May 2001
I have finally saved £10k to go on a car. The car has to be lower than insurance 12-13, but other than that it can be anything, so long as it has a bit of prestige, reliable and is fairly new - may want to keep it for a long time. I have no practicality issues so suggestions are there? Are the new Celicas down to this level yet, or what else is suggested? If it held its value I would be happy too. As well as the Celica, I am also thinking of maybe a 3-series, A3, 9-3, Astra Coupe, etc.
Any suggestions would be welcome...... Read more
Last night I listened to a woman on the news saying that Hands Free car phones were dangerous because they are distracting.
First there are thousands of things in this world that are distracting and we learn to live with them.
The serious point is where did this imformation come from .I work in the mobile phone industry in Germany and can find no records of any accident caused by driver using a hands free unit as the Germans are better at recording facts and figures and the British useless I have to accept what imformation is available.
There are records for accidents caused by smokeing ,sleeping,eating,using a mobile phone without hands free,adjusting the radio or cd and all the the other reasons but hands free has a clean bill of health.This women will probably go on to convince some government goon that the use of phones in cars is against the law.And then we have another law to contend with that was brought in without any consultation and without any
research. Read more
Carole Adams wrote:
>
> Dave - no, and no.
Funny, most of my conversations with girlies seems to involve repeated use of the word no. ;-(
Dave
Tim,
Well you've had a week to spend your £4500 since asking for ideas. Tell us what you ended up with so we can all say "you shouldn't have bought one of those".
David Read more
The 'Choke' lever you're all on about is a manually-operated injection advance/retard control to aid cold start running and starting. It also ups the idle speed slightly. All modern diesels take care of this automatically but VW & a few still insist on manual control!
Over this past week I have noticed a slight vibrationn comming through the gearlever when the car comes to a halt. This does not occur every time. It will most likely occur after driving on a road with rough surface or pot holes. Someone thought that there may be a fracture in a pipe, I have watched the reve counter when this vibration appears, but the engine appears to be running smoothly. If I increase the reve on the enging very slightly the vibration stops, also if the steering is turned ever so slightly again the vibration dissapears. I have contacted the Audi dealer but they are unable to shed any light on the problem. I would be very greatful for any advice on this intermitent problem.
I checked honest Johns web site and noticed that 98 A4s were recalled for a vibration damper, could this be my problem Read more
I have some symtoms on a 97 petrol A4 which may be similar...when I come to halt, after about 30 seconds of idling the engine sort of hicups at which point the tacho skips up slightly and a corresponding vibration can be felt through the gear lever.
Audi have replaced the throttle body which seems to have improved things (but not cured them) enough for me to leave it until the next service. This was done under warrenty otherwise I would have been unwilling to agree to such an expensive fix.
Given that most cars are now fitted with rev counters, can anyone explain if/how they actually use theirs in day to day driving? Am I missing something? Read more
Remember the floor mounted starer button on the minis, and the original 850cc mini with the gear change leaver that over the years would wear to the point that when you selected first you could on a bad day smash the speedo glass....
I have always serviced my own cars in the past, however, I have recently purchased my ex company VW Passat TDi 1998 model. I have enquired with Haynes, but they have no plans to introduce a service manual for this car, Help! I really really don't want to be forced to go to a garage for servicing, but without a decent service manual I am a bit stuck.
Does anyone know of any souces of a service manual for this car.
TIA
Andy Read more
I have the same problem with my Xantia HDi but bought the Haynes book that covers the models up to "S" plate (discontinued 1.9TD). Apart from engine electronics that are specific to the Direct Injection diesel (which you need a degree in rocket science to tackle anyway) most of the manual from the previous model applies.
Things like oil and filter servicing are pretty much intuitive, and the service intervals will be given in the owner's handbook. Many other usefull things such as brakes, bodywork and wiring diagrams are applicable from the previous model. See if you can get a peek at a Haynes book (Halfords usually have the odd one with the wrapper removed). You may be pleasantly surprised.
How old does a car have to be not to need a tax disc?
Does this age change each year?
Thanks for the info Read more
Thanks for the info
Tim
I've just bought a series 2 Toyota mr2 to play with, but the existing rear tyres are horrid. Can anyone who's driven the car recommend tyres that work as well as Yokohamas repudedly do, but last longer than 4000 miles and cost less than the Yokos at £130 each? Read more
My car, Susuki Swift GTi, suffers badly from engine and tyre noise in the cabin. Is there any effective way of making the interior quieter? thanks Read more
A company called BJ Acoustics in the Manchester area does sound padding kits.
HJ
What's does the back room reckon is the best way from Stoke Newington to Gatwick by motorcycle?
Took me nearly 2 hours today on the A23!
Anyone got a better suggestion? A24? A217?
How do people travel by car in central London? I can use bus lanes and always filter to the front at lights and I still only averaged 15mph over 30 odd miles! I reckon by car I'd be looking at an average of 5mph! Read more
Brian wrote:
>
> If the rules [Motorcycles in bus lanes] HAVE changed in London, they forgot to inform
> the Metropolitan Police.
Bugger. I'll wait for my fixed penalty in the post then.
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But a Used Car guide for £3, flip through & see what takes your fancy!
I would go for a 3 Series though!