October 2001
Is it just me or has the Older Topics button gone?
David Read more
How long should a car battery last? The one in my Japanese hatchback is 4 years old and I've noticed some starting problems lately....how can I check if it's a battery problem? Read more
I'd also recommend Exide and Bosch batteries. Regular use is the key mind
Michael White posted a notice about the Mini recall.
Michael, I've deleted this. All the relevant details are here on the news page. Thanks for your efforts.
Martyn Read more
Many thanks for that, Chris. Your points are taken. There will be a lot of changes to the site over the next few months (my partners have to get an important trade fair over with first). All practical suggestions will be gratefully received. As would be any genuine sponsorship enquiries. My view has always been that businesses should only ever pay for website promotions that directly benefit them. Car sales from links are a direct benefit. But so would be sales of insurance policies or whatever from a banner link on The Backroom.
HJ
I'm currently looking for two new tyres for my MK3 GTI. I bought the car used with 4 virtually brand new Pirelli tyres and now 2 need replacing shortly. From what I've been quoted for Pirelli's, I don't think my budget stretches quite that far! The mid priced tyres that I keep getting quoted for are Avon, Toyo and Goodyear. I'm tempted to go with Goodyear simply 'cos they are a more well known brand. Any suggestions of tyres or good deals at the moment? Read more
Thanks to everyone - it's been really helpful. I've managed to find Pirelli P700-Z's for £65 (each) fully fitted from Motorway- so I'm going with them. I've got them at the moment and I've had 25,000 miles out of them and the seem pretty quiet. I've had no trouble in the wet, dry or snow (touch wood)!!
Just out of interest - I previously owned a Golf Driver bought second hand with 4 Michelins on it (not brand new) - they were slightly noisier than the pirelli's I have now but when I sold the car on they were still OK, 30,000 miles later!!
Here's one for you all which I can't find on old threads or from anywhere like Parkers price guide.
I have heard it mentioned several times in the past that car colour can and understandably affect resale value to a degree. Is there anywhere I can find out how this might be expected to affect the resale value on a new car I was contemplating? Being undecided over several colours I would just go for the one easiest to sell on at the end. For example, is it always best just to pick the more boring colours so a "trendy" colour doesn't devalue the car in a few years time?
Answers on a postcard please... Read more
That'll be "Aqua Frost" - looks better on the Mondeo than the Focus
Given a couple of the threads lately, it seemed that this might be of interest. It came to be in an e-mail on another subject.
"Been ripped off by a garage ? Or are you a disgruntled mechanic looking to expose unscrupulous practices within the motor industry ? If so, ITV researchers would like to talk to you on 020 7737 8761" Read more
Funny you should say that. When I was a lad my dad had a Singer side valve horse and cart that broke down on the M2....
Many thanks for the helpful replies. I am now trying to find some Winns Blockweld which I'm told is very effective but cannot find any. My local garage also recommend it but they have been unable to source it for 3 months. Suggestions please - I live in Berkshire. Read more
Email me your address and I'll send you some.
regards Andrew
Sadly I have been driving a Fiat Marea of late. Its pretty horrible, but at least its not mine, its a rental due to the fact that my car broke and hasn't been unbroken yet.
However, at the weekend the Marea (which is a *really* stupid name for a car) started making a bunch of rattly noises. It seemed to be coming from one of the boxes on the exhaust. Being smart, I knew that rattly noises weren't good especially when they're loud enough to drown out my new Enigma CD.
So I called one of the local crazies, and a couple of garage-owning bandits wandered off with the car yesterday morning and then brought it back later in the day. No rattle, and as far as I can tell everything ok. Judging from the mileage that hadn't even been up the airport for a quick spot of taxiing.
They'd even cleaned up the store of "things that I have chewed and may want to chew again" which the dogs have hidden under one of the seats.
This is not usual service, but gift horses and all that.
I drove home last night and everything was fine.
Walking out to the car this morning it occured to me that the exhaust tail pipe didn't look very new, and since it was the last box which was rattling, I'd assumed that it'd get a new tail pipe as well.
Out of curiosity I looked underneath to see which parts where new....none of them ! The back box on the other hand had three extremely large hammer dents in the side where it had been crushed in to trap whatever was rattling inside.
doh!
M. Read more
My father-in-law, when he was driving, used to change cars quite frequently: that's how I met my wife, by offering to teach her to drive!.
Anyway, we took his latest aquisition down to the seaside (well, Southend on Mud, actually). Half way down the A127 we smelt burning and noticed we were trailing smoke.
We stopped and I had a look underneath. Wrapped round the exhaust pipe, to stop it rattling against the bodywork, was a bandage of sacking which had caught fire when the exhaust heated up and the flames were too close to the petrol tank for comfort.
Fortunately the flames weren't too big and the sacking wasn't too tight,so I managed to drag the sacking off before the tank went up.
Has anyone any experience of the recently introduced Shell petrol called OPTIMAX it boasts a higher octane level, the product is not yet widely available. Is there another oil company that brews an equivalent ???. Read more
it's easy growler, the car has a constant fuel consumption read out giving actual consumption (to the last 30 seconds) , average (over that particular journey) and long term average over the accumulated mileage of the vehicle (or since it was reset). The long term average has increased from 36.5 to 37.8 since using the fuel, but you are right that other factors come into play and cold be distorting the figures. Hence I went back to using super unleaded for a short while and saw the consumption change again, but it's too small to worry or argue about and could be a spurious result. Either way the consumption is no worse and the car feels better. Don't forget that this car was designed to run on 98 octane and the manufacturers performance figures are given on the assumption that you are using it. By using 95 octane, everything is a compromise (cheaper fuel but higher consumption and slightly flatter performance). Ultimately it comes down to personal preferences and economics. Given the price differential between super and optimax (nil) and between super/optimax and u/l (5p, ish) and the better fuel consumption, it is cost neutral and I prefer the performance.
Dear all
I thoiught this might be of interest (esp Mark Brazil)
www.portal.telegraph.co.uk/intheknow/index.jhtml
Jon Read more
Thanks for that, I was quite excited until I realised that you could only win them for the weekend - still, worth a shot.
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Mark
You obviously spend too much time in Brazilian bars!
Regards
John