May 2003
A friend has just bought a recently imported Mitsubishi 4 wheel drive fitted with the original Sat Nav system.
The remote is missing, and the screen is still in Japanese, and is trying to tell us that we are driving around a small offshore island next to Tokyo.
Anybody know if these systems can be anglicised, and suggest a competent person to do this (preferably in the Stoke on Trent area).
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www.pistonheads.com/news/article.asp?storyId=6737
You may not fancy driving into London any more now that you\'ll be charged for the privilege. If your car was built before 1992 then you may not be allowed to in future.
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RF
Exactly. Pollution is not a new 'problem'. It's very much an old problem getting better. Even the Government's own statistics conclude this. Have you seen the paintings of 18th century industrial areas? Huge numbers of low chimneys emitting smoke from poorly combusted coal. More recently, the big bonus was the 1956 Clean Air Act, creating smokeless zones where coal could not be used. This legislation was driven by the 1950's smogs. (Yes, like Growler, I can remember them!). These smogs were caused by a combination of mist collecting on particulates from coal fires. Plenty of sulphur in there too, so it was acidic as well. This coal fire smoke was released at low level, so air quality was awful. The adoption of gas for most domestic uses has further improved the situation.
Yes, cars emit NOx but the air quality, especially in towns, is unimaginally better now than even in the 1950's. Attempting to ban the small proportion of pre-cat cars from London would make absolutely no measureable difference to roadside air quality.
Regards
John S
Mum wants a Ka; Ive told her that she can get a Collection for £5999 rather than Ford's £8495. Her first response was about insurance - will it be significantly higher than a base spec? She's 37 and I think she has full NCD but Im not certain. I think she pays about £300 on the 111 with Direct Line, does anyone have any cheap insurance suggestions?
Her current car is a very neglected 111, P reg, 47k. God knows when it was last serviced, the clutch is worn and its a bit tappety. Im guessing its worth about £1200 privately but is it worth her trading it in for the convenience? How much would a place like Trade Sales offer?
Posted earlier - how can she tell whether it has the new engine by simply looking under the bonnet?
Finally, she complained earlier about how the 111 was 'falling to bits.' Lets just say it wasn't when she got it. She has the kiss of death on cars because she doesn't believe in servicing. Therefore will a Ka be comparatively immune to neglect, if it is the new engine version? She doesn't hammer cars, she just drives them into the ground ('its running fine' for 20000 miles or so then 'this car's crap.')
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Eh? I'm not convinced that the new engine is a huge advance over the old one, but all new Kas will have 70 bhp, rather than 60 bhp engines. I'd still recommend regular servicing though, because it's cheap and it keeps the warranty valid, whether or not the plugs are changed.
As far as insurance is concerned, it's a complete non issue - the difference in insurance premium between a base model and the Collection probably wouldn't buy you a kebab, if there's any at all that is. Did you get in touch with www.pwmillar.co.uk - they're very cheap, UK cars with warranty and free (!) insurance. My parents bought from them, because they're more or less local, and I'd recommend them any time. Ask for Randall.
Our Mondewoe is getting expensive again. Had the NS wheel bearing done about 1500 miles ago and how the OS has had to be done, it was making very similar noises. Trouble is the noise is still there, the garage (Marsh Gargage in the Good Garages Guide) said that the bearing was on its way but was better than the other one. They now think that its possibly drive shaft related. Has anyone any experience of problems with the drive shafts on the V6 Mondewoe, such that it will make noises like a wheel bearing? The cars now done about 105,000 miles. Any info including likly costs etc will be greatfully recived.
Bill Read more
If a second hand car dealer provides an HPI report with a vehicle he has for sale, what should one look for/at to be sure it’s all relevant?
Do HPI reports have a date (I’m sure they do but I’m not 100% sure)?
Is an HPI check requested by a dealer any different from one purchased by Joe Public?
