Anubis

Thanks for your responses everyone - much appreciated. I shall have to see how things unfold in the next week or so. The reason being is that although you have to look out for number one (I agree 100% with your comments) - management often don't see it like that. Once you start to break that trust barrier, you're stuffed so to speak (even if they don't show it face to face). For example, from a senior position they may think "this guy is playing us about always bouncing from job to job" - you'll get a bad reputation with a false perception of moving on just for cash all the time. I know some people do it and as a contractor this should happen but in the real world with real people you can burn bridges. I wouldn't be happy if I got a builder in to do a job and he jumps ship because I never mentioned about letting him carry on when I wanted him to (it looks like he is only interested in the pay packet and nothing else) - same principle. You turn up one day and say "I have an offer elsewhere, what is my position here?" and Mr manager could think: A ) "Oh crap, sorry - we just haven't informed you yet that we'd like you to stay" OR B ) "Oh...right..well, in that case we can let you go" (thinking - we would have liked you to stay but now I don't want you now you've gone behind our backs). Swings and roundabouts. I'll let you know when the time comes.

Unless you pay for the added extras (like space and so on) then you'll have little choice but to wait for the Hotmail team to respond via a forum post. Most people use the free options, hence little support. Have you tried emailing yourself to see if it comes through? If it does then it's not Hotmail it could be eBays end or wherever you are expecting emails from. Also, do the obvious and check your Junk email folder incase settings have changed and they are ending up in there instead of your inbox. It is quite common for email issues to occur on any mailing system. Basically, once they find the issue on one of their servers they will fix it and you'll probably get a flood of backlogged emails coming through one day...

This is what I was thinking. I don't just do 'jobs' for my department - i'm relied on from all over the world (Singapore, Washington, London, Tokyo, etc) - I hope, I don't come across as arrogant but there really is literally no one else to replace me with. They'll be shooting themselves in the foot if I were to go (suddenly all these teams around the world that can use my skills, suddenly can't and they'd all be stuck). I just find it very concerning that those around me are going and nothing at all is being said (even when asked) about an extension. To a fatcat I'm just a number (like most people) - thats the thing.

I'm an IT contractor. I work for a very large company. The contract started Sept 2009 and is going to end on 31st March (in 3 weeks time). I haven't heard anything regarding an extension (after asking) nor have I caught word I'm in trouble (no job). I'm very good at my job, I've made some huge improvements since my time at the company and to be frank they are getting a lot for the cash they are paying (most places have dedicated teams doing what I do, but here it is just me). I get on with everyone, I know what I'm doing and work very hard. I've already had 1 extension with the company in question, which was offered to me around 5 weeks before the current one expired (so I knew they still wanted me for the future). OK...I've been in this situation a dozen times over a few years for several companies and never worry. Except this time around, those around me are being made redundant (perms and contractors). Typically alarm bells would start to be ringing very loud, however I'm the only person that can do the job, with the added factor that I am in huge demand all the time (the others are teams of people - the teams are just being made smaller or relocating across the UK to save cash). Not trying to sound big headed, but there is ziltch chance anyone learning what I do in a space of a few weeks, so they can't quickly retrain anyone. How worried would you be if you were me about not having a job at the end of this month? This time around, it's very hard to tell and management aren't giving any answers at this stage. The guy next to me (not doing what I do) has been given 1 weeks notice - this Friday he is gone. Yet I haven't had any straight answers from anyone. For now I am going to presume business as usual - but should I be worried? Would you be?

Amazing.

