Eric Bloodaxe

From the NHS website for those 16-64: You may be at increased risk from COVID-19 if you have a health condition, such as: a long-term lung condition, such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), asthma (if you need steroid tablets) or cystic fibrosis a long-term heart condition, such as congenital heart disease, chronic heart failure or atrial fibrillation long term kidney disease (CKD) stage 3, 4 or 5 a severe liver disease, such as cirrhosis a long-term problem with the brain or nerves, such as epilepsy, cerebral palsy, multiple sclerosis, motor neurone disease, Huntington's disease, myasthenia gravis, or a stroke or transient ischaemic attack (TIA) severe or multiple learning disabilities (or being on the learning disability register), such as Down's syndrome diabetes or another hormone disorder, such as Addison's disease a weakened immune system, due to a medical treatment (such as steroid medicine, biological therapy, chemotherapy or radiotherapy), a condition (such as leukaemia), or from having an organ or bone marrow transplant problems with the spleen, having no spleen or having a condition that can affect the spleen (such as sickle cell disease) living with severe obesity (having a body mass index (BMI) of 40 or above) a severe mental health condition, such as schizophrenia or bipolar disorder being pregnant (all stages) living in a long-stay nursing and residential care home as a younger adult. This list is a summary and does not cover everything. There are other health conditions and treatments that may mean you're at increased risk from COVID-19. You should be told if you have an increased risk from COVID-19. If you're unsure, speak to a pharmacist, GP or your specialist for advice.

Substitute "politicians" for "he's" and I'd fully agree. Most of us are old enough to be aware that at this point into a parliament all parties are desperately scrabbling for anything they think will get votes. I'd prefer an honest statement from any of them as to what they actually believe in, and if it is in line with my own values, I might even consider voting for them. As to yellow box junctions etc, I can indeed think of examples where it is virtually impossible to avoid "offending". Speeding is always a moot point. I've commented on other threads that I attended a speed awareness course some time ago. I stayed behind for a coffee and a chat with the excellent instructors (both ex-traffic officers) and even they were of the opinion that the system is almost designed to trap even the most careful driver. When I started driving, it was 30 in built up areas, 70 everywhere else, which was clear and easy to follow. Nowadays we have 20, 30, 40, 50, 60 and 70 often on an apparently random basis and around where I live numerous signs are either buried in vegetation or so weathered they can't be read by eye or TSR camera. So possibly Sunak does have a bit of a point, but perhaps for the wrong reasons.

We're back into the vaccination season again. My Mrs got an email and a letter about Covid from the NHS (as usual I didn't**), but I booked for us both using the online NHS system for first available date (mid-October). Both got our flu jab yesterday at our excellent local pharmacy. We did get a heads up from our GP but had already booked and the pharmacy is more convenient anyway. ** Same always happens with friends of ours - she gets a reminder, he doesn't - are they trying to tell us blokes something?😀

See thread in the Ecosport forum:

I bet you've still got more morals than the private equity owners of WBAC and BCA, where it would probably end up anyway.😀

Brilliant result Bob!

All Mk 4 1.0s have the cam chain (but still the wet oil pump belt).

It seems the Feds are onto the case over in the States: https://www.carscoops.com/2023/09/feds-look-into-whether-the-oil-pumps-in-241000-ford-ecosports-can-cause-an-engine-failure/ Indeed. You only have to search "Peugeot Puretech problems" to see a similar story.

That's my understanding also. From what I've read it does seem quite keen to coast with the engine off which sounds like what Alex is experiencing.

It would be very early for an ecoboost though - the facelift Mk 7.5 only appeared towards the end of 2012. Perhaps the OP could confirm exactly what engine he has?

Beat me to it Tom! Must also be in line for a thread resurrection award!😀

Tuning boxes don't get much of a mention these days and it's hard to find an independent review of tuning box vs remap. Back in the days when I had VW Group diesels the now defunct Volkswagen Driver and Audi Driver magazines used to do some pretty good reviews. Also there are what are usually known as "pedal boxes" which act pretty much like using sport mode by altering the map so you get full throttle earlier, but as Dave says, no increase in power overall. Some of the tuning boxes were complete rubbish (placebos in effect), but I do recall some came out of reviews pretty well and operated in effect like a supplementary ECU. Fwiw DTUKs offering for the 1.8 TDCI claims about 25bhp increase for £399 which really is no advantage over a Superchips, etc, remap, other than the easy fitting/removal aspect. https://www.diesel-performance.co.uk/tuning/car/ford/focus-ii-from-2004-to-2012/1-8-tdci-115ps85kw-1753-ccm-3/#go

Yes, surprisingly the MOT inspection manual doesn't specify a figure, just seems to rely on the testers earhole: 8.1. Noise, Hide 8.1.1. Noise suppression system You must inspect: exhaust silencers under-bonnet noise deadening material fitted as original equipment - you do not need to inspect this for Class 3 vehicles You must use your judgement to assess exhaust noise: during the emissions test for the vehicle rev the engine to around 2,500rpm or half the maximum engine speed if this is lower on vehicles not subject to an emissions test Exhaust noise from the vehicle must not be unreasonably above the noise level you’d expect from a similar vehicle with a standard silencer in average condition.

