November 2002
I\'ve had a particularly bad experience purchasing a Subaru WRX from Virgin Cars. To cut a very long story short - Poor service throughout the process - calls not returned, delivery cancelled at late notice final straw.... car eventually delivered with [different] seats. Virgin denied responsibility. This despite a print-out I had of vehicle spec and the sports seats being specified on delivery note!
I would not recommend Virgin Cars to anyone.
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I know my way round an engine (or thought I did) but what is a Common Rail diesel engine as distinct from a non common rail engine? What/where is the rail?
Chris Read more
Modern petrol injected cars are common rail;they have one(sometimes two)injectors in each inlet tract fed from a common fuel supply pressurized by a fuel pump.
poring through websites and magazines looking for some parts, I keep seeing exhaust pipes described as 'DTM' - what does it mean ?
I have to grow old - but I don't have to grow up Read more
Dave_t_d - that makes sense to me now - its just a general 'DTM = go faster image = cost more' type thing.
Well, you lear something new every day. Never did find anybody who could supply me with a new set of Ht leads though.
I have to grow old - but I don't have to grow up
My girlfriend is looking for a cheap car to get her to work (she hates the bus journey in to Manchester) and chatting to a friend at work, he knows of a K plate Favorit going for about £500. It's low mileage (about 50k) and (he reckons) in good condition.
Does anyone have any good / bad impressions of this model? Anything to look out for if we decide to give it a look over? She has said she can go up to about £2k, but by the time you include insurance etc this will come down quite a lot. As this job is initially only for a year, I reckon something like this is probably a better bet than stretching the finances to the limit.
Any other suggestions for cars to look out for would be appreciated. Read more
So the basic consensus seems to be that it's unlikely to be as good as it sounds?
Apparently this lady lived in Charlsworth, so I'd suspect the 2-3 mile journeys are quite a possibility - in to Glossop and back more than likely.
Also, Parkers guide reckons about £280 for this age of Favorit in A1 condition and points out that mileage is not a factor for cars over 5 years old.
We'll probably look at it anyway, but any other suggestions for where to look? Should we avoid private at this price point? And what sort of model? Toad's thread seems to be aiming for the larger cars - unless there is a good reason to go for one of these, I think a smaller car would be a better idea - she's used to small cars and the insurance will be less of a burden. She *can* go up to about £1.5k depending on the final insurance cost (seems about £650 for the Favorit with is group 5, so adjust from there) but is it worth paying this much when she doesn't know what she'll be doing at the end her contract in 12 months time?
I've been told to avoid stuff like Fiestas as they are so easily nicked at this age. (Ditto Escorts - I had a friend who's was always getting broken in to and / or stolen) Are Micras of this age a good bet, or are the problems starting to show through? Are we likely to see something like a Starlet in this price range, and should we avoid it if we do anyway?
Thanks for replies so far, and TIA!
Hi,
I have been trying to find out some info for my Manager. She has a Punto with front fog lamps. One of them has a chip out of the lamp lense, but it still works.
I have searched every where as to whether this is a failure, but all website only mention testing of mandatory lamps, and rear fog lamps, not front.
Does anyone know the rules on front fog lamps and MOT's???
Cheers
Neil T
SEAT Leon TDi 150 Read more
DVD is absolutely correct (as usual). Unfortunately there are still testers out there who will try and fail you for any non-functioning light regardless . Ask them for an offical appeal form . This will normally prompt a rethink , or a check of the testers manual . If the book does not specifically say it is a failure , then it isn't . DeeJay.
Hello everyone! AM new to posting but this discussn board seems like it may be exactly what i am looking for.
I have seen a car that i want to buy to replace my old K reg Peugeot 106. I commute 100 miles per day to work so i decided i would treat myself to a new car.
I have seen a silver V reg (1999) Polo 1.4 CL for sale at £5,500 ish (open to negotiation yet). I have had a test drive and all went well but to be honest i don't really know what i am looking for. Needless to say this is the first time i have bought a car on my own.