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I'd still be tempted to do a check myself. The AA do one with a mileage check for £37.99 - well worth it in my opinion. Piece of mind is priceless!
Folks,
My condensor is leaking on my W140 SClass 1996 S280. A new one will be about £450 including new condensor, labour and VAT at Andy Gayles MB Specialist.
Any pointers for a cheaper fix? Otherwise I'll do without.
Live in York and London.
Thanks in advance!
rojer@lycos.co.uk
Astra, Renault 18, Renault 25 TXi, Astra Est, Passat Est, Mercedes 190E, Mercedes Read more
£6-7K for a decent '96 S-class is the going rate, so your £6500 was about the 'right' price. S-class is a big and expensive car for most folks to run, so used values will not be that high. You'd probably find a much more basic E-class would be more expensive because of its lower running costs.
I know that over in Germany many S-class owners actually sell them to overseas buyers because domestic demand is weak but export demand is strong and they get a better price. They get used as taxis and airport cars in the Middle East and Africa.
I would get your air-con fixed. Maybe it has been leaking a while and the previous owner gave it a re-gas (about £70) to get it working prior to selling. Anyhow, working air-con is worth having and as Andy Gayle says will help demist your car in the damp months. I know Andy and he won't rip you off - he'll do a good job at a fair price.
I don`t know how many other B.R`s notice that many of the reg plates fitted to new cars are fitted way out of horizontal. In some cases, I have noticed the plate almost an inch/25mm higher on one side than the other. This begs the question, - are U.K. spanner monkeys all short sighted, or do they turn up for work high on coke/export lager!!!! Read more
The reason plates and PDI is done to such a poor standard is that the school leaver doing the job earns less than the bog cleaner and had less training.In most dealerships its just a 'nothing' job.
Well it had to happen had the R reg Vectra 3months took it to France on a booze run last Fri dropped a gearbox bearing which shot through the housing at the speed of light !! Thats the bad news the good is that I returned to the second hand dealers ready for ww3 but to my surprise took the keys with a smile said not to worry be back by Sat !! It is now ready to pick up,Vauxhall said whole job would cost about £1600 so a result!!Can anyone tell me what I should look out for when I pick it up as I presume they had the engine out??? Read more
Thanks did exactly that got a pet vaux spanner man who likes cash !!! all seems ok ex a couple of washers missing.
Just want some advice please.
Local dealer has quoted me £172 for the 20000 mile (2yrs) service on my older style corolla (Y reg). Car has only done 16000 miles in 2 years from new.
As this is little more than oil/filter/brake fluid change I consider this a rip off.
If I asked my local independent garage to do the service and use Toyota parts does anyone know how this will affect the warranty?
Local garage will do it all in for under £100.
Any help and guideance is appreciated. Read more
Had my 'T' plate Corolla serviced (40,000 miles) at Inchcape (authorised Toyota dealer) in Guildford. Supplied my own oil and the bill was £114 inc Vat. Give them a try...
I usually wash the car with Autoglyms wax and then polish it with their Super Resin Polish. However, I now want to go one stage further and finish it off with their Extra Gloss Protection which I have seen many positive threads on.
However, before I do this, I want to make sure I have removed all tar, beasties etc as I don't want to seal them in to the gloss protection?
What is the best product to basically remove these? I assume that this will involve removing the layers of polish that I have put on the car over the months as well? Should I then put in some layers of Resin Polish before using the gloss? Or is there no such thing as "layers" of polish?
Thoughts? Read more
I have used Turtle Wax "Bug and Tar remover" and it does what it says on the sprayer. It also puts a good wax coat on, though I use the Autoglym products afterwards. If left for a few minutes it seems to soften the tar so it wipes off (though it probably because it just contains a bit of white spirit as mentioned above!!)
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My understanding is it can't be done,it's cheaper to fit all new aftermarket equipment.I have not made any enquiries for about 18 months and have a stack of TVs and sat navs which we have removed from our cars.