Driving Spirit » General

Motorists Will Be Hit Hard By Digital Switchover

Chris — Mon, 26 Jul 2010 09:10:07 +0000

If you own a car then you should be used to having the contents of your wallet or purse stolen at every opportunity. Road tax, fuel duty, and insurance costs seem to keep on going up and now there’s another government-led change that’s going to cost you money.

It’s no secret that there are plans afoot to switch off the country’s analogue television and radio signals. There have been ad campaigns to persuade us to switch to digital TV and buy nice new DAB radio sets for our homes, but in all the excitement someone seems to have forgotten the analogue radio sets in the nation’s 20million+ cars. That’s a huge number of radio listeners that seems to have been missed by digital campaigners and car manufacturers alike.

Most new cars still come with an analogue radio as standard, while some models offer a digital setup as an optional upgrade. That’s great if you’re buying a new car and can afford to spend several hundred quid on a fancy radio, not so great if you’re buying second hand and the original owner didn’t specify one.

The government have decided that the analogue FM and MW signals will be completely switched off by 2015, leaving most motorists with static instead of our favourite radio stations. So what’s to be done?

Pick Up An In-Car DAB Receiver

The first and easiest option is to get an in-car DAB receiver, a portable device that looks a bit like a speed camera detector.

DAB Receivers use FM to transmit to your car stereo

One example is the PURE Highway – available for under £70 at Amazon – that uses a DAB receiver stuck to your windscreen. This then re-transmits the signal on a free FM frequency that you can tune into on your car stereo. It works well and is a cheap option, but the power wires can be a nuisance and you have to remember to take it off the windscreen if you don’t want it to get nicked.

Buy A New Car Stereo

The second choice is to invest in a new car radio, but this could be very expensive. Most cars these days have unique fit radios that mean you’re restricted in choice – you’ll have to go to your car dealer for an item that will fit your car, and they’re hardly going to offer the best price.

If you look around on you should also be able to get a dashboard conversion kit that will allow a standard-size aftermarket radio to be slotted into your dash. The problem is these often require some re-wiring and never look as good as the standard fit item.

Plug In A Personal DAB Radio

The final alternative is for the lucky few of you who have USB connections or headphone jacks built into your car. If you’re lucky enough to have a suitable socket you can simply pick up a personal DAB radio (check Amazon for some examples), plug it in and switch your radio to its auxiliary input, which is usually no more difficult than pressing a button on the radio.

Portable DAB radio is cheaper alternative to new car stereo

Very easy to do, but of course the radio will need its batteries replacing or charging every so often. There are also very few cars out there with the right kind of sockets.

Whatever you decide to do you’ll need to think about it soon before the switch goes on

So there you go – a government decision leaves motorists out of pocket again. Don’t you just love ‘em?

Motorists Will Be Hit Hard By Digital Switchover is a post from Driving Spirit.Are you ready for the release of Gran Turismo 5 on November 2nd?

Could Younger Drivers Make Safer Drivers?

Chris — Sun, 25 Jul 2010 11:02:31 +0000

Even though I learnt to drive the moment I turned seventeen I’m amazed that this age limit has remained intact. Both statistics and sensationalist headlines suggest that seventeen-year old drivers are far and away the biggest menace facing society, and we all know how keen politicians love to stick the boot into drivers.

The knee-jerk reaction is to say we should increase the age it which you can learn to drive, but what if we started teaching kids to drive at an earlier age? Get them to understand the principles of car control when they’re young and then, when they’re legally old enough to learn to drive on public roads, they can spend more time learning about the rules of the road rather than practising clutch control and three-point turns.

This is the thinking behind the Seat Young Drivers program. It’s a radical new idea that’s been put into action by Seat and Admiral car insurance, and places eleven-year olds behind the wheel of Ibizas on a closed off circuit. They get to learn the basics of car control in a safe environment at an age where they’re keen to learn and are free of the usual peer pressures.

