July 2002
In outward appearance, a white Minimoke with coloured decorations on its sides.
However, vehicle is a space frame chassis with engine bay and mechanicals from MK1 903cc Panda and was built in the early 1980s. It is not a recognised kit car (ie Scamp) nor, I am told, a converted Moke.
Does anyone recognise the vehicle from this description and can anyone offer any further information please ?
Yes Mark, its me again !
Thank you, Pete. petel@clara.co.uk Read more
As I don\'t like to waste a good worry, could anyone out there manage to assuage my slight concern as to whether a flattish, triangular-shaped sea shell approximately 10p sized that was flicked by a young 8 year-old lad of my acquaintance (god bless his banjaxed ears) from the back seat of my Mercedes to the front thereby scoring a direct goal into the heating vents at the top of the dash could, sooner or later, cause damage. As of now the registered owner of the vehicle is unaware of the situation and I would like it to remain that way!!
All advice and soothing noises welcome.
Rita
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As of now the registered owner of the vehicle is unaware of
the situation and I would like it to remain that way!!
Lets hope he or she doesn't read this forum then!!
My son keeps a 1 litre sealed can of "Emergency Petrol" in his Caterham.It is made by Penrite(USA?) & instructions advise that engine is not shut down or allowed to cool before topping up with normal fuel.Aside from normal jokes(all heard thank you) does anyone know what this stuff really is?
Simon T. Read more
"The non octane rating would pink the engine to death under any load."
Could be, Casper.
Only, we must remember these tractors running on paraffin (first thing I ever drove, come to think of it, you were supposed to stop to change gear but with a bit of wear in something it could be done on the move). And the rotary has constrained breathing and a very strange combustion chamber shape which may amount to low effective compression, accounting perhaps for the high specific consumption.
Certainly one gallon in two made no discernable difference at all, and perhaps even helped lubricate those tip seals.
I had an R100, and later an RX4; lovely engines, not so brilliant chassis on the latter; complaints from rear passengers as they hit the roof while the pilot was enjoying himself. Did get to drive the early RX7; lovely drive, but a bit short of horses non-turbo. If Littlewoods would only come up with the goods I might put might put my name down for an RX8!
Cheers, Tomo
Does anyone know of a specialist who can re spring sagging car seats on a Mercedes?
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Depending on your location, we have a very good trimmer near us (Hitchin Herts) & sensible on his prices.
A. R. Pound in Baldock 01462 892704. Talk to Fred.
You will have to take seat out, deliver it to him & re-fit it yourself.
Mark
Does anyone know of a lancia integrale specialist that is relatively close to North Staffordshire? The nearest I can find is either Tanc Barrett in Kidderminster or John Whalley in Yorkshire.
TIA
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Hi
I have just found out that my family is going to be getting larger in the spring and I therefore need to seriously think about changing my car, both to accommodate 'big mother' and little one when s/he arrives.
I currently drive a mazda mx6, which I love driving. I reckon that my car is worth something in the region of 3,500 to 3,000. I can add up to 1,000 more, but that's about the limit.
Given these parameters, and the fact that the car must be reasonably cheap to run and reliable, I have almost got down to a shortlist of a Passat (1998, 110 tdi). These cars are available on a R or S plate for the right price, but most have 140 - 170k on the clock. I know that high mile young cars are better than old, low mile, but how long will these engines last, assuming that they have been serviced as specified? I have read the car by car breakdown, and there seem to be enough on the market to allow me to take my time and make sure that they have had the wishbones changed, check the plenum and check if the CAT is ok or has been changed and make sure it hasn't been a taxi.
How much are these going for at auction, and would it be worth the punt?
Can anyone seriously recommend a different car, or ward me off this one?
Many Thanks
Jonathan
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You can get a lot lower milage and/or newer Mondeo for the money. They are better to drive than the Passat, cheap to service, reliable, but depreciate fast because they don't have the same image. See recent post on Mondeo depreciation.
I own a VW Polo diesel and a petrol mondeo. It is the Ford I would buy again.
hth
Andy
I have remarked a couple of times recently how BMW parts prices for the older models have become very reasonable. In the interests of fair and balanced reporting, I thought I should mention my latest experience ...
My 1992 5-Series needed a new fan clutch (viscous coupling) so I went to the local BMW main dealer where I was quoted £110 inclusive. I bought exactly the same part, same make, for £37.60 from an independent source by mail order (£44.65 'all in' with next day delivery). Read more
<0.One%
Thanks for the link [www.unixnerd.demon.co.uk/bmw.html]
A really informative site; also has helped me make up my mind to go for the E34.
They're a bit thin on the ground here on Northern Ireland, but my 1993 Mondeo is still motoring well so I can bide my time & wait for the right one to come along.
All the best,
I have a 1994 ZX TD Dimension. After a high speed journey, if I am stationary for a few minutes I drop blue smoke when I take off again. It clears, but the longer I am stationary, the longer the blue smoke takes to clear.
I presume this is oil burning. I am advised that turbos do not fail too often (80k on the clock), besides, it doesn't smoke any other time except for the usual turbo smoke cloud if you floor it.
I have been told that valve guides may be a factor, but I wouldn't have thought so at this mileage.
Anybody got any ideas? Anybody had similar experience with ZX or other turbo diesels? Read more
T,
You need to prove the fault before rushing to change the turbo......
If it is that though most folks will fit an exchange unit but they're pricey. It is said that only the turbo firms can do the overhaul but I think some kits are now available for a very serious diy'er.
David W
My wife has a Megane Scenic Alize 98S 64K. Although it has a FSH it is tatty outside with a few parking scrapes(!)etc.
My wife wants something smaller (a Ka or Fiesta perhaps) but I don't want the hassle of selling privately and would prefer to go for a dealer part exchange - the issue is that I don't want to part with any cash so a straight swap would be my ideal.
I realise that this gives all the best cards to the dealer - but what do you think my chances might be? Read more
From Parkers: "CRITICAL ALERTS:
Spark plugs can rust into head on 1.3 if left in for more than 10,000 miles ? rectification involves head removal and drilling out.
Cost: £250-£500 "
Also:
"Endura E 1.3 pushrod engine (based on the power unit introduced back in 1962) can develop camshaft trouble ? and not just at high mileage.
Cost: £250-£500 "
Surely you could just get the plug out through force and helicoil it...
--
Parp, Parp!
Hello.
I wonder if anyone could advise please ? On a 1991 Rover Metro, are the thread sizes metric or, are they a mix of, say, metric and AF ? My collection of sockets is a bit cosmopolitan to say the least but, during yesterdays cambelt change on my Daughters 1.1 Metro, I seemed to spend more time trying to find suitable sockets and spanners than attending to the main job. Read more
Thanks David. I am glad that it was not only me. Possibly Rover have chosen just the one or two sockets which are missing from my set and, yes, I did find that some of my A/F just fitted.
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My thanks to everyone for their contributions to this thread.
Subject to final confirmation, it seems that this vehicle is a one-off prototype, built by John Berry one of the founders of BRA Kitcars. It was built in 1989 using a Panda 45 from 1984 as a donor. It still carries the original Pandas VIN plate and is registered with DVLA as a Panda convertible.
Thanks again to all concerned regards, Pete.