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1. Ford Fiesta Popular Plus - 1990-1993 2. Ford Escort Mk3 1.3 Ghia - 1993-1995 3. Ford Escort Mk4 1.6i LX 16v - 1995-1998 4. Subaru Impreza Turbo 2000 (MY98) - 1998-1999 5. Subaru Impreza Turbo 2000 RB5 Prodrive WR-Sport (MY99) - 1999-2003 6. Subaru Impreza WRX STi (MY03) - 2003-

Oops!!! Hope that's not my old car!

WOW! £75/hour + VAT! That's rediculous! I don't even charge out at that sort of rate for my expert consultancy for building aircraft! My dealer here in Germany charges €68/hour (~£45) and I think that's expensive!

http://www.autoindustry.co.uk/press_releases/15-11-06_2 Your argument seems flawed! They are not bringing in Polish workers because they're cheaper, its because they will do the job that nobody else wants to do! The same is true for electricians, plumbers, carpenters, builders etc. Due to the increased numbers of 'Brits' going into higher education and then demanding better jobs that just don't exist there has been an increasing problem over the last 20 years or so in providing the skilled workforce which traditionally would have been met by apprenticeships! The legal immigration of people from Eastern Europe has merely highligted the underlying problem that the education system is not providing the workforce that the British industry requires. We don't need people doing media studies degrees, we're overrun with psycologists and God knows how many other pointless degrees like underwater basket weaving. We don't need so many degree educated people, we need skilled people and labourers etc. We fail to provide enough people then the employers have no choice than to look outside the UK.

WOW, Peter Tomlain posting on Scoobynet - who'd have thought! [] Bet he doesn't reply though! []

Didn't know Subaru has added ESP!

Can't really blame Norton, its just doing its job and protecting me from potentially dangerous web pages, something that AVG and Spyboy don't seem to be doing for you! As with any filtering software, they can only detect potentially dangerous code based on preset algorythms. Looking at the HTML code returned by SIDC post page, it fails on the very first line by not including the DOCTYPE tag, the rest of the page is then full of other HTML errors! If the HTML code adhered to the HTML rules then there wouldn't be a problem! Norton may be very resource intesive, but it does its job of protecting me better than any other internet security tools I've used. Maybe its a little bit over cautious but I would rather be safe than sorry! Edited to add: Not trying to be critical of SIDC web developers. I know how much work goes into developing a website and on the whole SIDC is an extremely good site. Just trying to help the webby's (and users) get to the bottom of the problems with the new age browsers! [Y]

I've also been having problems with Firefox 2.0 but discovered the Firefox problem is related to Norton Internet Security. Full description in this thread... http://forums.sidc.co.uk/forums/850730/ShowPost.aspx

Good choice! You won't be dissapointed!

As a Brit living as an Immigrant in Germany, I would have to agree mostly with AllenJ's comments! Immigration IS NOT the biggest problem in the UK, and we should definately distinguish between legal in illegal immigrants. Personally, I don't see that the UK has any problems relating to legal immigrants and IMHO are very much a benefit to the economy and society as a whole!!! I can't help but feel the government are using the so called immigration issues as a smokescreen from the real problems in the UK. Its very easy to blame all the problems on immigrants, but the reality is that many of the problems are with British people themselves - racism is perhaps one problem that needs to be addressed! I didn't leave the UK because of immigrants, the bigger issues for me were crime, anti-social behavior and taxes (particularly the ever increasing stealth variety!). As for road charging, I would be in favour of charging on Motorways - the M6 toll is great! In particular, I would like to see HGV's taxed considerably for long distances. I would like to see goods transported more by train with trucks used mainly for local distribution. The extra money put into the rail network by goods transportation would help improve the rail network and make trains a more attractive mode of transport! What I really don't agree with is the governments current proposal of black boxes tracking us wherever we go - not least for the privacy issues, the undoubted secondary use for speed enforcement and there is also the fundamental flaw that GPS is just not accurate enough. Anyone with sat nav will know that you can often be placed on the wrong road which could lead to being overcharged or a speeding conviction! A simple, not technologial, toll system on the motorway network would not only be the cheapest system to install, but would also satisfy the governments need for more money and protect our privacy without ripping us off for essential journeys. Also, if you really want to cut congestion, the school run would be a good starting point!

You're welcome! I'd also recommend Whiteline ARB's and drop links. I have 22mm fitted on the front and 24mm rear which gives a neutral balance, so no more understeer! Small increase in vibration at high (Autobahn!) speeds, but on normal B roads, the ride comfort is largely unaffected but body roll is almost illiminated! I fitted after the Prodrive springs, so previous comment on Prodrive springs is without ARBs!

Yes, I've got the Prodrive spring kit and definately worth doing. Doesn't noticably affect the ride comfort, but the handling is significantly improved!