There’s scientific evidence to back up the theory too. A Swedish study followed two groups of new drivers, one that was given early driving tuition at a younger age and a second that learnt in the normal way. The group that learnt to drive early went on to experience a 45% reduction in their accident rates over the first two years driving. That’s a huge reduction, even more so when you consider that 17 to 24 year old drivers are the group most at risk of having a fatal accident.

Personally I think this is a great scheme and hope it proves to be a success. If you’re still too young to learn to drive then tell your parents to visit the Young Driver website, or if you’re a parent then consider it for your kids – without wanting to sound overly dramatic, it might actually save their life.

Could Younger Drivers Make Safer Drivers? is a post from Driving Spirit.Are you ready for the release of Gran Turismo 5 on November 2nd?

Metric & Imperial Unit Converter

Chris — Mon, 28 Jun 2010 08:53:34 +0000

Whenever you’re reading about cars on the internet you tend to get a confusing mix of metric and imperial units, and sometimes that can result in some fairy misleading figures and comparisons.

Image credit: Ytsejam

Now must of us will know the difference between miles and kilometres (miles being the correct unit of measure, of course) but can you differentiate between Pferdestärken and kilowatts? What about Newton-Metres versus good old foot-pounds of torque?

If you’re not sure whether 300hp is better than 300PS (it is, by the way) then try using this handy metric/imperial unit converter. You’ve got all you need to convert between the three units for power (horsepower (hp), Pferdestärken (PS) and kilowatts (kW)), torque (pound-feet (lb-ft) and Newton metres (Nm)), speed (miles per hour or kilometres per hour) and liquids (gallons and litres).

Metric & Imperial Unit Converter is a post from Driving Spirit.Are you ready for the release of Gran Turismo 5 on November 2nd?

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If Only All Cars Could Do This

Chris — Sat, 19 Jun 2010 13:58:40 +0000

Here’s a cool new advert for the Kia Soul and their World Cup phone app.

I suspect that most of these features aren’t standard on the Soul, but I could sure do with the levitation app for those long journeys to and from work. It’s a shame they don’t include a rocket launcher function.

If Only All Cars Could Do This is a post from Driving Spirit.Are you ready for the release of Gran Turismo 5 on November 2nd?

Reversing Taken To Extremes

Chris — Mon, 31 May 2010 05:40:20 +0000

Some people struggle to reverse slowly into a parking space in a multi-story car park (not me, of course), but check out the video below for some seriously skilled high-speed reverse driving. Yes, it’s another one of those viral ads, this time for Dunlop and their new range of Street Response tyres, but the driving on show is pretty slick.

It’s not just the driving that’s amazing, it’s also the fact that the cars being thrown around this car park are a trio of Citroen C1s. They wouldn’t even register on the hot hatch scale, but its proof that you can have fun in a car with only 68bhp.

Reversing Taken To Extremes is a post from Driving Spirit.Are you ready for the release of Gran Turismo 5 on November 2nd?

Video: Official Gran Turismo 5 E3 Trailer

Thinking Of A Road Trip This Summer?

Chris — Wed, 26 May 2010 20:54:00 +0000

While enjoying the current spell of hot weather my mind has started wandering to road trips. For many keen drivers a road trip is an essential part of summer, a chance to get out in your car onto some quiet country roads, instead of sitting in traffic queues on the way to work.

Choosing the destination can be one of the hardest parts of arranging a road trip, but usually you need little more than good roads in open countryside. There are loads of places to visit in the UK that combine stunning scenery with equally stunning roads – Scotland, Wales and the Lake District are a few ideas. If you’re feeling ambitious you could try Europe – the north of France is a good starting point, or you could even go further afield and try Spain or Italy. Or how about visiting some classic European race circuits? Spa Francorchamps and the Nurburgring are two tracks that are in easy reach.

Once you’ve decided on the destination you’ve got your accomodation to think about, and if you’re heading into Europe you can start adding ferry or Eurostar tickets.

