January 2002
I've just read that Milan is introducing a scheme to 'reduce pollution' by restricting car access to the city based on odd/even reg nos.
Officials have said 'If pollution levels do not drop sharply, we will consider even more restrictions...'
So, if pollution levels don't drop (indicating that it isn't the car that's causing the problem), they will blindly restrict the car further, instead of trying to find the *real* cause.
The world has gone mad! Read more
re: the Head Gasket questions and answers posed earlier today!
just spoke to the mechanic who was looking at the peugeot today. Apparantly he says its a lost cause, doesn' want to get involved becasue the motor is only running on two cylinders, is burning diesel oil (smoky exhaust) and the heater is pushing humid water into the car causing moisture on the windows internally!!!
all very odd for a car that goes relatively well.
he has not carried out a compression test so does not know about the Head Gasket, which is all that i really wanted to get clarified. What on earth could be the problem, is the engine a heap of junk, why did the initial mechanic who saw the car for its MOT in December say i needed a Head gasket change? Many question, no firm answers. Do i need a private detective?
martin
the symptoms are:
-Radiator leaking into the car (some how)
-Juddering and poor performance, poor idle
-white or bluish smoke when started, goes eventually
-no hot air, only cold, heater seems to work fine!!!! (not confirmed)
-sporadic accelleration when foot down
-ok performance on motorway once warm Read more
"[is it best to] keep it clean, stamped-up and safe and hope not lose too much money on the next trade-in"
I tried that method. Lost over 2 grand + serciving + fuly comp insurance. Couldn't thrash the car, coouldn't park it overnight on boozy nights out. WHen my girlfriend (at the time) opened the door into a wall I nearly cried. It was constant stress.
The Rover's a joy to own.
There is a third way. Buy a new car, keep it for 12-13 years and do all servicing yourself. 6k for a pug 106 over 13 years is prolly less than you'd spend on a banger all in and one owner cars mysteriously seem to be pretty reliable throughout their life.
Of course you've blown the price of a house deposit on day 1.
Bangernomics for me!
SWMBO passed her test over 20 years ago, and has never actually driven since!
Now she's looking to take refresher lessons. Having been out with her once myself she's really starting from scratch, not helped by the fact that she in quite petrified, and has zero confidence we thought some 2002 instruction a good idea.
She's keen on an automatic . . . "then I can concentrate on the road etc, not on the gears/clutch", but I seem to remember HJ and others have misgivings, as they may go out of control(?).
Auto would seem less complicated, I have to agree (I was happy with my previous auto car in town) I'd value your opinions.
Any instructors still browsing here?
Go on do your worst you lot, I can take it . . .
Stu. Read more
My four penn'rth here, for what it's worth, has been said above. If Brills other half has a full manual licence, then I'd say do the refresher on a manual for all the obvious reasons.....useful to be able to drive another (manual) car on odd occasions, self confidence in knowing you can (drive a manual) if you need to, get a little feel for the mechanics of the car (car sympathy).
Then, after that, the choice between A&M is yours/hers. If economics don't enter the equasion I'd go for the auto. The only reason I would drive a manual is coz the're cheaper to buy and re-fuel, or if perchance the vehicle I wanted didn't come with an auto. option. I'm also with T Lucas, above, I've had both manual and auto Yaris's and the auto. is a little cracker.
KB
As well as having to drive a Fiat in Sao Paulo later this week, I am also being punished in Rio.
Since I broke yet another car, they have given me a Xantia Estate to use, as I mentioned, in Spanish, last week.. Its actually quite nice, but....
What's the method with this suspension thingy ? I assume that I shouldn't use max or min height. However, there are two other settings in the middle. When should I use one or the other ? Can I change it while driving along, or do I have to stop to alter it ?
Why doesn't it have one of those keypad thingies like my sister's does ?
Why does it have "controle" written across the dash ?
Why is the handbrake underneath the armrest ?
What's with those weird little pockety things on the door ? It looks like the normal handle for closing the door, but it opens into a really thin pocket which I can't even get my hand inside.
