October 2002
Economists and geopolitical commentators and writers in the Economist frequently use the abbreviation "LDC". It stands for "Less Developed Country". I often get asked what that means and tend to use examples to explain. Here's one:
www.theville.com/newsletters/drunk.html
Te fine proposd incidentally for a first time offence would be the equivalent of about GBP 12!
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I'm looking for info on the cambelt change for a Rover 200 SDI. Various garages have told me I should get it changed anywhere between 48000 and 84000 miles. I've been quoted anywhere from £150 for the job upto £300!!!! I've also been told its a 6hr job !
Anybody actually know whats involved and when it should be done. Also is it something I should just leave a Rover dealership to do or something that a half decent Diesel Service centre should be able to handle (cheaper).
I also see that the service intervals are 12000miles. Should I change to the oil every 6000miles though ?
Cheers Read more
I have had a minor scrape on my car (reversed into post!!).
If I do not go through the insurance company to get it repaired but go to crash repairers direct, (my excess is huge)will it ever show up on a HPI check as being damaged?
Thanks
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www.ukmd.co.uk/rust_stop/product.htm
Does anyone have any true life experience with this product. I understand the principles behind it and have always wondered why it has never been applied to cars before(metal boats have always had sacrificial anodes).
Does it work? Any replies may not use the word EcoTek... Read more
FORD.Without intermediate body inspections which is a lot more than most other makers.
Hi all,
I left my T-reg Ford Ka3 in for its 3 year service yesterday morning to my local Ford dealer (where I bought the car). It only has 6,100 miles up and has been running perfectly.
I called them around 3pm yesterday to check that it would be ready and the girl who answered at service reception said that there had been a problem-one of the spark plugs had snapped off and they were currently trying to 'dig it out' and that therefore it may not be ready by the end of the day.
She left a message on my voicemail just after 5pm to say that the car wouldn't be ready, because during the MOT (which I'd booked), the car had sounded 'rough' and they were having to look into it.
I phoned this morning, and she said that the cylinder head had to be replaced and would cost an additional £210. I don't know anything about cars, but politely and firmly suggested that the car had been running perfectly when I'd left it in, had low mileage, and that this problem had surely occured as a result of the spark plug snapping off during the servicing. She said she'd call me back.
She phoned back about hald an hour later, saying she's been on to head office and that they had said that they would foot 75% of the cost, and that I would therefore only have to pay £35. To avoid further hassle, I said I'd accept this offer, ( I will be driving to Holyhead this Saturday to attend my sister's wedding in Dublin next week, so need the car asap).
I phoned back around 5.30pm this evening, and she said that they had dismantled the engine, were still diagnosing the fault, and would be putting it together tomorrow. I explained I needed it by tomorrow evening at the latest, and explained my circumstances, and she said she'd ask the engineers/mechanics to take this into account.
Sorry for the long post, but my questions are:
1) Am I fair in presuming that this problem is the result of an accident during the service (especially since Ford agreed quickly to pay for the bulk of the cost?
2)If the car isn't ready by tomorrow evening, what is my best course of action? Can I ask for/demand a courtesy car or the cost of hiring one?
3) If they try to up the costs or charge me labour, what is my best course of action?
I should point out that although this is frustrating (especially given the family circumstances), they've been unfailingly polite on the phone.
Many thanks in advance for your views Read more
Thanks for the comments and suggestions Stonk and Carl2-will take them on board.
Paul
If news from the USA is true, within a deacde many of us will be driving fuel cell cars.
Currently performance and range is similar to petrol / diesel engines.
As the hydrogen needed is prodcued from water, the exhaust emisions also being water, how will fuel cell cars be taxed?
What will happen in the Middle East and North Sea etc, if we no longer require oil for fuel {just much smaller quantities for plastics, chemicals and 'classic turn of the millenium cars'}?
Will the same happen to unleaded and diesel as has happened to 4 star?
Paul {Forest of Bowland} Read more
Why not tax dirty stinky 20 year old diesel double decker buses so much that its cheaper to run a car.
Then there will be a few million more cars, then all the motoring taxes will be colected from many more people, so the individuals motoring taxes will fall?
Paul {Forest of Bowland}
Might be time to give the tories another chance, if they mean it...
news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/2306871.stm Read more
A recognised measure of a country's living standards is infant mortality rate:
In 1960 Sweden had the lowest infant mortality rate in the world, the USA was ranked 11th.
In 1997 Sweden still 1st, USA now 27th.
Comparing incomes in different currencies is inaccurate due to fluctuating exchange rates.
Sweden "poorer" than any state in the USA ...... by what measurement?
140/160/240/260/740/760 Volvos make good banger racers and can be surprisingly fast in the right hands although unstable through the corners.
Does anyone know how to remove the front wing off a mark1 mondeo? It appears to be of the bolt on type but my Haynes manual does not give the procedure for doing this. Unfortunately I managed to scrape the gate reversing out of my drive and its dented quite badly...so I think the only option is to replace the whole wing...thanks :o) Read more
It was supposed to be a little tongue in cheek! But it gives you some idea of how complicated they make these things now.
I worked in a bodyshop in 93/4, I was allowed to work on simple cars like Metros, Mk1 Astras and Sierras, but I was kept away from Mk3 Cavaliers, Mk1 Mondeos and the like for a long time because they were considered to need specialist, experienced attention, and because the build tolerances were so much tighter that a minor error would become glaringly obvious when it was all put back together.
A bodyshop should be able to repair it unless you've really done it well, you'll be surprised at just how much you can hide with a bit of filler!
Following yesterday's news that most diesel cars in Wales are now running on cooking oil, what is the best type to use? Is it ok just to fill up with the cheapo Asda own brand, or should I go for the more expensive stuff from Marks and Spenser? Also is it true that Fiats run better on extra virgin olive oil? Read more
Darn it, the chippy joke had already been done in a previous thread
I've got a Peugeot 205 XLD 1989 and over the past couple of weeks it's been cutting out on me about 10 seconds or so after starting. Starts back up again after 15 seconds, revs like hell on it's own then runs fine until its had an hour and a half/2 hours cooling down, then it'll do it again. Taken it to the garage and bascially they're stumped. They've checked no air's getting into it and changed the fuel filter (which was brand new anyway), but have run out of ideas. Anyone got any clues? i'm desperate! Cheers. Read more
I reckon it is quite common for garages to overfill engines at an oil-change, especially with a motor that needs just under a gallon - that is what they throw in, probably having not fully drained it anyway.
Browse
A mate of mine had a car that had the rear suspension damaged in a collision with the kerb. It cost £2500 to put right (new alloy, sub frame, shockers, hub etc). It was put right by the main agent and you couldn't tell it had been in an accident.
He sold it 2years later and didn't tell the buyer. The AA inspection never picked it up either so I'd say the dealer did a good job.