Spinney

None of this comes as any surprise to me and has been going on for donkeys years. Even when I had company cars, I became so mistrustful of main dealers I would deliberately secretly mark service items that should have been changed (filters, spark plugs etc) but then weren’t, and the buggers still charged for them. I also had brake pads that seemed to grow from one service to the next. They’d be 60% worn at one service then only 50% worn at the next one, despite doing another 20,000 miles! I fell out with that many main dealers, I’m surprised I wasn’t blacklisted. 😂

Well you know, a few short years ago, that would have been me saying those words. I fear that I’ve just reached the point where I’m really no longer interested. Never thought I’d ever say that as cars, and Lotus in particular, have been a special love of mine for probably the last 63 years. I guess part of it is I just don’t like the way cars are going, with overly heavy electric cars and too many distraction toys in the abominable touch screen. I know the Evora probably represents the last of the previous analogue breed that I loved so much, nevertheless, with all the potholes and increasingly anti car legislations I just don’t feel I can enjoy it like I used to. I know this isn’t the right thread for this and I only brought it up because of the window regulator. So, grog, I’m away in S.America right now but I will message you when I’m back home in early March. 👍

An email follow up earlier reminded me about this problem and that I was going to try and get my old regulator inspected. My apologies that I’ve done nothing about it but for various reasons, I haven’t even logged onto the forum. I haven’t even sat in my Evora since last October and, to be honest, I think I will be getting rid of it as I just don’t have the enthusiasm any longer. I’ve had a Lotus in my life on and off since the late 60’s and permanently since the early 90’s, so it will be a bit of a wrench for me, a dyed in the wool Lotus man! Anyhow, I’m only saying this now as I won’t be continuing with problem solving the window regulator. I still have it in the garage so if anybody wants to take this over, I’ll happily package it up and send on to them.

My apologies for keep replying to this but I’ve only just thought of one last point and that is I used hard nylon washers which also came from RS Components.

That link above is just the example that came up on Google since I’m not currently in the U.K. You can get a good range of sizes from many U.K. suppliers. I think mine came from RS Components. Being aero grade they are very strong and won’t cause galvanic corrosion in the Rivnuts as they are not dissimilar metals. Just a note on fitting new Rivnuts too is to use Loctite around the shoulders when installing them. This keeps them nice and tight in the sheet metal.

On my previous Exige and Elise before that, I used aeronautical grade anodised aluminium alloy Allen socket head screws similar to these:- https://www.aliexpress.us/item/3256803866354163.html?src=google&aff_fcid=18471d14ccf744c783809afbc7560b00-1704704614373-07269-UneMJZVf&aff_fsk=UneMJZVf&aff_platform=aaf&sk=UneMJZVf&aff_trace_key=18471d14ccf744c783809afbc7560b00-1704704614373-07269-UneMJZVf&terminal_id=b5163e8072914614ad7727fe38684d6d&afSmartRedirect=y&gatewayAdapt=glo2usa4itemAdapt A smear of graphite grease when fitting et voila, never a problem with them seizing in the Rivnut bushes.

That's brought back memories. We used to stay a lot on Longboat Key just down from Anna Maria and the Beach Bar on AM was an oft visited watering hole for us. Always good food and plenty of life there. One of our most entertaining US trips was a week at a Dude Ranch outside Tucson (think City Slickers). I'd only ever ridden a horse, badly, once before and my wife and son never had but still, for some godforsaken reason, we decided it was a great way to spend a week. You'd be paired up with a suitable steed at the beginning of the week and ride the same one every day where possible. I've always been highly distrustful of horses and the fact they can actually think for themselves but I have to admit it was a real hoot! We didn't need to mess about with saddling up or suchlike as that was all done for us and the horses then 'valet parked' for us whenever we dismounted. Had some great rides up into the mountains, eating breakfast served from a chuck wagon and then riding off into the wilderness, dried river beds and more mountain scenery. Some horses could get a bit frisky but by the end of the week we were all able to handle them pretty well. We loved the whole experience.

Don't know if they still do, but all Tesla's used to use auxiliary switches and stalks supplied by Mercedes Benz. I recall test driving a Model S which I noticed had the same switchgear as my E Class I had at the time. I guess going away from these means 1 less bought in item for Tesla.

Have to admit, I’d have put my natural OCD tendency to one side and whooped with joy if the toe rags had been frazzled to a crisp during that operation! I appreciate it wouldn’t have been switched on although you can but hope.🤔 Back in the 90’s the factory we were in then was sited next door to a company that made huge substation transformers. During one weekend their factory was broken into and tonnes of copper nicked. Trouble was the scrotes then broke into my yard and nicked our 10t truck so they could transport the copper away. 🤬 I’d have been quite happy if the copper they took was connected to a 3ph supply at the time. Fun fact:- Opposite my factory was a foundry that made metal castings (usually bronze) for works of sculpture. It was they who made the large hands holding the sabres for Saddam Hussein’s ‘Victory Arch’ that can still be seen arching over a road in Baghdad. Allegedly the hands and forearms were based on a mould taken from Saddam’s and scaled up for the finished work. That has absolutely nothing to do with anything but it just popped into my head as I was remembering the ‘Coppergate’ incident. 😁

