April 2002
Just saw on ad on ch5 for their new motoring programme Fifth Gear
It starts on Monday 8th April at 8pm. Read more
Whoops! I made a mistake in my query about imports in my message dated 2nd April. I quoted Onesearch when I should have said that I had received a quote from a firm called www.oneswoop.com
Their spec is exactly the same as a car purchased in this country and I would save obout £2,360. However, they do not take credit cards and payments, both deposit of 15% and final payment, must be by electronic transfer.
Does anyone know oneswoop?
All the advice is to only pay by plastic. I am suspicious of requests for payments by any other methods. Am I correct?
John Hester Read more
Oneswoop was set up about 2 years ago and is one of the 'all-inclusive' agents i.e. they source the car, register and tax it and deliver it to the UK. You have no contact with the foreign dealer nor do you know who he is. Their web site explains everything, in particular the fact that all money is held by Fortis Bank (a huge Belgian company) until the car is delivered and signed off by the customer. Other similar companies are Virgin and JamJar (owned by Royal Bank of Scotland).
Oneswoop is a reputable company with some high-profile business partners e.g. Marks & Spencer and Fortis. I would have no worries about using them. My brother used them for a Saab and was very happy with the service.
I think the credit card issue is a bit of a red herring. I have never come across an import company which accepts credit cards. If any exist, then they would have to charge about 3% extra to cover the cost. If you're happy with the price/delivery delay and don't want to do any of the work, then any of Oneswoop, Virgin or JamJar will do. Check carefully what's included in the price though.
Recent post regarding a Ford Focus with wheel bearing problems set me thinking.
At the launch of a new car we are told of the tremendous testing procedures involved before they are launched on to the public.
Driven in the Sahara desert at tremendous temperatures and then in the frozen wastes of Siberia.
Every part tested to destruction far beyond any road user could emulate.
And then we hear of manufacturers recalls on new models with such items as wheel bearings, brake disks, handbrake cables etc etc which have built in design faults.
And yet a component such as a wheel bearing which had been perfected decades ago to the extent that on some models they simply never failed during the life of the vehicle. So I think why.. do they change the basic design and incur the huge costs of having to put this right at a later stage.
And why.. dosn't these faults reveal themselves during the epic testing routines they supposedly put them through.
alvin Read more
Composite (i.e. glassfibre) leaf springs on vans are old hat. Sherpas had them 10 years ago - I think they were the first van to do so. The springs were developed by GKN, and I haven't seen any Sherpas stranded at the roadside with broken leaf springs. I'd be more worried about all the plastic components under the bonnet - we now have plastic manifolds, throttle bodies, cam covers, and it's only a matter of time before someone comes up with a plastic cylinder head. (Former Triumph TR7 owners will point out that their cars had a chocolate cylinder head....)
Morning,
I've got to replace the exhaust on my Cavalier. A "proper" Vauxhall system is about twice the price of the quik fit equivalent. Can anyone explain if genuine manufacturer systems are actually better or just a con?
I don't mind paying vaux if its worth it but I would be interested to know what peoples thoughts are
Thanks very much
from Jason Read more
Doesn't stainless fatigue and crack.
I'm fairly sure that is why it isnt used on oem parts
I am really surprised u have to more or less use the aircon once a week as i never ever had a problem with my Pug306 , so now it may need regassing again?... Read more
Also try looking at HJ's FAQs. No 14 - contains some pertinent advice.
In a thread on getting a Yaris and the long waiting times (which has long since scrolled in to the bit bucket that is anything not on the front page of this forum) Mark (B) made some cogent comments on how things work elsewhere in the world as far as putting up with long waiting times for a new car... this drew some flak to which I responded in some detail... not wanting my deathless prose to go unread by my huge fan club (pause for sound of one hand clapping.... thank you) I thought I would use it to start a new thread on the general aspects on how things work in different parts of the world and kick it off with a look at how it works over here
(BTW Mini buyers might find this like to the USA MINI site of interest Esp. in regard to the TV Advertising that they are running (can be seen with Quick Time Or WMP) (also almost all Mini dealers in the US offer as a dealer option full roof size decals of eitheer the US flag or the Union Jack or a bunch of flowers (ala Peter Max) to go on a white top Mini and the Union Jack out sells the US flag about 2 to one and almost no flower decals have been sold (Info from a NewEngland Dealer other parths of the US may be diferent) strange huh?