Idea #1: I think it would be a good idea to have a sticky topic listing good driving routes and places members have found and wish to share with others. This will only work if the topic remains at the top of a forum and I'd be happy to update it if people PM me details to add to it. For example: Region:Oxfordshire Start: Local pub name on road Axxx Finish: Local pub name on road Axxx Duration (approx): 1hr 30mins Description: Route takes you through some scenic twisty B-roads, which incorporates a couple of fast A roads. Only 2 known safety cameras in region (shown on map) and keeps away from local towns / villages. You will go past attraction name & attraction name 2. Map: http://www.google.com/maps ITN File: link to download ITN file Whats the point of this? Well, I'm sure if people knew of interesting routes local meets would start to occur more - can't do any harm to the forum. Idea #2: I will be posting this across other enthusiast forums inc PistonHeads. I'd like to get a map plotting all known worthy road tunnels across the UK. I've made a start, and anyone will be able to update it across the whole of the UK. I hear you shout.."you sad son of a b.." - but wait (there is reason to my madness). If every driveable tunnel was plotted on a map, sports cars around the UK can make bigger and better tunnel runs. We spend tons of cash on expensive sport exhausts - yet rarely go in a tunnel (you could well be sitting right next to one not knowing about it). knowing where tunnels are will allow you to incorporate a few in a nice driving route. UK Driving Tunnels <<< click here and start to add those tunnels (sign into a Google account).

...I was WRONG! Sweet Jesus that is awesome!

*** NEW PRICE - OPEN TO SENSIBLE OFFERS *** Hi, I have for sale a brand new RSW carbon dial cover, which has never been used (I have one on my zed as photographed). It's very thin (like plastic) and has been hand made by RSW themselves in Japan (I had to wait 3 months to get RSW stuff over for mine). Covers up the dull plastic - simple stick on over the current plastic surface. Excellent condition and quality as you'd expect (RSW are often regarded as one of the best carbon kit developers). There is 3M tape on the back (very simple to DIY install). If you were to buy this from Envy it would cost £150. I am selling this for £80 (includes next working day special delivery) - payment via PayPal. First one to PM me secures the product. Thanks.

Exactly! It's like saying you own a Ferrari and you turn up in one of these: Just 'cos it has the badge, doesn't mean it has the pedigree and magic.

Taken from PistonHeads: You really can buy an Aston Martin Cygnet if you don't own another Aston Martin. Well, you can't buy one in the U.S. But Aston is not limiting its leather-lined city car to the already fortunate. But Aston Martin's baby swan will have a price of £30,000 in Great Britain--about U.S. $45,000--which should limit its appeal to only the most well-heeled of car buyers. Aston Martin made the announcement at its press conference for the Geneva Auto Show (open to the public March 4-14) and said that it hopes for sales to of 2,000 to 4,000, per year which should add to the company's bottom line but also raise lower its average carbon emissions. Aston Martin has been selling about 6,000 cars annually. As we've noted before, the Aston Martin Cygnet is a Toyota iQ, though with a Aston-esque restlyed nose and more leather inside than a first baseman's mitt--and not a whole lot bigger. The Cygnet will use the 1.3-liter engine standard in the Toyota iQ--so much for that V-12 we were hoping for--with a choice of manual or automatic transmissions. Aston Martin calls it "tried and tested technology". Holy Hell - wtf are Aston thinking of! Talk about cheapen a brand - what is it with these managers trying to cash in all the time!? First Porsche makes 4x4s, then an estate car that make Susan Boyle look like a playboy bunny - now Aston are making a box on wheels. ALWAYS stick to Ferrari's business model - determine how many models should be produced and take away one (hence you'll always be desirable by limiting numbers and not cheapening the brand).

Volk GTS. Same as mine, but blue.

Just out of curiosity, how bigger difference can you feel compared to standard Brembo set up? Is it a "feels a bit sharper" or a "woah! massive stopping power"?

Ask Nurrish about his own custom made version...although it'll be a lot more than £110, but is a complete media system in the cubby - touch screen, GPS, the lot. viewtopic.php?f=38&t=24395

PM'd

x 10 million. Ticks everything for me. The Koenigsegg Agera The only difference is to have a red and black stripe - not a light blue one.

Always wondered this; I have my spare wheel in the boot as you'd expect but I've changed to 19" Volks last year and have never thought about the Spare wheel. I have a can of that spray glue stuff in the car at all times incase I do get a puncture. Would putting the smaller spare one on to "limp" home in an emergency be OK (I should leave it in the boot)? Or will putting this on make the zed very one sided (due to a smaller wheel) and may end up damaging the car even more? What are your thoughts on this? Should I take the spare wheel out since its dead weight? At the end of the day, I know I'd look a tool driving with 3 Volks and 1 spare wheel. What do you guys do?

