New Year gift from the govt - Another fuel increase !

Now they have the gall to raise petrol by 15p per Litre.

Article Here

Judge cartoon

Click on pic for larger view

Theyre planning to lower speed limits - Again !

Story Here

On Wednesday they will issue guidance to councils urging blanket speed limits of 50mph, rather than 60mph, on rural single-carriageway A roads with a history of accidents.

The government also says the standard limit should be 20mph around homes and schools.

I sometimes wonder if govt departments ever speak to each other, there already IS a 20mph limit around most schools. On the A78 the road I use most days you are hard pressed to even reach 50 mph, with roadworks and temporary traffic lights every mile or so.

Then you have the dawdlers, I got landed behind one early yesterday morning driving at 35 in a 60 limit. He was also the only driver on the road without his dipped headlights on !.

New Bentley price revealed

The new Bentley Mulsanne will cost from £220,000 when it goes on sale in the UK in summer 2010, the company has announced today.

Production of Bentley's new flagship, whose £220k price tag includes taxes and delivery charges (awfully decent of them to throw those in), will start at Bentley's Crewe HQ in spring 2010. The first customer deliveries will begin a few months later.

Full story here

Fuel prices set to hit £5 per gallon

Motorists face fuel bills rising to record levels as they fill up their cars in the run up to Christmas, a report warns.

The RAC said today petrol prices are set to reach 110p per litre by the middle of next month – the equivalent of £5 a gallon.

The price hike means an increase of more than 26 per cent on last year when unleaded fuel cost 87p a litre.

Article Here

Should there be an age limit for driving ?

Today for the third time in as many weeks I was nearly involved in a collision with an elderly driver, due to the other drivers careless driving. A former car a Rover which I had spent a lot of money modyfying was written off - parked outside my house, when a driver in his 70's inexplicably crashed into it in broad daylight.
I strongly feel that there should be an age limit for driving, I suggest 70. See Poll.

Speeding motorcyclist jailed

A motorcyclist who rode at 166 mph has been jailed for 9 months by a Scottish court.
Story Here

The bloke was foolish to travel at such speeds on an open road- but what is the point of jailing an otherwise law abiding working man ? , surely a ban and fine would be more appropriate. Especially when you look at some of the thugs walking our streets who receive little more than 'Community service' orders or tagging !.

Christians should wear crosses says Bishop

At last some sense from the Christian church Story Here

Not Guilty motorists to pay court costs !

The War on the motorist continues. In a bid to supposedly "save money" motorists found not guilty of Alleged driving offences will still be liable to pay court costs. Story Here

Please take time to sign the petition.

Cyclists Demand that motorists are blamed for collisions!

Incredibly some little known militant cycling group is Demanding that Motorists are automatically blamed for any incident between a cyclist and driver.
Theres me thinking we lived in Great Britain - Not the former Soviet Bloc !
Story Here

Is this the end for Jaguar ?

Jaguar / Range Rover announced today that one of their factories is due to close Story Here

A new "Mini" Range Rover is about to be produced at Hailwood. Workers will have to wait until next year to learn their fate!.

Car Scrappage Scheme article

Many people suspected this would be a failure trade in a perfectly good car for a new one and leave yourself in debt for years Article Here

Latest Bentley Mulsanne revealed

Article from MSN Here

I can't decide on the Bentley or Jaguar XJ Saloon when I win the Lotto !!.

A Load of Bollards !

In a bizarre aim to cut drivers speeding past a primary school Leicester council have placed creepy looking plastic models of children near the gates.
Story Here

New XJ Video's & Pic's

From Piston Heads Site

New Jaguar XJ Saloon Unleashed !!

From MSN

New Jaguar XJ - officially unveiled

July 09 2009

After months of rumour and teaser pictures and videos, the much anticipated new Jaguar XJ limousine has been officially unveiled at a reception at London's Saatchi Gallery on Thursday evening.

• Gallery: the new Jaguar XJ
• History of the Jaguar XJ in pictures
• 
  

Click images to enlarge

The car was unveiled by American chat show host and famously passionate petrolhead Jay Leno, together with Jaguar boss Mike O'Driscoll and design director Ian Callum. Jeno joked that when Jaguar rang him up about him hosting the event, they said "But the bad news is that we don't have any money." Leno claimed he simply replied, "That's OK - I assumed you were calling me to borrow money."

