March 2001
I have about 7k to spend on a car, my only requirement is that it's an estate - Dogs - Has anyone any suggestions or help on what I should & shouldn't be buying?
Cheers
Gary Read more
Dear all
I have recently brought an R reg mondeo which comes with remote central locking. However, the remote (the key has an extended handle with two buttons on it) does not work. The red light on the key, light's up when the button is held for 2 seconds which indicates that the battery is OK. My local ford dealer has suggested that the code/memory for the remote has been wiped, and it will need to be reprogrammed at a cost of £60 + VAT! From what I understand it is a case of pressing the buttons in a particular order to reprogram it. Is this correct and can anybody help?
Thanks in advance
Matt Read more
Main dealer ripping people off? Surely not!
Hi,
Looking at buying pug 306 1.9 turbo diesel of some form. However, I hear the uncatalysed versions have more poke, without losing much in emissions. I was just wondering- which 306 turbo diesel models have cats and which don't/ how do I tell? (Just by looking at the exhaust...?)
Also, if anyone knows how a 1.9td performs compared to the 2.o HDI tubo version (which I've driven) it would be very useful.
Thanks a lot,
Giles Read more
All "new" style 306TD's (Peugeot badge on rear tailgate release) have one way oxidation cats fitted. (Apr '97). I don't know about earlier years.
There is no argument as far as the 2.0HDi vs 1.9TD argument is concerned
The HDi drives far better, has lower emissions, and better fuel consumption.
The 1.9 needs an intercooler to screw 90-92BHP out of the engine, the
HDi doesn't need it to get 90.
If you are looking for "tweakability", I would reckon that the HDi would
be more robust than a 1.9.
/John
('97 1.9TD owner)
Honest John
Re your column in the Daily Telegraph Sat 17 March 2001
I have a VW Polo, first registered 1 Aug 1996, with rust bubbling up
through the paintwork on three of the four doors. I bought the car second-hand
last May, and most probably did not give the bodywork as careful an inspection
as I should. My previous Polo, a 91 H registered model, had excellent
bodywork after 9 years, so I had an overly rosy view of VW paintwork.
Of course, I know nothing of the history of my current Polo, other than
the fact that it has had only one previous owner, who was a lady. Read more
As I have a 98 S Polo 5 door, this rust business alarms me considerably. Any advice as to how it can be prevented (no outward signs of it so far). - eg. WD40 squirted under rubber, Waxoyl, etc?
Anyone know of an online source of a table to convert BAR to PSI and vice versa? Read more
Trevor, I pumped my rear MPV tyres to 4 bar because the handbook said 40 psi fully loaded and I was a clot. (I hate people who throw fag ends onto the road because it makes it so bumpy!)
My VW Bora 1.6 is under 4000 miles and has been to a vw main dealer three times because of stalling when moving off and particularly when reversing. There is a lengthy delay between pressing the accelator and the engine picking up - hence the stall. After the last visit, VW said the car was within VW specifications and nothing could be done. A "VW insider" tells me that many petrol-engined owners have made similar complaints but VW's response is that it is a "characteristic of the car". It's a very dangerous characteristic. Any advice/comments? Read more
just check back to the vw reliability myth in the older thread. This unwillingness by dealers and vw seems par for the course in my experience.
we're all just unlucky!
Police powerless to deal with intimidating behaviour by illegal Clampers.
Be aware of company called Area Parking, operating from a PO box number and using a mobile phone. They are putting up notices and then removing cars between the hours or 2 a.m. and 6 a.m. and taking them to a compound under the MI at Mill Hill. They then demand £400 - in cash - for release plus an extra £60 per day for storage. The guards at the compound carry tyre levers and have hungry alsation dogs yapping at their heels. In spite of their threatening behaviour police when called were powerless. Read more
immediatly fax your MP and the home secretary, copy to the commisioner of police.
We are about to move to France and I will be looking to buy a couple of local cars to replace our UK ones. However, it occured to me that it might be worthwhile to buy a used left-hand drive car in the UK as I understand they tend to be much cheaper. We could then import them into France.
I have a feeling there must be thousands of people who, moving from the continent, end up having to sell their cars cheaply over here. But where do I find them? Also what are the import conditions into France?
We will be looking for two cars. 1. A large diesel estate like a Volvo 850, Peugeot 406, or perhaps a Discovery for up to £12,000. 2. A small runabout - anything really, probably French up to £3000. Read more
I am a 2 home owner spending approx 30% of time (and increasing) in S of France. If you find yourself driving in tight villages with gulleys steps and various dangerous overhangs a RH drive car is advantageous! You get much tighter to the right without risk. Do not under estimate the built in LHS awareness that you have aquired from many years of UK and continental driving in a RH drive car!. I find that even driving a LH drive car for 4 weeks you are never quite as confident about where the far RHS corner is.
Assumming that you are going to reregister for French Tax and Insurance needs A RH drive car is a practical prposition, but pick one that you can easily and cheaply convert lights (and possibly speedo to Kmh) to satisfy the local CT.
I believe there are some restrictions on resale to the French of RH drive cars. I have been told that only original importer owner is allowed to register.
If i was to buy a Polo 1.4 Tdi would the ved be calculated on it's emissions or it's engine size? i.e under 1500cc the ved would be £100. I'm asking this because if it's rated on it's emissions i may as well buy a Golf Tdi.
Regards,
Ash. Read more
I think you mean 1/3/01
My local VW dealer insists that it is now illegal for a car to display 2 rear fog lights, and although my '98 Golf is wired up for 2, it has only one bulb. However, I often see new cars showing 2 rear fog lights, presumably they are built like this. Who is right? Read more
I estimate that my single offside rear fog lamp gets approximately 20 mins
use a year - and most of that is flashing it at other numpties sat in lane 2
on a crystal clear night with their two rear fogs on (sheesh...)
/John
Browse
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Mondeo seems a good choice to me,but whatever you decide don't buy a dog guard but buget for a decent cage,it makes sense in the interests of safety when you open the hatch, and in the event of an accident the dogs are secure and not likely to stray which would only add more grief. Also the rear of the car will will not be wrecked by your dogs!.