Barry

@desertdude do you really think it will be free though? The estimated cost to build the infrastructure is in the region of $10 billion.  I know Elon Musk thinks himself as something of a philanthropist but that's a big outlay and I'm sure he will look to recoup the costs somehow.

The neighboring village from my home village is using a satellite internet network. They were lucky to get 500 kbps download speed through the lines on a good day. The satellite network gives them over 10 gbps with a big but. It costs them over double the price of the wired network. It's a necessity for the people in the area running businesses so there's not much they can do but cry and suck it up. 

The whole diagnostic process in UAE is pretty backwards. People are either scared of to don’t know the tools to do jobs properly. The ideal thing would be to put the car on shaker plates which would show you any faulty bushings or other suspension parts instantly but I’ve never even seen a garage here who has it. 

It’s a nice concept, the idea of providing internet access to anyone, no matter how remote they are. I would guess the implementation is one of Mr Musks 420 bro ideas. 
 

It is getting pretty crowded up there now. There are currently around 5,000 man made satellites in the sky, with less than half still operational. The total amount of objects including junk currently being tracked are around 20,000 and there are an estimated 128 million tiny pieces flying around up there. It’s only a matter of time before something hits one of SpaceX’s rockets and destroys it, then the crying will begin. 
 

Humans are pretty shit. Not content with destroying the land and water with garbage, we’re destroying the sky with garbage too. It’s no wonder aliens don’t want to contact us. We might have computers, phones, cars etc but we’re still pretty primitive. 

I’ve done a few sets. It’s not difficult but it’s time consuming. Waiting for coats of paint to dry so you can sand them down ready for another coat is the worst part. First you need the wheels to be thoroughly clean. Sand down any parts of the scratches/gouges with rough sandpaper or a grinder so they are level with the rest of the surface of the wheel. Then fill the holes with isopon. When dry, rub it down flat with fine sandpaper. 
 

Then just follow the normal wheel painting procedure. Sand the whole wheel down to make a good surface for the primer to stick. Spray primer. Rub down. Spray primer again. Rub down. Spray topcoat. Rub down. Spray topcoat. Run down. Spray topcoat. Spray clear coat. Spray clear coat. 
 

It helps if you break the bead on the tyre before you start. Makes the masking and painting process a lot easier

You can track them here,

https://me.cmdr2.org/starlink/
 

I think the plan is to eventually put 42,000 of these satellites in the sky. It will change stargazing as we know it. I do however like that they could possibly break the Etisalat/Du duopoly but no doubt the bigwigs are already formulating a plan so residents don’t have access to it. Maybe a big weather controlled dome over UAE like in total recall.  

Has anyone spotted this yet?

Here are some times you should be able to spot it if you’re in a dark place

1 hour ago, desertdude said:

I've seen two horses in the middle of the road in traffic trotting away as if they are meant to be there 

P.S : not mounted police 

Ah this happens In Ireland a lot. 2 idiots decide to race horse and carts down a main road. The police are scared to touch them because “they’re an ethnic group”. Google irish traveller fights. They aren’t ethnic, they are a bunch of inbred hillbillies. Apparently if you’re inbred enough you are an ethnic group. Check out big joe Joyce on YouTube. I’ll dip my hands in petrol and beat the shit out of you. These people are the scourge of our country but the videos they post online offering each other out for a fight make the shame worth while 

Big respect to you @Srikumar and @Gaurav. I’ve seen the videos of traffic in Indian cities and it must take chromium clangers to drive through that. I would rather set myself on fire. 

What are the strangest things you have seen on the roads in UAE?

I recently saw a guy in a convertible Mercedes SL with a hookah burning away in the passenger seat. The driver was sucking away on the pipe, driving without a care in the world. Live for the moment bro?

I had heard before that Indian cars had upgraded horns because of excessive usage but I always thought it was an urban myth.

