sasha@lazytrips

A family is driving home from a restaurant and gets pulled over by the cops. A policeman approaches the driver's window and speaks to the driver: Policeman: Have you been drinking today sir? Driver: Nope. I am tee-total officer. Policeman: Please breathe into this here tube, sir. .. driver blows into the tube and it goes off the scale. Policeman: I'm afraid you're over the limit sir, please step out of the vehicle. Driver: I've told you. I'm tee-total. Test it on my wife. She didn't have anything to drink either. ... wife blows into the tube and again the device goes off the scale. Policeman: It is evident that you are both drunk and I will have to arrest you, sir. Driver: Alright officer. How about you test your device on my 9 year old in the back just to make sure it works before arresting me? ... kid blows into the device and again fails the test. Policeman: I'm sorry sir. It appears to be that our device is faulty. You have a good night. Driver pulls away, turns to his wife and says "I told you a glass of wine for the kid won't do any harm."

For some reason this smells to me. The key reason why electronic devices don't get on with water is because the water that gets into the device short circuits the chips and thereby breaks them. According to those guys, this coating is extremely thin and will therefore not form a solid enough layer to stop water getting near the circuits. The presumption is that the entire circuit is covered with this stuff and therefore water can't get to it. BUT: They claim that your earphone jack will still work. Hence a current can still pass through this layer. Hence any water will still get in and short circuit your device. All sounds like a pile of rubbish to me.

For some reason this smells to me. The key reason why electronic devices don't get on with water is because the water that gets into the device short circuits the chips and thereby breaks them. According to those guys, this coating is extremely thin and will therefore not form a solid enough layer to stop water getting near the circuits. The presumption is that the entire circuit is covered with this stuff and therefore water can't get to it. BUT: They claim that your earphone jack will still work. Hence a current can still pass through this layer. Hence any water will still get in and short circuit your device. All sounds like a pile of rubbish to me.

You will struggle to get anything north of £500 on these. The going rate seems to be £450 for mint ones and £400 for ones with some minor kerbing/bubbling.

You will struggle to get anything north of £500 on these. The going rate seems to be £450 for mint ones and £400 for ones with some minor kerbing/bubbling.

What did you replace it with? I've just got myself a Pentax K5 and am busy trying to figure out how to use it

What did you replace it with? I've just got myself a Pentax K5 and am busy trying to figure out how to use it

I very much dislike the car in the original post too. You're not alone

I very much dislike the car in the original post too. You're not alone

Well I won't bore you with pages and pages of drivel, but here are some tips: 1. When booking a car, do it direct with the provider you're using. When booking via a third party you *might* get a better price (although there are complications here), but very frequently will get the "or similar" instead of the car you want. 2. If booking with a larger more upscale firm, you can often get good discounts for numerous random reasons, so it is worth ringing them on Skype or something and asking. For example, before we went last time, Hertz did 10% discount if you paid with Amex Platinum. 5 minutes later my application for a UK Platinum cashback card was approved (the American standards are somewhat different) and hey presto - a lot of money saved. 3. If you are renting a car for a while, the offers by Hertz can be very tempting. You can often get yourself a Camaro SS, Challenger R/T or some other nice car of your choice at a very minor premium in comparison to the total hire price. Don't get the Corvette - boot space will struggle to fit a rucksack and these are all pretty old stock. 4. Do see the main sights, etc as you've simply got to, but the best bit about going around the States is seeing more of the real non-touristy stuff. Take turns off the main roads, stop in small towns and go away from tourist traps (i.e. away from the coasts ) 5. Search around for Rodeos/BBQ cook-offs/going down rivers in a hoop with a sixpack of Bud or whatever you fancy on the way - when in Rome... 6. Have fun. This piece of advice is pretty pointless as I am sure you'll get plenty of that in any case!

Well I won't bore you with pages and pages of drivel, but here are some tips: 1. When booking a car, do it direct with the provider you're using. When booking via a third party you *might* get a better price (although there are complications here), but very frequently will get the "or similar" instead of the car you want. 2. If booking with a larger more upscale firm, you can often get good discounts for numerous random reasons, so it is worth ringing them on Skype or something and asking. For example, before we went last time, Hertz did 10% discount if you paid with Amex Platinum. 5 minutes later my application for a UK Platinum cashback card was approved (the American standards are somewhat different) and hey presto - a lot of money saved. 3. If you are renting a car for a while, the offers by Hertz can be very tempting. You can often get yourself a Camaro SS, Challenger R/T or some other nice car of your choice at a very minor premium in comparison to the total hire price. Don't get the Corvette - boot space will struggle to fit a rucksack and these are all pretty old stock. 4. Do see the main sights, etc as you've simply got to, but the best bit about going around the States is seeing more of the real non-touristy stuff. Take turns off the main roads, stop in small towns and go away from tourist traps (i.e. away from the coasts ) 5. Search around for Rodeos/BBQ cook-offs/going down rivers in a hoop with a sixpack of Bud or whatever you fancy on the way - when in Rome... 6. Have fun. This piece of advice is pretty pointless as I am sure you'll get plenty of that in any case!

