December 2002
I've got £4,ooo and a tired 1990 205.
Should I buy a Mondeo or SAAB 900?
I'm thinking the Ford may have cheaper parts/servicing costs but the SAAB may be better built.
Any thoughts out there in Honestjohnland? Read more
Hi
Ive been stupid, very stupid - drink driving. Yes I regret it, a lot, thankfully the only consequence has been the loss of my licence. Spare me the telling off, I know im wrong!
But I need advice for my Mum - she has a Rover 111, P reg, 46k. Ive given her my Peugeot 309, K reg, 86k. She prefers the Peugeot to drive.
The Rover will reap money which is much needed for her at the moment, but the clutch is on its way out. The Peugeot has been better maintained (in the past as well as the 15k Ive had it.) but the tracking and gearchange aren't too good.
With regards to her ineterests, which would you suggest she keeps?
Again - no offence - Im posting to find out what may be best for her. This isn't to help me, so I don't want to start a debate about idiot drink drivers because my own opinion on that would be highly hypocritical. Read more
(ie buy it from her for whatever menial sum its worth by then, as she will have graduated before me, and will be earning.)
I noticed that the plastic strap that holds the fuel filter in place on the wifes saxo has snapped. I have purchased a new one for the grand price of 86p (the quality is reflected in the price). That was the easy bit now it looks to me as though the tank has to be moved to gain access to press the strap into position. If this is the case is there a recognised short cut or alternative. The chap in the parts dept said they usually refit the filter with cable ties. I don,t like the sound of this because I could only see brake or petrol pipes to secure them to.
The plastic strap looks so fragile that I imagine most owners must have this problem at sometime.
Read more
As above really. My 110bhp TDi needs a service. As it's a 1998 model it would be cheaper to do it myself I would think (!)
Haynes don't do a manual. Does anyone know where I can get a servicing schedule from? or failing that a forum to ask this same question!
TIA Read more
See post on VW Service Indicator.
Does anyone out there have a quick answer to an auto box problem ? My 605 has started 'jumping' the automatic gears by itself, even when travelling sedately on the flat in 'Drive'... could an ATF / filter change cure this or does it mean a strip-down and rebuild ? (Or, more likely, scrap the car !) Read more
Am I the only one who is getting crap service from Citroen, or is it available to all of their customers?
Citroen ZX 1.9D with shafted driver\'s door lock. Rang Citroen in Crawley yesterday at 9am. They can email Citroen France with my chassis number and obtain the key number from it and make up a new lock and key.
9am today rang them, as no callback yesterday. Told I\'d hear this morning. 1pm today rang them again. They can\'t receive France\'s email which has been routed to Citroen\'s Head Office in Slough, because Crawley\'s email is down so they\'re waiting for I.T. to sort it.
HAVE THEY NOT HEARD OF PICKING UP THE TELEPHONE AND TALKING TO EACH OTHER????
If this is their typical service, they can keep it. Read more
I can beat that, my Xsara wanted a piece of colour coded bumper trim, the dealer has ordered and painted silver the wrong piece twice now. They had the car when they have ordered or realised the wrong part each time.
Other than that, they have been fantastic. They have offered to collect my car and leave a courtesy one.
Ben
Does anyone remember the campaign to have old concrete lamp posts moved from roadsides because they were considered dangerous to motorists?
Now "traffic engineers" are allowed to dump unlit concrete lumps, sticky out bits of pavement, rising bollards and any manner of detritus into the roadway as long as they call it "traffic calming" or "accident remedial measures"!
Most of these things are dangerous, especially at night.
Where's RoSPA these days?
Homme van Blanc. Read more
I couldn't agree more. Near Basingstoke on the A340 there is an unlit new concrete lump, with two bollards. Its been hit so many times in the few months its been there. Now there is a huge red "new traffic islands" sign (also unlit) as you apporach it. If councils must put these things in then please, please light them at night!
I reckon thats where most of the "roads expenditure" is going at the espense of proper roas maintenance. Also near here there is new single lane section of calming. As soon as you turn back to the proper side of the road again you can only just about avoid a deep pothole that almost seems to have been left deliberately . . . .
Negligence???
About 30 years ago I parted with my second Honda 50 moped on not very good terms, swearing that motor biking was uncomfortable and dangerous.
In a complete change of mind, I have started taking biking lessons, hoping to take my test on a big bike using the direct access route. The 125cc Honda that I started with was nippy enough for town work but couldn't really keep up with the traffic on the open road. Yesterday, I was let loose on one of the driving school's Honda CB500s. What a revalation! What a hoot! I haven't had so much motoring fun since I went to rally school a couple of years ago. As I nailed it past a some traffic I was grinning so much I could have done with a wider helmet. And I didn't exceed the speed limit, officer.
I felt it was curious that the bigger bike felt so much more comfortable, stable, well mannered and confidence inspiring. Maybe at 6' 2" and 16 stone, I made the little bike too top-heavy.
Unfortunately, Madame thinks the whole project is barking mad, and hides the biking magazines away whenever she can.
Here's hoping I can pass the test in time for some summer fun.
Darcy.
People who live in Glasshouses have an HG3 postcode. Read more
Thanks for the encouragement Toad - it feels like quite a big step to me so I'm glad of your support.
I recently had 4 new tyres fitted and have had a bad experience:
- all tyres had the wrong air pessure by +/- 20%
- all tyres were unbalanced (having paid for it) by up to 50 grammes, which is worse than if they hadn't touched the tyre in the first place
- 1 buckled wheel
Now I am realistic about things and except that I had an idiot doing the job. I went to talk to the owner (to let him know what a bad job his workers had done) who refused to talk about anything else apart from how it would have been impossible to buckle the wheel. I said I know that but it was a coincidence that the buckle apears exactly where the old lead was.
Now, I have 2 questions:
(1) Is there any chance that HJ can get a register of BAD garages?
(2) Can an alloy wheel have a buckle taken out?
Also would thank KWIK-FIT (yes I did say KWIK-FIT) in Bangor for sorting everything out on Sunday morning. Read more
Question 1 is probably not practical - naming names would open up the site to legal action (Mark, as the moderator, recently had to tone down a post, and will continue to do so if any litigious comments are made).
Question 2 is easy - the answer is yes. I had a Saab 9000 with a buckle on the inner edge & I had it professionally repaired - cost me £30 but this was over 5 years ago. Try a decent tyre dealer & they will probably have contacts - or do a web search.
Browse
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I've been thinking of a succinct reply to this one for a while. Last year I was in a very similar position. I had £5000 and a tired and slightly bent Honda Civic.
I needed a reliable and comfortable car that wouldn't cost a fortune to run for 20-25k miles a year. I fancied a 900, looked at a few but was generally disappointed with them. They didn't feel that special - too much Cavalier in the new ones, and too many years under the "real" old-shape ones.
I bought a Mondeo and am very impressed with its mile-eating abilities. The aircon pump failure wasn't so impressive, but otherwise great.
hth
Andy