November 2002
Does anyone know where the interior bootlight switch is on a 1990 205?
I cannot see a plunger anywhere.
The bulb is OK but does not light.
A small prob, but it is bugging me! Read more
Does anyone know the exact legal implications of towing a trailer that takes you over the limitations (trailer weight limit, gross train weight etc.) in the car handbook. I know there's advice about trailer weight not exceeding 85% of the kerb weight, and such like. And I wouldn't be surprised if exceeding the handbook limits invalidated the insurance.
But I'm interested in whether it specifically contravenes any law [1], maybe something under Construction and Use. And if the manufacturer's spec isn't a hard legal limit, what is?
GJD
[1] Not because I want to tow a 2 ton trailer with my car - it's just that I've never found a consensus amongst all the people I know who tow gliders around. Read more
MM
I scoured the web for an hour yesterday evening and found that too. I also found amendment 4 to the construction and use regs (huge link - sorry)
[And unfort. we have a problem with *really* long links as it makes the page scrolling go haywire. I have broken the link. If you wish to follow it then you will need to cut and paste each bit into your web browser address line. Sorry \'bout that. Mark.]
www.hmso.gov.uk/cgi-bin/htm_hl3?URL=http://www.hms...m
&STEMMER=en&WORDS=construct us trailer length &COLOUR=Red&
STYLE=s#muscat_highlighter_first_match
which describes exclusions for a trailer \"which is constructed and normally used for the conveyance of indivisible loads of exceptional length\" [1]. Unfortunately HMSO publishes all statutory instruments from 1987 onwards and the original construction and use dates from 1986, so I can\'t [2] get the original to interpret the amendment.
GJD
[1] which is the oft quoted phrase in gliding circles
[2] without parting with £15.65 of my hard earned riches.
Still looking for a used auto second car. I have spotted a 97R SAAB 900 2.0 XS auto. It's got 113k with a full SAAB SH. The asking price is £2995. Seems very reasonable and I guess this is because of the mileage. Will this car be troublesome at this kind of mileage (I note the breakdown states it has a chain as opposed to belt so that's OK) The car will cover about 5k a year in local trips with the odd motorway blast
Opinions gratefully received Read more
I have a 2002 model Galaxy. When stopping the car after a run you can smell a very strong smell of petrol at the rear on the car coming from the petrol flap. Also when driving with the drivers window down you can also smell the petrol.
No smell inside the car.
No hissing when removing the cap to fill-up.
No obvious leaks anywhere from the cap or underneath
Fuel consumption normal.
Cap appears OK as far as I can see, no obvious defects.
Local Ford dealer said this is all normal....but common sense say's this is not, anyone else share the same experience ?
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"Ask him to light a match next to it.. his risk and he prepared to pay for all repairs."
I like it madf!
I am going to go back to them and press them on this.
Cheers
Does anyone know how to remove the 'pollen filter' on a 2002 model Galaxy please ? Read more
Chris, thanx very much for the info. sounds very clear. I' will investigate further - thanx again
Martin
OK sorry about this but...
(engage rant mode)
What the "?" is happening with Worcestershire roads? Every damn road in the place is being dug up this week. Plus its not enough to have road works, do they really have to close the roads to all traffic.
Typical scenario, route 1 road closed, hmm no problem I can just nip round route 2....
Ah road works here too, road closed, never mind I can just....
Ah road works here too with a mega queue at lights because everyone else is in the same boat.
Next day:
No good trying routes 1/2/3 try a different part of the county
Experience = ditto
Today at a junction where there is often a queue, and hence a left turn slip road, they have put a sign at the far end of the slip road so that you have to queue for an extra 100m just to get round the sign. Or as many people have done, enter the slip road, observe the sign and then have to filter back right into the original queue. aaaaaarrrrrrrggggggghhhhhhhhhh!
Conspiracy theorists might suggest that its all a plot to get us out of our cars.
Problem is the council and its highway partner are not intelligent enough for that.
Not to mention all these works are being done in waterlogged conditions so when the frost comes....
If this is a rural example of what Ken L and his Transport for London mates are up to, then Brian W & others you really do have my sympathy.
(disengage rant mode)
Seriously though, now I've calmed down could this lunacy simply be due to suddenly finding they have money left in the budget and having to spend it before the year end?
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FiF
They're not putting cable TV lines in are they?
No. To be fair they are repairing potholes, subsidence and heave created by years of neglect. So I must not grumble but....
(inserts tongue in cheek)
It looks as if they have got the driver of one of those road planers well bevvied up and told him to drive around at random for a bit.
