January 2003
Following on from Blackbushe's thread on what auto diesel estate to buy.
New job, time for newish car, for about 12k.
What to buy?
Started quite sensible!
Ford Focus 1.8/ 2.0 3dr zetec. Prefer 2 litre has 6 disc CD, disc's on the rear, and ABS.
Then looked at Mondeo estates 2.0/2.5 in Zetec, Zetec S and Ghia X trim (can't resist 6disc CD and big wheels) good value for money at super sites and such.
Read loads of reviews on the Mondeo, and found wind noise and refinement not as good as others in class. (Autocar, What Car?)
Citroen C5 estate SXi with 2.2 HDi engine. Good refinement not as good a steer as Mondeo, but, comes with climate, cruise and CD player as standard! Cheap to buy and insurer.Quality and reliability an issue.
Renault Laguna Sport Tourer 1.9 DCi. Can't stretch to the 2.2DCi, but what a good looking car, Dynamique trim. CD player, climate, but alas no cruise.
VW Passat estate 1.9 TDi SE (130). Bit dear, and have you read any of the owners views on 4car web site. If it wasn't my money and my car would probably go for this. Style and flair! (Won test in Top Gear Magazine against Mondeo, Laguna,C5,and 75 all diesel's)
Vauxhall Omega estate, CDX, all the toy's you could want, but without leather. Fantastic value!
Now started looking at BMW 523i SE, always desired one never thought I'd get the chance to own one. Not as van driver anyway (check my profile).The only thing with the BMW, what would my new boss think? He drives a 2001 Volvo S60 2.4T. Will it be a bit flash, even if it is 3, to 4 years old?
Now I know what your all thinking, he (for I am) has not mentioned running cost's. Refinement and style rule my heart, 36 mile round trip to work (via Dartford tolls) rules my head. If it is to dear to run I can always's sell it.
I know what I should do, the right thing!
The car of your dreams, or with the flow?
PS. Top Gear Magazine has an excellent road test back catalog. You go online, download test's at a cost, and print them out.
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I have just changed the cam belt & tensioner on a 1.4 peugeot 205 - according to Haynes a special tensioning tool is needed.I have just set it using the twisting through 90 degrees method - is this OK or should I get it checked by a dealer?
Any advice appreciated
Hugh Read more
A friend who owns a servicing garage told me that he can detect little, if any, difference in the tension of the belt whether it is set using the tool or by twisting. This is no guarantee of course and it would be useful to have the opinion of the professionals who regularly contribute to this forum.
To quote Mark, "This thread has got too long really.
If there is enough interest, someone is welcome to start a new thread on the same subject. If they do, I will lock this one"
www.honestjohn.co.uk/forum/post/index.htm?t=8414&m...e
Well Mark, lock away the previous thread.
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Has anyone yet mentioned Noel Edmonds being a possible candidate?
IIRC, didn't he used to do a bit of part time racing, along with his DJ work. Just a thought to do with the references to Stig liking golden oldie music, and Noel once doing a Top Gear presentation on the GT40 as Jezzer was too big to fit into one for the test drive. Read more
Anything else ????
Can you name the "Tweenies" actors (if you can call them that)?
p.s. How sad am I ?
No Comment! :-)
Chad.R
I wish to lower the noise levels in my car, and was wondering if anyone had any views on the effectiveness of dynamat. I suspect the doors are the principle culprit in my car, so am considering attacking them with a layer of the stuff.
Any constructive comments as to whether this will be worthwhile are greatly appreciated.
Cheers Read more
Used it as part of a kit on my Fiesta.
Easy to use (keep it warm so it bends easily), ensure surfaces are clean and dry (I used white spirit) .
Very effective on noise and vibration.
I used precut cardboard templates (old boxes) to size before cutting
madf
I wish to lower the noise levels in my car, and was wondering if anyone had any views on the effectiveness of dynamat. I suspect the doors are the principle culprit in my car, so am considering attacking them with a layer of the stuff.
