Daryl

Changed my front pads yesterday,which iv done a couple of times. The old pads were pretty hammered,actually they were crumbling at the edge. Did the drivers side first,and noticed the anti squeal shim was starting to delaminate,however the passenger side was worse,and I also noticed the rubber covers/bellows were no longer stuck into the caliper,they had popped out. Im guessing because the pad was so worn. Iv pushed them back in after blowing around the caliper to get rid of the dust. Just wondered if there were any issues caused by this,or will I be alright?

i quite like this one too. http://www.caraudiocentre.co.uk/product_m-pioneer-fh-p80bt_p-23301.htm Yes would like to keep the double din if possible.

It dont have to be touch screen,just decent looking. I really like the simple look of the cheaper Alpine units,just wish they had a proper rear mounted Ipod/phone connection and decent pre outs.

Trying really hard to find a HU that i actually like the look of,and has the features that im after. I dont like the new generation of Alpine stuff,with the buttons on the side,and all the others i can see are pretty much the same. I like things to be symmetrical,and if i was to have a rotary dial,it should be in the middle,like the cheaper Alpine stuff. But that does not have the Iphone connectivity im after,which i dont want to be front mounted. So far the only one iv seen that I like is http://www.caraudiodirect.co.uk/pio-sphda100-pioneer-sph-da100-app-radio.html

I used to live up the top of 2 fairly steep and long hills,was gutted when I couldnt get winter tyres after ordering them in September time ish. Anyway,dreaded driving to and from work (30 miles) in my Zed with 19" wheels and tyres,but i and the car survived. Just took my time,was gentle with all the inputs,and spent many hours laying grit down the roads and clearing tracks for the neighbors. If you live in a bad area for snow or icey roads,get out there and do something about it.

I doubt it,its still the FIA.

Doing exactly the same thing with the TC turned off though resulted in nothing more than me getting better drive out of the slow corners. No lighting up the rears or anything.

Thats a good point Alex. I found however that at Bedford there were occasions when the TC would cut in coming out of slower corners,just when i wanted full power (and the traction was there). I guessing running Eibach ARB's on their hardest setting fools the TC into thinking it is nearing the limit,when actually its nowhere near,same as the 19" wheels. Im guessing it has certain G loadings or something that if the car exceeds these,then the TC will cut in.

I found out at Bedford a few weeks back that even with the TC off,i had the light on the dash coming on a couple of times. Normally drive the car with the TC left on, as its not worth binning it. If i was to go on a spirited drive with a few other cars,then id be tempted to turn it off,especially out of tight turns.

My car was a daily driver last year,and was even used in the snow and all sorts,and i lived up at the to of 2 steep hills,and a steep driveway. As long as you dont drive like a plank,you will be fine,and so will the car. Though I was spotted on a couple of occasions in the ice and snow, cleaning my car. Get the pressure washer under there too,to blast any salty stuff away. Or you could get the Karcher chassis cleaner. As said,if your that against using it during the winter,then wash it, and get a car cover and leave it. It wont rust sitting on your drive.

Im just having trouble with recommendations of MOT places in MK,and these guys are usually pretty good.

Guess that was you at the end of the high fence on the left then? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ugig2WPx860 Yes that was me indeed. I froze when i saw it,was like seeing a wild lion or something, my heart was pounding.

Iv had my MOT done at the same place the past 5 years or so. Last year was my first MOT for the Zed, and was disappointed to find out when i asked that they put it on the rollers for the brake test. Should i take it back there and ask them to do it properly,should i take it somewhere else,suggestions welcome,or should i not worry and just get it done?

Now onto Brazil where I was rain spotting at turn 12-13. And the road that Kimi took to the right. And for all you Porsche fans And the usual safety car photo. And now the actual race.

First couple were to test after Image Shack have changed their website. Austin now. Being the good old US of A,there were always some interesting vehicles around. And at the podium. And of course.

Well here we go.

