January 2001
Dear Sir
I own a K-plate old-shape Nissan 200SX Auto that has been regularly serviced (including semi-synthetic oil changes at every 6,000 miles) and has covered 84,000 miles.
The car has always idled at about 700-800 rpm in gear but recently, when the engine was hot after a long motorway run, the engine took a very long time to pick up revs from a standing start. The problem even occured in neutral with no load on the engine.
Clearly, this makes the car very hazardous to drive around town when hot because it literally crawls around in 1st at about 5mph until the revs rise sufficiently (about 2,500 - 3,000 rpm) and the turbo cuts in - a process that can take up one minute. Above 3,000 rpm the care operates normally.
The local garage I use to service the car has spent a day running various diagnostics and drawn a blank. I would be grateful if anyone with a 200SX who has suffered from a similar problem could let me know how it was rectified before I approach Nissan.
Thank you in advance for your help.
John Read more
Hello,
Can anyone give me any advice on the pitfalls of buying an imported Toyota Townace ? These imports seem to have excellent specification for the money and I understand there are quite a few dealers/distributors who can supply parts etc. However, my insurance company won't consider this type of vehicle when I have to soon change my splendid (145,000 mile) MK1 Nissan Prairie.
Also, there are dealers supplying MK2 Prairies from Japan, also with excellent specs. Do the advantages outway the disadvantages with this type of vehicle ? Could anyone who owns such a vehicle, give me their thoughts.
Any advice would be much appreciated. Read more
My wife and I only need one car nowadays. I have a Nov. 98S Peugeot 106zest 1.1 24,000 miles Cost £7,000 and she has an Aug 96 Honda Civic 5 door 1.6Ls auto & air con 52,000 miles cost £15,500. Against a well spec'd new Golf / Focus we've been offered £7,400 for the pair - apparently they're worth about the same each.Question - does common sense say get rid of them now or would I lose in the long run by running one or both of these cars for another 5(?) years. I'm so sickened by the depreciation I feel like never buying another new car). Would I get much less for them at auction thereby freeing up cash to look for a better purchase deal, perhaps at a car supermarket.
PS thanks for the telegraph articles and books over the years - the web site is up to your usual standards. Read more
Dear Michael,
You seem to be talking youself into a lose, lose, lose situation. I can't remember how many times Í've repeated that part exchanging two for one is asking to have you leg lifted. Pushing them past the block will get you basic trade price (often quite a bit behind book trade price unless the auctioneer hooks a private punter bidding against the trade) minus auction commission. I'd reckon the Peugeot might fetch 3.5k, maybe 3,750 and the 96P Swindon Civic about the same, minus commission. You'd be better off advertising them at 750 - 1,000 more on www.autotrader.co.uk and being prepared to take 4k to 4,250. Obviously the Civis is the better, more comfortable car for long journeys; the Pug better for short trips about town. If you're going to keep one, then decide which on the basis of your usage pattern.
HJ
I'll save the frustrating details for another time, but I have had the misfortune to buy an insurance write-off. A long story has ended rather predictably with my having a county court judgement against the vendor, but little chance of getting my money.
During the course of the above proceedings, however, I was told that the car has actually been repaired to a very high standard and could be removed from the insurance write-off database... if only I knew how.
Is there a mechanism that allows suitably repaired write-offs to be removed from the database? and if so, is it likely to be worth my while and how should I go about doing it? Read more
Dear Nick,
Yes. Take the car either to Autolign or Popplewells and pay two hundred to three hunderd for a full body, subframe and suspension alignment check. You then used the alignment report to have the car removed from the insurance damage write off register to the repaired register, but you can't get it off the register altogether and anyone using HPI or Equifax will find it had been damaged and repaired. The phone numbers are in one of my books, but I'm writing this from Holland so don't have immediate access.
My 95 ford fiesta 1.1LX appears to use a lot of oil, I can see no leaks, it does not appear to burn any oil but it does have a oil sludge problem, it is reguarly serviced and doesnt do short runs.