Anyway, it's an old article but you learn something new every day.

https://jalopnik.com/audi-is-designing-extra-loud-horns-for-india-5896859

It's borderline rude to honk at someone in Europe unless its an emergency and the roads are generally peaceful unless you're driving like a dick. I found it crazy when I first came here how much people honk at each other but its something you learn to ignore. If someone decides to have a mental episode and lose their mind and ruin their own day, that's their problem not mine. I'll keep driving nicely and not ruin my day.

Lets hope if they are released here they do something about the parts supply. H2 and H3 parts aren't too bad but I worked on a H1 a few months ago and couldn't get anything for it, door seals, oil seals, CTIS parts, specific stuff, not oil and filters. 4 weeks from USA. Ive seen a few Humvees around too and I bet its the same situation with them.

1 hour ago, desertdude said:

That's the problem with you young chaps you measure everything in 0-60 times and speeds at which something can take corners in.

There is SO much more to car than that!

I hear what you’re saying but my point is that it’s crazy how better cars can be pushed aside because of fanboism (new word copyrighted) over lesser cars because internet cool y0

On 1/16/2020 at 6:49 PM, Frederic said:

Yes when i was young i had the Cosworth poster as well, in Rothmans stickers (1986), but my dream was the Golf MK1 Karmann Ghia. Went to see one later on, but like most convertibles in Belgium the roof was leaking everywhere and it drove like a wheel barrow. 

 

My uncle had a 16v GTi. Very cool car, had the Pirelli P slot wheels. But it could barely keep up with my Mk5 XR3i. The golf is still worth 3 times what the Escort is worth now. Strange times.

What does it say in the owners handbook?

Speak to Yahya in top leather 0506555429. I have used him many times and his work has always been perfect. Even if it costs more. 
 

I would avoid al khaskha. I used them once for a classic Mercedes interior. They lost half the parts. It took me 4 trips to Sharjah to try to get the stuff back and I had to search the shop myself to find them. In the end I didn’t even get everything and had to order new parts from Germany. 

Explain this 6 wheel thing to me please. What I’m thinking is that even if the rear axle isn’t powered, surely it increases floatation? Ie, even if you spin the middle axle, the rear axle will still be on top of the terrain so you should sink in?

Metro 6R4. Mid engined NA V6. 253 bhp, up to 410 bhp depending on version. 5 speed manual, permanent 4wd with front and rear LSD. Proper supercar destroyer  

https://youtu.be/bwvDFvLiIqQ
 

Original

6r4 version

We’re always told never meet your heroes or you’ll be disappointed. This applies to cars also. There are cars we’ve all dreamed of driving or owning, how did it go when you met your hero?

For me it has to be the Escort Cosworth. I always had the poster of this on my wall as a kid. In my eyes it was the car that god would drive. My cousin bought one and I got a chance to drive it. Super disappointed. I was expecting supercar performance but in reality it was a hot hatch with a cool spoiler. I still love how they look but I would never want to own one now. 

For some strange unknown reason, the head sheikh of UAE has put you in charge of all car, traffic and transport related matters, on the condition you change 3 things with immediate effect. 

What would you change and why?

If you don’t care how it looks you can stick it with bison kit or spray adhesive. The advantage of using new fabric is that it’s clean. When you reuse old fabric it’s impossible to clean the old residue off so you will end up with little lumps and bumps where it was stuck. 

Next up, the apple car

It’s not the puddles I worry about, it’s what’s under them. You could be driving nicely along in a 2-3 inch puddle and fall into a big pothole and never see it. 

Car testing in Germany is insanely strict. They even go as far to test the moisture content in the brake fluid.

How do fuel prices compare in your home country versus UAE?

I am North Ireland

Current UAE price is 

Petrol 2.12 per litre 

Diesel 2.38 per litre

This is an average. Sources may vary

In my place we are paying £1.24 per litre (5.95 AED) for petrol. Diesel is £1.30 (6.23)

We are taxed twice in our fuel. First they add 60% fuel tax, then they add 20% VAT. 

People ask why Europeans love small engine cars?