C.R.E.A.M. #74 - Ben's ULEZ Fines, Toll Booths and Richard Porter's Song
About this episode
The hosts dive into a mix of personal car stories and automotive news, including Ben's ongoing battle with ULEZ fines on his Euro 6 car due to registration issues, and his successful door handle repair restoring keyless entry. They discuss the quirks of UK number plates, the appeal of big American SUVs now sold with manufacturer warranties, and the latest from Linglong tires. Highlights include a McLaren F1 auction tease, a deep dive into the McLaren T50 breaking a GT3 lap record, and a fun segment on Audi RS3's firing order light display. The episode closes with a unique musical tribute from Top Gear writer Richard Porter and practical advice on driving with old tires.
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VIN number
"I don't have the number plate. So I have no number plate, but I did have a VIN number, which is great because this episode is sponsored by CarVertical once again."
A VIN is like a car's fingerprint. It helps you find out important details about the car, like its age and past.
VIN stands for Vehicle Identification Number, a unique code used to identify individual motor vehicles. It provides detailed information about the car's make, model, year, and history.
CarVertical
"I could put the VIN into CarVertical and then find out about that car. So I'm ahead of the curve on this car. I'm confident on it. But again, massive, massive thank you to CarVertical because again, you don't really get that with many other services where you can just give them the VIN and they'll give you all of that information."
CarVertical is a website where you can check a car's past using its special ID number, so you know if the car is good to buy.
CarVertical is an online service that provides detailed vehicle history reports using the car's VIN. It helps buyers verify the condition and history of a car before purchase.
Mclaren F1
"It's a McLaren F1, by the way. Like the cream's doing really well."
The McLaren F1 is a very special and famous sports car made by McLaren. It was built in the 1990s and is known for being very fast and unique, with the driver sitting in the middle of the car.
The McLaren F1 is a legendary supercar produced by McLaren in the 1990s, known for its groundbreaking design, central driving position, and record-setting performance. It is widely regarded as one of the greatest and most iconic sports cars ever made.
keyless entry
"Plugged it in, it works. Lovely. I have keyless entry again. All the more for the thieves."
Keyless entry means you can open your car doors without using a traditional key. You just have a remote or your car senses when you are close and unlocks automatically.
Keyless entry is a convenience feature that allows a car owner to unlock and sometimes start their vehicle without physically using a key, typically by using a remote or proximity sensor.
ULEZ compliant
"That S2000 is not Eulez compliant."
ULEZ is a rule in some cities that says cars must be clean enough to drive in certain areas without paying extra money. If a car is ULEZ compliant, it means it is clean enough to drive there for free.
ULEZ stands for Ultra Low Emission Zone, a regulation in some cities like London that restricts vehicles with higher emissions from entering certain areas without paying a charge. Being ULEZ compliant means a vehicle meets the required emissions standards to avoid these charges.
certificate of conformity
""My certificate of conformity." "Oh that's why you said that earlier.""
A certificate of conformity is a paper from the car maker that proves the car meets all the rules to be driven legally in certain countries. You might need it when you buy or register a car.
A certificate of conformity (COC) is an official document issued by a vehicle manufacturer that certifies a vehicle meets the regulatory standards for sale and registration in a particular region, often required for importing or registering cars in Europe.
DVLA
"the thing they recommend you do which is much more long-winded is you contact the DVLA the the the car gods of Responsibility and They and they basically will take your car itself the by VIN number by forever and they'll and they'll go in the system"
The DVLA is a government office in the UK that keeps records about cars and drivers. They know who owns which car and if the car meets rules.
The DVLA (Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency) is the UK government agency responsible for maintaining the database of drivers and vehicles, including registration, licensing, and vehicle compliance information.
Euro 6
"They'll go this guy is Euro six is clean. He's clean let him throw that he's with me Lemon I'll pad him down. He's you miss the best part of this."
Euro 6 is a rule in Europe that says how much pollution a car can make. Cars that follow this rule are cleaner and better for the air.
Euro 6 is a European emission standard that sets limits on the amount of pollutants that new vehicles can emit. Cars meeting Euro 6 standards are considered cleaner and more environmentally friendly.
V5
""Take that and your v5 your documentation of ownership put that together and then write a letter also print that out""
The V5 is a paper that shows who owns a car in the UK. It has information about the car and the owner.
The V5 is the UK vehicle registration document that proves ownership of a vehicle. It contains details about the car and the registered keeper.
Cadillac Escalade
"...you're talking your escalates your escalates Yeah, well, where did that word come from? It's a mixture of the word escalator and escalate if you want your Cadillac escalate the big boy..."
The Cadillac Escalade is a big, fancy SUV from America. People like it because it's big and comfortable, and it has a strong engine. In the UK, it's called a 'big boy' car when brought over from America.
The Cadillac Escalade is a full-size luxury SUV made by Cadillac, known for its large size, luxury features, and powerful V8 engines. It is popular in the US and is often referred to as a 'big boy' car in the UK when imported.
left-hand drive
"...I think no, they're sold by dealers As a left hand drive car Yes, we have here. Is that not a great input? We have yeah..."
Left-hand drive means the steering wheel is on the left side of the car, like in America. In the UK, cars usually have the steering wheel on the right side, so left-hand drive cars are different and sometimes harder to drive there.