I have changed the oil filler/breather cap (i.e. crankcase ventilation) to solve the sludge problem but this hasn't made any difference.
The car itself runs perfect I'm just fed up with putting oil in all the time!!!!
Any idea's what to try next or is this a common problem with the HCS engine? Read more
Couldn't agree more. I've had a couple of push rod Fiestas, and I've never known cars sludge up oil faster, even with 3000 mile oil changes. And, yes, one had high oil consumption and worn bores at just over 20k.
I also owned a 1.3 catalysed Fiesta and it was unbelievably slow and thirsty, compared to the earlier carburetor car. I just didn't believe the spec which claimed virtually identical power and fuel consumption. Surely Ford's biggest mistake is not using the 1.25 Zetec in the Ka?
Regards
John
My recently acquired Mk 2 Golf GTi (8 valve) needs a pair of new tyres. Does anyone know if a particular make suits this car well? Read more
the new yokohamas which replace the old A520 unidirectionals are not recommended by the specialist that i spoke to. Instead try the toyo tyres unidirectional pattern. these were the ones that tim stiles raciong recommended.
Having just purchased a used Mondeo, the dealer will fully warranty it for three months. After that he wants about three hundred pounds for a years warranty, which is actually of course an insurance policy. I haven't taken that up - are there any recommendations of third party 'warranty' products like this to give me reasonable cover for less than this, or am I being a cheapskate? Does anyone have good or bad experiences of such products? I've heard horror stories of policies not paying out on repairs if the car misses the service interval by tiny amounts, for example. Read more
I had a similar situation with a warrany claim on an Astra. The head gasket had gone but all they would pay for was the gasket itself. They insisted on a new cambelt which they would not pay. They also would not pay for the oil, filter and new coolant. The final sting was that they would only pay labour at a maximum of £25.00 per hour.
Some of these warranties do, suck.
I have been offered a new Xantia Forte estate (same spec as LX) for £12995 from a Citroen main dealer. They are clearly clearing stocks ready for the new C5. Is this a good buy, or am I going to be stuck with a rapidly-depreciating, obsolete, car?
Many thanks. Read more
Dear Jeremy,
Rapidly depresicatin, obsolete car. I've seen Xantias at auction bid to as little as six hundred quid. Check my last auction report for what a very respectable 'P'reg one made. For the sort of money you're thinking of spending you'd do much batter with one of Trade Sales new shape Mondeo 1.8iLX's if the special offer of 20 cars at the low low price vev not all been sold.
HJ
What can you tell me about car supermarkets, like Trade Sales of Slough ?
Are they selling the same 'UK Spec' cars as sold at franchised dealers ?
My wife heard on TV that they sell 'grey imports' - what does that mean, whether or not it is true, and should it worry us ?
Are they selling imports, and again should that worry us ?!
Regards
Stephen Wright Read more
Dear Stephen,
Trade Sales of Slough sells a mix of RHD UK sourced new cars, RHD cars sourced from other European markets with the appropriate certification, and cars sourced via Cyprus which Trade Sales has certificated before it sells them. You will usually only get a 12 month manufacturer warranty rather than the 12 month manufacturer + 2 year dealer warranty most new cars now come with in the UK. But Trade Sales can sell you a very good additional warranty if you want it. You should always try and find out where the car came from before buying. But with brans new Fiar Punto 60S 5-door models in nice metallics at £5,999 you aren't going to go far wrong.
HJ
I am interested in information and opinions about tyre noise. Are some brands much quieter than others or does it come down to the individual spec? I am of course seeking the best combination of performance, quietness and longevity, but I am not unduly concerned about price. Read more
I had a Citroen BX which made a terrible tyre noise at low speed. The tyres were all apparently in good condition, but changing them cured it. It wass over two years ago, so I can't remember the makes.
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I agree with HJ. I have personal experience that they are very prone to cylinder head gasket failure.