eXOBeX

Entry level already being way up the scale compared to entry level on some other luxury brands, of course: :-)

You usually get what you pay for when it comes to plasma TVs. Buy cheap, get cheap. My Panasonic wipes the floor with my friend's Goodmans. Remember all the trouble with Tiny plasma sets? Using Samsung panels (which they used to brag about) is all well and good, but they used poor quality control gear that let the whole thing down.

Looking very nice, the bodyshop's doing an astounding job, although I reckon it'd look far better with an extra 2-3 inches of rubber on those rims!

I've got a Panasonic TH-42PZ81B (the first of the FreeSat sets), VEEEEERY happy with it. Which? magazine has reviewed 245 plasma & LCD TV sets, I've got the 37-42" listed below from best to worst, with the top ranking model for each manufacturer in bold. I'd recommend taking a look at the Which? magazines in your local library for a full review and rating of any of these sets, or subscribe online, after all you'll be spending quite a few quid! Even if you don't bother, the list below should give you some idea of how the manufacturers generally compare, although it's worth noting that if you include the other sizes as well, Panasonic account for eight of the top ten, with Sony in third and tenth places. BEST BUYS Panasonic TX-37LZD800 Panasonic TX-37LZD81 Panasonic TX-37LZD70 Sony KDL-40W4500 Sony KDL-40Z4500 Panasonic TH-37PX80B Panasonic TH-42PX7 Sony KDL-40E4000 Sony KDL-40D3000 Panasonic TH-42PX700 Panasonic TH-42PX80B Philips 42PFL9703D NOT BEST BUYS Panasonic TH-42PZ700 Sony KDL-40D3500 Panasonic TH-42PZ85B Sony KDL-40X3500 Sony KDL-40V4000 Philips 42PFL9803 Sharp LC-37XL8E Panasonic TH-42PZ800 Panasonic TH-37PX70 Philips 37PFL5522D Samsung LE40A556 Sharp LC-37D65E Toshiba 37XV505DB Toshiba 37X3030D Toshiba 37CV505DB Sony KDL-40S3000 Philips 42PES0001 Sony KDL-40EX1 Sony KDL-40W3000 Sony KDL-40V3000 Samsung LE40A856SM1XXU LG 37LG3000-ZA Pioneer PDP-428XD Toshiba 42RV555DB Samsung LE37R87BDX/XEU Sony KDL-37P3020 Toshiba 37RV555DB Panasonic TH-42PX70 LG 42PG6000 Panasonic TH-42PZ81B Toshiba 40ZF355DB Panasonic TH-42PZ70 LG 42PG3000 Sharp LC-37B20E Sharp LC-37RD2E Samsung LE37A457 Samsung LE37A456C2DXXU Philips 42PFL5603D/10 Toshiba 42XV505D Samsung LE40A656A1FXXU Sharp LC-42XL2E Samsung LE40A686 JVC LT-42DR9 Pioneer PDP-4280XD LG 42LG6100 Philips 37PFL5603 Philips 42PFL9900D LG 42LF66 Toshiba 42ZV555D Toshiba 37XV555D Samsung PS42A457P1DXXU Samsung PS42A456 Samsung PS42Q97HDX/XEU JVC LT-42DV8BJ LG 42PC55 Samsung PS42C96HDX/XEU LG 37LC55 LG 37LY95 Sharp LC-37AD5E Hitachi L37X01 LG 42PT85 Bush LT42M1CFA Philips 37PFL9732D/10 Acoustic Solutions LCD37761F1080P LG 42LF75 Samsung LE37S86BDX/XEU Samsung LE40M87BDX/XEU JVC LT-37DA8 ONN OLCD3701 Wharfedale LTF42K1CB JVC LT-42DG8 DON'T BUYS Toshiba 40XF355D Atec AV371DS COMING SOON (THIS MONTH?) Panasonic TX-P42G10 Panasonic TX-P42X10 Sony KDL-40WE5 LG 42PQ3000 Sony KDL-40V5500 Sony KDL-40ZX1 LG 42LH4000 Philips 42PFL9903D Aurea II Toshiba 42AV635D Samsung LE40B650T2W Sony KDL-40E5500 Samsung PS42B4501 Philips Cinema 21:9 (56" plasma with 2.35:1 aspect ratio) Panasonic TX-P46Z1 LG 37LH2000 Samsung UE40B7020W

Try searching eBay (item and description) for that contact number, see if it's cropping up elsewhere.

