A8 Parts Forum  

Go Back   A8 Parts Forum > General Motoring > Motormouth

Motormouth Everything, and anything else motoring related that just doesnt belong anywhere else

Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
  #1  
Old 2nd February 2019, 09:50 AM
HPsauce HPsauce is offline
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Sep 2011
Location: Chilterns, almost over HS2!
Posts: 8,366
Default BBC Headline - "Lots of accidents caused by snow and ice"

Heard this on the Radio 4 news, talking about the emergency services being very busy in Kent overnight.
Anyone else struggle with this headline? Discuss.
__________________
2003 D2 FL S8. Irish Green Pearl/Beige. Solar sunroof, auto-dim mirrors, electric rear seat functions, ski hatch retrofit; extended leather. Aftermarket DVB-T, reversing camera and full XCarlink (Bluetooth etc.).
2016 Volvo V40 T5 Cross Country (4WD) with ALL the toys including adaptive cruise etc. etc. Osmium Grey with Blonde/Charcoal leather interior. Polestar performance "optimisation". (A much rarer model than a D2 S8 by the way!) Oh, and a brand new engine at just under 30,000 miles on the factory one!
Finally: gone, but not forgotten.....
1998 D2 PF S8. AgateGrey/Platinum. Every option (I think) except electric rear seats, tiptronic steering wheel, ski hatch, towbar & dimming door mirrors.
e.g. Cruise control, NavPlus/TV, Bose, GSM, Xenons, Solar roof, Parking sensors, Alcantara/leather everywhere of course. (internal dimming mirror added later)
1998 (very early) Ford Focus 1.8 Zetec; ABS/TCS, Heated screen/mirrors, Aircon, Auto-dim mirror, Leather, Trip computer, Cruise control, OEM Ford SatNav with CD changer.
And before that a lot of Rover 800s, a few oddities, a lovely Triumph Dolomite 1850HL with Overdrive and way back in my schooldays an Austin Seven aka Mini 850!
Reply With Quote
  #2  
Old 2nd February 2019, 10:52 AM
Norretal's Avatar
Norretal Norretal is offline
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Nov 2012
Location: County Durham
Posts: 1,480
Default

Or, alternatively, "Lots of people who can't drive in good weather, causing accidents by trying to drive in bad weather"

It's abysmal out there, it was never like this in my day
__________________



Audi D3 S8 - 2007 - V10. B&O, Phantom Black, black and silver interior, and still completely standard with everything working as it should

Audi TT - 2015 - Ultra
Reply With Quote
  #3  
Old 2nd February 2019, 11:19 AM
steamship's Avatar
steamship steamship is offline
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Jun 2013
Location: Londonderry, Northern Ireland
Posts: 2,931
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by Norretal View Post
Or, alternatively, "Lots of people who can't drive in good weather, causing accidents by trying to drive in bad weather"

It's abysmal out there, it was never like this in my day
My sentiments exactly. The quality of peoples driving nowadays is diabolical.
__________________
2001 A8 D2 FL 3.7 Q - LPG Conversion, Engine: AKC, Gearbox:FBB, Colour:LY5X Aqua Blue pearl effect, Interior:WJ light beige/dark beige valcona leather with burr walnut inserts

My DIY jobs - Replaced alarm horn, Replaced Coolant Temp sensor, Updated RNS-D firmware, Installed Reversing Camera and Digital TV, Dashcam Installation, Retrofitted Rear Blinds, Auto-Dimming Rear View Mirror, Chrome Boot Struts

Sold! 2008 S8 D3 5.2 V10 - Engine: BSM, Gearbox:KLW, Colour:LY7F Suzuka Grey Pearl Effect, Interior:Black/Black with Silver/Black valcona leather with carbon atlas inserts, Bang & Olufsen, Heated windscreen, Soft-close doors, TV, DAB, AMI, Quad Zone, Auto Boot, Auto dim Mirrors, Keyless entry, PDC with rearview camera, AFS II Headlights

My DIY jobs - Fan Jet Windscreen Washers, Retrofitted Electric Side Blinds
Reply With Quote
  #4  
Old 3rd February 2019, 04:52 PM
tc4332's Avatar
tc4332 tc4332 is offline
Senior Member
 
