under the impression that large companies have access to sophisticated software that sweeps the internet for mentions of their business. Can be useful for everyone?

Yeah, since they changed to this system they must be earning a fortune. I have to say BCA seem able to upgrade cards without being chased

Thanks