Plug

I've been with Plus for a couple of years (first on dial-up, last 18 months on broadband). They were very good to start with, but I have to say the quality of service has gone downhill, to the point where I am thinking of leaving. I wouldn't recommend them now. Plug

Madness in a way only an Ariel Atom can match.. I have to approve [] Cheers, Plug

Sorry to hear the Scooby's going. But no need to be a stranger on here.. they still let me in even now I've got the PanzerWagen.. All the best, Plug

I'm not a big fan of Elises but I have to say that sounds like a bit of a laugh [] Cheers, Plug

It's much too lairy for me.. each to their own. But good luck to him, he must be like a dog with two Hamptons.. Cheers, Plug

Looks mint, nice one. Can't beat the classic shape IMO.. Cheers, Plug

I have to say it's quite nice[] The fuel gauge problem was sorted without question from the dealer, they took it back and replaced both senders free of charge. No problems since. It's not the most economical car on the planet, local journeys equal about 19 mpg. But I was only getting about 21 from the Scoob in similar circumstances, so it's not really a surprise. Same story on motorways, 25-26 in the Merc as opposed to 27-28 in the Scoob. I can live with it. It's a very different car from the Scoob, feels heavier (indeed it is, by some 300Kg) but still well tied down. A huge amount of grip even though it's RWD rather than 4WD and still sporting despite the fact that's it an auto. The boys at AMG obviously over-rode the normal nanny settings that Mercedes put on their traction control.. it will happily leave two black stripes on the tarmac if you stamp on the throttle [] My old Scoob was a wagon so Tannan hasn't bought that one.. it ended up on forecourt in Ripley, last thing I saw. It was A1 when I part-exed it, so someone has bought a nice car with plenty of miles left in it... Cheers, Plug

I know just how you feel, it took me 3 months of searching before I bought my first Scoob. A bit less for the second, as I was a little more clued up.. [] But take your time, there's lots out there.. buy a good'un and you'll have a silly grin that no-one can wipe off your face! Buy a bad one and you'll have an empty wallet for the rest of your life. Good luck searching.. Cheers, Plug

'Tis here.. Edited to say "bollocks, I can never make clickys work any more" Cheers, Plug

Mrs. Plug got me this on DVD last Christmas - "C'etait un Rendezvous". That version on Google is a bit poo to be honest, it's been brutally compressed. The soundtrack of that Ferrari at full chat is something else though.. a proper old V12 breathing through big carburettors.. lovely [] Cheers, Plug

Went down to Halfrauds yesterday to get a new set of number plates for the Merc. My, but you don't half have to take some paperwork with you.... And then I managed to break one while I was drilling the mounting holes. B*gger. Drag out all the paperwork *again* and back to the shop. So what did I see there (the post title might be a bit of a clue)? Two trannies trying to buy touch-up paint for a Honda Civic (Satin Silver, for fans of specifics). They were right monsters as well.. think Freddie Mercury doing the hoovering in the video for "I want to break free" and you'll be on the right lines. The poor lad behind the parts counter didn't know which way to look... Still, I had a good laugh! You don't half see some sights these days.. Cheers, Plug

Not true, I'm afraid. Thanks to a super piece of legislation called the European Union Copyright Directive (why was I not surprised to find out this came from Brussels?) it is against the law to disable the copy protection technology (CSS) used to produce DVD's. Whether it is for profit or not is irrelevant. This is precisely what programs like DVD Decrypter (or, in my case, Mac the Ripper []) do, using a piece of software called deCSS, written by a Norwegian chappy called Jon Lech Johansen (AKA DVD Jon). This wonderfully draconian law went on the UK's statute books in November 2003, IIRC. Sorry, were you under the misapprehension that this was still a free country? Cheers, Plug

It's illegal to copy a DVD in this country, even if it is for personal use only [] Just so's you know.. Cheers, Plug

Walk away, takes 5 mins with the right kit to reset the mileage to whatever number you want. It could have been to the moon and back. Cheers, Plug

Hmm, smelly... Cheers, Plug

461.56p per gallon [] Erm.. my calculator says 104.9 times 4.545 (litres in a gallon) makes 476.77? Whatever, it's still far too bloody much... Cheers, Plug

Filled up at the local Shell station today, 101.9 for Optimax [:@] £51 for 208 miles, the Merc is averaging 19 mpg []. But most of the last tank was just running back and forwards to work, I didn't used to get much more than that in the Scooby, normally 21-22. I guess I'll have to go to work in the Panda soon if fuel keeps going up like this though.. Cheers, Plug

Another one bites the dust. Enjoy the Beemer! Cheers, Plug

Good choice mate.. I've just sold my Scoob but it was almost identical to yours! 1998 reddish blue UK wagon, I had 2-1/2 very happy (and trouble-free) years in it. Hope you have the same!! Cheers, Plug

Impreza vs. Forester STI shootout... Cheers, Plug

Have you seen how much that weighs!! [] You'd need a decent bracket to hang that on the wall.. and a strong wall for that matter.. Cheers, Plug

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Not strictly to do with cameras, but my boss got flagged down for speeding in France recently. French Plod had set up a speed trap next to a lay-by and were pulling up people every which way. He did say there were a suspiciously large percentage of UK registered cars, but whether that is French bias or UK driving style is up for discussion... The gendarme who welcomed him spoke fluent English, complimented him on his choice of car (BMW X5), and said they saw many X5's each day, but his was the first 4.8iS they had caught in a couple of weeks! And, as a final touch, the lay-by was equipped with that most essential of roadside accessories.. a cashpoint. Just in case anyone needed to pay an on-the-spot fine, for example, and didn't have the money to hand. How thoughtful. Mind how you go, now [] Cheers, Plug

I've been doing a lot of motorway miles recently as Mrs. Plug's dad has been coming to the end of a long illness, and sadly passed away a couple of weeks ago [] It's a 200 mile round trip, M3/M25/A21 and back, and I've seen some truly crap driving on every excursion. 20-odd years ago I spent a couple of years as a delivery driver, racking up 40,000 miles a year in a 7-1/2 tonner, and I'm sure the standard of driving used to be much higher (sh*t I'm starting to sound like an old fart). Today we had to go down for the funeral, hadn't gone 5 miles on the M3 when a bunch of tailgating a$$holes nearly came to grief when someone pulled out into lane 3. Brake lights and skid marks all over the shop. Got as far as the M3/M25 junction when some pillock in an X5 suddenly decided to leave the slip road across chevrons and back onto main carriageway (only just missing the armco) when he saw the congestion in the anticlockwise direction.. An accident with other people rubbernecking and all 4 lanes down to a crawl.. an unmarked Audi patrol car (with blues and twos going) trying to get past a Zafira driver who was in his own little world........ just a couple more examples. I'm so glad I mostly do local journeys these days... Cheers, Plug

Another one leaving the fold..I've just jumped ship myself but I chose the other side and bought a C43 Merc.. hooray! We are now officially enemies and can snipe at each pointlessly in an Impreza vs. Lancer stylee! Just kidding.. enjoy the M3, they are great motors. You're only over the border from me (I'm in Hants) so maybe I'll see you about. I'll hardly not notice you with that paint job [] Cheers, Plug