This is obviously plan B - they don't admit fault and are total ****s

There could be a simple reason such as they have a kid and whilst trying to get the child out and the door is wide open hence hitting your zed. Other than that (no kid), they are being total pr**ks - probably jealousy ("He has a nice car, so he can afford to fix it" attitude and just smacks it). I'd be FUMING if I were you! There are many options: > Put an exhaust whistle (joke shops have them) on the car - everywhere they go, they'll get a loud whistle until they figure it out. > Put curry powder into vents. Trust me - it'll be a treat in the summer and it won't go away > Let down the tyres. No need for nails (don't damage their car - you'll be just as bad as them) - simply deflate a tyre every so often so when they are in a rush to get to work every day they keep coming back to flat tyres. (They'll start off taking it to a garage wondering if faulty tyres and then they'll soon get the message when the penny drops). > Tie a piece of string under the car with a ball to it so it bounces around and smacks the hell out of their car when they are driving along. Just make sure it isn't long enough to hit others; also don't tie the string to anything hot so it burns off. > Get some duck tape and peel a single piece of string from the back of it. Run the string all over the car - it will stick and from a distance it looks like someone has keyed the **** out of your car. Nothing perm, but makes them have a minor heart attack. Any one else?

If your zed is standard and your not leaving anything in it (iPod, CD player fascia, sat nav, etc) then it should be ok in an OK area. Only real time to worry is its parked in a dodgy area (you'll be asking for trouble). I've got a steering lock and put it on - can't hurt can it? I think I read somewhere that theives aren't usually after the actual car itself these days, but more what is in them.

+1 (Date Dependent)

We ended up going down these seriously horrid small farm roads with a zillion pot holes and horse crap all over the road whilst it was soaking. It started out great, but the group I ended up in got lost for a bit. Whilst going down one road (barely able to squeeze the zed down), looking out my rear view at the Aston I hear two loud bangs. Holy mother of god I got worried - thought I crashed at 5mph! I actually went over two HUGE pot holes, but thankfully both tyres went in and out very slowly. I stopped, got out (expecting to see the worst) and thankfully all was OK. I let the others go on without me cos I wanted to check the car over for damage. I ended up going home (I guessed you guys would have been long gone by the time I tried to find you).

Have you considered just spending a grand and buying a run around? You can keep the zed for sunny days. Best of both worlds.

I wouldn't worry about it mate. If you find yourself a well looked after example then it should be pretty solid. I've never heard of any engine issues with them (they're bullet proof) and if something does go wrong, I very much doubt you'll be spending an extra £2k+ on fixing it (the same cash you decided to spend on the newest model). There are some nice cars that go for sale on here by us enthusiasts that totally cherish them. It's just a matter of keeping an eye out for the right one (patience is your friend). I got mine from a fellow enthusiast and nothing has gone wrong so far. No warranty needed.

Slightly better plastic interior (better feel to it, but nothing drastic like a sudden german car interior worthy of the extra cash) and a few changes to the button layouts. Has LEDs as well (which can be brought separately from ZManAlex on here). I have the older model and the interior is slightly different, yet I totally changed it using carbon parts inside. The 313 BHP model also has a bulge in the bonnet rather than a slight indent. I prefer the older looking bonnet (looks more sporty than muscle car like the newest version). All the questions have been asked before - try searching the FAQs section.

Good question. I've never driven a 313 BHP version but more than happy with the earliest model (the 276). Sounds to me like your into modding in which case you may as well free up the cash by getting a good quality older model. Overall the differences in terms of straight line speed is apparently very small (how often are you really going to need the extra power and how much of it is pub talk?). Depends what your plans are with the zed. I knew I wanted an extremely well looked after example and knew I wanted to place my mark on it through modding (it gets very expensive as you probably know). Would I tell myself a year ago that I should hold out for a more powerful younger model? No. I saved a lot of cash and got the perfect example after waiting a very long time. Zeds are all about noise and good looks. If you want raw power, I suggest and Evo or something.