Left-hand drive refers to vehicles where the steering wheel is on the left side of the car, which is standard in the US and many other countries. In the UK, vehicles are typically right-hand drive, so left-hand drive cars are imported and may require adaptation.
private import
"...But you know make them they will meet all of them because when you when you're doing a private import yourself You don't technically need to abide by all of the same things a manufacturer would in terms of like Preparing it for sale if that makes sense or selling it to a customer Whereas if you're just importing it yourself, you just need to get it through an MOT get it get your..."
A private import is when someone brings a car into a country by themselves, without help from the car company. These cars might need extra work to be legal and safe to drive there.
A private import is when an individual imports a vehicle themselves without manufacturer involvement or official dealer support. These cars may not meet all local regulations or warranty requirements and often require additional preparation to be road legal.
BMW M3 (G80)
"It looked like a tanzanite blue very nice m3 warp speeding down the first lane and I didn't even notice I just thought oh, that's a that's a g80. I thought it could be 10 years old. It could be three years"
The BMW M3 G80 is a fast and sporty car made by BMW. It's the newest version of the M3 and is well-known for being powerful and fun to drive.
The BMW M3 G80 is the current generation of the high-performance M3 sedan, known for its aggressive styling and powerful engine. It is often recognized by enthusiasts and is a popular model in the BMW M lineup.
GT1 class
"That's a car when it became the gtr to race it was in the gt1 class So take that same We're moving down to the t50. It should in theory be in like a gt1 class."
GT1 was a type of car race where very fast and special cars competed, but it stopped being used after 2009.
GT1 was a top-level grand touring car racing class featuring highly modified supercars and purpose-built race cars. It was prominent until around 2009 before being phased out.
Bloodhound
"It's like that's like building the sse bloodhound and going this thing is faster than the fastest road car"
Bloodhound is a super fast car built to go faster than any car on land before.
Bloodhound is a supersonic car project aimed at breaking land speed records. It is often referenced in discussions about extreme speed and engineering.
GT2
"mega car types of stuff and then gt2 and gt3 which was a bit more sort of Um, not normal, but you know gt3 gt1 and what's up?"
GT2 is a type of car race with cars that are faster and more special than normal cars but not as much as the top class.
GT2 is another class of grand touring car racing, generally featuring cars less modified than GT1 but more so than GT3, often used in endurance racing.
Lamborghini Murciélago
"And you know what he was in there? The mercilago was in there gt1. The bloody hell. Yeah Okay, yeah, yeah, okay rgt rgt. So the end of gt1 at least what I can find the race cars"
The Murciélago is a very fast and powerful sports car made by Lamborghini.
The Lamborghini Murciélago is a flagship V12 supercar produced by Lamborghini from 2001 to 2010. It was raced in GT1 class racing in modified forms.
motorway
"I'm going to give you an opportunity. You're doing is a 70 mile an hour motorway You may come to a stop and you may do the fattest pull you'd like"
A motorway is a big road where cars can go fast without many stops. It has several lanes and special places to get on and off.
A motorway is a high-speed, controlled-access highway designed for fast and efficient long-distance travel. It usually has multiple lanes and limited entry and exit points.
barrier
"Not every day, but like once every month. I'd happily pay that it's like entering the ring Literally now that is our version the barrier goes up and it's like well beyond this point go surely"
A barrier is like a gate that stops cars until they pay the toll, then it goes up so they can drive through.
A barrier in this context is a physical gate or obstruction at a toll booth that lifts to allow vehicles to pass once payment is made.
toll booth
""I'm free between the toll booth and where the lines start for the lanes""
A toll booth is a place where you stop to pay money to drive on a certain road.
A toll booth is a checkpoint on a road or motorway where drivers pay a fee to use that section of the road.
Formula One
""And then there's a there is a formula one style countdown""
Formula One is a type of car race with very fast and special cars.
Formula One is the highest class of international single-seater auto racing, known for its fast cars and competitive races.
BMX races
""And the gates will go off at the same time like BMX races""
BMX races are bike races where riders start together after a countdown and race on special tracks.
BMX races are bicycle motocross competitions where riders race on dirt tracks with jumps and tight turns, often starting with a countdown.
firing order
"It's the order in which the five cylinders go... And each one individually lights up in the firing order of the engine"
The firing order is the order in which the engine's cylinders fire one after another to make the car move smoothly.
The firing order is the specific sequence in which the cylinders in an engine ignite to produce power. It affects engine smoothness, sound, and performance.
LED headlight
"It's a grid of LEDs... And they light up in sequence... That's the front light on a car"
An LED headlight is a bright front light on a car that uses special small bulbs called LEDs to help you see at night.
An LED headlight uses light-emitting diodes to produce bright, energy-efficient illumination for the front of a car. Some advanced LED headlights can light up in sequences or patterns for styling or signaling.
tyres
""And realised that the tyres were 20 years old, but with no cracks""
Tyres are the round rubber parts on the car's wheels that help it grip the road and keep the ride smooth. Old tyres can be unsafe even if they look fine.
Tyres are the rubber components that fit around the wheels of a car, providing traction and absorbing shocks from the road. Tyres degrade over time, and even if unused, old tyres can become unsafe due to rubber aging.
tyre flat spot
"And also if it's just sat in one spot You end up with a flat spot or whatever"
If a car doesn't move for a long time, the tyres can get a flat part on them, making the ride bumpy when you drive again.
A tyre flat spot occurs when a car sits stationary for a long time, causing a section of the tyre to become flattened due to the weight pressing down on one area, which can affect ride quality.
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