June 2001
On a thread a while back we discussed how the mention of a car or IT skill would soon promote heavy demand from cash strapped friends for "a quick look".
Well I'm having a quick look at the Laptop Computer (from a friend of a friend) and she wants me to do various things I'm fine with including to sign up with an ISP and make an internet/e-mail connection.
Being a laptop I want to know if I can do it all at home here (and test) on our phone number then let her take it to her own house. Will the dial-up/Internet connection care that the phone number has changed. Bit like moving house I suppose, never done that with a PC.
Any IT boffins who can save some agony on this one?
Thanks,
David
I couldn't blame you if we reached diesels in four! Read more
Hi all,
I was listening to a local radio station this week and they had a quiz on. One of the questions was : what is the only car in the country that doesn't need to display registration plates ?
They did announce the answer later in the day but i missed it !
Anyone know as i haven't a clue !
Ash. Read more
Does the abscence of number plates & presumably tax disc also mean that HM is a member of our "wonderful" community of travellers and gippos?
The consensus with all regulars is to avoid (understatement) main dealers and head for a good local specialist if possible.
I'm looking for a garage in the Epsom area to look after my Audi 80 (M, Quattro), however, the entry on the HJ 'recommended garages' page only lists 'Drift Bridge Garage' which is a VAG main dealer. (confused).
Can anyone recommend an alternative in this area? Read more
Mr. D. Lacey, where are you? Whaddya do?
As you know every new car has a typical smell, I find it disgusting but some people like it.
I have heard that you can buy an aerosol of the smell and wondered if such a thing really does exist? Can anyone help? Has somebody used it before?
Regards
Matt Read more
There used to be a pub in manchester - Tommy Ducks - that had the ceiling covered in undies, and sold them in a can behind the bar - best of both worlds then!
Tim
I'm getting back into windsurfing.
I need some roof bars for a '91 Rover 414 cheaper than the hundred odd quid Halfords are charging?
Short of scanning the local paper's 'for sale' section can anyone think of a source?
Will I have to cut the rubber roof strips to fit it? Read more
David Lacey wrote:
>
> Dave - We might have a set at work lurking in the stores
> somewhere - no promises but I'll have a rumage Monday and
> report back.
Thanks! That would be a result and a half!
> No cutting of the rubber roof channel strips is required. It
> utilises the door apertures to affix itself.
Excellent! A mate had to cut his Seat up...
I cannot believe how little ex-PO LDV400s are getting at auction. Friend bought two with pergeot diesel high roof year 1996 mileage 34,000miles for £800+Vat each. Reckon equivalent transit would get £3000. The main defects are some dents and red paint finish.
I have had no problem with my LDV200 since 1994. However I get 40mpg and the LDV400 are more thirsty. My brother in law ran long wheel base LDV400s and was happy untill he purchased Turbocharged Fiat. Now he really motors! Read more
I used to work at a Rover & LDV dealers as warranty administrator....kept me very busy. Even the factory admit off the record that the vans are a pile of poo!
Hi,
I am looking at a G reg Audi 80 2.0 E auto with 73,000 on the clock and FSH. The automatic gearbox is filled way over max mark and fluid is brown (engine up to temp). Cooling fans stay on for long after engine switched off. Drives well but for slight whine.
Any advice gratefully received, especially on the autobox. Perhaps it just needs a fluid change?
Hopeful thanks in advance
Rob fleming Read more
For that sort of money I don't think he can go too far wrong!!
Some weeks ago, I wrote expressing disappointment that my new car did far fewer mpg than I had been led to believe from the published figures.
All the backroom responses, either implicitly or explicitly, suggested that I should not be surprised.
Now with 2500 miles on the clock, economy is pretty close to the published figures - I reckon it is averaging a good 4 mpg more than it did when new.
Why didn't anyone tell me that would happen? Can I expect further improvement and, if so, up to what mileage? Is an improvement of 4 mpg between new-car-economy and run-in-car-economy a record?
(I'm well versed in the methods of monitoring economy, so I don't want to start that thread again.) Read more
John Slaughter wrote:
>
> John
>
> Er, yes, that's pretty much what I was saying!
>
D'oh!
Memo to self - read original post before posting!
Go to buy a new radiator from Toyota for my Landcruiser, and on top of the already steep £520 is a £50 surcharge, repayable when I bring in my old unit.
"If you do service exchange units" I say, "I'll take one of those instead". "No, we don't do service exchange" he says. "So what do you want my old one for then?". "Toyota policy" he says.
I reckon they do this to stop people like Serck getting hold of them and undercutting them. A good way to control the market, I think. Problem is, I don't have the old one as it is with Serck after they tried to repair it 4 times, and they want to send it back to their supplier of cores and gaskets to claim on warranty. Read more
Andrew Tarr wrote:
>
> Being charitable, one might hope that the companies retain
> failed parts and examine them to find the cause of failure ?
So they can perfect the technique of producing parts which fail
exactly one month after warranty expiry?
/John
On modern genenerally reliable cars, the biggest potential serious failure is a broken timing belt. I often have nightmares about the potential bill. Our Saxo's have a belt changed at 40,000 miles despite Citreon's assurance that these are good for double that milage.
I know this subject has been covered many times here in the past, but I would like to know which are the most reliable vehicles in this aspect, and more importantly, which are the worst?
The experience of regular readers, particularly those in the trade would be appreciated. I have heard that on the base model Corsa the pistons will not contact the valves if the belt breaks. Is this true?
Tom Read more
I see HJ mentions a Micra chain failure this week (Sat Telegraph) at low mileage.
I really struggle with my 8,000 mile a year Micra owners to convince them of the need for a 6 monthly oil change, will have to show them the cutting!
David
Browse
Apart from the fact that AOL have suddenly stopped you from sending emails from your existing mail accounts (ISP mail accounts you already had previously before joining up with AOL) through Outlook Express via their systems. You can actually still receive e-mails for these other accounts via AOL. A reet pain!
I'll just have to use my Hotmail account!