September 2001
HJ recommends subscribing to BCA's Auction View feature. However, when I tried to subscribe, I was told it was for Trade only - has anyone successfully joined this? Read more
I know this has been aired before, but last night's Top Gear was a perfect example of why I watch it less and less. I used to be a fan, but don't even bother to video it any more.
The only feature worth its time last night was Tiff in a Tamora.
VBH was wasting her valuable time in a Previa.
Who wants to buy an old taxi?
Jason Barlow tries too hard to be funny.
A history of traffic lights!!
Best way to revamp the show?
Drop JB. Keep TF and VBH. Bring back Quentin (who once gave in 5 minutes the best illustration of how to handle a personal injury claim) and Kate Humble. Get Mike Brewer from Driven. Occasional appearances by JC would be welcome. Read more
honest john wrote:
>
> There's a corner at Donington Park called Redgate. To get
> round it in one of the instruction course Vectras, the
> instructor tells you to aim the front about ten feet before
> the apex in order to compensate for the understeer. Vectra
> handling is a joke.
Hmmm. Useful tip. If your drive to work involves negatiating a stretch of Donnigton park at pace then DO NOT BUY A VECTRA.
However if like me your car driving life is limited to traffic jams dual carriageway and motorway then it's probably fine.
I've driven two - one was an estate. I found them both fine. They felt better built than the Modeo of the time (1997 or 98) and sat on the motorway at 100mph mile after mile in total comfort. (Until a rozzer did me at 102 on a sunny sunday morning on the M3 - then told me what I'd done was perfectly safe.)
IMHO any of the standard Rep cruisers are great cars. Might be best not to buy them privately 'cos I bet they depreciate a bit...
FYI
yesterday I went to micheldever to buy 2 Michelin XV1's 195x60x15.
The price I was quoted about 10 days ago was an excellent £56.92 each, inclusive.
The price I was asked to pay yesterday was £67+ !!
When I enquired, I was informed "The price went up a few days ago".
I have no reason to doubt this, I hasten to add.
I settled for a pair of XV1 DA's @ £53+ each - i was assured that the "DA" meant they have some 'cometic blemish' only, and are otherwise standard XV1's.
Can any of you pros out there confirm this, please?(I have emailed Michelin UK - so far no reply)
(I always take the words of tyre fitters with a large lump of salt, and had not visited MT previously - I made a special trip, 'cos their prices were so good!!)
Thanks
Roger Read more
MD tyres supply a lot of the major national chains who then sell on +margin.MD prices really do take some beating and no hidden extra charges,or punting for work.
Just been told by my friendly Rover service manager that head gasket has blown on my Nov '97 Rover Sterling 2.5, it just having done the phenomenal mileage of 57K!!, and having had full dealer service history. Even worse he tells me that because the engine block has suffered erosion, I'll need a new engine (£4,500). I gave up a 250,000 mile '86 Scorpio for this.
I understand this is not an unusual occurence with the K-engine
Sounds like I'm in a hole, the car itself would probably only fetch between £8-10K (you'll be lucky did I hear someone say!!)
How do I get out of this mess, with any semblance of financial dignity?
Otherwise, a lovely car, but I can certainly do without this headache.
Ideas would be welcome.
Thanks. Read more
Andy,
I'm now between the rock and the hard place.
The dealership is saying that to do just a repair to the block is more expensive than a new engine. (I guees they don't want any come back).
Following up on your suggestion of Heathrow Engines, I did call a company operating out of Twickenham from Exchange and Mart, and got a good quote, and they will even pick it up from garage. I could not find reference to Heathrow Engines, and I am told that they are the same company. Have you actually used or know someone who has used Heathrow? I have had mixed reports in the past.
The only other practical option I have had is to have it taken to a local mechanic, who'll get it back on the road with some repair work to the block, with the aim trade it in.
Thanks,
Keith
...please stand up?
Chris, there's no way that the claims you've made in The Back Room can *all* be true. Apart from anything else, the dates just don't hold together. I don't have either the time or the inclination to go back through every one of your posts and make a proper analysis, but there's more than a few of your fellow correspondents who do, and who are beginning to be exasperated by your presence.