Any ideas/tips? What questions should i ask and what would be a dodgy reply? I have had a look at the section on this site re how to buy cars and the physical inspection that i should do which seemed quite helpful.The car is for sale at a dealership which is offering a 12 month warranty. I thought this may reduce the chances of me neing sold a deathtrap.
the only other thing i know is that it is a petrol engine and has done 29K miles. Is this too low/high for a car of that age? I am going to have a proper look at it tomorrow (logbook,pads that sort of thing) as i was a bit wowwed over last time i saw it because it had 5 gears (mine only has 4!)
ALso got a quote this morning from the Pru as my current car is insured with them. They offered 1 yrs NCD which made the insurance £670 ish fully comp. I thought this sounded reasonable - what do you think?
Thanks
Siba Read more
Absolutely, Simon - any self-respecting dealer would do an HPI check if asked, or have done one already.
Good idea to buy a 'foreigner' from a franchised dealer - you often get a better deal that way.
Still having trouble with my 306. After driving for between five and six miles on a morning, with air con & internal recirculation both turned on and the heater on full, the car temp gauge is almost hitting the red bar. If I'm on the motorway and it goes up to the red bar I can bring the temperature down by braking sharply, or speeding up!! Any ideas, anyone? The car is a 1.4 306, 2000X with 45,000mls. It was last serviced at 35,500mls.
I've also got a clonking gearbox - when it is in 3rd or 5th I can press the gear stick to the side and it makes a harsh vibration.
I know I've asked some of these questions before, but I don't want to take it in to the garage unless really pushed...! Read more
It's going to be very inaccurate that way, DD, due to the temperature difference between inside the hose and outside. It's also going to depend on having good thermal contact between the thermometer and hose. I'd recommend calibrating it against a similar vehicle first before relying on any such reading. In fact, measuring from the appropriate part of the engine might give a better indication owing to its higher thermal conductivity.
After my car has been sitting overnight or at work all day, something weird happens to the brakes. It's an auto, so whenever I start it up I have to hit the brakes to switch the brake light off. The next time I hit the brakes everything is OK, but on the third occasion, my foot hits the floor and it takes twice as long to stop. After this it is fine. The first few times this happened was at a junction onto a busy road which scared me ever so slightly. Now that I know it happens, I hit the brakes repeatedly until I am happy that I will be able to stop safely.
Can anyone explain what is happening and if there is a way to fix the problem? The car is a 1993 L reg Mk3 Cavalier V6.
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Some Vauxhalls of that era suffered from master cylinder failure after changing pads or brake bleeding. According to the local dealer, a seal in the cylinder flipped over in it's groove. I've stripped a few faulty cylinders but never seen a flipped seal. A new cylinder always sorted it out though.
I view the prospect of having to use the Omega?s space saver spare with some trepidation, and with horror if caught out whilst towing. (we do a fair bit of long distance continental towing). I seem to remember hearing that some new cars don?t bother with a spare at all ? relying on a tube of tyre weld or some such. (some MGs IIRC).
I?m interested in backroomers? opinions / experience ? e.g is tyre weld considered safe? over long distance when towing? does it destroy the tyre? any brand differences etc? (btw I can?t find anything in the archive on this)
CS.
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Thanks Tom amd VD5D,
You've convinced me.
>If space is a problem, simply carry it in the caravan.
Weight is then - these are big tyres - 7.5j's - I usually put the caravan spare in the car boot to optimise weight distribution.
CS
Has anyone used Ombrello windscreen treatment? If so, does it work?
fred Read more
I have and at 40 MPH the water beads like mercury and goes up the screen, I bought it from the motoring web site of the daily telegraph.
It also worked on my shower door, I live in a hard water area and once treated it is easier to clean.
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pdc -
"not really ... when it was revealed"
imo really stuff and nonsense. you readily dismiss the fact that honestjohn got there first on 21 oct 2004 :
www.honestjohn.co.uk/forum/post/index.htm?v=e&t=26...9