As somebody who spent the last 35 years of his working life in the metalworking business, can I just point out what a shoddy bloody job those guys made of angle grinding the posts down. No attempt made to cut them off squarely nor to clean up the burrs afterwards. That’s just a shite job that deeply offends my OCD and they should be ashamed of themselves. Truly shocking and if nothing else, the perpetrators need to be prosecuted just for that. I mean, who leaves a cut metal post looking like that eh? 🤦🤬😤😉😂

Everyone to their own indeed but it does amuse me just how wrong you are with your views of life on a cruise ship. I think you must have watched ‘Carry on Cruising’ many years ago and assume it is still very much like that. It really isn’t! Like all holiday destinations, there are a whole range of ships catering for a very wide range of tastes, from the banal to the sophisticated and everywhere in between. Pick the right one and, shock, horror, it is actually possible to enjoy yourself!😉😁

I agree with you as it happens. There are ships to suit all tastes and that one clearly is more suited to the ‘hard of thinking’ ASDA types. We tend to go for the smaller ships, mainly around 800 passengers but occasionally up to 1800, depending upon the itinerary. One rule we always abide by is if the ship has large water slides, kids clubs and garish colours, avoid it like the plague. To answer @williamtherebel, although we have used many different cruise lines, I don’t know Paramount Cruises I’m afraid. They appear to be a travel company that uses a range of cruise lines, so difficult to comment further without knowing the ship they will use for a particular cruise. Forget the ‘dressed to the nines in evening suits attending the Captains table’. That really doesn’t happen any longer and although one or two cruise lines still have a formal night or two during a cruise, it is rare and way more casual/relaxed on the majority of ships. As @drdoom said, if you treat it as a moving hotel where you can unpack at the start, it is a great way of seeing a lot of destinations in a relatively short period, with minimum hassle. Most of the travelling is done at night whilst you’re asleep, allowing you to wake up in a new port. I appreciate it isn’t for everybody but I’m done with action and adventure holidays now. These days I prefer a more gentle approach where I can visit interesting places, enjoy local dishes and culture, experience some great food and wines on board, relax and have conversations with people who’ve had an interesting life. We have seen pretty much most of the world by cruise ship over the last 10 years Personally, I’m done with the hassle of flying and airports so for me, a comfortable ship really is the only way to do it now.

Your loss! 😉😆

It honestly matters not one iota to me what your views are regarding me, cruising or those who do cruise. Certainly no offence taken and we’re all entitled to our opinion, no matter how wrong it is!😁 As for me fitting your stereotype:- Over dressed? Nope, never been known. Fake tan? Mine’s all real Over teeth whitened? Wouldn’t dream of such a pointless practice. Road kill mutton dressed as lamb? I think Mrs S should answer that one - before landing a right hander. Wannabe snob? No wannabe about it, I am a snob! Hyacinth? See the answer before last!😂 To be fair, you could possibly have levelled all those accusations, apart from teeth whitening maybe, at the typical cruiser of the 70’s and 80’s and those descriptions probably fitted my own parents, who loved cruising in that period. Todays average cruiser, however, is a completely different and, dare I say, more sophisticated animal, nothing like your stereotypes. The odd thing about being around ‘people’ in the context of a cruise ship is that you can interact with them as much or as little as you’d like. You can be the life and soul of a party chatting to anybody who will listen or you can be a curmudgeonly miserable old git sitting on your own all the time and the truth of it is - nobody else on board would give a stuff. Like I said earlier, I once held similar views, probably based upon my parents but trust me, things have moved on considerably and now bear no resemblance to those days. As you’ve said, “quite possibly all fiction, as I have never “done” a cruise.” Yes it is, but no need to let mere facts get in the way!😁🚢🥂

Don’t knock it ‘til you’ve tried it. I used to think the same but here we are a mere 24 cruises later. 😁

Can I ask which cruise line you’ll be using for this trip? We’re old hands with a lot of them so can maybe offer some tips. 👍

We’re doing 4 days in Buenos Aires in February before moving on to Montevideo then down to Ushuaia. For some strange reason that I don’t even understand myself, I want to take a trip out to the Falklands. 🤷‍♂️ Anyhow, we’re in the region, so why not?😁 From Ushuaia we are going up through Chile before spending a couple of days in the Santiago region then flying home from there. In April we’re taking a week by the Italian lakes, one of my most fave regions of Europe then at the end of May a week in Rovinj, Croatia. We were there earlier last year and it is a fabulous place. Beyond that, things are on hold until my son and his squeeze decide where and when this year they will be getting hitched. It will be somewhere in the US since that’s where they live but no idea where yet. I suggested Death Valley, which didn’t go down too well with the squeeze!😂

Gotta say, that is one part of my Volvo which I do like and works well. On my previous Merc I could say “Navigate to xxx xxx” and it would often then reply with something like “Telephoning Sean”. I’d often find myself holding an utterly pointless argument with the bloody car! 🤬

Oh so true. The keyless entry on modern cars is a case in point. If ever there was a solution to a problem that never existed, this was it. When the fob blippers were first introduced (possibly by Renault), I think most folk probably thought what a great idea as they are certainly convenient, but keyless, why, just why???🤷‍♂️

Having experienced how my Volvo reacts to quite benign traffic situations in a totally inappropriate manner recently, I agree completely. I doubt I’ll be around by the time we get to that but you know what, I’m perfectly happy about that.

