January 2003
New Mondeo Ambientes (one up from the base model in Europe) have just been advertised in Saudi for under £8,000 equivalent. This is usually the sign for the run-out of current models. Haven't seen any news of this.
There again, the Nissan X-trail auto is selling for £10,500 locally, so it may be that old favourite - rip-off UK prices. Read more
My son's 1993 1.1 Fiesta blew up in a big way FRiday. It had been using almost as much oil as petrol and finally gave up the game in a spectacular way.
I'm chatting to a guy in a garage here in LIverpool who reckons he has a source of good used engines but wants me to identify the Engine type from the VIN plate.
All I can see is Engine 66 - he doesn't understand that?
Anyone got any ideas - it's a 5-speed, 3 door FResco/
Read more
I'm aware that the Partner Combi and the Berlingo Multispace are pretty well the same thing, however I was told today by a Peugeot salesman that not only are these two made on neighbouring production lines BUT so are the Renault Kangoo and the Fiat Doblo. He was adamant that they are all made by Peugeot and sold with different badges with just cosmetic changes. He said it's cheaper to let Peugeot to make them and sell them under their own respective names. He also said that they're not made in Spain, as I thought, but in East Germany (does that still exist?).
It all seems a bit unlikely to me but I put it to the panel and await their thoughts with bated breath.
KB. Read more
IIRC Peugeot and Renault had a brief courtship in the late seventies which might even have produced the odd child (ever notice how much the Renault 14 looked like a Pug104, particularly if you lifted the bonnet).Peugeot then ran off with Chrysler\'s European organisation as well as having a bit on the side with Citroen (or was that the other way round?). Some Douvrin plant engines shared round France eg V6 units which also found their way into Volvos.
Liaison with Fiat limited to the 806/Ulysse and their van derivatives.
Reading an article in the SunDay Times, they had a bit about Jaguar and how although it was assembled in the UK, nearly all the components were made abroad.
Can anyone tell me how much of a car - say a Ford Focus - is actually made by Ford? Or is it a question that they have contracted everything out? Read more
So it's a truly British car then !
I just remembered a conversation with relatives from NZ at the weekend. Their 16 yo is learning to drive (or is he 15? Can't remember). Anywya, he can legally have passed his test and be driving at 16.
However, there were some rules for the first year after the test which I thought were an excellent idea:
No passengers (though what's the use in paying all that miney for lessons if they can't repay you by taking you down the pub???)
No driving after 5 pm and, I think
No motorways
Relative wasn't exactly sure of the detail, but I reckon these kind of rules reduce exposire to some risk areas for new drivers, while still allowing them to get much needed experience.
Maybe someone knows more about this, or are there similar rules in other places?
Read more
As of last year in NSW, Australia, new license means probationary status (P plates) for 1 year, 80kph limit (or lower if the speed limit is lower).....normal speed limit is 100 or 110kph, zero alcohol limit (normally 0.05mg/litre) and not allowed to act as a qualified driver for another learner until over 21 and a year has passed.
I retook my test on arriving in Oz....managed to miss out on the P plates as I had a valid UK licence otherwise 2000km trips would have been a nightmare at 80kph!
Ian L
I see that for the 2001 Alfa remapped the JTD engine, giving more power and improved economy.
If this was just a remap, wouldn't it be possible to apply this to a 2000 model?
No Dosh - He who dies with the most toys wins. Read more
now then, the initial reviews impress for driving experience.
but i'm concerned on reliability, the list is massive on the car by car breakdown. is it just the fact their is so many, or are they no way near as reliable as a honda, toyota, mazda or nissan, because thats the type of reliability i need in a medium sized car that doesn't look dated.
i still don't think a ford is as well built as a japenese car.
c'mon they are the kings of electronics! Read more
Probably a good plan - the 1.4 and 1.6 have the later sigma engine which is a very good little unit. The 1.8 and 2.0 have the old zetec which is erm, not.
I have a 50k N-reg Citroen ZX Volcane TD that it coming to the end of a 3-year extended warranty. The question is, should I get another one at a cost of £5-600 for three years? And if so, who with?
Any thoughts/opinions/advice welcome! Read more
If you are being offersd a renewal by the warranty company, directly, ask if they will offer a 'get your premium back' if you don't maka a claim.
This is the scheme we offer to our customers.We don't make a profit on the warranty & the customer gets peace of mind, plus their cash back, too!
They don't just send you it, after a couple of years, you DO have to ask for it.They rely on the customer forgetting to ask, selling the car on, having it stolen,etc etc.On the whole, still a very good deal.
Mark
Am I right in thinking that driving off the highway does not require a licience?
i.e. someone under 17 could drive in a private field legally.
If that is right, does it follow that for a private field, read large empty supermarket car park.
Of course there are public liability issues because there would be no insurance, but I could take my 16 yr old son for a short legal lesson could I not?
Anyone know the situation here?
Thanks in advance
Read more
A Dent
I don't know where you live but there is the "Cardrome" in Hornchurch, Essex that offers exactly the facility you are looking for. Both my own teenage nieces have driven whilst underage, quite legally, using this facility. Other friends have also taken their own children out here, too. You can either use your own car, or hire a school car, complete with instructor; this was the method we ourselves used.
Have a look at:
www.cardrome.net
and click on "Cardrome Learner Center" at the bottom of the homepage for further information.
I'm sure there are similar facilities elsewhere around the country, I can't believe this to be the only one.
Good Luck!
This morning I very nearly removed the driver's door of a car parked by the side of the road. The door in question suddenly opened giving me very little time to react but fortunately I managed to stop in time. The road is quite narrow with parked cars on either side and is very busy since it the main access to the hospital is on it and it also has a lot of businesses along it. Thus, I was fortunately travelling quite slowly. I think I would have hit the door if I had not managed to stop (since the road is narrow you have to drive quite close to the parked cars).
Now, this got me thinking: if I had bashed the door who would have been responsible. I had always thought the person opening the door was to blame (for not looking properly) but is this true?
Read more
Mark,
I have a LHD car and it's pretty much 'swings and roundabouts'.
In a convoy of traffic it's a big advantage because everyone else tends to drift over to the right leaving me a clear line of sight down the inside. I can usually see at least half a dozen cars ahead whereas the guy in front of me can only see one or two.
On motorways/dual-carriageways it gives you at least two/three seconds extra reaction time if there's any problem ahead.
The biggest disadvantage is parking. Having to get out of the car to collect a ticket at automatic barriers or pay at collection booths is a pain.
All things considered, I actually prefer LHD for my daily commute.
Kevin...
Browse
.jpg)
Pete
Thanks for the help. Turned out it was an indistinct G6 I was reading as 66. Engine on order.
Peter