AJRFulton

Gearbox and flywheel replacement...

Cars back. They checked it, found nothing wrong.

however another issue. .... they took a chip out my spoiler

Yeah there is, synchro off feels like gear changes normal.

Tested it today, as roads pretty quiet at 5am on way into work.

I bought a fairly nice flat in September for 44k.

Clutch pedal is fully up. Just seems to slip then bite.

The tech thinks it maybe a software fault with the synchrorev but we will see

Probably given you back the wrong car

Wouldn't shock me!

Zero tolerance doesn't work practically.

So many ways you can ingest small amounts of alcohol and not even know.

I disagree with the uk drink/drive policy.

A) because nobody has any clue how much they drink and how it will effect them, and it can vary a lot person to person, even day to day... depending on how hydrated you are, tiredness, illness, food eaten, etc.

it actually encourages a "can have a couple of pints" mentality.

It would surely be more sensible to scale a punishment. Say 3pts for 30-50mg, 6pts for 50-80mg, and a ban above 80mg, criminal records with >100mg

1 pint would probably put you over the limit.

I've always argued what is more dangerous?

85 mph down a very quiet motorway, in a well maintained modern car and driving in perfect weather.

Or

30mph in a busy town centre with pedestrians, in an older car with budget tyres, and driving in wintery conditions?

One might land you a big fine... Other is legal. That's the law though....

Same with drink driving, being a tiny fraction under the limit is OK but being a tiny fraction over the limit is 12mths ban, big fine and a criminal record. It's absurd in a way.

The French (I think) have the right idea in that regard, having a lower limit but scaled punishment.

Its an issue that is getting progressively worse?

 

 

Sorry mate, not sure if you’re asking me that as a question, or you meant it as a rhetorical question.

 

I’ll answer it as if asked anyway.

 

No, its not. Or rather it doesn’t appear to be anyway.

 

Like I said, when I notice it I panic, then sharpen up a bit in my seat and try it again to only get it bang on – sometimes.

 

I’d not be surprised if the clutch on mine wasn’t releasing properly from 2nd to 3rd at high revs which then in turn causes the slip by me getting on the power too soon for the clutch to release fully.

Na bud, this issue only started after a gearbox replacement.

It never used to do it and I don't think my drivings suddenly changed.

Its an issue that is getting progressively worse?

Also when pulling off there is no slip. Even a fast pull off. There is a judder which only started in the last 1000mls or so but no slip. I'd say the clutch bites pretty well from a start.

Slip only occurs when accelerating hard and changing gear at 6k-7k rpm beyond 3rd gear. Its as if the clutch doesn't fully engage rather than actual slip. It's a strange feeling.

Also, no burning smell ever, which I'd associate with a slipping clutch.

Other 4000mls have mainly been short commutes yo work/shops/etc. Cars had a fairly easy life.

Even with regular spirited driving, coupled with normal use I'd expect 40-50k out a clutch minimum.

Car had a gearbox change 2k miles ago and no wear was noted. This issue has only started since then.

On a side note getting a bit fed up with the 370's seeming lack of reliability...

Clutch is slipping pretty bad under hard acceleration. Cars did 20k miles, but >75% of that is motorway miles, so would expect the clutch to still be pretty good.

Any known issue?

If you pack correctly and with a bit of a squeeze you can get 1 x wide wheeled power caddie (wheels off), 2 x golf bags complete with clubs (not Tour size but carry bags) 2 x weekend bags and a crate of beer in the back of a Z. I know done it several times now. There is more space than you think.

With the Z it's just awkward rather than small (although don't get me wrong it's hardly big).

I can get 2 bags in the back of mine. Admittedly my passenger is sitting with a couple of drivers/driving irons in the foot well... but it's possible!

Yeah the price differences have to be taken into consideration. The cheapest of that lot is £10k dearer than the Z

Manual felt faster to me when I bought the Z. I felt the auto box was a bit lazy.

A system whereby you are wrongly fined but it costs you at least 5x the fine to appeal it, seems horribly skewed.

Even winning the case, proving the cops couldn't of seen me, do you still have to pay lawyers fees?

Obviously going the court route is going to cost far more than just paying the fine. I'd need a hotel, travel to Newcastle, and a day off work. Even without lawyers fees that is over 500 quid.

End of the day, for all the evidence I could gather with pictures of the car, distance travelled, audible alarm, etc. All evidence that would suggest it's unlikely I wasn't wearing a belt without being conclusive but.... would it count for anything against the word of a police officer?

To whom it may concern,

I am writing to you to document my displeasure at acquiring a £100 fixed penalty notice for not wearing a seatbelt whilst driving a motor vehicle.

 

The journey in question took place on the 4^th June 2014, when driving a white Nissan 370Z, registration *******, I left my home in Ayrshire at approximately 1830hrs to travel the 170mls to work for a client in Tyneside. This is a routine trip for me that I have made many times over the prior 10yrs, typically taking a little over 3hrs to travel at that time of night. Other than a short stop for fuel at the BP garage in my home town of Beith, I made no further stops until being flashed to pull over.