My Evora has mucho farts and bangs in ‘Sport’ and ‘Race’ modes but since that’s standard and how it left the factory, I assume you’d get away with it. 🤷‍♂️ I guess it is just the aftermarket fitment they are cracking down on. Still, mustn’t worry about it as we’ll all be driving round in luvverly electric cars before long! Christ what awful thought!🤦

Come on guys, forget all this predictable Italian car nonsense, for simple purity of lines, you’ve got to go a long way to beat this. To my eyes it’s still one of the prettiest cars ever conceived and it’s all British! I do love the XJ13 though

Yep, that’s exactly the situation that prompted the over reaction in my car. Normally it’s only the wife who’s allowed to over react! I’d like to think I will be ready for it if I’m in that situation again but frankly, I’d sooner just turn the bloody thing off. I wonder if there are any statistics of accidents caused by these stupid systems rather than the driver?

I assume you are talking about Bell & Colvill. If so I can assure you that such an experience is very, very unusual. They are one of the best dealerships I have ever dealt with and are always attentive. I have bought 4 cars from them over the years, 3 Lotus and 1 Subaru and never found them anything other than helpful and attentive. They are a small dealership with not many staff in the sales office but your experience is highly unusual. I suggest you give them another chance if you want to visit and maybe call beforehand.

Earlier I was reading a review in yesterdays Telegraph of the new Volvo EX30 and was interested to read the description of the cars onboard 'Collision Avoidance' system that nearly caused a crash of its own. Apparently, the writer was on a main road, approaching a side turning from which a car looked as though it was going to emerge, but actually stopped in time. The cameras and radar of the EX30, however, interpreted the situation as if the car was still coming out of the side turning and, without any justification, slammed on the brakes! This got me thinking about my own car, a Volvo V90 which I bought new in May this year. In the main I am very pleased with the car and how it drives generally but it too has this annoying tendency to think for itself and apply the wrong action totally inappropriately. Mostly it is just an irritation that isn't in any way dangerous but last month it did behave in what I can only describe as a potentially catastrophic way that really caught my attention. Firstly, the minor irritation. When reversing, the surrounding cameras present you with a virtual overhead view of the car and surrounding objects with all the usual accompanying bleeps and coloured lights in the main central tablet screen. If the sensors judge you are about to touch an object whilst reversing, the car slams the brakes on with such sudden ferocity, it genuinely makes you think you have actually hit something or been hit from behind. Trouble is, the sensors even detect condensation from the exhaust as a solid object you're about to hit and so slams on the brakes. Luckily, however, you can disable the reverse auto braking, which I have to do every time I use the car as it always defaults to the on setting when you next start the car. As I say, though, this is just a fairly minor irritation and turning it off has already become part of my starting procedure upon entering the car. Now the potentially far more dangerous so called 'Safety System' that I first experienced last month. I was about to join a dual carriageway and driving down the slip road, I noticed a 40' artic in lane 1 that appeared to be driving at his regulated 56mph limit. I didn't have time to accelerate and get out on the carriageway before him, so slowed a bit and moved out on the road behind him. This was all well and good but I also noticed 2 other artics in convoy in lane 2 but about 50m back, also seemingly at their pre-set speed limit. Not wishing to find myself stuck in this position, I obviously decided to overtake the lorry in front of me, so started accelerating and indicated my intention to move into lane 2, ahead of the convoy artics. Just as I started moving into lane 2, my car apparently decided I was going to hit the lorry in front that I had just been accelerating towards, slammed on the brakes and started pulling the steering wheel over to the right whilst also lighting up the dash like a council house at Christmas with "DANGER COLLISION WARNING" and clanging warning chimes at the same time! My wife screamed and obviously blamed me, although she did calm down when I explained what had actually just taken place. Despite very nearly s****ing myself with the unexpected suddenness of what just happened, I floored the throttle and the car did allow me to complete the manoeuvre I had started and we safely overtook the lorry, whereupon the lights on the dash all went back to normal. Now, I'm all for passive safety systems in cars that protect the occupants as far as is possible when a collision is unavoidable, and which Volvo have been promoting for many years, but I'm really not at all convinced by the active systems that are being built into cars. If I hadn't had my wits about me, the one that happened in my car could have had a very different outcome, presumably as with the Journo who was testing the Volvo EX30. Much as I was beginning to get used to and enjoy my car, I now have a very different attitude towards it, viewing it instead with a certain amount of cautious suspicion. I'm sure we will see most/all future cars being equipped with such systems, but I sincerely hope they become more sophisticated than the apparently crude 'sledgehammer to crack a walnut' Volvo systems. Anybody else had similar experiences with their cars?