March 2001
Has anyone had any experience of buying tyres abroad, particularly France? Are they cheaper? Read more
Is there a difference in cetane rating between Ultra Low Sulohar Fuel and ordinary unleaded petrol? I appear to get considerably less mpg with ULSF than standard unleaded. Read more
THE MINIMUM RESEARCH OCTANE RATING FOR PREMIUM UNLEADED IS 95.0. ORDINARY PREMIUM UNLEADED TENDED TO AVERAGE 95.1 - 95.2 RON, BUT SHELL WAS USUALLY 95.6 - 95.7 RON. I'M VERY INTERESTED IN OTHER READERS EXPERIENCES OF ULSP. IF EVERYONE IS SUFFERING A 10% DIVE IN ECONOMY, THEN THAT WIPES OUT ANY SAVING IN THE PRICE AND THE IMPLICATIONN IS THAT THE POORER BURN OF THE FUEL MAY WELL BE DAMAGING ENGINES.
HJ
Can Any one recommend car stereo stores or online sites at a qualitative price Pl.
Also are the US Car steroes(radio) are similar to UK ?? Read more
From experience of American Motorhomes US radios with digital tuners "step " differently to European radios. Consequently when tuning they "miss" UK stations.
Water which gets into a 205 tailgate is intended to drain out from 2 holes at each lower corner into the boot. Usually it is mopped up by the sound insulation, but if the car is parked sloping forwards the water can run down the channels under the back seats. It is possible to divert the flow from the drain holes, but my question is - where does it get in? The possibilities seem to be
- flexible connections at top near hinges
- around glass (bonded - unlikely)
- around washer nozzle or wiper spindle
- leaking supply pipe to washer
- around lock barrel
- around studs behind exterior trim panel
Has anyone out there solved this problem already? Read more
When I suspect an area is leaking I use silicon rubber from DIY store. This is messy to apply but transparent. When not required it peals off cleanly.
Hi,
I am thinking of getting a turbo diesel 306. Not sure whether to go for the older 1.9TD or the newer HDI 2.0 TD. I know that the HDI is more economical, possibly a smidge better on performance, but I also know that the 1.9TD is cheaper second hand, and I think to insure, (but I'm not sure). I travel about 10,000 to 15,000 miles per year- would a petrol 306 be better insurance, economy and price wise?
Thanks for any help,
Giles Read more
May be able to help here as I came at exactly the same question from the citroen xantia perspective. As i am sure you know Peugeot and Citroen models share common platforms and powertrains. Previously had Pug 205 and Cit BX diesels in non turbo form.
Would endorse everything said about the performance and refinement of the HDI version in either 90 or 110 PS incarnation. Simply a quantum leap.
Also (and I assume this follows in Peugeots) the HDI is married with a much sweeter new build gearbox and light action hydraulic clutch.
Don't think servicing is a massive issue, oil change is 12k miles, though see HJ's views on this for anybody doing less than rep mileages. Diesels needing more servicing was always a bit of a red herring as only ever meant more frequent oil and filter changes and you more then saved on exhausts, and all the non sheduled servicing needed to keep spark systems disciplined!!
Hi
A friend of mine is shopping around for quotes for a Peugeot 206 GTI - can you recommend any insurance brokers? Read more
I use performance direct, you can find their number in magazines like fastcar and such. They'll probably do you a good quote seeing as it's a GTi your friend is trying to insure. They've always managed to beat the best quote I've gone to them with so they're well worth giving a ring.
Having recently bought a diesel (Golf GT TDI - we were originally going for the Seat Leon 20VT Cupra but for a 25000 miles pa fuel bill) I was curious to see where I could purchase biodiesel or find out if or when it would be available. A trawl of the web has yielded some interesting technical papers discussing and comparing the emissions content and environmental credentials of various fuels but not a great deal on where they're available.
Nothing on the AA, RAC, or Petrolbusters sites, with the exception on how far I can expect to travel for LPG. Like Chris and the question on the "Is some diesel fuel REALLY better?" thread, I'm quite keen to reduce motoring costs whilst inflicting a little less harm to the environment.
