August 2001
How old does a car have to be for it to be legal to remove the catalytic converter and have it replaced with a straight through pipe?
My car is a 92 J plate and is having some exhaust problems. News cats are expensive.....
Gavin Read more
Jsst recently bought a Passat S reg 98. The clutchs biting point seems way to high, i was wondering if thats normal on a VW car or whether the clutch is going on it?? If it is, does anyone know how much it costs to replace?
Thanks Read more
Hi
I intermittently have difficulty engaging second and occasionally other gears on my N reg Audi A4 tdi 110,000m.
Usually clears with a bit of gentle rowing of the gear lever
Any one got experience of this??
Dick
There have been a few posts recently about the affect of airon on fuel consumption. I've recently been running with the aircon permanently on, and the following are the results of brim-to-brim tests under the same driving condiditons (approximately 1200 miles in each test, 2 fills).
Aircon OFF: 49.73 mpg (July 2001)
Aircon ON: 49.83 mpg (August 2001)
The car is a Xantia HDi (110)
My conclusion: do as HJ advises and leave it permanently switched on. Read more
Whilst newer cars may experience little consumption degradation through use of air-conditioning I must point out that when I got my 1987 XJS (5.3L V12) there was a significant amount in the order of 10%, I could feel the change in roadspeed when the compressor kicked in. NB. It was checked as being in full working order.
Just remembered a thing of the past.
Notice in rear widow of car--
"Running in -- Please Pass"
Memories, memories
Has anybody got any more? Read more
Well isn't it better than speed traps and motorway madness???? Glad to read all the replies though, it did bring back many memories but I hope I am quite a few years away from the nursing home, but sometimes I wonder.
Without having been in the two courts involved, and hearing the evidence, I find it odd that a man who overtook foolishly, causing someone to swerve into a tree and die got 2 years in jail. A man who was short of sleep and was found guilty of driving without due care and attention (only that?) in that he swerved into an oncoming car killing a couple and leaving 6 children orphaned, got a 6 month ban and fined £100. I emphasise, I only know what I have read in the papers and seen on TV but it seems that the punishment does not fit the crime (IMHO) Read more
Guy
You should be ashamed of yourself.
I know that this has come up a number of times before, but I would appreciate the latest thoughts from the panel of experts!
My Focus was one of the unlucky ones that was built with a Mondeo inlet manifold. Eventually, the dealer identifed the problem and fitted the kit supplied by Ford. All well and good except that the revs still don't die as quickly as they should do (leads to jerky gear changes in the lower gears), and the new induction noise is dreadful (sounds like a sports manifold/exhaust).
Its going in for its 12 month service on Thursday, so I would appreciate any (constructive) advice, especially from any other affected owners.
Thanks in advance. Read more
Nigel
Thanks. I agree the performance is better with the new manifold, but the noise when accelerating is driving me nuts!
Agree 20bhp more would be great, but I won't be looking at the ST170 or RS because of the problems with this one and the poor dealer support. Shame because the hype is correct - its a great car to drive.....
Car goes back tomorrow for its service. Are you interested in the results??
Simon
I certainly do not agree with HJ et al concerning the resurrection of Top Gear as such & the thought of Clarkson & his style of Ghastly metaphors leaves me decidedly cold.Frankly I feel that it requires a good infusion of solid fact given by a team of people that are unbiased in their opinions,with qualified experience of the motor trade & assessment of cars.
Mike Brewer has the ability to reach many sections of the viewing public , he could surely be influential??
Simon Read more
my understanding is that fuel consumption is worse, performance is worse, availability is patchy, you lose carrying space and i expect the government will raise the price of lpg to unleaded price once enough people convert. Diesel still the best bet, imho.
I understand
the Road Traffic Offenders Act 1988 is says:
1. The NIP MUST reach you within 14 days. (Remember that this 14-day limit starts from the commission of the alleged offence, so late "reminder" NIPs are just that, LATE.)
2. The Act says that "a notice shall be deemed for the purposes of subsection (1)(c) above to have been served on a person if it was sent by registered post or recorded delivery service..." In other words, if it's not sent recorded delivery, it's not deemed to have been sent, because they have no independent proof.
The Act seems precise: it lays down a non-negotiable 14-day limit and requires the NIP to be sent recorded delivery. Are they're expecting us not to have looked at the actual wording of the legislation...
Or has the law been amended? Read more
Not to add anything to the debate re NIP's but just a tip in case you have some important documents to send through the post.
Recorded Delivery is just that, nothing else. Until it gets to the delivery office it is treated like all the other mail, so if its gets lost all you know is that it did not get delivered. Very helpful...not. Had a big barney with a Chinese bank about such an issue which went astray. Fortunately we got our dosh in the end. But Passports to the Passport Office, no thank you.
If you have something to send which you really do not want lost the Special Delivery service is best, its tracked from your fair hand to the destination, plus you can have insurance and its not too expensive either..
Just seen a release about the new format of reg numbering. No doubt someone can tell me why on earth we make things so complicated. I reckon some 'working party' of bureaucrats sat for a year devising the scheme to be introduced next month. Why do we need to include an indication of the area and year of registration? Why can't we have a totally free format plate? In the states you can call your car GLADYS if you really want to! They could still charge for these personalised plates and it might cut out those pathetic distortions we see so often. Read more
Colin:
Couldn't agree more. Paying thousands for a half-baked attempt at a personal plate ---A5 TON -- looks ridiculous, and clearly the buyer has more money than sense. THe US has a far better system -- they also have prettier plates than the ugly UK ones as well, smaller and neater, usually with some graphic on the background to indicate the state. YOu can get a sensible personal plate there that looks cool, not crappy like in UK>
How accurate are price guides such as Parkers or What Car?
According to the current issues a Fiat Ulysse 1.9 TD S 97 on a P plate from a dealers in good nick and mileage would go for about 6.8k to just over 7k depending on which guide you look at.
A local dealer to me has one on at 8.5k - no air cond or sunroof - no other extras - the only selling point is it's only done 25k miles rather than 45k which you'd expect for the age.
At most this puts it up to about 7.5k.
I challenged the dealer on this citing the price guides valuation and he quoted Glasses valuation of £7800 and justified the rest on the low mileage and good condition. He did say though that he could obviously knock some off- but probably not enough to bring it down to the Parkers valuation.
Why the difference between Glass and Parkers/What Car?
Don't the newsagents guides base their values on Glass? Read more
You can actually view Glass's Guide prices online if you visit www.autobytel.co.uk and go to the Used Cars then Used Car Price Guides section.
I've been using it since discovering it a few months ago and it consistently gives considerably higher valuations for cars than Parkers.
Incidently the retail price it gives for the Fiat you mention is £8510!
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I used to own a 1990 Volvo 340 with a Cat fitted, I was advised by the MOT tester that if a Cat was original equipment then irrespective of build year a CAT was needed for the MOT. Although some exhaust suppliers did disagree with this statement. Thankfully I never had the need to find out the truth.
As an afterthought, if you are having the tracking checked on a car with power steering is it advisable to keep the engine running? Any comments.