OK, Firefox problem discovered! The problem is with Norton Internet Security. If I turn NIS off, everything appears correctly, with it on, it strips a huge block of code, starting with a <STYLE> tag (which shouldn't be in the body part anyway!), probably filtering because the code looks suspicious! Maybe the site authors should try validating their code using the W3C validator [] I've uploaded the correct and NIS filtered source listings so the admin can see what's being stripped out by NIS! Right click and save as to download the text files: Correct Version NIS Wrong Version Note, this only fixes in Firefox 2.0, IE7 still doesn't work, although the problem may be related, i.e. IE7 doing the same code filtering that NIS is doing!!!

Interesting stuff, but missing one key factor in the equation - Fuel Consumption! The little Cleo may not show an increase in performance, but could benefit from reduced fuel consumption. Even the Impreza with a big power increase may also have a reduced fuel consumption. The differences in fuel consumption could easily reduce the effective fuel cost per mile such that Super Plus fuels pay for themselves, even with the Cleo!

I have this problem at home with both IE7 and Firefox 2! The result is the same on either browser!!! I don't get any of the controls for changing the font, adding smilies etc. Still using Firefox 1.5 at work and works fine. I know some people are using Firefox 2 with no problems, but for me it doesn't work! []

If you're doing high milage, I'd go for the Goodyear F1's. Great tyre and the wear rate is much better than the Toyos!

Well, given the overall performance of Subaru this year, I suppose we should be happy with 3rd! Congratulations to Gronholm with Ford's first win on rally GB for 27 years! (Puts Subaru's bad season into perspective!!!) Also well done to Manfred Stohl! He's a really nice bloke and I'm pleased he's had a great season and hope he can improve again next year!

Subaru have never had a winless season!!! ...yet!

I live in Germany! My sister lives in Spain! My brother lives in New Zealand! 'Nuff said!!!!

Top 10 and selected others after 1st day (SS6)! Pos. No. Driver/Car Stage Time Pen Time Total Time Diff Prev Diff Ldr 1. 3 M. GRÖNHOLM 1:14:51.9 0:00 1:14:51.9 0.0 0.0 2. 5 P. SOLBERG 1:15:17.7 0:00 1:15:17.7 25.8 25.8 3. 7 M. STOHL 1:15:40.0 0:00 1:15:40.0 22.3 48.1 4. 10 J. LATVALA 1:16:46.3 0:00 1:16:46.3 1:06.3 1:54.4 5. 2 D. SORDO 1:17:02.9 0:00 1:17:02.9 16.6 2:11.0 6. 1 X. PONS 1:17:03.8 0:00 1:17:03.8 0.9 2:11.9 7. 6 C. ATKINSON 1:17:38.1 0:00 1:17:38.1 34.3 2:46.2 8. 16 M. HIGGINS 1:17:44.6 0:00 1:17:44.6 6.5 2:52.7 9. 15 F. DUVAL 1:17:45.0 0:00 1:17:45.0 0.4 2:53.1 10. 11 H. ROVANPERÄ 1:18:32.1 0:00 1:18:32.1 47.1 3:40.2 ... 12. 9 M. WILSON 1:19:25.3 1:00 1:20:25.3 1:06.6 5:33.4 14. 8 H. SOLBERG 1:21:49.7 0:00 1:21:49.7 12.5 6:57.8 18. 66 G. EVANS 1:25:19.4 0:00 1:25:19.4 1.6 10:27.5 19. 32 K. MEEKE 1:25:21.8 0:00 1:25:21.8 2.4 10:29.9 22. 62 A. MCRAE 1:25:59.3 0:10 1:26:09.3 5.4 11:17.4 25. 48 G. WILKS 1:27:19.4 0:00 1:27:19.4 18.6 12:27.5 37. 53 B. CLARK 1:32:49.5 0:00 1:32:49.5 20.4 17:57.6 C'mon Petter [Y][]

Nah, just a mud bath []

Cheers [D] for that [] Just forwarded to my Dad to make sure he gets enough booze in for Christmas []

Top 10 after the morning stages (SS3) Pos. No. Driver/Car Stage Time Pen Time Total Time Diff Prev Diff Ldr 1. 3 M. GRÖNHOLM 37:09.6 0:00 37:09.6 0.0 0.0 2. 4 M. HIRVONEN 37:28.7 0:00 37:28.7 19.1 19.1 3. 5 P. SOLBERG 37:44.3 0:00 37:44.3 15.6 34.7 4. 7 M. STOHL 37:50.2 0:00 37:50.2 5.9 40.6 5. 10 J. LATVALA 38:19.2 0:00 38:19.2 29.0 1:09.6 6. 6 C. ATKINSON 38:34.6 0:00 38:34.6 15.4 1:25.0 7. 2 D. SORDO 38:44.7 0:00 38:44.7 10.1 1:35.1 8. 1 X. PONS 38:44.9 0:00 38:44.9 0.2 1:35.3 9. 16 M. HIGGINS 38:45.2 0:00 38:45.2 0.3 1:35.6 10. 15 F. DUVAL 38:46.4 0:00 38:46.4 1.2 1:36.8 Latest News: Hirvonen has cracked his roll-cage and withdrawn from the rally, so Petter is up to second! [Y] Hope those who are watching are all having a fun time in the rain []

Many happy returns [^] ...but hope they don't return on you after the party [+o(][]

You can book online... http://www.qantas.com []