This is one of those colours that seems to change shade depending on the light. A guy round the corner from me has one and it seems to be a different shade every time I walk past. Another suggestion might be to try a local smart paint repair franchise e.g. Chips Away. It may cost a bit more but from my experience with a few cars these guys can get a very good match and the finished job looks much better than you can achieve with a touch up brush.

The problem as I see it is that we are investing massively in wind and solar power, while paying too little attention to a couple of other factors: 1) Wind and solar often produce power in excess of the demand, so where do you store it? Only viable answers so far are pumped storage schemes (e.g. Dinorwig, Ben Cruachan), battery storage, and production of "green" hydrogen. 2) Back up for those occasions when wind and solar are insufficient to meet demand. The answer is partly (and may ultimately be wholly) the same as 1) above but until that point we're looking at gas or nuclear.

I think that's the key point here. Various outfits have been flagged up on the forum as doing rebuilt ecoboosts, and @RayC333 has heroically done it himself several times. An assessment would have to be made as to the cost effectiveness of doing that versus swapping for one of the new or refurbished engine options which are available. Bit out of order, I think.

Just back from a very enjoyable few days in Filey on the Yorkshire coast. By an amazing coincidence the Trackrod Rally Yorkshire was based there over the weekend. Some of you may remember a similar amazing coincidence last year!😀 My days of standing in the dark in Cropton and Dalby forests being lashed by gravel are long gone, but it was great to see the "Grand Depart" on Friday evening and (slightly fewer!) cars at the finish on Saturday. The historic classes were bursting with Mexicos, RS1600s and RS1800s, plus the odd original Cooper S, Fiat 131 Abarth, Opel Kadett GTE, etc. Some of the drivers looked pretty historic too!

Lol I see the OP has had his wrists slapped on the ST forum for asking the same/similar question on multiple threads. It is a very common query however. I've often wondered whether the PP (the diff, basically) is actually worthwhile on a car for pure road use, though by the time I got mine it was irrelevant anyway as it was ST-3 with PP or nothing! The media aren't much help as virtually all road tests I've seen were of PP-equipped cars. I did manage to find this brief review of a non-PP car, though: https://www.pistonheads.com/news/ph-driven/2020-ford-fiesta-st-mk8--uk-review/38884 Certainly the Fiesta diff is effective and smoother in operation than some I've tried in the past - but I do sometimes feel that just at the point when you're having a bit of fun and starting to feel the real benefit, nowadays you're into speed awareness course territory (or worse!😀).

These things were pretty common until a few years ago. There are a few colleges around my area offering courses, but on a vocational basis leading to appropriate qualifications, nothing for the amateur. Daft sounding suggestion - there seem to be a few around offering bicycle maintenance which would at least give a grasp of the use of basic tools and could be used in combination with various video guides?

They are. I don't blame the Chinese, btw, but all the owners of Western brands who decided to increase profit, reduce employment and hollow out manufacturing capacity by outsourcing production. Likewise Western governments who have been happy to outsource the associated emissions.

It would be ironic if all those cases of clogged oil pumps, that were attributed to wet cambelt failure, were actually down to the oil pump belt - in which case the move to a chain in the 1.5 and revised 1.0 isn't much comfort.

Yes, impressive performance and vfm, not keen on the looks myself but that's just personal taste. Only snag is I have no wish to give my business to its producers.

On a positive note, couple of forthcoming approximately Fiesta-size EVs that could get me seriously interested, SUVs not being my cup of tea: https://www.autocar.co.uk/car-news/new-cars/alpine-a290-sale-2024-feisty-electric-hot-hatch https://www.autocar.co.uk/car-news/new-cars/volkswagen-id-gti-concept If VW can get near that target price I'll be surprised, but equally very interested if they do.

Interestingly the camera linked on this thread looks identical to the factory one on my car:

I'm keeping an open mind on zero emission vehicles and when I'm fully convinced that an alternative to ICE will work for me, I'll no doubt go for it (if I'm still around!). So I for one find your comments on your EV experiences very interesting and informative and hope you'll keep them coming.