 

It was on the A69 stint of this journey, in a stretch around the Bardon Mill area and whilst in a line of traffic behind a slower vehicle, that I noticed a BMW police car behind me. The car followed me for about 5 minutes before putting on the blue lights and pulling me over in a layby a few miles east bound at approximately 2100hrs.

Police officer **** ****** approached my car and gestured to roll down the window, whilst the other officer appeared to be checking my tyres. The conversation between myself and officer ****** to this point seemed fairly routine, although I did feel officer ******* was being a little abrupt. Up until this point my assumption was that I had been pulled over as having a high powered car, coupled with being stuck behind slower traffic on a stretch of road that is known for accidents; your officers were pulling me over to remind me to drive safe and give my vehicle a random check – policing I would have absolutely no problem with at all.

 

However, after taking my initial details, officer ****** told me to follow him to the back of the police car, where I was informed that I was going to be issued a penalty notice (number *********) for not wearing a seat belt. This came as a great surprise to me, as I know that I was wearing a seat belt. The officer then explained that he seen me put it on after I was pulled over, again this is completely incorrect; I was definitely wearing my seatbelt for the duration of my journey from Ayrshire, only taking it off when asked to leave the car. Even in the very slight chance that I had forgotten to fasten my belt on my departure, the car has an audible and visual seat belt warning system and it is unlikely I am not going to notice, or act on this in over 2hrs of driving. It also should be noted that from standing behind my car, it is in my opinion that is impossible to observe whether any occupant of the car is wearing a seat belt unless you are effectively looking in the back window (please see attached photographs).

 

I would also like to complain about the mannerism of officer *******, whom I feel was condescending, abrupt and arrogant, with no provocation from myself. I appreciate that police officers have a hard job that I certainly do not envy, but I feel that there was absolutely no need for him to speak to me in the tone he did. I strongly feel that coupled with my perceived sense of injustice, his tone only added to my anger.

There is what I have just now, I don't really know how to close the letter.

See when writing a letter, I'll post it up here first, but... Should I go something like this.

 

Short introduction as to why I am writing

Explain my journey and why I was making it

Explain how/why I was stopped.

Explain why I am aggrieved by this (detail officer name)

Explain my reasoning as to being aggrieved (I was wearing a belt, and don't believe they can even see the seatbelt mounts in a following car)

Explain the officer was condescending, arrogant and abrupt

Close with a paragraph stating I intend to pay the fine as I believe I have no chance of winning in court, but make it clear I find this very unfair.

 

Why bother if your going to pay the fine, tell them you intend to take legal advice

 

on this and you await their response to this letter ...If you tell them you intend to pay the fine

 

they will put in the "tare up and laugh file"..!!

 

Let them respond, you have not said you wont pay the fine you just want a response to your letter

 

this will go to the Constabulary Local Inspector for a comment, before they reply to you. God Luck mate.

Problem is I've what 28 days to pay... what do I do if it takes more than 28 days for them to respond to me?

I don't really want a £100 fine to double or worse. I've kinda accepted that I've no chance of beating them on this, and all I can do is voice my displeasure.

See when writing a letter, I'll post it up here first, but... Should I go something like this.

Short introduction as to why I am writing

Explain my journey and why I was making it

Explain how/why I was stopped.

Explain why I am aggrieved by this (detail officer name)

Explain my reasoning as to being aggrieved (I was wearing a belt, and don't believe they can even see the seatbelt mounts in a following car)

Explain the officer was condescending, arrogant and abrupt

Close with a paragraph stating I intend to pay the fine as I believe I have no chance of winning in court, but make it clear I find this very unfair.

I would have thought they need "evidence" (photo etc) not just their word. If a police officer can randomly say someone was doing something when they werent the country would be in a world of trouble.

That's exactly right, and it's been the case for years.

 

You can be done for speeding if one police officer forms an opinion of you being over the limit. Corroborating evidence isn't actually required for that.

I honestly find that crazy.

In my case here, if this was something other than a road traffic case, and a prosecution lawyer presented this evidence after having it submitted by a highly decorated and reputable professional (that wasn't a police officer)..... it would be laughed out of court after being torn to pieces by the defence.

As said, it is only a £100 fine, and whilst not an insignificant amount.... it isn't really going to affect me too much. However, it's the sense of injustice - I know I was wearing a belt and I know they couldn't see if I was or not from their vantage point 20 odd metres behind me, that makes me want to fight it. Although I am starting to concede that it probably will prove futile and just need to bend over and take it - which genuinely angers me!

The fact the police officer who mainly did the talking was needlessly obnoxious, sarcastic and a little rude/abrupt with his tone towards me (without actually saying anything out of order) just makes me think they were being vindictive after taking a dislike to me. It may well of been a genuine mistake from them, but it makes me wonder. I got the sense he loved giving me the fine and putting me in my place. I can relate to that, I've had bad days at work and have a job description that can make life harder for people I dislike if I choose to (work under health and safety). However... I'm not a public servant, and making life harder for people just means I am being anal and want things done by the book, not issuing them with a fine!