But in the excitement of arranging the trip it’s all too easy to miss the most important thing – making sure that your car is ready for the trip! Before you set off you want to be sure that your car is in tip-top condition so that it won’t let you down miles from home.

Time For Some TLC

The first thing to check is your car’s service log book. Is it nearly ready for a service? If so it might be worth booking the car in early. It’s all too easy to rack up big mileage on a long road trip and your car will definitely appreciate the fresh oil, filters and spark plugs that a service will bring.

If it’s too early for a service then consider changing the oil and filter before you go. You should also check that all fluids are topped up, so crack open the bonnet and check your coolant tank, brake fluid and power steering fluid. If they’re low and you’re not sure what you should top them up with consult either your handbook or give your dealer a ring for advice.

It’s a good idea to make sure you’ve got some spare oil and coolant in the car. You should be able to find both in single litre bottles, and you can stash them under your seat for use in emergencies.

What’s Your Rubber Like?

Check your tyres for signs of wear and damage. If the tread is low then get them swapped, and if you’ve been meaning to get that slow puncture fixed then you’d better get it done before you set off.

You should also look for any unusual bulges in the sidewalls, as these will indicate damage to the tyre that could weaken it. If left you could end up suffering a blowout – a nasty experience if you’re travelling at speed when it lets go.

Any Blown Bulbs?

Check that all of your car light bulbs are working – headlights, tail lights, signals and brakes. If you haven’t got anyone to help you check the brake lights then either stick something heavy on the brake pedal and check yourself, or reverse up to a window or garage door and hit the pedal – you should be able to see each brake light reflected behind you.

If you’re thinking of heading into Europe make sure you’ve got a set of spare bulbs in the car. In some countries it’s a legal requirement to carry spare bulbs at all times, so it’s better to spend a few quid now than risk a hefty fine from an eager Gendarme.

Are You Insured?

Do you know if your insurance cover includes travel in Europe? Chances are you’re not covered as standard, so check the exclusions on your policy and if you’re still unsure then phone up your insurer and ask the question. If you aren’t covered then see if you can arrange temporary cover for the duration of your trip.

In Case Of Breakdown

If you haven’t already got car breakdown cover then now is the time to look into it. You don’t want to break down hundreds of miles from home and not have any roadside cover as you’ll be at the mercy of local recovery crews. Towing your car to the nearest garage could easily cost hundreds of pounds if you’re stuck in the middle of nowhere, and if you’re abroad it starts to get even more complicated as the language barrier kicks in.

If you’ve already got breakdown cover and you are thinking of travelling abroad then check the small print to make sure you’re covered outside of the UK. If not then phone up and see if you can extend your cover.

Enjoy The Trip

The most important thing to remember about a road trip is that it’s an adventure into the unknown. Don’t stress about itineraries and planned routes, just try to relax and see where the road takes you. As long as you’re roughly going in the right direction and you get to your hotel before closing time you’ll be fine!

Now where did I put that road map?

Thinking Of A Road Trip This Summer? is a post from Driving Spirit.Are you ready for the release of Gran Turismo 5 on November 2nd?

Real Or Fake? Mercedes SLS Tunnel Stunt

Chris — Wed, 13 Jan 2010 08:07:37 +0000

Take a look at the following video that shows a Mercedes SLS AMG doing a complete loop in a tunnel.

While it’s almost certainly a fake, is there a chance it could be real – is this sort of thing possible in the real world? And is the Mercedes SLS AMG possibly the ugliest car available to buy at the moment? Having said that, I do love the gullwing doors!

UPDATE - if you’ve watched the first video above, now watch the second video below … notice anything different about the driver? You might not have recognised him before but now he seems to have changed into someone a bit more famous. Looks like Mercedes are trying to rewrite the laws of time and physics with this stunt.

Real Or Fake? Mercedes SLS Tunnel Stunt is a post from Driving Spirit.Are you ready for the release of Gran Turismo 5 on November 2nd?

