January 2003
Having just sold our 1993 - 'k' reg Mazda 323 (full service history, full mot only £65k miles -ok, naff repair on dented front wing and crack in headlamp unit)after 3 months of trying.Advertised at £675, got £600...... I thought I could reax and enjoy the deal I got last September on its' replacement - a new Saychento for a whisker under £5k.
Until Motorpoint (this week) advertised the self same 'Saychento' (yes I know it is spelt Seicento) for £3995 - a whopping grand less, and with CD player too.
Similar story at local Rover Garage where special deal expired in October, presumably to be replaced with an even more 'special deal' in January.
Result: used car residuals hammered and all cars will cost less next year....or the year after....or the year after
At this rate in two year's time cars will be given away in cornflake packets
Is this good or bad?
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Hi,
Does anyone know how I would be able to clean the inside of my front headlamps?
The problem is I have just brought 2 new front indicators for my pug 306 and they don't really match with my headlamps, as the headlamps look really white and cloudy.
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I can confirm that 306 headlamp glasses are available as separate items - doesn't solve the jaded reflector problem though.
If the reflectors are shot then you've nothing to lose by trying chrome sellotape. Apply it in strips, from the centre of the reflector outwards towards the rim. You will obviously have to overlap a bit near the centre, but it doesn't matter. You'll be surprised what it does for light output.
Ian Cook
Hi all,
I'm trying to decide between a new Polo 1.2 65 and a Fiesta 1.4 zetec.
I'm currently car-less [and have been for 10 years - by choice) and over christmas hired a corsa for a holiday in the lake district. I set off up the M11 and was initailly impressed - quiet and smooth - but after about an hour I started to get back ache, after 90 minutes I was so uncomfortable I had to stop.
For this reason I'm very keen to get a decent 2 hour test drive before commiting myself, but both Ford and VW are only willing to offer me a glorified spin round the block.
Has anyone got any advice about how to secure a longer test drive, or failing that, any views on which of the 2 cars is more comfortable for long drives.
Many thanks.... Read more
I've not driven the fiesta or polo but I hire a lot of cars for work (have driven focus/mondeo & golf/passat) The only car I get back ache in is the Ford Focus. Its painful after 30mins (I can do the 4hr journey non stop with no back problems from other makes/models) The ride of the Focus is very hard and so are the seats, they transmit all the bumps right through your back ('sporty' Zetec models have stiffened suspension which makes it worse). I suspect the Fiesta is similar.
VW group models have firm seats but the ride is softer so have no problems with these.
Also different models in a range sometimes have quite different seats, so test drive the actual model/designation you are going to buy.
Hope you find this useful
V5 is the log book/registration doc, yeah?
I bought my car, took the red and green tear off strip signed by the owner, leaving him with the document itself to send off. (As it says on the doc itself)
I've had nothing in the post yet and will need to renew in 2 months.
Can I use the tear off strip (the one for the new owner) even if the previous owner hasn't sent his section off?
Up until now I was *pleased* I hadn't got the registration doc because of the camera problem.
What action should I take? Sending off the log book is clearly the previous owners responsibility.
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These are my own opinions, and not necessarily those of all Toads. Read more
We're now 3 months down the track. Has your prediction of 15% - 20% 'discounts' come true? I understand replacement V5s are now taking 4 - 6 weeks.
Chris M
I've got a small oil leak coming somewhere from the front of the engine on my Peugeot 306 XSi. What with all this wonderful weather at the moment, i've not had chance to look at it, but does anybody have any ideas (or experience) on this before I look? Read more
Cheers, i'll have a good look at it this weekend, weather permitting - haven't even checked the oil yet! Meanwhile, anybody got any oil recommendations for a 306 XSi (2.0 8v)?
Hi just bought a car from a home trader about a month ago. 12 months MOT but having the car checked out at local service station found that the rear disks are full of rust and warped useless. Saw them myself.
I asked the trader to replace them and was told to "go away".
Trader said that they had no legal obligation to replace if it passed an MOT.
Trader did say that major components were covered but not wear and tear items. I have only done 300 miles since purchasing car.
