Stupid things non petrolheads say... Vol 2
Discussion
sebhaque said:
Does irritate me a little as a C63 owner. What was wrong with either making the engine a 6.3 litre, or calling it a 6.2 V8?
The 6.3 title was to commemorate Mercedes first production V8 which was a 6.3 so although that C/CLS/E63 engine is 6,208cc they rounded it up a bit. 
sebhaque said:
Not so much say, but do.
My mother gave me a lift home today. The journey involves a few junctions on the M25. . As I hopped back in, I told her to build her speed up steadily to 60mph and merge into the lane [L1] when safe to do so.
She decided to accelerate to 20mph, indicate and drive into lane 1, and then swerve back onto the shoulder after nearly getting crashed into by a Range Rover anchoring on from 70mph and changing lanes to avoid her.
My mother did a similar thing. Driving her Merc 190 she pulled onto the westbound and uphill A30 dual carriageway at Okehampton doing about 20 mph.My mother gave me a lift home today. The journey involves a few junctions on the M25. . As I hopped back in, I told her to build her speed up steadily to 60mph and merge into the lane [L1] when safe to do so.
She decided to accelerate to 20mph, indicate and drive into lane 1, and then swerve back onto the shoulder after nearly getting crashed into by a Range Rover anchoring on from 70mph and changing lanes to avoid her.
I told her to put her foot down and had the reply that "Dad doesn't like me getting that needle in the red".
The Merc had some sort of driving economy gauge fitted. " NEVER MIND THAT FOOT FLAT ON THE FLOOR" as I could see a lorry bearing down us which fortunately she did. I think she heard the panic in my voice because she never said a word about being yelled at.
Made her promise never to do that again, still makes me shudder to think of it now
Paul Dishman said:
My mother did a similar thing. Driving her Merc 190 she pulled onto the westbound and uphill A30 dual carriageway at Okehampton doing about 20 mph.
I told her to put her foot down and had the reply that "Dad doesn't like me getting that needle in the red".
The Merc had some sort of driving economy gauge fitted. " NEVER MIND THAT FOOT FLAT ON THE FLOOR" as I could see a lorry bearing down us which fortunately she did. I think she heard the panic in my voice because she never said a word about being yelled at.
Made her promise never to do that again, still makes me shudder to think of it now
Much the same experience with my ex who lived near Okehampton, same stretch of road! Her mother had taught her that accelerating too quickly uses too much fuel. I told her to put her foot down and had the reply that "Dad doesn't like me getting that needle in the red".
The Merc had some sort of driving economy gauge fitted. " NEVER MIND THAT FOOT FLAT ON THE FLOOR" as I could see a lorry bearing down us which fortunately she did. I think she heard the panic in my voice because she never said a word about being yelled at.
Made her promise never to do that again, still makes me shudder to think of it now
Sitting in the passenger seat of a Ford Ka with many tonnes of tanker approaching made me express my concern in a less than civil manner!And my mother makes it in here today. 70 year old woman, who drives cautiously to say the least. Whilst driving through Exeter, she started honking on about how the car in front was going too slowly. 'Eh?' says I, pointing out that it's a 20mph limit, it has been for some time and that there are actually repeater signs. She then went onto say that it's a silly limit because it slows everyone down. I swear I must be adopted. This particular 20mph is heading into the city centre, going past a college and has several pedestrian crossings along it; perfectly appropriate for a 20 limit. Her birthday present this year is going to be some driving lessons geared towards older people.
Clueless receptionist. (If you don't know what you are talking about best just to STFU.)
I had my car in at the regular garage to have two things sorted out.
1. Overheating in traffic (Told them I strongly suspected it was the cooling fans not working, common fault).
2. Remove sump, replace oil pick-up pipe, new oil and filter.
Got a call to say it was ready to collect,I casually asked what was the issue with the overheating.
I was told that it was fine now, I asked again what was the issue with the overheating. "Oh they didn't find anything, they had it ticking over for a while and it didn't overheat.........
.........they have done the oil pick-up pipe, that might have fixed it just see how you get on with it".
I ended the call there and got straight on to the service manager who got on the case and sorted things out. They replaced both fans and the car was right again.
I know garages don't listen to punters telling them how to do their job but I can talk to them as we have known them a long time on both sides of the counter.(My son worked there for two years)
I had my car in at the regular garage to have two things sorted out.
1. Overheating in traffic (Told them I strongly suspected it was the cooling fans not working, common fault).
2. Remove sump, replace oil pick-up pipe, new oil and filter.
Got a call to say it was ready to collect,I casually asked what was the issue with the overheating.