Join Date: May 2014
Location: Wigan, Greater Manchester, UK
Posts: 2,323
Default

I actually covered 484 miles in the bad weather. From Wigan, via Chepstow, to Warminster and back to Wigan via Leyland.
I even left the M4 at Junction 17 to head South on the A350 on Friday morning. That was where BBC News were broadcasting reports of dire weather.
OK it was snowing and some of it sitting on ice and I did not have winter tyres on.
Only one problem and that was an idiots fault. Line of traffic in the nearside lane stopped at a roundabout where I wanted to turn right. I used the correct approach and used the offside lane with indicator flashing. A white van driver seeing that I was coming through pulled out in front of me and stopped on the skew because he lost grip. I thought sh1t but my trusty 8 stopped without any problem even though it was slushy snow on hard packed ice. Then when he actually managed to move he went straight ahead.
As you have already commented, problem is the standard of driving.
My return from Warminster took less than four and a half hours. Better than summer driving time.
__________________
Ray at Wigan Pier

2014 A8L D4 4.0TFSI Gold (Sticker says "Beige") Can't leave you in a black smoke cloud anymore..
In progress, Nothing left to do.



Gone 2004 A8 D3 3.0 TDI. Ebony Pearl Black (with little bits of other colours and glitter)
Reply With Quote
  #5  
Old 3rd February 2019, 05:21 PM
homer simpson's Avatar
homer simpson homer simpson is offline
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Nov 2013
Posts: 1,142
Default

The Yoof of today have never really had any decent snow in may parts of the country. 20 odd years ago it was pretty regular to have some snow in the winter and with that we got experience driving in bad weather conditions.

Today, the small amounts of snow in a blue moon cause chaos due to lack of experience and of course stupidity/naivety
__________________
2008 (facelift) S8 with B&O, ACC, glass sunroof, reversing camera, front and rear heated seats, ceramic brakes, homelink, electric side and rear blinds, ski load through, heated fan washer jets, remote boot closing, de-flapped manifold, fridge, umbrella holder
Reply With Quote
  #6  
Old 3rd February 2019, 06:01 PM
tc4332's Avatar
tc4332 tc4332 is offline
Senior Member
 
Join Date: May 2014
Location: Wigan, Greater Manchester, UK
Posts: 2,323
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by homer simpson View Post
The Yoof of today have never really had any decent snow in may parts of the country. 20 odd years ago it was pretty regular to have some snow in the winter and with that we got experience driving in bad weather conditions.

Today, the small amounts of snow in a blue moon cause chaos due to lack of experience and of course stupidity/naivety

I take your point.
Perhaps I'm being a miserable old know it all.
I taught both my kids to drive and started them rather early. In those days we could still drive on the beach at Southport and Ainsdale.
My son used to sit on my knee at four years old. I did the actual driving but he did the steering using the external mirrors whilst reversing down a three hundred yard narrow fenced drive.
And when they passed the test I took them for a longish motorway drive. Part of that I made them be a bit spirited and even speeding. Bloody 70mph crap
__________________
Ray at Wigan Pier

2014 A8L D4 4.0TFSI Gold (Sticker says "Beige") Can't leave you in a black smoke cloud anymore..
In progress, Nothing left to do.



Gone 2004 A8 D3 3.0 TDI. Ebony Pearl Black (with little bits of other colours and glitter)
Reply With Quote
  #7  
Old 5th February 2019, 09:54 AM
J i m s t e r J i m s t e r is offline
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Apr 2018
Posts: 141
Default

My dad taught me to drive on Spike Island in a Morris Oxford. He probably had bald tyres on it because the back end would come out on most wet roundabouts. It taught me "Dab of oppo" for sure. New tyres were always a revelation!

There are more cars on the roads definitely these days, as people are having to commute greater distances and public transport can't offer a reasonable alternative. Certainly the case for me, my current office is 84 miles away.

I think driving standards are poor in general - people are very aggressive, both sexes, and seem to think everything is a competition. It might be a result of all the congestion, the UK has the most congested cities in Europe.

Worst example recently was again a roundabout with the lane for 1st left exit congested, where folk where going past in the right lane, then just pushing across to turn left - never mind lapping the island, just taking the absolute pee. No wonder folk go mad.
Reply With Quote
  #8  
Old 5th February 2019, 10:47 AM
moltuae's Avatar
moltuae moltuae is offline
RIP 27/02/2021 :-(
 
Join Date: Sep 2014
Location: East Lancs.
Posts: 2,679
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by J i m s t e r View Post
My dad taught me to drive on Spike Island in a Morris Oxford. He probably had bald tyres on it because the back end would come out on most wet roundabouts.
Soon after passing my test, around 17 or 18, I owned an Morris Ital ('facelift' Marina) which did that all the time, regardless of tyre condition. In fact it would do it in the dry too with anything more than a sedate driving style. Thinking back, it seems like I spent more time going sideways than I did going forwards in that car, but it certainly taught me to drive and how to control a skidding car. It was like learning to drive on a skid pan.

