Ekona

Not sure if anyone will give be at all bothered with this post, but I really needed a rant! So, same as in the UK, here in Luxembourg there is an annual MOT check they do referred to locally as the "Controle Technique" (Technical control). All cars must pass this test on a yearly basis in order to be deemed road legal. The problem - there is a strikingly German approach to the way this works if you want to do absolutely ANYTHING to your car that did not come out of the factory! I already have an Invidia Gemini cat-back exhaust system which is acceptable for them ONLY because it comes with a TUV certificate to indicate it has undergone testing in Germany and is a “safe†and “high quality†part for the car. I can assure you that my choices for exhaust were drastically limited due to the need for this bloody ceritificate! I had the choice between either Milltek or Invidia. Once I had made my choice, they had to have 3 metal plaques welded to each part of the exhaust indicating it’s part number corresponding with the certificate! So, last year I decided I wanted to run some spacers (20mm front / 25mm rear). I bought the front spacers from Tarmac Sportz which are great, and the rears Adrian was kind enough to give me as he no longer needed them. Last year’s “MOT†the car went through with these spacers fitted with absolutely no problem at all. So this brings us all the way up to last week. I took the car through, and it was rejected because I had the spacers on the car. After arguing due to the fact that it had passed last year without any comment from the inspectors, I got absolutely nowhere and was informed that I needed to go to get the parts certified. They actually wanted me to provide documentation to PROVE that the spacers were intended to fit on a 350Z…. this baffles me because if they are already fitted on the wheel, then clearly they were intended to fit the 350Z! So this morning I have spent 1h30 at the technical control yet again with someone inspecting the wheel spacers. Conclusion: I’ve been told to go to a 3rd party place to pay “a couple of hundred Euros more†to have the spacers tested in order for them to maybe accept them and let me run them on the car. After which I need to go back yet again to the MOT station to have the car passed! Instead of going through all of this s**t, I told the guy that I am taking them off because it’s not worth it! I’m just going to take the spacers off, go to the control again, get it passed, and then put them on again the next day! Moral of the story – if you want to do anything at all to your car customization wise, DO NOT register it in Luxembourg! If I had one wish, it would be to have it registered in the UK! You can’t even put custom wheels on the car… my father once had his Audi A4 failed because he was running wheels from an Audi A8 on it (and that’s “not okay†with them). ************************************* Slightly more legible version

Finished Doom last night. What. A Game. So much action, such perfectly balanced difficulty levels, the weapons and back story and music and all the jumping, just everything is perfect. I had serious reservations over this when it was in beta as it looked more Halo than Doom, but now it's here I have to say that it's probably the peak of the series.

If people took a bit more care about the MPs they voted for, we'd be able to trust their decisions more. Again though, people are like sheep and just vote for the colour or the soundbite.

So what you're saying is, it's all your fault?

I hope you didn't really ask her, I was only kidding!

16 year olds should never be allowed to vote, they're far too stupid and easily influenced. I'm not saying all adults are sensible, but as a general percentage we're safer with over 18s. I'd actually rather see an IQ test being a prerequisite to being allowed to vote, but that's a different story.

It's getting back that might be the issue... I'll be okay, if I drop to 60mph on the motorways I'll get 500miles plus out of a full tank so that'll get me from Calais to LM and back, but it'll still be a bit tight. My mate with the Gallardo is going, we're thinking of hiring a fuel tanker for him

New people = new opinions = new styles = fresh

Do I get an invitation now?

Much better pal

Tbh, I'd be happy if it did. Half the reason motorways are so dangerous are the massive differences in speeds and people not expecting them. Granted, that's down to observation rather than the actual speeds themselves, but even so it honestly wouldn't bother me if they did do that. Managed motorways flow better than non-managed ones, albeit slower for those that are happy putting their foot down, so ultimately it could actually benefit the movement of people. It's a short-sighted view I know, as it's not a huge leap from there to doing the same thing on the fun roads too, but I suspect that's a whole new level of cost. Haydn's right though, the tech cannot support that right now, although it won't be that long before it can.

:lol:

Donation link isn't working for me fella.

Good, the more the merrier if it gets untaxed, un-MOT'd and uninsured cars off the roads. Well, as well as actually catching proper criminals too!

One EU-related article from her in the last week is rubbish. Both her and Corbyn should be standing shoulder-to-shoulder with Cameron over this issue, but they won't because they're terrified for their political careers. Cowards. I think the negativity has been just as bad on both sides, tbh. It's terrible politics either way, as both camps have far more positive things to promote instead. Doesn't make the headlines though.

In case people aren't aware, the French are currently striking and blocking oil refineries which is having a knock on effect of fuel shortages as mongs panic buy. The two next strike days are May 26th and June 14th, the latter being the week of LM... https://penurie.mon-essence.fr/w/ There's a handy link showing which stations are closed, and which ones have run out of fuel. Anyone travelling down in a DE Zed should take octane booster with them as a precaution, and if you want to take extra fuel across with you then there's a limit of 1x 20L metal can OR 3x 10L plastic cans on the Eurotunnel, and stricter limits on the ferries but that varies based on company.

Again though, where is Corbyn? Where is Sturgeon? Their silence is pitiful.

Depends if you get searched or fail the attitude test. But strictly it's £390. https://www.gov.uk/duty-free-goods/arrivals-from-outside-the-eu

Didn't say they were young But yes, pretty much anything Evans does or tries to do is at least different. In fairness to the old TG, the production company only produced what sold well. Clearly I was in the minority in finding it dull and repetitive, but millions enjoyed it so why would they change anything? They will have to now due to various legalese reasons, which can only be a good thing for me. Whilst I expect a fair amount of new TG to be in the same format (Stig, the Star etc) I'm really hoping for a new take on the rest of the show. Certainly new opinions will make a huge difference, as we all knew what JC/RH/JM were going to say before they said it. I've no idea what LeBlanc looks for in a car, or Evans, or anyone other than Harris really. They could both be rubbish, but for the first time in many a year I'm actually looking forward to watching a car show again.

Fair enough, but how is that different from 99% of other meetings? Rhetorical question, sorry.

Our law is fine, it's based on reasonable force. If you have cause to suspect the other guy is armed with a knife, then you can grab one. If he's bigger than you, you can still grab one. If it's dark and you don't know, go ahead and grab one. If you stab him once to disable him, then proceed to pin him down and carve your name into his back then that's not reasonable. Tony Martin was only done because he shot them in the back as they were running away: He'd have been fine if he'd shot them once in the chest. Victims don't go to jail ever for defending themselves with reasonable force, they go because they went miles over the top.

So it's not secret at all, then. Again, it's just tinfoil hat nonsense.

Might as well chuck a splash page up too then whilst we're at it!

Well, that's tomorrow sorted. Great find dude!