January 2002
I'd welcome information - especially from owners - on the Honda HR-V. It's to replace an Audi 80 estate. I'd like someting which (1) above all, will be reliable over, say, 8 years / 80K miles with excellent build quality; (2) can cope with the ever-deteriorating roads (i.e. not too fussed about potholes); (3) has boot space like an estate car, but offers higher driving position (4) has reasonable running costs - insurance, service, mpg etc.
Performance not too important (other car gives the thrills); won't be used off-road, nor for towing.
Any advice, please? Read more
I note in today`s Telegraph motoring page that H.J. has cited some Ford models with plastic cam belt tensioner wheels. Could somebody please clarify which models are affected, as my daughter is thinking of buying a new Focus TDCi Read more
According to a brochure I have seen, the TDCi engine on the Focus has a cam belt and not a chain. The Mondeo Di and TDCi do however have a chain.
More from the Veggie Van here.
www.veggievan.org Read more
A guy near me has just converted his Audi A4. Own design with bits from Halfords. Says he's having difficulty finding enough oil.
Small snag...........he has to pay duty on the oil he uses........and the duty per litre is more than the cost of a litre of LPG !
More on increased deaths in small cars here.
cei.org/gencon/003,02307.cfm Read more
Maybe so but if it were to hit the majority of other cars on the road I know which would come out best the 2 ton Chrysler
MBRM
I apologise if this steps over the line about advertising, but I've just received an e-mail from Andyspares whom I've used several times for Citroen spares - and it might be of interrest to other back roomers. It suggests they will be adding other foreign vehciles to their list, as quoted :
"Several people have emailed us about German & Swedish parts. Be assured that David and I are working on an all new website to reflect this important part of the GSF Group, and although much work has been done on the site, it is still not ready for launch. This site will be larger than andyspares.com, and will offer a choice of downloadable catalogues as well as 37 branch maps, and full on-line shopping for VW/Audi,Porsche,Saab, Volvo, BMW, Mercedes vehicles. Until the site is up and running, you can email sales@germanandswedish.com for your parts enquiries for these models".
I have no connection with this company.
Ian Read more
Ian,
I too would endorse the service from Andyspares. Their parts are mosly OE and some of the savings are staggering. Their mail order has been next day and reliable on every occasion.
Just one example. A starter motor they supply for one Citroen model is £64 inc vat for an OE Valeo. My local motor factors wanted £115 trade inc vat for the same item.
David
Todays DT motoring section should provide something for David to read, as its blowing a gale and pouring with rain. Two articles dedicated to Landies! Have you got the rear body back on yet, David?
The purpose built series one with a Defender TDi engine sounds interesting, if rather expensive. Registration AFF suggests Merionethshire, 1955 (dad had a Wolseley AFF 152).
Me? I'm putting this wet weekend to good use finishing off SWMBO's new fitted wardrobes.
Ian Read more
I ran a 1956 Landie as daily transport for a while. It had the engine and gearbox from a later vehicle, but the original brakes. The result was that it would cruise at 70 mph on the A1, but took about half a mile to stop from that speed. But I can't think of many vehicles from that era that you could happily use every day without worrying about them either breaking down, getting run into or vandalised, or going rusty.
When you think about the sort of cars that were available in the late 1940s (Ford Popular, Austin Ten etc) the original Land Rover must have seemed an amazing machine, since it was just as quick and comfortable as many new cars. A bit like the Range Rover in 1970. I wonder if the new Defender (next year) will be the same kind of leap forward - somehow I doubt it, if only because ordinary family cars have got so good.
I am about to change my car and have narrowed down my choice to a Saab 9-3 or a Mondeo diesel. As it'll be a company car I am not concerned with depreciation and the cost (tax etc) are pretty much alike. Brief test drives suggest to me they are both good cars (the famous Saab ideosyncrancies dont bother me). Reading reviews however the Saab is cricitised as having poor handling and being noisy. The Mondeo on the other hand has a crass interior (lots of shiny silver plastic) but, image aside, is universally praised. I'm inclined to the Saab. Any experience of it out there? Read more
S60 - tried to get to drive one but dealer doesn't do test drives on a Saturday (!!!!!! can't be true can it?). Cabin is nice but very hemmed in by over large central console. Looks pretty in some colours and donwright horrible in others. I was a Volvo man for years but terminal unreliability of 850 put me right off.
can someone (probably DW) please help me find the inhibitor switch for the automatic transmission, the haynes manual doesnt cover it.
many thanks in advance.
p.s its a 1987/88, Citroen BX 16TRS. Read more
we have the manual that goes upto 1994, it was 'updated' in 1993 when i think haynes might have taken out some of the content.
Any tips on embarking on basic servicing without garage facilities/expensive tools/and more than base mechanical knowledge? I'd love to get started but have distant but disturbing memeories of attempting this when younger. Oil on the drive, skinned knuckles etc are things that have reluctantly pushed a basic service the way of the local garage. Is there a duffers website somewhere? Read more
That was Autoplus, run by a very go ahead chap named Tom Denne who forsaw the growth in DIY in the home, being extended to the car,at a time when the resale price maintenance legislation had been abandoned and the parts suppliers were able to come up with all you needed at much lower prices than the traditional suppliers. In my Castrol days, we equipped the workshop at Autoplus and, the concept was copied at a number of other sites. I think the increasingly stringent " safety at work" regulations made the project uneconomic as, fairly understandably, the Health and Safety officers, quite rightly, were a bit alarmed at the fact that anyone, after paying an hourly rental fee, could be operating potentially dangerous workshop equipment like four post lifts and power operated tyre changers.
Hi again folks
Go to the DVLA web site and find the feedback form for the new Motorcycle VED suggestions (its under corporate and consultative documents). Look at the innocuous questions, and then look again. I filled in the form with more comments about the phrasing of the questions than I did of solid info trying to answer them.
Bill Read more
The British Motorcycle Federation (www.bmf.co.uk) have produced a very good response to the proposals - which is available on their website - arguing against the introduction of a new category for bikes over 1000cc. Anyone interested in making a response should do so by February 8th.
I'd be interested to hear what HJ thinks of the Government's proposals.
Rob S
Browse
Many thanks to all of you who took the trouble to respond to my query. In the end, it will be up to my Manager: she usually gets her way!
No - seriously - I'm frightened of the anecdotal reputation (whether deserved or not) of the F/L; That's also why I rule out Disco (and, to be fair, I don't need its off-road capability).
Not the MB or the BMW (both risk aggression / envy attacks with screwdrivers when parked.
The Honda impressed me, and the Bank manager would also be happier. But as this may well be the last major car I'll buy (as I'd never be able to afford when in retirement), I want something which will be ultra reliable and will serve me for at least 10 years. I won't do big miles in it, so the lousy mpg won't be that much of a deterrent (though I'd have preferred a diesel if there was one, which there isn't). The RX300 is nicely understated, and - so everyone assures me - will do what it says on the box ... for ever(ish).
And above all, the Manager has spoken.
Many thanks to you all. What an excellent forum this is. Diolch yn fawr iawn, as we say around here.