Oddlegs

Disappointing to see the sports seats option only available on the SEL in the UK configurator. Unless of course any of you folks know different....

If you're not averse to 'budget' tyres, try Barum - Continentals budget brand. I put a set on my mk1 1.4 16v after a recommendation on these forums and found them much quieter than the original Continentals. No difference in handling/grip that I could detect, but then I don't drive like I've nicked it, mostly. Now have 1.2tsi 105 and will be fitting Barums when the Bridgestones have had it. Oddlegs

Glass's Guide?.....

How about using tinted window film...

Someone here has a great rear window sticker - 'Go on small d**k, pass me' or similar. Ch**s have no knowledge of insurance law. Anything different from the as delivered factory spec should be declared. Inurance companies are more than happy to cancel cover if this is not done. So, take Ch**vs reg and report to police as having no insurance. 99% of the time you'll be right.

Ggrreeetttiiinnngggsss ffrroomm HHuull Quick change of underwear and all ok. Glanced out of the window, house lights coming on, people wandering out onto the street,.. surreal

is the CPU fan working?

Please post the address you sent the phone to.....

Watch were you walk - bike lanes everywhere and they always take precedence. Stay out of the dope shops on your last day - the smell will be picked up by the sniffer dogs - I've seen this happen! You can take photos in the museums, but to be sure, stand with a group of Japanese tourists, they snap voraciously so you shouldn't be noticed. Amsterdam is mostly a very easy going place, but get up early if you want to see everything. Some pics here I took a while ago - Amsterdam Sunday May 1st 2005 Photo Gallery by oddlegs at pbase.com

If you're using WinXP, try restore. Click 'start' - 'programs- 'accessories' - 'system tools' - 'system restore' then choose a date when your PC was running ok.

The Missus tells me that David Tennant drives a Skoda. Anyone know which model?

Buy with care, SD cards are not as robust as compact flash, for example. They also need formatting before they can be used, usually in the camera, though I suggest you do a search for best methods. 2 x 512mb cards, though slightly more expensive than 1 x 1gb is a safer way to go - the dreaded 'memory card error' message is not uncommon with SD cards. I've used compact flash on five different Canon cams over the years and never had a card failure. The first 1gb SD I bought for an A540 Christmas gift failed after a dozen shots.

Try here. Kerio Personal Firewall. Happy user. Easy use, very configurable. Hackers and board moderators use it, and they know their stuff. Webstore Products reviews Kerio Personal Firewall review and download

Anyone know if it's possible to buy the sound proofing liner that can can see fitted to a VRS, or to have it retro-fitted?

Anyone fitted a front centre armrest in a Fab? - does it look the part, is it comfy, does it get in the way, best place to buy from etc? Any info gratefully welcome.

It's all about speakers. Just mounted 2 6x9's on the rear shelf, with quick release connectors so taking shelf out is a doddle, wiring is simply transferred from original speakers in rear shelf voids. No impact on luggagge space. Sound is wonderful with standard symphony head unit. When there is no one near enough to be annoyed, bass frequencies vibrate my lungs, and differences between a solid bass drum thump and a smooth sonorous fretless bass note can be clearly heard. The waffle structured shelf is a pain to cut, but well worth the effort.

The RH drive Fabia has a left foot rest. It also has enough space right of the accelerator for ones foot.

As 'noise' is simply the word some humans use to describe the phenomena of altered air pressure felt at ones eardrum, in the abscence of humans we can suppose there is no 'noise'. however if animals are present and react to the tree falling then they may have heard something, so in that case, yes there is 'noise'. Hope that helps.

Tried the Sigma and Tamron 18-200's. Found the Sigma slightly sharper, though differences very small when stopped down. Sigma did not focus as accurately as Tamron, so went with Tamron. Samples here - Tamron 18-200 zoom lens samples Photo Gallery by oddlegs at pbase.com

A shame then, that Skoda can't get that bit right if Ford can. I rarely stall the Fab now I'm well used to it, but a nice car would be made even better without the flat spot. Or, am I being over critical, does it bug no-one else?

Had a Fiesta 1.25 loan car whilst my Fab 1.4 16V was having crunched drivers door fixed, so here's a few comments for those interested in such things. Driving - very easy to drive, the missus found it much more so than the Fab. Smaller steering wheel, less roll, tighter handling around corners, but ride quality inferior - too restless for me. Spec says 74 bhp, felt like it was running out of puff at higher revs, but more torque, so could tootle along in 5th at 30 and still accelerate enough to keep up with traffic - this I liked. No flat spot when moving off or changing up, made squirting out of junctions a lot easier, I'm guessing it may not have a drive by wire throttle - Skoda please note! Comfort - No match for the Fab. Seat height adjust is simply a plate that pushes the seat cushion centre upwards and gives one piles. A cheapskate solution IMHO - Micra does the same. Seats are soft and smaller than Fab, even without the bum stiffening adjustment, the seat cushion is flat as to be almost convex, imparting the sensation of sitting on a beach ball. Not as much driver legroom/seat travel as Fab, and nowhere to rest clutch, or accelerator foot - unforgiveable. Gear stick a bit of a reach for leggy bloke like me with seat fully back, but no prob for the Missus. Still, not as nice as having the stick right by ones wrist like the Fab. Noisy - more road and engine noise, various clicks, squeaks, rattles etc. We know the Fab is not the quietest of cars but getting back in it was bliss, definitely more refined despite the funky engine growl. The Fiesta had around 90 miles on the clock so I was expecting it to be somehow better than it was. Space and seats aside, the cabin wasn't too bad. Many holes to put stuff in and a more 'modern' ambience, crikey I'm beginning to sound like an interior designer. And, one can see the bonnet from the drivers seat! Bottom line - nice to have the Fab back!

Saw this at Waddington airshow, thought it may be noteworthy. http://www.pbase.com/image/62982216 They have a website - www.licsltd.co.uk but it just gives phone No's and e-mail Unit One, 8 to 11 Willow Walk Business Centre, Starts Hill Road, Farnborough, Orpington, Kent BR6 7AA T: 01689 855211 M: 07958 791032 [email protected]

Having covered just 2.5k so far, I'll admit to being underwhelmed at first. Changing up at 2500 -3000 revs has been usual for my prevous cars - all 1.3 or smaller engines and smaller lighter bodies. Driving a 1.4 16v Fabia has changed my technique. The car will meander around town happily when keeping the revs below 3500 but for decent progress I change up at 4500, or a little over 6000 if I'm overtaking. I believed that keeping the revs down would aid good fuel consumption, but have found that because this engine appears to operate more efficiently at higher revs, I can 'gun it' when needed and it still does what it says on the tin. I'm averaging 43mpg, happy with the way it goes for a 1.4 and love the exhaust rasp when accelerating hard. I looked long and hard before buying and believe nothing comes close to the combination of space, performance and build quality for the price.

Is an oil change after running in a good idea or unnecessary?

Vid editing has more to do with CPU speed and RAM amount. Get the fastest CPU option, and at least 2 gigs of RAM.