April 2003
My wife recently wrote off our car (she and baby are thankfully uninjured).
Now because the accident was her fault she is quite a jittery driver.
So I wanted to send her on a Advanced School of Motoring course or something that might bring her confidence back.
I don't want a prolonged series of lessons, she would not appreciate that, Just a short course or something.
Has anyone been on one or know of something similar.
We are in the Cheshire area.
Many Thanks
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I\'m thinking of buying a C3 1.4 Hdi 16v diesel but I\'m getting increasingly jittery by the amount of bad experiences people are having not just with them but with Citroen (French for lemon!). Take a look at this website, freespace.virgin.net/citroen.c3 Spooky stuff eh?
HJ tested one and sang its praises, but I think his was the 1.4Hdi 8v 70 Bhp jobber.
Can anyone restore my confidence? Thank goodness that the new \'Sale and Supply of Goods to Consumers Regulations 2002\' came into force on 31 Mar 03. Doesn\'t help the poor chap at the above website though.
Regards,
Alf Read more
Mine is just touching 2,000 miles, and I must say, this car is growing on me. It's so easy to drive, and I just got an average 60mpg out of a tank (although I should have done as it was mostly motorway / dual carriageway driving). My other vehicle (apart from my motorcycle) is a 406 2.1td, and like Shortwing Rob, today when we travel from Leeds to London, it will be the C3 that we are going to take, O.K. O.K. so I'm a Yorkshireman and it's more economical than the 406, but it is also nice to drive.
Reggie
All about bikers and speed, should be good viewing... Read more
Amazingly, it's the same with First Responders. Even if a volunteer with an automatic defibrillator, bag valve mask and a few other bits responds in their own car it is counted as having met the government mandatory response times!
It's clear why the ambulance services are falling over themselves to set them up. The groups even have to raise money from the *local residents* to pay for the damn equipment!
Gareth (a family member is a FR)
The passanger window motor burnt out on my 306 XRDT(96), secondhand motor fitted, tested and only will power down, checked out wiring and switches, switches ok but on the wiring seem to have lost earth when switching direction, can anybody help.
Thanks
Mal Read more
A friend of mine had an N plate, 110,000 mile Corsa. One morning, it wouldn't start, so rather than spending £6 on changing the plugs, he traded it in for a new one.
Here's the deal.
01Y Corsa 1.2 Comfort with 41k - cost to change £7495
"Fire and theft insurance" (Gap insurance?) £29.99 per month
Finance at 20.9% APR - £195 per month
Total cost to change - £13499.40
Value of car in 5 years' £1200
Net cost including depreciation - £12300
The car's worth about £5500, less at auction. The sad thing is, he doesn't even have a bad credit record.
Or he could have done:
03 Corsa 1.2 SX - £7838 with a year's free insurance (£600)
Trade in for the old car - £850 (pessimistically, more privately)
Finance at 6.7% APR - £136.97 x 60 or £214.55 x 36
Total cost to change - £8218.20 or £7723.80
Value of car at end - £4200 or £2800
Net cost including depreciation - £4018.20 or £4923.80
So, a deal that could have cost him less than £5k over 5 years on a brand new car has cost him over £12300!
No, he didn't come to me first! Read more
Of course, it's people like this that mean there are some good deals around for those of us with a bit of nouse and the common sense to do a bit of research. It does make you wonder though, and of course also makes car dealers all over rub their hands together with glee.
Its true its seems selling a brand new car is to tough for lots of sellers.
I have put together a comprehensive list of options to with a Volvo XC70 and sent out a request to 10+ sources of cars.
A significant number of the sources came from browsing this site although I do appreciate that does not mean they are OK.
The spec was detailed and amounted to a further 6k worth of factory options and dealer fit options but it seems this takes the car to the difficult league and may did not even bother to reply, some couldn't offer the car. Ball park figure for the car is £36k
I was left with 2 serious sellers including local dealer who of course has the highest price but so far at but least he has bothered to price everything up! The other seller can offer same car and options but when I queried a combination of options they put forward have not heard any more.
By the way I did contact dealers in Europe one bothered to reply from Denmark, worked out same price as UK!
I have come to the conclusion that if you want a car that is off the shelf with one or two options thats fine, anything complicated then going by my experiance its the local dealer and no choice!
I was just surprised that when you think things are tough people would welcome the chance to sell you a car but no so. Read more
What options did you want, out of interest?
Took my sister's beloved AMG C43 into the dealers today to buy a new one (now C32). Car is 1999, total spec inc electric heated seats leather cd etc. It has 30,000 miles and MB history. Expected around £17-18500 for it (it was £45000 in 1999). Best trade in price ... £13000 against a new Lexus worst ... £9750 against a new MB C32!! So much for brand loyalty. Tempted to write to MB UK to ask what they are playing at. Not even my old Hyundai Lantra depreciated like that!! Read more
Yes and its costing a lot to let loose the dogs of war too...Will probably trade for new Lexus. Thanks for your help
Hi,
I'm a little concerned by the amount of time the oil light stay on on my 1.3 HCS Escort. Is the light meant to go STRAIGHT off when you start the engine? Mine stays on for 2-3 seconds. Is this normal?
I use Halfords oil filters, 10W40 oil and STP oil treatment. Read more
I wouldnt't worry about it, provided it stays out at idle when the engine is hot, and there are no other untoward noises from the engine. Make sure it has gone out before you move off though! Your mate's engine is probably so sludged up that it quickly fills with oil and comes up to pressure - flow is probably well restricted though.
--
RichardW
Is it illogical? It must be Citroen....
Does anyone know if sierra cosworth seats will fit in a standard sierra and where I could get some?
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Yes they will, and you get them out of a Cosworth...
Seriously, try the ads in the back of Max Power, Revs, Fast Ford etc. You'll be lucky to find any in good condition though, the very last Sierra Cosworths are 10 years old now.
If you're in the mood for a giggle, then may I suggest the following link:
www.fordscorpio.co.uk/potrage.htm
It's a mickey take of all the glamorous Top/Fifth Gear programmes.
Enjoy! Read more
Browse
This is more what I am looking for, a 1 day course or something, just one that will hekp regain confidence.
Joining a club or having lesson upon lesson doesn't really suit at this moment in time.
Shame that page does not have weblinks.
Thanks