The main reason the Ital/Marina was so bad (apart from the utterly terrible build quality and front torsion bar suspension) was that it had a 'live axle', with rear wheel drive and leaf-spring suspension. As a result, when cornering on anything but the flattest of roads, rear tyre contact was very poor. I suspect the Morris Oxford had a similar rear setup.
__________________
Mark
------------------------------------------------------
2002 FE S8 Ebony Black Pearl
------------------------------------------------------

------------------------------------------------------
Cars Owned:
The Tesla Era: 2020 Model S Performance Ludicrous+ (present)
(Black, with all black premium interior and carbon fibre décor, 21" sonic carbon twin turbine wheels and FSD capability)

The Audi Era: '97 A8 4.2 (Ming Blue) --> '96 A8 4.2 QS (Dark Green) --> '02 FE S8 (present)
The Citroen Era: '84 BX 1.6 RS --> '89 BX 1.9 DTR Turbo --> '94 XM 2.0L Turbo --> '96 XM 2.0L Turbo Exclusive --> '00 Xantia Activa 2.0L Turbo
The Banger Era: '76 1.2L Lada VAZ-2101 (Ruski Fiat 124) --> '80 1.7L Morris Ital HL, finished in Ermine White and Rust
Reply With Quote
  #9  
Old 5th February 2019, 03:40 PM
J i m s t e r J i m s t e r is offline
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Apr 2018
Posts: 141
Default

I remember the Ital, it had a snazzier grille filler. The Marina door handles were used on Lotus Esprits for decades after. We had a new Marina estate as a hire car when my dad took us on holiday to Wales in his annual week off.

One year we had a new Maxi. The windows fell inside the doors when we wound them up. That was a problem as it was halfway around Knowsley Safari Park.

At least the Ital was designed in the 70s, the Oxford had fins and a main beam button on the floor next to the clutch. It did have a fold-down armrest in the rear seat which I thought was majestic. And a starting handle.

It cost my dad £500, I spent that yesterday on new discs and pads. I still need to find a boot motor and an alarm siren, and work out why it drips water on your feet when it rains. I suspect it'll be blocked aircon drains - the Oxford would be laughing, if it's engine hadn't seized on the M6.
Reply With Quote
  #10  
Old 7th February 2019, 01:18 PM
Dezzy's Avatar
Dezzy Dezzy is offline
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: N. Devon
Posts: 2,715
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by moltuae View Post
Soon after passing my test, around 17 or 18, I owned an Morris Ital ('facelift' Marina) which did that all the time, regardless of tyre condition. In fact it would do it in the dry too with anything more than a sedate driving style. Thinking back, it seems like I spent more time going sideways than I did going forwards in that car, but it certainly taught me to drive and how to control a skidding car. It was like learning to drive on a skid pan.

The main reason the Ital/Marina was so bad (apart from the utterly terrible build quality and front torsion bar suspension) was that it had a 'live axle', with rear wheel drive and leaf-spring suspension. As a result, when cornering on anything but the flattest of roads, rear tyre contact was very poor. I suspect the Morris Oxford had a similar rear setup.
The "live" axle just means it supplies power, as opposed to just being an axle. I imagine your diff had been welded i very much doubt it had LSD. But fun all the same. Also cross ply tyres will help get the ass end out but are / were quite dangerous but were fitted to a lot of cars of that era.

As most of you old guys learnt to drive when you had to light a fire 2 hours before you wanted to go anywhere, do you think that the drivers aids have helped to reduce the driver skills. ABS, TC, ESP, brake assist, bloody cutting fuel when you left foot brake.
Anyone that has learnt to drive in a car less than 30 years old probably hasn't locked up one wheel going straight on at a hedge at 20 not being able to stop
__________________
1996 A8 4.2 QS. Bose, Solar roof, um...um... rally sport towbar. Now gone to a new home as the Traders 8.

Bright yellow bus o love.
Reply With Quote
Reply

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off

Forum Jump


All times are GMT. The time now is 08:06 PM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.0
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.