I saw that happen when I was driving the other way. Naturally enough the 10 cars in front of me squeezed themselves onto the pavement, etc and I just parked the car across the width of my side of the road and watched the guy boil up in anger. He then spent about 5 minutes trying to push in while nobody obviously wanted to let him in. Luckily I was in no hurry at the time and enjoyed every second. True story.

I saw that happen when I was driving the other way. Naturally enough the 10 cars in front of me squeezed themselves onto the pavement, etc and I just parked the car across the width of my side of the road and watched the guy boil up in anger. He then spent about 5 minutes trying to push in while nobody obviously wanted to let him in. Luckily I was in no hurry at the time and enjoyed every second. True story.

If you're going to those parts, I'd highly recommend diverting off the LA - San Fran - Vegas route that is done by 99% of tourists visiting the area and seeing some more 'real' America by going through at least Arizona (and Utah - Colorado if you have more time).

If you're going to those parts, I'd highly recommend diverting off the LA - San Fran - Vegas route that is done by 99% of tourists visiting the area and seeing some more 'real' America by going through at least Arizona (and Utah - Colorado if you have more time).

Whatever you choose to do don't go anywhere near the Nissan stealers in Ilkeston. Avoid like the plague!

Whatever you choose to do don't go anywhere near the Nissan stealers in Ilkeston. Avoid like the plague!

Did a trip around the US last year - you will have an awesome time! We had a Mustang for part of the trip and a Dodge Challenger R/T for the majority of it. I've got to be honest in saying that although you do get a nice feeling of driving a Mustang around the US, the convertible roof becomes pretty pointless in the heat and if you actually want to talk or anything like that. Also, if you plan on turning around any corners, the Mustang is... erm... not the most agile of vehicles. The Challenger, however was absolutely amazing. We got a brand new one given to us and it is hands down the best car I have ever driven or been in including many much more expensive ones.

Did a trip around the US last year - you will have an awesome time! We had a Mustang for part of the trip and a Dodge Challenger R/T for the majority of it. I've got to be honest in saying that although you do get a nice feeling of driving a Mustang around the US, the convertible roof becomes pretty pointless in the heat and if you actually want to talk or anything like that. Also, if you plan on turning around any corners, the Mustang is... erm... not the most agile of vehicles. The Challenger, however was absolutely amazing. We got a brand new one given to us and it is hands down the best car I have ever driven or been in including many much more expensive ones.

1. I could probably get a bigger house with more bedrooms, bigger lounge and a garage for the same money if I looked around and bought in a cheaper area. I choose not to because I just happen to like mine. I get a smile on my face when I come home after being away for a while and that's all I care about. 2. I could probably get myself a nicer dining room table for similar money that is much easier to extend and doesn't have little marks in places. I choose not to because I like my kitchen table as it is for no apparent reason whatsoever. 3. I could probably get myself a faster car for the same money as the zed which will go round quicker in the wet/dry/round the Nurburgring or whatever. I also choose not to because I just prefer the zed (perhaps irrationally). Luckily for us, a lot of choices in life do not have a binary decision logic to them. It's a given that over the next decade or two mundane cheapo cars will probably outperform the zed and do so by running on AA batteries or whatever, but if that sort of thing actually bothers you, I think buying the zed wasn't the wisest choice.

Holy cow! Starting this thread was an udder misteak. All the jokers are just milking it for all it's worth.

I saw half a Gemballa hanging over a the edge of a cliff last week with Michelin PS2s all round. Regardless of the quality of your car, driving or tyres, if you're not careful, it won't end well.

Here's the last installment. 10 countries, 5 nights, 2 idiots, 1 Suzuki Swift - Part IV.

Sux. Hope they sort you out pronto. The beer is waiting!

Photos from the Motor Show here: 10 countries, 5 nights, 2 idiots, 1 Suzuki Swift - Part III.