March 2003
At the risk of sounding like a Daily Mail writer calling for a film to be banned without having seen it, I can't help but feel uneasy about the review to be found at the right here about the car chase movie being breathlessly recommended for its high speed driving though Paris on roads not closed off for filming. I don't buy the argument that movies with guns lead directly to people going out to kill, but all this giddy talk about copies changing hands on the black market would be heady stuff for some bonehead looking to impress his mates.
Perhaps every copy should have that horrific TV ad that was discussed here a few days ago showing the aftermath of a high speed accident inserted in the middle of it.
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Does anyone ( Fiat or ex Fiat dealership tech perhaps ) remember this hand held diagnostic testset, which was in use in the early to mid 90s and is now considered obsolete?
Would be interested to hear from anyone who used this piece of kit and can give me some idea of what it was and was not, capable of doing.
Thank you, petel@clara.co.uk Read more
I should leave it a while and ask again in a month or so.
Hi Ben,
My much enjoyed, spotless, 51K, silver Vectra GSi Estate often written about in the BR has just been collected at the end of it's lease, and is apparently headed for Blackbushe, on Tuesday or Wednesday this week. With only a few hundred of this precise variant ever made, I doubt if there will be any others up for grabs, and would love to know what it fetches, if you see it go. Wanted to buy it for the missus, but insurance was a killer.
I asked HJ the same question, but he won't be attending and thought you might.
Cheers!
PS Having seen the rate at which the leasing company's driver disappeared down the road after collecting it, there is always the chance that it never made it back to base, let alone to auction! Read more
Hi SJB - my other half is from the Slovak Republic and I've often wondered about driving there for a holiday with her and the kids but it seems a bit daunting. Which part of the CR do you travel to, how long does it take and what do you think about
the journey overall ?
Regards.
If you've been unlucky enough to have been seriously stung for £££'s for replacement parts which either shouldn't have gone wrong in the first place or require periodic replacement in the normal life of the car, please post details on the 'horror expenses' thread on the Technical Forum. Thanks all. Read more
i have a 96 mondeo 1.8td rear sidelights and dash lights out front sidelights and brakelights fine fuses ok help!!!
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problem solved!!! the plug at the back of the light switch was the culprit .thanks all,keep up the good work.
From time to time people post here about quite astonishing costs of certain parts or servicing items. £700 for a Mondeo abs control unit and £2500 for a 60k service (cambelt replacement) on an Espace are recent examples.
Some of these huge costs relate to \'consumable\' items or parts that tend to require periodic renewal within the life of the car yet their costs are astronomic. Wouldn\'t it be a good idea therefore for all those BackRoomers who\'ve had a major shock in this manner to post details of just how much these parts have cost so that it would be possible to compile a listing of horror costs for various cars and add these costs to the CBC breakdown.
I\'m sure most people fall in love with their shiny new motors and haggle about the price but never find out or even consider in advance just how costly that new clutch, cat, cambelt etc. etc. is going to be when it\'s eventually required. If the costs of such items were easily available, people might choose to base their buying decisions on more than the looks and otr cost of their purchase and the manufacturers might find it just a little harder to rip us all off.
Come on chaps (and chapesses) - post details of your car\'s hidden horror costs. Read more
Keeping with Vx's...
Omega headlamp washer nozzle - £40+VAT each. Just for a small bit of black moulded plastic!
I'm missing the passenger side one - some *@!$ nicked it a few weeks ago -tried sourcing one from a breaker but no luck so far.
Chad.R
...an air conditioning system or air cooling system for car interiors which you can plug in or retrofit? If yes, where can I get one?
Thanks Read more
Friend of a friend had aircon retrofitted to a 98S Merc C-class, cost about £1000 IIRC. Made it back when he sold it though.
I will be applying for trade plates later this month does anyone have any tips on things to say and not say ?
Apparently years ago the local police force checked out your business premises and trading record but now its the responsilibity of the local VRO.
Also heard its possible to have the plates on a six month probationery period.
Any tips,suggestions apprieciated.
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I think that it depends on the company that you work for. I've heard some drivers say that they have to hitch back home, yet others say that they can hire a car if they go over 200 miles from home.
How long should antiroll bar bushes be expected to last? I had the car in the National Tyres last weekend as I thought I had a problem which turned out to be just a trapped stone rubbing on the brake disc. However, while inspecting it, the chap noticed that both the bushes were perished and would need replacing fairly soon. I observed this myself and they did indeed look in bad condition, plus as he was just advising, not trying to get the work, I'm more inclined to take his advice.
The car is under 3 years old, so would I have any luck getting this done under the warranty? (Not had the chance to get in to the dealer to have them check it out, but would be handy to know where I stand roughly) Otherwise, is it likely I'll have to get them done every 3 years or so? He did reckon they'd be a fairly cheap job, but would also potentially constitute an MOT failure.
I'm beginning to suspect my lemon-seeking talents have struck again here... I'm sure the Yaris is a good car, I just seem to attract cars that develop lots of little niggles. Read more
I've had anti-roll bushes failing at 14K on a Renault and
25K on a Nissan.
Just to add, I had my first one go at 132,000 miles on the Skoda...
Hi,
I recently bought a 1988 Golf GTI 8V. The previous owner told me he only used unleaded petrol, although he only drove 5,000 miles in it.
The filler cap seems to indicate that the car was originally manufactured to use leaded fuel. I've looked in the owners manual but there are no clues there (its written for both leaded and unleaded cars and assumes you know which one you've got).
Will I do the car any harm if I continue to run it on unleaded when it should have leaded fuel?
How do I find out what fuel it should really have?
Thanks for any help,
Nigel Read more
Hi there,
I had a 88 VW Scirocco with the 1.8 8v engine (engine code DX). The DX engine needs retarding to work with unleaded (I THINK to 0deg advance). Note that although the Scirocco had a 8v engine it had the mechanical fuel injection, unlike the Bosch electronic system found on 8v Golf's. AFAIK the 16v Golf's had the mechanical system.
I did notice a performance drop (not surprising after the BIG timing adjustment)!!! when running on unleaded.
I think it was only the Polo 1.3 Formel E that had to have leaded fuel only (this from my VW mechanic brother).
Browse
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As mentioned in a later thread (didn't see this one) today's Sat. Telegraph motoring section has a page devoted to the film.
I felt angry after reading the ST article. I also felt ill at ease after reading the article on this site. The impression I get (I have not seen the film and won't pay to do so) is that the film makers put other peoples lives at risk without their consent in order to further their incomes and reputations.
I do feel it is wrong to help these people profit from their actions.
I don't accept the justification that we often watch films with chase scenes in. Rape has been shown in film and on the stage so does this mean that a film of a real rape would be acceptable?
Hats off to the people publicising this film: they must be raking it in.