Satnav Leads Driver To 100ft Drop

Chris — Thu, 17 Sep 2009 06:37:40 +0000

If your satnav ever tells you to take a turn up a gravel path then it’s time to switch it off and pull out the map, otherwise you could end up with 6 points on your license and a hefty fine.

Photo: ROSS PARRY

That’s exactly what happened to delivery driver Robert Jones, who turned a £30,000 BMW 5-series off the main road and up a dirt track simply because that’s the direction his satnav told him to go. It was night time, the car was low on petrol and Jones was unfamiliar with the area so he trusted the satnav’s directions.

Unfortunately the dirt track turned into a narrow and precarious bridal path and eventually the car hit a wooden fence. This was where Jones’ luck improved, as the fence stopped him from driving over the edge of a 100ft drop.

Jones was forced to call the police for help, and it took nine hours and three quadbikes to free the stricken BMW.

According to Waseem Raja, the prosecuting solicitor: “The defendant was using a Tom Tom satellite navigation system. The defendant followed that system to the letter, so much so it led him up a lane clearly unsuitable for motor vehicles.

“The path was such it was not designed for use of motor vehicles yet Mr Jones slavishly continued to follow the satnav system to the point where his eyes and his brain must have been telling him otherwise to such a degree he was not exercising proper control of the vehicle.”

Found quilty of driving without due care and attention Jones was given six points on his license, fined £370 and ordered to pay £500 costs. After the sentencing he asked manufacturers to do more to warn drivers that the devices are not flawless: “I’m extremely disappointed. I was using the satnav properly but users should be made more aware they should only use them as a guide,” he said. “I still use mine. It’s the only time it’s ever let me down.”

On the other hand, don’t put all your trust in technology, invest in a £5 map book and use your brain the next time your satnav tells you to do something that seems stupid.

Source: Daily Telegraph

Satnav Leads Driver To 100ft Drop is a post from Driving Spirit.Are you ready for the release of Gran Turismo 5 on November 2nd?

Home Office Doubles Fines

Chris — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 11:49:27 +0000

The Home Office has decided to double the fine for drivers or passengers who don’t wear a seatbelt, or car owners who try to doctor their number plates.

The fine for not wearing a seatbelt was just £30, but it was decided that this wasn’t enough of a deterrent. Now the on-the-spot fine will cost £60 for anyone stupid enough to be caught without their belt on.

Motorists who try to disguise or change their number plates will now be fined £60. This increase follows police concerns that more and more car owners are trying to hide their number plates to avoid detection by speed and red-light cameras.

Personally I don’t think they’ve taken it far enough and the fines should be at least twice the new values. Mind you, it doesn’t really matter how much the Home Office increases the fines – it won’t make a difference without more police patrols on the roads to enforce the rules.

The new fines came into effect on 30th June.

Home Office Doubles Fines is a post from Driving Spirit.Are you ready for the release of Gran Turismo 5 on November 2nd?

Driving Techniques – How NOT To Do A Burnout

Chris — Tue, 20 Jan 2009 08:30:50 +0000

If you want to attract attention to you and your car, one sure-fire method is to do a burnout. An even better way to draw a crowd is to do a burnout on a concrete embankment and then roll your car!

Source: Autoblog

Driving Techniques – How NOT To Do A Burnout is a post from Driving Spirit.Are you ready for the release of Gran Turismo 5 on November 2nd?

Power
Horsepower to Kilowatts	HP	Kw
Kilowatts to Horsepower	Kw	HP
PS to Kilowatts	PS	Kw
Kilowatts to PS	Kw	PS
PS to Horsepower	PS	HP
Horsepower to PS	HP	PS
Torque
Nm to lb/ft	Nm	lb/ft
lb/ft to Nm	lb/ft	Nm
Speed
MPH to Km/h	MPH	Km/h
Km/h to MPH	Km/h	MPH
Liquids
Imperial Gallons To Litres	Gallons	litres
Litres To Imperial Gallons	Litres	Gallons