June 2001
Due to circs to painful to relate, I need to obtain a new (standard) wheel for our Megane Scenic. Could any of you recommend a good place to get one at reasonable cost? Read more
Hi
I'm planning to buy a new(er) car soonish but I'm getting poor figures to change. I think I could do better getting rid of the old car first and doing a cash deal instead. The car I need to dispose of is a '97 R Mitsubishi Colt (37K miles - FSH).
What's the best plan - a private sale or auction?
How much should I look to get for this?
cheers
Martin Read more
Martin,
You don't say which model, 1.6 GLX perhaps?
What are you being offered for a trade in, about £3,250?
At auction the value is certainly a bit less and on a bad day could be terrible. In theory you should be able to ask about £3900 privately but it doesn't often work out like that.
Most private buyers know that you are trying to sell prior to a trade in, and if you do sell and don't have a trade in there will be a discount. This means you will be better off selling to them at the trade in price then taking the discount..... and they know that. Why would they ever have to pay as much as the price guides say for a private deal, they just leave yours and move onto someone else.
So it's a hard call. Basically changing cars costs...period.
David
Hi,
I've got a 1986 Audi 90, with central locking. It's just gained a *really* annoying habit - whenever you try and open the driver's door from inside, it locks all the doors! Add to that the electric window doesn't wind down, and I have to shuffle out via the passenger door ;)
Any hints on how to fix it / check what's wrong?
Ta!
Mike Read more
Check the electrical connection on the pneumatic locking unit in the door for corrosion where the 'spades' go into the body of the unit...
A friend of mine is considering a Vauxhall Omega 3.0, N-reg with 100K on the clock. Any opinions on strengths, weaknesses and things to look out for? I'll check out the Car-by-Car Breakdown for him, but personal views are more than welcome Read more
Stuart - you don't know how close to Dave's shady past you are.
Better left well alone............
I?ve just returned from a meeting with a personal tax client who was wrestling with an
interesting car choice dilemma. He?s resigned a senior management post that came
with a company XJ8, to work on a self employed basis helping set up a new venture in financial services,
so he needs to buy some suitable transport - these are the criteria:
He is prepared to spend up to £10 - £12K, but would be happy to spend a lot less!
He has two teenage children so it also needs to be a family car.
He expects to do 20K -25K miles p.a. and it must be as dependable as possible!
It must be ?respectable? as he will be recruiting new customers and staff at a senior
level.
Then the most difficult criteria - he only expects to have the car for 6 - 12 months and
will need to dispose of it again without the loss of pots of money and loads of hassle.
What do people think would be a wise purchase? Read more
Paul,
How about a three wheel Reliant van.
You know it makes sense.
Alvin
Anyone know a good dealer of used XJ6 3.2s, around 1994, south UK?
Anyone willing to help me choose one?!
Mike Read more
Robert Hughes isn't a mate.
HJ
Is the use of flushing oil recommended. I know this has been discussed before but I don't recall a consensus being reached except that it was probably not a good idea with a high mileage car as it could unblock something that was better left blocked!
But what about low mileage cars? If you stick to HJ's recommended oil change intervals is there any point?
Also it is safe to use Flushing oil in an engine with hydraulic tappets? In the past I've read that it is good to use it with such engines as it can remove particles that are blocking the free flow of oil into them, I've also read that it shouldn't be used as it is incompatible with their mechanism!
And while I'm here what about those "add to oil before changing" flushing additives? If your car doesn't use any oil then that means you're overfilling it but does that matter for 15 mins on a fast idle?
TIA
Richard Shutt Read more
Hey thanks for that.............................I'm glad I asked...Just one point on the Volvo's ECU/Mapping, this now explains to me why when I see a BOF driving one the indicators are never, apparantly, used. Obviously the Volvo's computer is so bright it automatically overirdes the indicators in case the flashing lights confuse the BOF......
Hey ho, it's Monday - back making a few dollars for my employer. Whilst continuing a major gardening project over the weekend I was minded to pose the following question - "why do a lot of us run a car at all?"
My second vehicle is a van (Citroen C15D to be precise) and it offers a brilliant alternaltive to a car. Just consider:
1. Cheap (under £2000 for an M plate, at the time I bought it)
2. Easy to service - basic IDI diesel and no fancy electronics on the vehicle
3. Doesn't really matter if it gets the odd parking ding, within reason. A positive benefit when left in a cark park - watch the BMWs etc. avoid parking anywhere near it
4. Bags of useful space for shifting things - furniture (including the contents of a student's flat), garden rubbish, building materials
5. Plenty fast enough - but not as fast as the fastest vehicle on the road (Astramax driven by a plumber's apprentice
How many of you guys out there run a van - and what are your thoughts? Read more
As a "third" vehicle we have a Series 3 Landrover. far more fun than a van and much more versitile. 2.25 diesel engine with an overdrive unit on gearbox. Cheap enough to run when being used on its own. but what a towing vehicle. We live right up on the top of the South Wales Valleys and come the winter snow, well it's more fun than sex (and it lasts longer) :-)
2 downsides, the wiofe cant drive it and you need to be useful with the spanners, (It's over 20 years old after all)
Does anyone have any information on the failure of Renault's automatic gearbox. I have been told it is a problem Renault know about but have difficulty in getting anyone to admit it. Read more
I SAW YOUR REQUEST FOR INFORMATION ABOUT RENAULT AUTO GEARBOX PROBLEMS. DID YOU GET ANY. MY GEARBOX HAS BROKEN DOWN AFTER ONLY 36 500 MILES AND I AM TRYING TO GET RENAULT TO HELP WITH THE £1850 COSTS.
ANY HELP WOULD BE APPRICIATED
I remember hearing, somewhere, about vw recalling some of their 1998 passats due to a problem with the steering rack, but I can't remember the details. Please can anyone help, or point me in the right direction?.
Many thanks.
Simon. Read more
Thanks to you all - the Car-by-Car Breakdown did the job.
Simon.
Browse
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Try a Renault dealer as he must (like us) have lots of displaced steel wheels & tyres (with delivery mileage) about the place when they fit a set of alloy wheels.
We have a large stock of Rover & SEAT steel wheels and tyres, of which we sell a big proportion to those new car owners with the awful spacesaver type spare wheels - the wheels can then be rotated properly if required
Ian, as a final point, have you tried 'car park accessories' for your wheel??
Only joking!
David