July 2002
Since the advent of disc brakes, ABS and non-hydroscopic brake fluid, is 'brake fade' a term to be confined to history? Read more
I've a Laguna II Sport Tourer with the top audio equipment - the radio reception is brilliant, but the sound quality is awful - there is little base! Setting it to +6 (out of 9) helps a little (normally I have the base and treble settings in cars neutral, and don't listen to the 'music' that causes Nova door panels to distort...)but a Skoda Fabia hire car had much better sound quality (and road tests for the Fabia usually only carp about the 'tinny radio').
So, question for the Backroomers is, is this poor sound quality a fault or a feature (as the car will soon have its first service)?
Thanks! Read more
Hello John,
I had a similar complaint with my Renault Clio. I ended up changing the speakers to SONY 2-way items that you can buy in any good car audio shop(£40 pair) and need no modifications to your car as they fit the original car panels and connectors. The difference was noticed straight away. The speakers fitted to most cars are very cheap and by increasing the bass setting on your radio will just add to the poor sound qualitiy as the sound become more and more distorted.
I will be buying a R-reg Power van in Feb.( 2.4 diesel )It will have approx. 120-130,000 miles . How much should I part with ? It has been regularly serviced etc.Any thoughts appreciated Read more
If you were buying it today, as a 1998, 1 fleet owner vehicle, in auction, it would probably make £2700-£3000 + VAT
Mark
Do any of you back roomers have experience of this car? I'm considering one as my next car (lease). I like the drivability of a diesel hence this choice over the petrol models.
Is the mpg quoted realistic, does the new 80 bhp engine do the business?
Finally, how do you differentiate between the 60bhp and 80bhp models without driving them?
Thanks, Read more
I was given a clio 65hp disal for a few days whilst mine was in the garrage due to a parking accident (not my fault) the engine was a nice powerful motor between 4 and 6 thousand revs. Very economical if u keep the revs below 2 k and still has loads of power down there. One thing u may want to check if u like putting your foot down on country roads is that there is very little idea of when the car is near its cornering limits it just looses it. If it were not for that I would be out right now with a brand new 1.2 16valve dynamic (beeter insurance prices at my age of 19) plus its more powerful loads of kit for the money. Loads of space i'm 6"4 and i liked my head never getting close to the roof. make sure u get the optional alarm fitted as it is bout the only thing which isn't standard. Hope this is soem use to u if not accept my applogy already
The Background: I have held my full licence since July 1982, and without wishing to tempt fate, have remained accident and conviction free. I currently drive a company car, and have done since August 1994.
The problem: SWMBO is aged 29, and has held a full car driving licence since January of this year. A colleague of mine is moving abroad with the company, and is selling his very tidy Pug 406 GLX 2.0 for relative peanuts. I have travelled in the car many times, know how he drives, know how it has been maintained, know the lack of trouble he has had, and so feel that buying this car is as safe as buying any budget, rather than banger, second hand car can be.
The problem is that I have just called Direct Line, who I have used for home insurance for years, and car insurance for years before my first company car, and learned:
1) Because I am not surrendering my company car, and want to
buy the Pug as a second car, I am allowed zero NCD. Why?
What's the difference between running one car and a hundred?
Surely NCD should apply to all of them, and if you have a
claim on one of them, be lost against all of them?
2) They won't touch my wife, who has many years Czech driving
experience, with a barge pole.
Comments most welcome, because tomorrow morning is my last chance to buy the Pug, but there is no point buying it for my wife if I can't insure it!
Many thanks guys & gals,
Steve Read more
Just for interest...
Self & Wife ( she is Chilean, 29, and no UK licence, nor any experience of driving here)
V. Omega 2.5 Auto Estate
Ferrari 308 GTS qv
Comprehensive 50xs on Omega, 250xs on Ferrari.
No NCB, either of us, nor proof of company car driving
Business use for both (although I also have a company car - E240 Estate)
£2250 total for both, including breakdown & recovery. It was about $750 for the Omega and £1500 for the Ferrari.
I thought that was pretty good.
M.
Just a quick question,
Friends Fiat Brava needs two new front tyres. I have already found the advice to put the new tyres on the rear axle.
The car has Firestone Fuelsaver tyres (175/65 R14). Should she stick with the same brand tyre again, or would something else be a better choice? Options would be: Uniroyle Rallye 680, or Continental EcoContact CP.
The Uniroyals are cheaper (about £2) a tyres, and the conti more, so the cost between them is not an issue. I suspect the to keep with Firestone is the best idea. Read more
Right Firestone it is then.
never really come across a car with Firestone
tyres before - Good to know that noone has a major
problem with them!
Fitted to Vectra's as standard. No probs with mine.
Also fitted to my mates new Rover Hearse - sorry Tourer.
Has anyone (Which maybe?) ever done a proper scientific test on various petrol brands.
I assume that the petrol itself is more or less identical, and any difference comes from the use of additives.
Are some brands really better than others? ie Shell better than Tesco etc?
If it comes down to additives, are the additives in Esso/Shell etc as good or better, then using something like redex as an additional additive? Read more
Same here, like as not with a bimbo or three to do the filling and polishing as well. What a pain in UK/US, all that getting out, dirty hands, cold weather etc etc. There are usually several attendants to each customer as well. With the gov't fixing the price, they have to compete on service so tend also to have very useful shops, hot food, internet, while you wait service & lube etc.
Tough in the tropics. Shell Optimax is here and costs as of today p18.25/liter, or pretty much 25p. The Growlers are too mean to spend the extra (!) so use the cooking stuff instead.
I seem to be having a constant battle to keep my windscreen smear free. I can start with a pristine screen and sometimes it starts to smear after 3 days and sometimes after one drive. I don\'t mean smearing caused by dead insects which have to be cleaned off anyway but smearing of what looks to visual inspection a clean screen. Before you ask my wipers are OK and I clean them too. I use Holts winter grime shifter for a quick fix and Turtle wax glass cleaner when I have more time. I notice the professionals use a very effective liquid cleaner which doesn\'t dry to a powder and therefore much quicker to use. Here is the question what is it and where can I get some?
Is it just me or do other backroomers have this battle? Read more
Why spend money? Wash car with vinegar added to water. It removes dirt easily. Never had a problem with smearing.
I have an intermittent starting problem that cures itself within hours but keeps recurring. It could not be explained by a succession of mechanics. Please help, anyone!
Read more
Steve, thanks for the note.
Pop-up Stopper was the cause of my problems. I did post a note about this (about three months ago), in Discussions I think, but you probably missed that. Worth repeating though, in case anyone else is baffled by the 'Error on Page' message when they click on a person's name to look at their profile.
I got rid of Pop-up Stopper but I still can't see most posters' profiles because they are too shy to tell us anything about themselves!
Anyone know if it is OK to spray Cellulose top coat directly over etching primer or should a Cellulose primer go in between?
Andrew. Read more
Thats 100% for primer/filler on top of the etching primer. Thats what it will be then! Strange I've done loads of spraying and never considered it before, but then I've rarely been down to large areas of bare metal and used etching primer..
Thanks for your replies.
Andrew
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Cyd,
Certainly no apologies needed, It has been an interesting discussion.
I really asked out of curiosity in the first place. However I did wonder if silicone could be used and eliminate the need for changing brake fluid every 2 years. Seems not!
Marcus