I was told that it was fine now, I asked again what was the issue with the overheating. "Oh they didn't find anything, they had it ticking over for a while and it didn't overheat.........
.........they have done the oil pick-up pipe, that might have fixed it just see how you get on with it".I ended the call there and got straight on to the service manager who got on the case and sorted things out. They replaced both fans and the car was right again.
I know garages don't listen to punters telling them how to do their job but I can talk to them as we have known them a long time on both sides of the counter.(My son worked there for two years)
Edited by everyeggabird on Saturday 15th April 13:51
Jonmx said:
Paul Dishman said:
My mother did a similar thing. Driving her Merc 190 she pulled onto the westbound and uphill A30 dual carriageway at Okehampton doing about 20 mph.
I told her to put her foot down and had the reply that "Dad doesn't like me getting that needle in the red".
The Merc had some sort of driving economy gauge fitted. " NEVER MIND THAT FOOT FLAT ON THE FLOOR" as I could see a lorry bearing down us which fortunately she did. I think she heard the panic in my voice because she never said a word about being yelled at.
Made her promise never to do that again, still makes me shudder to think of it now
Much the same experience with my ex who lived near Okehampton, same stretch of road! Her mother had taught her that accelerating too quickly uses too much fuel. I told her to put her foot down and had the reply that "Dad doesn't like me getting that needle in the red".
The Merc had some sort of driving economy gauge fitted. " NEVER MIND THAT FOOT FLAT ON THE FLOOR" as I could see a lorry bearing down us which fortunately she did. I think she heard the panic in my voice because she never said a word about being yelled at.
Made her promise never to do that again, still makes me shudder to think of it now
Sitting in the passenger seat of a Ford Ka with many tonnes of tanker approaching made me express my concern in a less than civil manner!And my mother makes it in here today. 70 year old woman, who drives cautiously to say the least. Whilst driving through Exeter, she started honking on about how the car in front was going too slowly. 'Eh?' says I, pointing out that it's a 20mph limit, it has been for some time and that there are actually repeater signs. She then went onto say that it's a silly limit because it slows everyone down. I swear I must be adopted. This particular 20mph is heading into the city centre, going past a college and has several pedestrian crossings along it; perfectly appropriate for a 20 limit. Her birthday present this year is going to be some driving lessons geared towards older people.
Went somewhere in convoy with one of my sisters, her in her car us in ours. 50 mph is not the speed to travel at on a busy motorway, after yet another artic coming up behind me at a rate of knots I overtook her and got in the flow of traffic.Of course I was a lunatic for driving too fast, what is the point blah,blah blah.
What people tell me when they see I drive a MG ZS (2.5 V6).
"I wouldn't have one of those, the head gaskets go."
To which I reply "Where do they go?"
They then usually come out with something like "They just go don't they?" Then they can't even explain how they go or what they do in the first place.
"I wouldn't have one of those, the head gaskets go."
To which I reply "Where do they go?"
They then usually come out with something like "They just go don't they?" Then they can't even explain how they go or what they do in the first place.
TehRin said:
What people tell me when they see I drive a MG ZS (2.5 V6).
"I wouldn't have one of those, the head gaskets go."
To which I reply "Where do they go?"
They then usually come out with something like "They just go don't they?" Then they can't even explain how they go or what they do in the first place.
So say "Where to?" when somebody mentions a head gasket going would mark you out as an idiot, in my book "I wouldn't have one of those, the head gaskets go."
To which I reply "Where do they go?"
They then usually come out with something like "They just go don't they?" Then they can't even explain how they go or what they do in the first place.
Regardless of whether or not they are talking nonsense.
Doofus said:
TehRin said:
What people tell me when they see I drive a MG ZS (2.5 V6).
"I wouldn't have one of those, the head gaskets go."
To which I reply "Where do they go?"
They then usually come out with something like "They just go don't they?" Then they can't even explain how they go or what they do in the first place.
So say "Where to?" when somebody mentions a head gasket going would mark you out as an idiot, in my book "I wouldn't have one of those, the head gaskets go."
To which I reply "Where do they go?"
They then usually come out with something like "They just go don't they?" Then they can't even explain how they go or what they do in the first place.
Regardless of whether or not they are talking nonsense.
Doofus said:
TehRin said:
What people tell me when they see I drive a MG ZS (2.5 V6).
"I wouldn't have one of those, the head gaskets go."
To which I reply "Where do they go?"
They then usually come out with something like "They just go don't they?" Then they can't even explain how they go or what they do in the first place.
So say "Where to?" when somebody mentions a head gasket going would mark you out as an idiot, in my book "I wouldn't have one of those, the head gaskets go."
To which I reply "Where do they go?"