There's no rule here which says that a Back Room correspondent has to tell the truth, though it would make life easier if everyone did. But the least you could do, Chris, would be to try to make your stories consistent. Anything other than that is taking the pee out of the rest of us, and that is insulting.
So please try not to insult us any more. Thanks Read more
Careful John, or it's detention for you.
S.
Anyone out there with experience with the Mercedes G-wagen. I am contemplating the cheaper selectable 4WD version built before 1990 but still around £4000-6000 for the later ones. I have my eyes on a LWB manual 5-cylinder 300GD but would the 280 petrol (automatic) be easier to live with. I nearly bought a very smart black diesel soft top a few years ago but had higher mileage requirements then and it was going to be too slow for everyday use. The VW Tristar I bought instead was a fantastic vehicle but had to go when the 2-year warranty expired and I was looking at hefty bills on my own (eg ECU under warranty £1300).
Non-dealer Mercedes parts prices I can probably live with for DIY repairs if not too frequent and don't involve baffling electronics. There are usually a few petrol and diesel G-wagens under £6000 and under 100K around with fsh. Any thoughts, or a better alternative for occasionally towing up to 1.6t and trundling down (no trailer) to the Pyrenees in winter. Must be long-lived and simple to diagnose and maintain.
Thanks
David Read more
remember to got a hpi check and AA inspection, a few of these cars are from farms in the yorkshire dale (very popular there).
Can any one clear up a query for me please? On a distributorless ignition system, my understanding is that a notch on the flywheel/crank or whatever, depending on the model, passes a sensor which sends a signal to the ECU, which in turn earths the coil circuit, and a spark is delivered to the plug. What I'm struggling with is if the engine speeds up, and more ignition advance is needed, you cannot get the spark any sooner- as the notch has not reached the sensor yet, and the flywheel cannot advance. On an old distributor system, the advance is mechanical, and the points can open sooner. Is there some sort of delay built in that reduces with engine speed?
Thanks,
Mike Read more
Thanks Andy !! Comes from the Editor of the local paper for which I do a weekly column continually telling me to keep it simple for the readers !
Regards, Adam
What qualifications must you have to work as an vehicle engineer in a dealership? Read more
Is that the same as "moppet" or "popett" you saucy young man?
Or is it a special term of endearment for "outsiders" used by "insiders" who are undecided if they want them to join the "band".
I usually leave all that kind of thing to his Lordship - all that endless talk of blackballing - so tiresome.
Yawn.
alot of people want to know about me, i am a mechanic, and just recently become a partner in a business, i have no money but have the experience, martin is the guy with the money to set the business up, but he has no experience of anything to do with cars, so we joined forces, and he does the accounts, and i do the work. Read more
I suppose they all say the same thing somewhere, as I said I am not a Godbotherer so I cannot be sure,
Its more the sentiment that I wished to express rather than the religious side of things, if you can connect it to the appropriate QT movie I think the meaning becomes clear.
as ever
Mark
Anybody out there had dealings with the above regarding car tax?
In June this year I taxed my wife's car at the local Post Office for twelve months. At the beginning of August, I received a letter from the local DVLA office regarding my failure to tax the vehicle or use the SORN declaration and I was therefore committing an alleged offence in relation to the SORN law.
Suffice to say a stern letter and a scanned copy of the disc that never was resulted in an apology with usual excuses apportioning blame, etc.
There is a twist though. This year is when sub 1549cc cars fall within the VED rebate scheme. I have yet to receive the necessary paperwork to obtain a rebate. I email the DVLA for an explanation and guess what? They say, "Sorry sir, you last taxed your car before November 2000, therefore you will not get a rebate". Obviously the departments don't communicate between each other. Read more
John
Chase the DVLA!!
I was in the same boat and received a nice cheque from them within 10 days of returning the form. Don't let them get away with it, after all you will only give it back via the petrol pump and you might as well get some mileage out of it.
Cockle
BCA auction view,why bother?