I tell you what, i started to think it was all over. I had no commentary, so didnt know what was going on, but i wondered why i saw on the TV Adrian looking at a picture of our exhaust, it was only after that i found out that it was badly damaged,explains why they were getting him to change so many settings. The car held up brilliantly, which is a surprise, as Adrian is always pushing the boundaries when it comes to weight and design and packaging. Looking forward to watching the race tomorrow when i get home. As for the bonus, we only get one with the constructors,nothing for the drivers,still cant complain. lol Its a great reward for everyone involved, the boys and girls work to the max, they are always there when the gates open,and they are always there at the very end,some times beyond. So makes it all worth while.

Well,what can I say! Im currently sat in a hotel room with a stinking hang over,sore feet, and i couldnt give a S**T. I was rain spotting yesterday at turn 13,and If you saw a very petrified guy by the barrier when Kimi got lost,that was me! Iv been away from home for 2 weeks now,and miss it terribly,but I can see why these guys do what they do week in and week out. Its like a drug,especially when your doing well. Iv got new found respect for these guys and girls though. Iv never been at an event to set the garage up,but i can tell you that its a bloody hard task, then a few days later you take it all down again. It took us nearly 6 hours to get the garage packed up last night,in the peeing rain. But what a result, what a result. I managed to get a kangeroo tv,so i could atleast could keep tabs with what was going on. Though couldnt listen to any of it as had a team radio on,which was very busy throughout. I got some pictures which il share when i get home. TRIPLE DOUBLE WORLD CHAMPIONS. YEAH BABY!!!!!

I think that doing the job right first time is the most important thing. If its a genuine mistake or something like that, then you would expect them to put it right. Yes its restores some credibility if you make something right second time round ,but shoudnt the job be right first time? If a guy was working on a plane,made a mistake and the plane ended up coming down and killing loads of people,do you think its acceptable that he be given another chance to put it right? I know thats an extreme case,but still the same point. Maybe the OP is or isnt right by posting his experience on here in the fashion he has without talking to RS again,but at the end of the day,the job should have been right first time. If the exhaust was an issue,then it should have been investigated and rectification offered. Its only metal after all,so can be bent or cut or welded without much hassle.

There are small tyres dotted around at some corners. I clipped one of these,and did scuff the underside of my rear bumper,but managed to polish most of it. Its all slow the way it happens, its great fun. I Used half a tank of fuel i think for the whole day,which was spent in 2nd gear after a few slow laps in 3rd. Seriously worth doing,not just for the fun,but the learning experience too.

Interesting that not one person has chosen the DB9! Personally i think they are really boring to look at,like the generic Aston shape of late. The DBS is much more of a statement,and so much better looking. Id still have the Vantage though,if i could find one in that price with the later 4.7 engine. Nobody has mentioned V8 M3,or older M5/M6,AMG Merc's,or Maserati. If it was my £35k,it would be a Gransport Maserati in Blue,like this one http://classifieds.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/maserati/gransport/maserati-club-concours-winner-2012/398443

My first track day was with the standard set up,and even that was really good.

Have you had your disks checked for distortion or run out at all? I ask because i did a track day at the start of the summer ish time,and had no confidence in the brakes at all,and i was pretty slow as a result. I run RBF 600 fluid,upgraded brake lines,DBA discs and DS2500 pads. Had the front disks skimmed recently,as i though it worth a go,and cant believe the difference it made. At a track day a few weeks ago,it was like a totally different set up. I could brake consistently and always knew where I was with the brakes. The Bedford GT track is 3.8 miles long,and I felt like I could go for hours round there with the brakes. Not once did they wilt,or did i think that i should stop due to over heating etc. Before spending ££££ on upgrades,see if your current set up is optimised,as you may find that its not. Worth a shot maybe. Talk to Marcus at Disc Skimmers,they are a trader on here. Hes a great guy and knows what he is talking about. Failing that, the DBA and DS2500 with upgraded fluid is a great combo with some braided lines.

Me and Doug did this earlier in the year,June i think,was fantastic fun! Such a good laugh too. Didnt use much fuel,and couldnt see any wear on the tires either. Cant recommend it enough! I now know what the car feels like when its approaching the limit,and what to do with it when the back has broken away. Inspires much more confidence in the car and you too. Well worth doing.

^^Cross Marko at your peril,he is a very powerful man,and very buddy with Dietrich Mateschitz. He is a very ruthless guy. Found out that RB employs a couple of ex racing drivers throughout its ranks.