October 2002
I will need soon to replace my Rover 827 Sterling which has been excellent but need something a bit smaller. Have seen a couple of W reg Lexus IX200s with about 100k come up at auction from PHL leasing so presumably well looked after . Would one of these be a good long term buy and what might a reasonable price at auction be?
With thanks John Read more
Hiya...
Any thoughts/advice appreciated.
GF and I are looking at buying a Mercedes A-Class, we've seen a nice one at a (Lexus) main dealer, 7995. The car is a T reg with 43k miles on it, it's in pretty good condition for the mileage. It's being sold below the parkers' trade-in price for the model, this according to the dealer is because it is their year end and they want to get their stock levels down. (they have reduced a number of other cars on their pitch)
The main question mark we have over it is where it has been for the past 10 months...!
Let me explain...
GF phoned previous owner as listed on V5 to check car was ok, previous owner said he had traded it in a year ago (end of October 2001), with 41k on the clock. The car arrived at the Lexus dealer in August 2002 with 43k on it, and has been for sale since. They say they bought it in from "group stock" (they're part of the Lancaster Group). They don't know anything else about where it came from, although they're going to try and find out.
Can anyone think of reasons why a car would disappear into the motor trade for 10 months? GF thinks it was written off and rebuilt, or is a cut-and-shut or ringer or has some other nasty history, but are there any less unpalatable possibilities?
I think it is unlikely that a main dealer would be knowingly selling a dodgy motor, but also I can't explain where the vehicle has been for the 10 months between when the last owner traded it in, and when the current dealer picked it up.
GF is going to phone the likely garage it was traded in to, to try and hunt down what happened to it, but I would like anyone else's thoughts on what's happened to it...
mike Read more
....when I was flogging cars about 40 years ago that was one of the perks of the job, Lord knows we needed 'em with the garbage wages which were the norm in UK in those days. Nothing like a decent set of wheels to set the tone for the Saturday night prowl. Cars were routinely clocked if they looked like it would help to sell them and there was always a job to do Mondays clearing out the fagends, chip papers and packets which had once held 3.....
Can anyone help me?. I have an Astra CDX 2.0 16v Ecotec R Reg,
on the problem is the time it takes the oil pump to get the oil up to the engine.This can take 2 or even more minutes.
It just had new big ends, and all the visible breathers have been cleaner. Does anyone have any ideas ?
Is this a common oil pump fault on these vehicles!
Where could I get one cheap.
Any help Cheers
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It does depend what grade of oil is used. 15W/40 will take a long time, particularly when cold. Try 5W/40 if the engine is already worn or 0W/40 if not worn.
...being interviewed briefly on Central News South tonight.
Looks younger than the picture on the left would lead us to believe. Read more
make sure you ask him the one about the Freelander, Mark...
Had a problem with login - sorted in less than 24 hrs. People pay for far worse service than this. There you are, Mark, delete it or wirelock it, but it had to be said ! Read more
It's OK everyone, I've worked out why my system won't allow me to access certain threads. They've all got one thing in common - BOGUSh's dubious rantings ! I've obviously underestimated the power of the technology 'cos it's cleary got an advanced filtering system which prevents access to verbiage !
I've just spent two fantastic weeks in Georgia and Florida. Our hire car was a pretty ponderous Chrysler Concorde. However what amazed me is that most of their new cars have 7-10 year warrantys, with 5-7 years interest free credit. If they can manage it over there, why not over here. Rip-off Britain strikes again.
MLC Read more
You might look a litle obvious spary-painting it from up a ladder. Shooting at it from 200 yards you have a better chance of escape. Interesting to see how a thread can veer off at a tangent!
There's a lot of stuff on this site about how good/bad our cars are. Perhaps the most important factor is annual running costs so aside from MOT, tax and insurance what does yours cost to service/maintain ? Read more
As was said in a parallel thread, the local garage support (who's any good and reasonable) is often more important than the choice of car. Richard Hall's Bangernomics site gives good advice for those operating on a shoestring - his example of the losses involved in buying a new vehicle on finance explains nicely why I rarely pay more than £1000 for anything on wheels...
[This has come up before, but perhaps there are some fresh observations out there.]
I'm considering subscribing to the MotorEasy extended warranty and servicing scheme promoted by the Daily Telegraph in association with Castrol. Does anyone have any experience of it?
It looks attractive cost wise -- covering MOT and servicing costs, and with a mechanical breakdown insurance warranty -- but the first thing I've found out is that it involves using garages chosen by MotorEasy, and the nearest one to me doesn't fill me with confidence. However, I guess they would argue that they've got to do a good job or they would lose the agency and, unless there is good control over standards, the whole scheme would be undermined.
Unsurprisingly, all exotica are excluded (including the Fiat Croma), and higher premiums are required for large BMWs, Jags/Daimlers, Land Rovers, Audi Quattros/Turbos/V8s, Alfa V6 and turbos, Renault 25 Turbo and Safrane, and the Rover 825 -- which I guess says something statistical about not only maintenance costs (Merc and Lexus are in the same bracket in that respect) but also reliability. No additional premium required for Mercs and Lexus, it seems.
Any comments?
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Look at the terms of Motor Warranty Direct. You might be surprised when you see what they cover.
Require servicing strictly on time, sight of MoT certificate, and agreement of a claim with garage (any VAT registered) before repair commences.
They have approved garages. You don't have to use them but, if you do, they pay the cost of claim directly to the garage.
Fixed cost service scheme with approved garages if required.
Minimum fuss over claims. I would venture there again.
Dear all,
We have finally ascertained why my Mother's N reg 106 (pre-facelift) has been smelling of dirty mops: removing the mat in the front driver's side well revealed a damp carpet. No obvious leaks from the door seals, so any ideas/ past experience on this sort of problem would be welcomed.
Best wishes and thanks in anticipation
Regards,
Rob E
==========
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"clear bathroom sealant along bottom of windscreen"
Then find out who put it there, and smack him.............
Hi,
Anyone with a Leon/Toledo/Golf/Octavia tec had knocking problems on the front. After 2 years 52,000 miles I am getting a louder and louder knock from the front........I suspect the under damped shocks are suffering from the stiff springs....
Neil T
SEAT Leon TDi 150 Read more
I did have this rumbling (shudder) at low revs, they changed my mapping slightly and it has disapeared.
The Brakes are fine, and although mine are only the 280mm compared to the Cupra's 312mm, they are still very good. 280mm is avaerge for a family saloon car with 150bhp.
The suspension is std Cupra setup so no problems there.
Neil T
SEAT Leon TDi 150
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I sold a '99 T Toyota Altezza with 52,000 miles in Nov for £10,000.Altezza is Japanese homemarket IS200.Car was in Dark Blue Metallic,auto with steering wheel changer 18 inch wheels and huge rear spoiler.Great fun car,got a 6 speed manual landing in January in the brightest shade of yellow,should be a laugh.