Where do I stand.. except in the .... Read more
As long as the brakes passed the MOT efficiency test, then there's not much you can do, as brakes are wear and tear items, and it looks like they're working. Rusted and warped discs don't normally go together, as rust generally signifies under-use, and warping generally because they've overheated (rare on rear brakes).
Local service stations are well kown for pointing out faults to people, so how come you believe them so much over the trader? You also say you saw them yourself, so if you know what you're looking at/for, why didn't you look before you bought it?
Can I make a plea through this forum relating to the (over)filling of fuel (particularly diesel) tanks. I'm sure other backroom bikers will agree that one of the motoring nightmares we face is that of spilled diesel on a roundabout usually caused by filling the tank brim full just to get another litre or half litre in it. There's no real need to fill a tank further than the first pump 'knock off' and any that spills out is a waste
of money too. A few times I have watched drivers squeezing in the last few pence worth of diesel and explained to them the possible consequences of their actions. This has always been met with genuine surprise and a promise not to do it again. I ealise that the main offenders are commercial drivers but anything that can spread the word is worth a try.
Keep upright
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Yep, I will see you there sometime Dynamic :)
Vauxall Cavalier G Plate 102K Miles. The car has suddenly developed what appears to be a twice per wheel revolution dull knock, on load, off load, always the same. It increases in loudness with speed and quiter when travelling in a straight line. At 50 mph you can detect the increase by weaving in either direction. Tyres check aok passed MOT but noise is getting worse. Is this a wheel bearing, a drive shaft, or an inboard or diff bearing. Any ideas welcome. Thanks Peter Read more
Peter,I would check the tyres again,ie. for anything mishapen like A bulging wall due to structural failure. That could be missed on an MOT. Check wheel bearings,(no load on wheels,ie jacked up). Its probably worn drive shafts isn't it? Only guessing or misaligned clutch. Yours Mike
www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2003...l
Compared to 4 years for beating someone to death it seems harsh.
Compared to 1 year for speeding it seems soft.
Compared to helmet protesting it seems soft.
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These are my own opinions, and not necessarily those of all Toads. Read more
Re Mark's post 1623-090103
In my niaive younger days I posed a similar question as Mark
to a very wise old Sergeant who told me something along
these lines.
For every action there is a consequence.
A small action can have a small consequence
A small action can have a large consequence
A large action can have a small consequence
A large action can have a large consequence.
The basis of English Law despite some flaws is allegedly
its fairness.
It does not treat all actions the same because
of the mitigation of consequence. Otherwise
as in the examples quoted by Mark they would be treat the same,
so the small action with the lesser consequence would receive an apparent harsh punishment and the
small action with the larger consequence a seemingly lesser punishment. Likewise a drug shooting is not the same as a long suffering battered wide shooting her husband, but the action (killing) is the same.This would not be acceptable to the Public.
Part of why we conceive a punishment as puny is that we are
not privy to all the circumstances etc as that of the Trial Judge
who bases his assesment of what is before him and sentences
accordingly. These facts are seldomly reported in the Press as they do not make sensational reading.
DVD
when i hold my throttle in one position say on a motorway the car sometimes surdges forward with out me pressing the throttle down, it only does it in short bursts and some times going round corners can anyone plz help solve this problem,
i thort it might be my pump or injectors
from lee Read more
Lee,
Unless you're sure the fuel filter is recent and not contaminated then I'd change that for a start. Make sure the seals are perfect when you put the filter back.
After that looking for an air leak can be a pig. Sometimes it is easier to replace a length of rubber fuel hose near to the inj pump with see-through tube so at least you have a chance of knowing when the air is there and when you've solved it.
A start is that rubber fuel hoses tend to split where they are exposed to heat or are flexed by engine movement....and on pre-formed bends.
The ones from the underbody pipes on the bulkhead behind the engine that go up to the primer bulb/return connection might be worth a look.
MM
Browse
I dare say this has been covered numerous times in previous threads. But to cut things short, buy a used car and hang on to it long after it ceased to be worth much to anyone but is still servicable and driveable. So, as mine has been worth nothing for a while, I'm driving a depreciation-free motor. When it breaks I'll buy another used car and the low prices are...well, Good!