They then usually come out with something like "They just go don't they?" Then they can't even explain how they go or what they do in the first place.
Regardless of whether or not they are talking nonsense.
Also, not only am I joking when I ask "Where to?" but I also like them to stop in their tracks and question their own knowledge and sources which they got it from (which most of the time is "a friend of a friend" etc), too many people believe what they hear without doing any research themselves.
Edited by TehRin on Monday 17th April 15:50
everyeggabird said:
Clueless receptionist. (If you don't know what you are talking about best just to STFU.)
I had my car in at the regular garage to have two things sorted out.
1. Overheating in traffic (Told them I strongly suspected it was the cooling fans not working, common fault).
2. Remove sump, replace oil pick-up pipe, new oil and filter.
Got a call to say it was ready to collect,I casually asked what was the issue with the overheating.
I was told that it was fine now, I asked again what was the issue with the overheating. "Oh they didn't find anything, they had it ticking over for a while and it didn't overheat.........
.........they have done the oil pick-up pipe, that might have fixed it just see how you get on with it".
I ended the call there and got straight on to the service manager who got on the case and sorted things out. They replaced both fans and the car was right again.
I know garages don't listen to punters telling them how to do their job but I can talk to them as we have known them a long time on both sides of the counter.(My son worked there for two years)
I had exactly the same issue recently. Car was in for a cambelt, pump etc. I told them that the car wasn't revving out properly, hitting the cold limiter and little heat was coming into the cabin. I said to have a look, and replace the thermostat, as it's a common issue, and a £30 part!. I had my car in at the regular garage to have two things sorted out.
1. Overheating in traffic (Told them I strongly suspected it was the cooling fans not working, common fault).
2. Remove sump, replace oil pick-up pipe, new oil and filter.
Got a call to say it was ready to collect,I casually asked what was the issue with the overheating.
I was told that it was fine now, I asked again what was the issue with the overheating. "Oh they didn't find anything, they had it ticking over for a while and it didn't overheat.........
.........they have done the oil pick-up pipe, that might have fixed it just see how you get on with it".I ended the call there and got straight on to the service manager who got on the case and sorted things out. They replaced both fans and the car was right again.
I know garages don't listen to punters telling them how to do their job but I can talk to them as we have known them a long time on both sides of the counter.(My son worked there for two years)
Edited by everyeggabird on Saturday 15th April 13:51
Got a call to be told it was ready, asked whether the thermostat had been looked at.. to be told " we run it up to temp, and it was fine. I went down, took the mechanic out, and showed him what the issue was, and he went back and replaced it". It was a pita.
Utterpiffle said:
Argument in the office at work just now between two colleagues.
Petrol cars have a timing belt, diesel cars have a timing chain. No, only old cars have a timing chain.
I chose not to get involved, as they both started frantically googling to prove their point...
Id go ahead and confuse matters further by saying cars dont even need timing belts/chains, some dont have either! its all optional :PPetrol cars have a timing belt, diesel cars have a timing chain. No, only old cars have a timing chain.
I chose not to get involved, as they both started frantically googling to prove their point...
I had to call Ferrari Assist once when I had a tyre blow on my F355 on a Sunday morning. The first question was 'is it petrol or diesel'?
She then asked it was manual or automatic, I kept telling her that I had a tyre blow but no she had to go through the crib list. In the end she said a mechanic would come and assess the car before calling low loader. I kept telling her this was pointless but all to no avail.
She then asked it was manual or automatic, I kept telling her that I had a tyre blow but no she had to go through the crib list. In the end she said a mechanic would come and assess the car before calling low loader. I kept telling her this was pointless but all to no avail.
Vitorio said:
Utterpiffle said:
Argument in the office at work just now between two colleagues.
Petrol cars have a timing belt, diesel cars have a timing chain. No, only old cars have a timing chain.
I chose not to get involved, as they both started frantically googling to prove their point...
Id go ahead and confuse matters further by saying cars dont even need timing belts/chains, some dont have either! its all optional :PPetrol cars have a timing belt, diesel cars have a timing chain. No, only old cars have a timing chain.
I chose not to get involved, as they both started frantically googling to prove their point...
HappyMidget said:
Bet it would blow there minds if you told them some V8's only have one camshaft (that is if they knew what a camshaft is...)
I doubt they'd understand, and I really wouldn't want to engage them in conversation long enough to explain. Or maybe I could just show them a picture of my coffee table...
Utterpiffle said:
HappyMidget said:
Bet it would blow there minds if you told them some V8's only have one camshaft (that is if they knew what a camshaft is...)
I doubt they'd understand, and I really wouldn't want to engage them in conversation long enough to explain. Or maybe I could just show them a picture of my coffee table...
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