mj

My GF's dad has a 1.0 1996 polo, he is getting to an age now where he struggles driving at night. I suggested I'll get him fancy lightbulbs, but know nothing about what to buy.

His driving is novel, to put it politeley, but he's an old duffer on his own, and is starting to miss out on visiting freinds because he is losing confidence with driving. It's only really started this summer and its not been a problem, he just leaves where he is before it gets too dark, but winter will soon be here.

So what are the brightest bulbs I can stick in his car? any pointers?

CEL

iTrader: (1)

100watt xenon bulbs??????

Not quite road legal, but whos gonna question him?

mj

100W sounds good, will they welt his wiring? why are they illegal then?

Big Col

AFAIK headlights should only be 55w max - but then again how can they test them?

Jaybird-UK

Is he fit to drive? Its as much for his safety as other road users if he cant see at night.

If its a case of his car lights are sub standard compared to other cars then accept my apologies.

Excesive road lamps only serve to blind other users.

richiewong

http://bbs.scoobynet.co.uk/showthread.php?t=319904

http://www.powerbulbs.co.uk/

mj

Jaybird - fit to drive, no way, he has a bad left had which is stuck in a claw like position, he has had it years. 1st to 2nd , and 3rd to 4th are ok, its the pushing manouvres on the gearstick that cause him grief , the 2nd to 3rd change has to be seen to be belived, he steers with his left elbow and changes gear with his right hand, all at 6000 RPM, though in a 1.0 polo it probly equates to about 35 mph thank god. I'm betting that despite maybe dazzling the odd other driver, the overall chance of him ( and other users) being safer on the road will be increased with better lighting.

Richie, cheers, apparently I need a H4 bulb??.

Ain't scoobynet brill, I know 10 times more about car lights now than I did 2 hrs ago

Apple

AFAIR Philips do a bulb for "the older driver" due to needing more light to see after a certain age etc. Have a look on Powerbulbs or Autolamps-Online for info. Got some for my old man to go in his yellowing refectors (lights - not eyes ) and they've improved things a reasonable amount...

Jiggerypokery

"the 2nd to 3rd change has to be seen to be belived"

Recommend an automatic to him, preferably one with good headlights. (seriously)

mj

agreed jiggerey, I have suggested it to the missus for years, but because she has an stupid fear of automatics ( although she has never driven one ) she thinks her dad will aswell. Women eh?

Jiggerypokery

I think vauxhall do a semi-auto with the Corsa - easytronic I think it's called. I don't know how it works but I think it's just a nudge-up-nudge-down type in semi auto and switchable into full-auto for around town. Anything is better than changing with the right hand