www.miniusa.com/
In the US If I walk in to a Jag dealer and he does not have the exact spec of 4 wheel drive X model (say British Racing Green with the popup GPS Navigator but not the 18" rims (making this up by the way so no nagging in details) he gets on his computer and checks instantly the stock not only on the dockside in Newark NJ but at every dealer within 500 miles chances are tha a dealer much closer than that will have one or Jag Usa... and it will be on a transporter within 24hours and I will my car in less than 3 days If it is a really weird special XK-* with custom Paint and Zebra Hide seats I would expect to wait perhaps 6 week fo it to be built
As to standard US made (well north america anyway) cars like a mustang I would be amazed if even the oddest combination of options was not on hand in the stock of a,say, Greater Boston MA ford dealer and I indeed could have my car just the way i want it the same day... it is down to volume of production and volume of sales... outside of car rental firms and few things like Gov agency and utility company fleet sales are not a major part of the USS market nor are Lease cars as a Job perk.... that means that most cars are bought new by the man or woman in the street and wants to have what he wants when he walks in or he just drives 20 miles to the next dealer (hence the interchange networks where the punter may never know that the car is in another dealers lot... "yes sir we have that it just out at the detailers being prepared for sale be here for you in an hour or so can i take you and your wife out to lunch and it will be ready for you when we get back)
One large Eastern New England dealer has in stock at any one time several thousand new cars (he and his sons have dealerships for about 8 or 9 makes) and he has NO DEBT every car on his lots is owned by him free and clear hence he has no interest payments and has the lowest prices around... hence the huge volume....
yes some special new cars will be on allocation like the Prowler etc etc but I would expect that 80% of New US car and light truck trade is done "on the spot"
Of course that's just my opinion... I could be wrong
Randolph Lee
Nantucket Island USA
PS: Am I the only one starting to be put off by folks hideing behind :handles:... What is wrong with using your real name and perhaps even a line or two of where your home is when you sign your missives to this list... I thought that sort of handle stuff went out with CB radios
~R Read more
If only that wasn't true DW! ;-)
Losing water intermittently, no apparent leakage, no water in the oil. Checking the water level weekly, over a period of a month sometimes requires no topping up other times may require almost half a litre plus. Confused?- not 'arf!
Can anyone shed any light please on this otherwise lovely little car, before I become a victim of the warped head syndrome? (the cars, not mine).
At the risk of getting a rocket, I've chucked some Radweld in to see if it helped....it didn't.
TVM,
Alf Read more
Thanks Dr Dave,
Just got back from working away,
Its a Dec 1995, N reg old shape (Box) 214 SLI, I think its a k series engine its got 70k on the clock.
TVM,
Alf
I would like to change the brake fluid on my wifes Saxo. I have read that these cars come with synthetic brake fluid (1999). Is there any way I can tell what type of fluid is in the master cylinder so that I can replace it with the same type of fluid. I am allergic to main dealers. Read more
See my answer further up-don't believe everything you read.
Hope HJ doesn't mind me asking this question in The Back Room but I noticed someone else posed a similar question earlier this week.
I am trying to sell my Aug 01 (Y reg) blue Fiesta Zetec S with aircon, 6 CD stereo, heated front screen and electric mirrors.
The car has covered 5000 miles and has 1 owner from new.
What price should I realistically expect if I advertise the car privately, and what figure should I be looking for as a part-exchange.
Any advice most welcome.
Thanks Read more
Around £7000 to £7500 would be a realistic price to ask for it.
I bought an L reg(Aug 93) 214si (110k) recently from an auction, for my
son.
Clutch was slipping so had new clutch plate and gear box oil seal fitted.
Thought all would be OK but then found this problem.
When ticking over the engine starts to "hunt".
It goes from 1000revs up to 1500 then drops back to under a 1000 then up again and so on.
Have had the engine set up on a tuner, this showed no problems.
The ecu has been checked and is OK.
Cylinder head gasket has been replaced.
I'm told it has a new catalytic converter.
Any ideas would be appreciated.
Thanks Read more
Has it been set up on the proper MGR tuning/diagnostic equipment?
Browse
Not THE JC, I take it. On the other hand, perhaps he thinks he is.