How much fuel's in the tank? On one of my older Toyotas the fuel sender was bolted to the top of the tank and accessed by flipping up the seat. Maybe the same here? If that's the case, and the tank's not too full, perhaps the sender can be unbolted and the fuel syphoned out from there? I wouldn't do it with a full tank as you'll get petrol everywhere.

We've drilled them in work in the past. Wrecked a few bits doing it, too! Apparently a microwave oven will destroy the data on the platters completely, no data recovery method will get that back. I read it in some interview with a forensic data recovery engineer, these guys do weird stuff like steer the drive heads slightly off course to read the edges of the data track where it's not been overwritten by the track above, or read the data and check the strength of the bit: a 1 will be a stronger 1 if it was 1 before being overwritten, compared to a 1 that overwrote a 0. Of course, don't do this with your fancy built-in microwave in the kitchen! Go buy a thirty-quid job from Asda, once you've finished frying drive platters you can use it for microwaving lightbulbs (they glow), CDs (they arc), matches (ball lightning!), soap (it grows), wire wool (like a substation fire in a box) or whatever. "don't try this at home" Oh, and I second the bit with the magnets - they make cracking fridge magnets for holding tea towels, etc.

Well I've got 9 points to clear off mine, and it's cheaper than the way I shifted the previous ones (bought a house) :D

This has been the case for a long time. You're licensed up to your 70th birthday, but you can then renew the licence (for free). Info here.

They're supposed to send a reminder through 2 months before it expires. The 10 years doesn't expire on your birthday (mine's in November and the card expires in August).

Welcome back! :)

A belated happy birthday!

Seconded. Hoodie wearing brats on street corners demanding "respect"? Try earning it, then. When I was in school there was only one class in each year which had kids acting like that, and it was the thick class. The cane was always an option (and one I narrowly escaped) but kept most of us in line. A wallop didn't have to be administered, the fact that it was an available option was enough (unless you were caught fighting, in which case both parties got one automatically).

Did someone mention a group buy on baseball bats? At least now the neighbours know, chances are he'll get a pasting.

Halfords radio displays used to use 13.8V CB power supplies, either 5 or 7 amp. SparesWorld used to use something a bit bigger for their sub displays, a Manson EP 850. This thing's the same size as a hi-fi amp, weighs a ton and kicks out 13.8V at 50 amps. I've got one that I've fitted a cigarette lighter socket to. Here's a stock photo of the beastie, though. On the other hand, a Corsair TX 650 can kick out 52A on its 12v rail, you just need to modify it a bit. http://www.wikihow.com/Convert-a-Computer-...ab-Power-Supply

Any distinguishing features? Stickers in the back window, etc? On a different note, is the MacBook trackable? Apple have some weird and wonderful Internet-based tracking feature, don't they, so they can trace it when it's online?

I think some of the clips are Irish, the lad getting hit by the van and the couple hit whilst sitting on the wall (car was ECZ 3067, that's an Irish plate, isn't it?).

YouTube version at http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=pgYA2c5iyzs for those who want to send it via Facebook or whatever. Please wait a few seconds for Video to Load!

I'm still with PlusNet.

Speak for yourself, Jap-import-boy ;-) Mk.2 GS should be OBD-II compliant, my 52-plate one is.

One of the pre-cats has decided to fall to bits and apparently restrict flow (well, clog up the pipe so the car ain't driveable). Car's in the garage at the mo, will get looked at tomorrow. Question is, is it worth emptying the bits of catalyst out of the pipe and running it like that (effectively de-precatted or at least partially de-precatted) or should I get the pre-cat replaced? There are lambda sensors before and after the pre-cat if that's any help (for any non-GS300 Mk.2 owners chipping in their knowledge).

Rather nice IS250 passed me on the A470 earlier this evening, anyone on here?

This is a particular bone of contention in Mid Wales. Because there is currently no Freeview transmission in this area, there are TV channels available for free elsewhere in the British Isles that we have to pay for with a Sky subscription. Anyway, on the subject of FreeSat, I bought myself a Panasonic TH-42PZ81B, 42" plasma with built-in Freeview and FreeSat. You certainly get what you pay for, the picture quality is awesome, and unlike the cheap own-brand sets (Durabrand, Onn, etc.) the set hardly gets warm.

Now you know why it's called a spoiler.

For a Mk.2 booster & master cylinder that's an excellent price! Part numbers:- 47050-30150 (Aug 97 - Jan 00) 47050-30152 (Jan 00 - Jul 00, suitable substitute for above part) 47050-30230 (Jul 00 onwards)