The temperature of the aircon seems sensitive to the engine revs - i.e. at tick-over in traffic its not very cold, but driving along its fine. Should I worry ? I'm likely to have the car for about 4 weeks, so if it won't break in that time, I don't care.
Since I drove it, and parked it, for the first time last night, why don't they tell you not to park it with the front too close to the kerb since when the suspension settles it gets marooned.
David ??????? Read more
It actually goes back to a group of gringos who arrived here a couple of years ago. They were so paranoid about living here what with kidnapping and shootings, that they had the idea it was neccessary.
Its not. Ok, Rio & Sao Paulo are dangerous, but they`re not a war zone. I suspect that this car is a hang over from that earlier paranoia.
Posted yesterday, and just got a load of rubbish replies about a bluddy email adress, so only Hummer releated replies this time!
How much do they cost?
where Can i buy one in the UK?
If not in the UK, can i import one form somewhere?
thankyou! Read more
I found the article in Classic & Sports Car magazine I mentioned earlier in the thread. It was the Jan 2002 issue (last month's) and the Hummer they compared to the LM002 was a '94 5-door stationwagon, quoted value £57K.
Kevin...
What is one and should I be worried about driving it for two days ?
M.
p.s. and who names these things ?? Read more
In central London it is Postman Rastas, etc.
Postman Pat is very old hat.
I have £7k - No P/A, to spend on a 5 door hatch in the Laguna/Mondeo size range. Like the Laguna but have had one for a while,so any thoughts on Mondeo v Accords or is there something else out there that may make the pulse race a bit? Read more
having just read the thread, had to recommend the citroen!!!
I bought a Xantia several years ago (L reg 1993 model) and still have it. Done 104,000 never stopped, only mechanical failure has been the hydraulic pump (very close to home) other than that nothing adverse to report. Kids hate the car as it has no street cred. I love it as it cuises at 100mph all day (on French autoroute early last year) and uses no fuel. Mine is a derv powered by the way.
So you've heard from the Citroen mafia after all!!
My cat has just failed - '95 BMW 735. The car in fact has 2 cats - 481 miles each. The non-franchised garage can do the job for me but says he can only get standard parts. Does anyone know a cheaper solution (other than leave it until it drops off).
Also the garage say that the part comes a complete unit - the old cats need to be "sawn off" and the new ones fitted using sleaves (not welds as it is stainless steel). Sounds a bit odd to me - is this correct? Read more
I beg your pardon Alwyn. Let's hope I will as well if I get that far.
Hi!
Can anyone advise on whether it is worth my while getting the Gasket changed on my 1993 309 GLD Peugeot? It is not too serious now, but shows signs symptomatic of gasket failure. The engine is reconditioned and i have done 20,000 since then, the car only has 110,000 in total. Of course a recon engine should not be failing after 20,000 but it was the previous owner who had the work done at her local Peugeot specialist garage, and as the warranty has expired there is little i can do. Basically my garage estimate £300 to £450 for the job depending on level of destruction. The car has never over-heated and i do not currently use it. What about doing the job myself? I am very amatuerish in this respect however!
thanks
martin Read more
I get the impression that the XUD spares market is fairly firm, so should this be worth more than buttons to a specialist Pug breaker?
rg
Not the brightest of plods... from our local paper.
A member of the Durban Metro Police has been arrested after he had allegedly tried to elicit a bribe from a motorist who committed a traffic offence.
Metro Police Senior Superintendent Steve Edwards said the bribery incident had happened last week after the motorist had gone through a red traffic light.
"The motorist was apprehended by one of our constables who told him the fine for going through the red light was R1 000, but he would let him off if he paid R200.
"The constable then gave the motorist his cellphone number so that he could arrange to pay the money."
The motorist reported this to the police who then set up a "sting" operation and video-taped the payment to the constable Read more
Probably got off paying the R1000...:)
Browse
Indeed they have, Alwyn - but it seems New Labour have a talent for ignoring rigorously researched studies when it doesn't line up with their ideology.
I think it was TRL that pointed out that bus lanes did no good whatsoever and were generally detrimental to journey times, but we still see local authorities gleefully applying the white paint.