Any constructive comments as to whether this will be worthwhile are greatly appreciated.#
Cheers Read more
A friend has a 97R 520 with 100k on the clock. Recently it lost power badly and won't rev above 4000rpm now. The dealer says it needs a new cat for the exhaust. Does anyone know if this is normal atthis age, and if the diagnosis sounds right? Also is this worth getting done at a BMW specialist? Anyone know a good one in Berkshire? Thanks,
PB. Read more
I recommend you have your Lamba oxygen sensor checked. My 320i sensor failed at 50,000 miles, I had it diagnosed by computer at a PTA motering centre. Symptons were nil or erratic tickover, hunting, and lack of power.Bosch replacement part cost approx. £65 from German and Swedish or £120 from BMW. Beware, if you fit it yourself, it is a pig to get at in situ on a 320i, I had to buy a special type and shape of spanner.
Also check for any split or air leak in the rubber bellows fitted to the air inlet side of the inlet manifold. Best of luck, GGH
Dear HJ at al: It's absurd that new cars don't come with flaps. I'd like them for my new Polo and am happy to fit myself. Two questions: should I get VW's own and fit them?; if not, what generic would you recommend? I don't want to drill into the chassis (I'm no car mechanic) and would like to avoid metal-to-metal if poss. Halfords has a brand that avoids the need for either - but whether they're any good...
Many thanks indeed.
frmarcus Read more
Keith, I am on my 6th mondeo(company) and my last one had ford mudflaps on it for some reason-I never asked for them!.After six months paint was removed from wings due to abrasion from mudflaps.(another ford design fault).So bad it was actually down to shiny metal
Would never use mudflaps on any car.
In the week I drive a Laguna II diesel which gets to and from work, for the family we have a Omega Estate, MV6 3.0 auto and its great, wife poodles along in the week and go a little bit fater at the weekends!
BUT I hear the Omega is to be no more according to the Sunday Times, Prince Charles is not getting another one but an Audi apparently as Omegas are not made any more. Outcry as he has said buy british food and not buying an Omega, do they know it is built in Germany!
I know the current Omega is to be replaced and have kept an eye for what that is. Last year I recall Autoexpress advising Omega replacement 2004 and then nothing since.
Then get to hear about Signum, due spring 2003, then Vectra does not have an estate but due in 2003, proposed to be biggest in class and still nothing on Omega replacement.
So it seems obvious to me know the Omega is not going to be replaced as such but by Vectra varients that is if the Sunday Times is to be belived it is no longer.
Does anyone know what the plan is for the Omega, only that in 2003 I want to get another estate, maybe A6 Avant, Volvo v70 but have come back round to Omega again, get them at half the price of the german or swedes car for the same year but not half the car! But I want to buy at the right time or not buy so just want to know a bit more about what people think / know is going to happen to the Omega.....
By the way I can answer my own question, buy in December 2003, you know what would have happened and the dealers will be quiet!! But I do not think I can wait that long!!
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The GM (Isuzu) 3.0 V6 diesel is currently available in the UK in the Saab 9-5 Saloon/Estate and will shortly be available in the Vectra Hatch/Saloon and the new Vectra Estate. It should also be available in the forthcoming Signum.
It's on offer again, but this time lower than last time (was £19.99).
Someone on the forum said some time back that it's made by Esso, so should be a belting good deal.
The nearest I have got to this is Andyspares (GSF)at around £20.00.
rg Read more
The offer is still on at the Rotherham branch, I got some today, thanks Rob.
my new model mondeo 2.0 lx 2001 on 75000 miles has an extremelly annoying boot rattle which gets worse when the weather is cold???. dealer as usual is hopeless. It sounds like the actual tailgate is moving and after 8 hours driving it drives me insane.Any suggestions would be much appreciated. Read more
Ford technical service bulletin No.014/2001 refers to this problem. It affects cars produced up to 16.01.2001.
The side bump stops are made from a hard material and should be replaced by a new version.
As all new shape Mondeos are under three years old it should be covered under warranty.
Also if you have trouble with the centre rear seat belt reels jamming this is covered by bulletin No.26/2001 and would also be covered under warranty.
Browse
Thank's, No Dosh,
Will let you know! Caught something by you on another thread,
so am more informed than I was.