Where can biodiesel be bought? Read more
Stephen
Great news that at least somebody is trying to sort this idiocy out. Presumably the cost of the diesel is because the tax is the same (while the cost of the fuel is actually higher), despite the obvious environmental advantages. I reckon this stuff should be taxed in the same way as LPG (i.e. hardly at all) since it's so much better all round.
Keep us informed of your progress. I suspect the OPEC countries are against you as well as the "big companies" because if B-D took off it would be Africa, South America and other third-world regions that would benefit most - where else can you grow large amounts of oil crops? And we don't want that because they might pay off their debts and screw up our financial institutions...
Optimistically,
Chris
I read of some research in the Netherlands a while ago where they calculated that by reducing the average age of vehicles on the road by three years they would actually increase the net emissions by four per cent, largely because of the emissions created by making cars. That's even taking into account the greater efficiency of new engines. It's one of the arguments I use for not getting rid of my fourteen year old Peugeot 309. The old XU diesel is dirty in today's terms, but it's turning in an average of over 50mpg, cruises happily and quietly at 70-75 and I've known park benches less reliable (we do around 10,000 miles a year and the engine has not needed a repair of any kind in the last five years). Now that manufacturers are offering paint warranties lasting twelve years there's really no need to scrap at ten - unless you fall for the "look what he's got on his driveway" con which suits the manufacturers just fine.
Cheers
Chris Read more
no blue smoke, clean. If I drove it in L.A the exhaust fumes would be cleaner than the air they were going into!
Just bought myself a "Karcher" power washer,am being carefull with the use of it,ie.not spraying at right angles ,keeping off badges,mirrows,seals,etc, seems to work well as there is no grit left in the bottom of the wash bucket. Question, have the readers any comments,advice,or horror stories on the use of them. Read more
I have owned a karcher washer for about 10 years now and have been happy although its not abused. However last year the hose decided to split in several places (probably some water in over winter!) A genuine replacement was going to be around £70 +p&p
I sourced a pattern one from a local dealer for £32. What he told me was that the hobby end of the range are 'disposable', repairs are prohibitively expensive. Some of the internals in the pumps are made using nylon as opposed to brass thereby giving a shorter life span. So make your own assumptions!
I bought a 2nd hand Passat in November (20,000 miles, S reg). I got it from a VW dealer and thus have a year's warranty. Since I bought it the front nearside brake has been making a terrible grinding noise. Sounds like metal on metal. Despite the dealer changing the discs twice and the pads three times the noise still persists. They have even sent it to an independent garage who simply changed the pads and cleaned up some excess grease. The latest advice I have is 'they make that noise'. This I cannot believe.
Anyone got any ideas about what can be casuing this noise? The dealership obviously have not. Read more
Has a suspension bush failed? Rubber bushes help prevent the transmission of unwanted normal vibrations, the cause of all noise. Another possibility is glazed discs due to constant light braking, a bit of moderate to heavy braking from a high speed might help, the brakes are designed with this in mind.
Back in the 90's I worked as a mechanic for a company with a large fleet of Fords. When they introduced the facelifted and lightened Escorts in about 1990 we were flooded with complaints about noise, especially front brake noise, they sounded like metal on metal when braking firmly at low speed. Although still under warranty, we used to fit good quality pattern pads. One problem sorted. Another problem was the rapid wear of the N/S pads. Uneven wear is a common problem with disc brakes even when nothing is wrong with them. The N/S brake picks up more road dirt than the O/S and turns it into an abrasive sludge. I think the Ford brakes must have been over exposed. Some Peugeot pads used to be boxed as a set, each pad being identical except for a dab of coloured paint on the back, one colour for the O/S, one for the N/S outer and one for the N/S inner. Different hardness's to compensate for the uneven wear.
Finally, I currently work for a company who have several VW caddy vans. In spite of everything being tried, back brake noise is horrendous until they warm up.
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You can buy tyres in Supermarkets in France, Yes they are cheaper than here, and they are identical. Michelin, Pirelli etc. Its also cheaper to have your car serviced in France.
Pop over for a weekend, stock up on booze etc. what you'll save will pay for the trip