Eyerseys Autotrader adventure

[Bobberoo99]

How's things in your part of the world Eyersey?

[Eyersey1234]

There's a few cases of the coronavirus but there is everywhere. National Express have cut services due to the crisis so we have a surplus of drivers at the minute, local services are also being cut back to reflect less demand, but at least we have been told there will be no redundancies. How's things with you Bobberoo99 and Peanut Gallery?

[Bobberoo99]

I'll be honest and say no change here at all work wise, Aerospace industry so carry on as normal until told otherwise, Portsmouth have had a few as has Southampton, but we're on a peninsula away from both, no news of anything so far!!!

[Peanut Gallery]

I'm really lucky in that I have a job sitting down behind a computer, as long as I have an Internet connection all is good. I've been sent home, told to return to work when this is all over.

So I'm sitting at home with SWMBO, a 3 year old and a 2 month old, trying to stay away from everyone else! She has a year's maternity leave, so I hope this all blows over by next year!

[Eyersey1234]

A picture I've wanted to get for ages, the Focus with the bridge at Ironbridge in the background.

[Eyersey1234]

I'm glad things are OK with you Peanut Gallery and Bobberoo99.

[Peanut Gallery]

Thank you for asking!

Randomly, as of yesterday my next door neighbour is now rolling with my old summer tyres on rims, so the old "Mr Blue" lives on!

[Eyersey1234]

Good to hear other bits of your Focus live on Peanut Gallery.

[Eyersey1234]

I've treated the Focus to a Hubnut car sticker, hopefully it should arrive soon.

[Eyersey1234]

Renewed insurance today, £450ish for the year including breakdown and protected no claims isn't too bad.

[Peanut Gallery]

That aint bad! - then I saw the insurance for my new car, and wished I was back in the old Focus...

Mind you, I am a fool who always lines up tax, insurance, MOT and annual service to come together, so I don't forget one. My bank does not like this arrangement.

[Eyersey1234]

Tax is due October, MOT June although with the 6 month extension that takes it to December, service is whenever it needs it. How much is insurance for the S Max Peanut Gallery?

[Peanut Gallery]

I had to pay an extra £210 top up to change from the Focus to the S-Max. - sorry, cannot remember what my original insurance was, but I think it was around the £500 mark (with 14K a year, 3 drivers, and a full 10years no claim_but_one_notification - darn fences jumping out into the middle of the road..)

I've just dug out the tax, and that's £125 a year - if you can explain how I doubled my hp, and reduced my tax, I would love to know!

[Eyersey1234]

Tax is done on CO2 emissions so the engine in the S Max must be less polluting than the Focus.

[Peanut Gallery]

Eyersey1234 said:

Tax is done on CO2 emissions so the engine in the S Max must be less polluting than the Focus.

Much less - this one doesn't use oil and doesn't have a cat that does not work - also the pollution from the random bits falling off the old one would could also be brought into the equation...

[Eyersey1234]

Peanut Gallery said:

Eyersey1234 said:

Tax is done on CO2 emissions so the engine in the S Max must be less polluting than the Focus.

Much less - this one doesn't use oil and doesn't have a cat that does not work - also the pollution from the random bits falling off the old one would could also be brought into the equation...

Yeah I suppose that will make a big difference

[Eyersey1234]

Hubnut sticker now on the car.

[Eyersey1234]

I've noticed a knocking sound that sounds like it's coming from the n/s/f when going over some bumps, any ideas what could be causing it?

[Bobberoo99]

Lower control arms, drop links top mounts hopefully not the anti-roll bar bushes as they're a pain in the arse to do, most likely culprit is drop links or lower control arms, easy to replace both with just a jack and basic tool kit!!!

[Eyersey1234]

Thanks Bobberoo99