So joking aside, how does it look? Well, the spy shots and teaser images had suggested a sleek, XF-inspired look for the all-new XJ and now the covers are off we can see these predictions were pretty much spot on. An imposing grille and sleek lights wrapping back around the bonnet give the car a sporty, aggressive look.

And the low roofline and shallow windows add to the sense of style, the XJ blurring the boundaries between traditional luxury saloons and so-called four-door coupes like the Mercedes CLS, Maserati Quattroporte and the Porsche Panamera we drove for the first time just the other week. But it's at the back where the XJ gets a bit more controversial.

Slim LED lights wrap around the rear wings, giving a whiff of Bentley Continental GT to the rear quarter while black-painted C-pillars create an unusual and distinctive wraparound effect for the rear window. It's certainly striking and final judgement will have to come when we see it in the flesh but it's a talking point for sure.

At first look, the blue-hued interior looks very special indeed. Dashboard dials come 'virtually' from a large 12.3-inch high-definition screen, with a Dual-View 8-inch centralised Touch-screen that can project DVD movies or TV to the passenger while the driver views vehicle functions or consults satellite navigation.

L-to-R: Ian Callum (Jaguar design director), Jay Leno, and Jaguar boss Mike O'Driscoll at Thursday evening's unveiling

So what about the technology? Well, Jaguar is promising the next generation of its aluminium body construction following on from the pioneering technology used on the outgoing XJ. That saved 200kg over the previous XJ and meant the Jag was around 100kg lighter than rivals - crucial for reducing emissions and improving fuel economy.

That said the XJ is still built with performance very high on the agenda, power coming from Jaguar's fabulous new gen III V8 petrol and V6 diesel engines. The flagship will use the 510hp supercharged V8 from the XFR and the XJ will, as tradition dictates, be offered in both standard and long-wheelbase versions.

Pricing has also been announced, ranging from £52,500 for an entry level 3-litre short wheelbase V6 diesel across to a beefy £88,000 for a range-topping 510hp supercharged petrol 5-litre V8 Supersport long wheelbase model. First deliveries to customers will be in early 2010.

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It's a stunning looking car hopefully it will turn around the fortunes of Jaguar.

Official site with Full Specifications - Here

Burgular Receives Punishment

Story Here

A knife-wielding burglar got the shock of his life when he was left battered and bruised by a 72-year-old former boxer.

Burglar Gregory McCalium got on the wrong side of ex-boxer Frank Corti

Gregory McCalium, 24, was punched twice in the face after breaking into the home of Frank Corti.The OAP said he was compelled to defend himself and his wife after McCalium threatened them at their home in Botley, Oxford.McCalium had thrown a knife at the pensioner - which missed. At that point the 72-year-old used his boxing skills to stop the would-be attacker in his tracks.

"I had to restrain him before he could go and get the knife,""I was scared when he first threw the knife, but most people would have acted in the same way.

"If you can't defend what's yours, where are we at?"

Well done Mr Corti.

Time to raise the UK Speed Limit !

The current maximum Speed Limit was implemented on The 22nd of Dec 1965. In those intervening years roads have become busier indeed at certain times some roads are gridlocked. People need to get places quicker, modern cars have become more technically advanced and able to perform - and stop a lot quicker than they did back in 1965. Our 70MPH Motorway speed limit is clearly out of date, who - apart from 'Sunday Drivers' honestly never goes over the 70 limit ? if you sat at that speed you would soon have irate drivers tailgating you !.

This archaic limit Must be raised. I would suggest 90 MPH for motorway's and 80 MPH for bypasses. If you agree or disagree please vote in the poll.

Ghouls try to profit on Farrahs death

As a fan of Farrah I would often check out items relating to her on E bay, usually there is around a dozen items but today there was over 200 items at inflated prices ranging from Newspapers announcing her death to a Leather Coat which supposedly belonged to her for over £9 Thousand !!.
I sincerely hope that none of them get the prices they are asking and crawl back below their stones.

Goodbye Farrah

Unfortunately my first posting has to be a sad one. I was deeply saddened to hear about the death of American actress Farrah Fawcett, growing up in the 70's Farrah was the pin up girl of many teenage lads myself included the famous swimsuit poster hung on many bedroom walls, John Travolta even had one in 'Saturday Night Fever'.
Of course most people identify Farrah with the hit TV series 'Charlies Angels' but I first saw her appearing in 'Harry O' starring the late great David Janssen as private eye Harry Orwell, Farrah played his lovely neighbour.

Sadly the years have been unkind to Farrah her personal life and health problems took their toll. At least she is finally at peace.

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