(removes tongue from cheek)
The result is that there are numerous bits of road works scattered around often with nothing actually happening.
However and this partly my original point. For example one bit of road I drive down every day when in UK is closed. I know it only needs repairing on one side (to work) the other side (from work) is totally OK. Judging by the paint marks that were scribed last week it looked like a patching job, admittedly a fairly major one but only on about one third of the road width. So why close the whole road? Whats wrong with temporary lights?
Another road, a quite busy B road through a village and much used through route, is completely closed. The signposted diversion is along a narrow (single track) twisty C class (or less) and just takes you back to the point from which you more or less started in avoiding another jam caused by......!*$%@#!
You'll get me ranting again.
I saw a German plate VW Phaeton yesterday on the clockwise M60 close to Manchester.
Absolutely hideous car by UK standards. Looks like a cross between a VW Passat and Pug 607. Compared to the beautiful new S class and imposing 7 series, it looks throughly cheap and nasty. The kind of thing you'd expect to pay $25k for in the US as far as external looks go.
Who in their right mind would buy this car in the UK? I can't see any of our company directors relieving themselves of their 7 series and S classes and buying one.
And given the price, let me see - I could go to the plush Audi garage and be fawned over whilst I choose how many options I want on my Audi A8 which will command serious car park respect, or I could go to the VW garage next door...
Coupled with the appalling attitude and shonky VW dealerships (at least especially round my way in Cheshire), VW have got to be taking the p......
What does everyone else think? Read more
You're right. It's one of the pitfalls with price differentiation, the process in which you sell the same product at different prices (often with different packaging as here) to maximise the number of punters. On the other hand, many customers loyal to the VW brand wouldn't think of buying an AUDI, so adding a top level catches their money rather than having them drift off to BMW or MB.
I hope to change car in the next week or so, and have finally whittled the choice down to the following (in no particular order):
Volvo S80 2.4 SE (170 BHP)
Mercedes-Benz E240 Elegance
Saab 9-5 2.0/2.3 SE
B** 523i SE
Requirements are: peaceful cruising down busy dual-carriageways, good safety, and automatic transmission. Fuel consumption, driving dynamics and 'image' are relatively unimportant. Having said that, I can't quite manage to spell out the 523's manufacturer; so some aspects of 'image' may well rule out a begrudgingly-good car!!
Budget is £9k tops, to be sourced from auction, and 'S'-plate or newer (with commensurate mileage - 100k+ not a problem).
I guess they're all pretty decent cars, really, so much will possibly depend on how long suitable 'targets' take to come up at auction..........
Any advice/recommendations appreciated..........
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After much umming and ahhring, I finally completed my metamorphosis into middle-age by buying the Volvo :-)
The choice came down to that and the Saab. Both come up relatively infrequently at auction, so the appearance of a '99 'T'-plate S80 2.4SE (170) automatic with 57k on the clock aroused my interest........
To my surprise, on viewing in turned out to be very 'straight', in Polarctic Blue with black leather - 'direct from the company', as they say. Stamped VSH to 54k - had to be worth a punt!
I had a bit of 'opposition' and bidding went to 7900 - which was top 'book' price (and as far as I was prepared to go!) according to CAP.
Fortunately the car drives spot on, and satisfies all my important criteria. Even SWMBO and my 11 year old son approve, which can't be bad!!
No doubt I'll be posting for help with problems in due course......!!!
Thanks to all who offered suggestions.
Hello Folks,
Does anyone know where these are on the 'net? I am trying to answer a query from the XM forum.
TIA
rg Read more
And for a tiny bit more info...
www.performanceindex.co.uk/
Remember that these stats were prepared by an organisation whose business is to promote their warranty and (as I understand it) the data was collected from cars covered by their own warranty. This may or may not relate to all cars of that type registered in the UK.
Mitsubishi and Nissan near the bottom and Fiat near the top??
MM
I currently have a sony 10 disc changer and head unit in my car and am looking to upgrade the head unit to accommodate digital radio, hopefully keeping the changer in the boot. My medium wave sports listening is getting gradually worse.
Can anyone point me in the right direction for best price, models etc and whether I'm looking at fitting an extra ariel. If anyone has any experience of one, I'd be interested to know if it's worth fitting, or a waste of cash.
I have looked quickly on t'internet - what does 'DAB' stand for - is this what indicates that it is 'digital radio'? Sorry if I'm being a bit thick, but your advice in the past has been invaluable. Read more
Apparently Ford are going to fit digital radios as standard from now on.
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Thank you Andrew-T.
I'll have a look at it over the weekend.
Owe you a pint.