May 2003
I need a largish car (three growing children - and I'm pretty big). I could afford to buy a 'prestige' car, but after an expensive encounter with a BMW 7-series I'm looking for something that will not hammer me financially on depreciation (I'd rather spend the money on nice holidays).
Anyhow, today I had a drive in a 1998 Nissan QX V6 2.0 litre Auto. The car was honestly in showroom condition, not a mark on it, inside or out. Took it on a long drive and it goes very nicely - very quiet. Comes with a fully bang-up-to-date stamped service book from the supplying Nissan dealer and all old MoT's. Phoned them and they looked on their computer and told me that other than regular servicing its only had a replacement wiper blade and a mudflap.
The car has less than 30k miles and is about £4.5k from a big main dealer group with a 'proper' warrantly (i.e. not 'breakdown insurance').
I know these cars aren't great looking and don't corner like the new Mondeo - but what are the other downsides? Advice anyone?
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How many of you are brave enough to comment on other peoples poor driving while in the passenger seat ?
Whether its loved ones, friends or just someone test driving your car its so difficult to say 'your a bit close to the car in front' or 'this is a sharp bend ahead,slow down'.
I think it was Stirling Moss who said that calling a man a bad driver is like saying he's no good in bed ;-)
The worst scenario is when the driver talks on their mobile while driving. Its so obvious they are not in full control of the car. I feel so unsafe in this situation but still say nothing.I often find my right foot pressing against the bulkhead when the driver leaves the braking a bit late !
Fortunately I dont often travel as a passenger but when I do its usually possible to tell within the first half mile whether the driver is good or not.
Anyone feel the same ? Read more
I have an elderly aunt (84) who is diabolical, but doesn't recognise it. Now unfortunately, she constantly invites my mum (her sister - aged 77) out for trips with her. My mum has driven all her life until arthritis took it's toll recently and has always been pretty competent and safe.
Now the problem is, my mum is terrified with her sister and makes all sorts of excuses for not going out with her. On the few occasions when my aunt absolutely insists, she (my mum)comes back shattered. Problem is, you see, that she can't find a tactful way to criticise her sister's driving and she can't keep backing out of 'kind' offers of a lift in case she offends her!
I wonder if it's because my aunt is still my mum's 'big sister'?
Amusing - but worrying, because they are the sweetest pair of old ladies you could hope to meet and devoted to one another!
Graeme
Just had a look at Honest John's Car-by-Car breakdown on the Land Rover marque. Can some one explain to me like I'm stupid why anyone buys these things, I just dont get it? Read more
"Problem is like a lot of other vehicles you only hear from the disgruntled never the majority of other owners who have little or no problems."
DVD,
I'm a LR owner and one re-con engine and numerous other problems later it has just finally given it's first year (out of 6) without trouble.
The point you make about minority v majority would be perfectly fair BUT in LR's case - by their own admission, "the disgruntled" are a far bigger proportion than they ever ought to be with ANY car - much less vehicles that are supposed to get you across the Sahara and back!
Come on.
We may love 'em when they're working but the quality of build for this type of vehicle at the price they are - has to be a disgrace.
We take this for granted,most new cars offer it I have had it for the last 6years and as far as I am aware has never cut in.Imagine my horror when a spongy brake pedal was found to first a master cylinder at £300 and an ABS pump at £1000 I have a mindto make sure my next car is the Basic model without all these bells and whistles to go wrong
ndbw
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Well I'm sure that I wouldn't buy one, I'm afraid I'm too attached to having power steering and electric everything.
I'm perfectly happy to keep paying for it when it goes wrong simply because I value it so much. I tried imagining life without my in car CD player but the images were too scary to contemplate!
Also, as somone said, if you spend a lot of money on gizmos such as ABS and multiple airbags throughout your driving career, and they come into play to prevent a nasty accident or lessen the injuries just once, then it was all worthwile...
Blue
I have a g reg renault 5 with an involountary reclining tendancy of drivers seat .as theres not many 5\'s around in breakers & i dont want to buy new would any other seats fit easily eg clio.thanks in advance if anyone can help Read more
Don\'t know but I do know of a good 5 GTX in a breaker\'s yard in Bridgend, Wales. Got a speaker grille out of it a couple of weeks back.
The following report coutesy of todays D. Tel. (full copyright and other rights acknowledged).
"Traffic is No 1 global killer
Traffic kills four times as many people as wars and far more commit suicide than are murdered, the World Health Organisation said yesterday.
The United Nations agency said injuries killed more than five million people in 2000, one tenth of global deaths. Nearly 90 per cent of injury-related deaths took place in poorer countries.
Road deaths, totalling 1.26 million, claimed the highest number of victims, followed by suicide at 815,000 and "inter-personal violence" at 520,000.
Wars and conflict ranked sixth, between poisoning and falls, with 310,000 deaths."
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And Zaire is the Congo! Edit button, please...
95 Passat CL estate.
The seat lurches slightly when cornering. Just a small sideways movement.
Anyone got any experience on what this is, and how to cure it?
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Thanks Peter D,
I'll have a crawl around down there and see what I can see.
I bought a 96 306 dturbo with 43k on the clock with a genuine history - bills and MOTS from new. Just before i picked it up I had the dealer change the cambelt.
It now has 56k on the clock and has been serviced regularly. Ever since I got it it has smoked loads at startup although will catch and run fine at the turn of the key. The smoke appears bluish in colour but I can never tell the difference in colour in exhaust smoke. It doesnt use any oil(between 6k changes) or water. If its been warm and not fully cooled it has to crank a lot longer than when its cold before firing up.
Not starting until the plug light has been off for a few seconds used to help reduce smoke. It has new plugs / battery at 50k at a Pug dealer and this helped a bit but now no matter how long I wait after the light goes out it pumps out loads of smoke.
Can anyone help?. Could it be the cambelt replacement b4 I got it was done wrong?.
Cheers in advance... Read more
I had a 98 Dturbo and it did this embarrasing puff of smoke every morning and evening for the 2 years I had it. Was getting worse towards the end and I never found out what it was. Had the glow plugs completely replaced, which helped for a very short time.
Some people said injectors, others said water leak somewhere. The neighbours got really fed up.
Have left diesel behind me now for latest car. Only the very best diesel engines can hold their own when compared to petrols (I have had several diesel cars now and still own one). My 306 had these smoky problems, only returned 38mpg and did not perform much better than a modern 1.4 Civic that I drove. 6k service intervals were ridiculous and the heavy lump of an engine went through front tyres in less than 10k miles - something that I was not prepared to put up with from a non-performance car.
Good luck with finding the problem. A quick search of these forums indicates that many others have the same unresolved issue. Also, good luck with the con-rods.
We need to get a car for Mrsb as she can't drive my company car on business (she's a slf-employed classical musician). Mrsb has been driving for 2 years (no claims or accidents).
She's test-driven the Yaris and really likes it. A (very efficient) local dealer has agreed to match the price of ukcarbroker.co.uk so all should be well.
However, being a cautious sort I asked the dealer whether the insurnace would cover Mrsb's business travel and was told it wouldn't. (The insurance is being done thoguth Toyota Financial Services.)
I'm now not sure what to do. She likes the car so we'll probably get one, but I don't know whether to:
a) try to discuss the situation with Toyota FS and see anything can be done;
b) take the free insurance for myself and get a second, separate policy for Mrsb (not sure if this is possible and, if so, whether it would be any cheaper);
c) try to negotiate something instead of the insurance such as mats or free service: however since it's not the dealer offering the insurance I suspect this won't help;
d) just swallow the fact we can't have the insurance.
I'm trying to get hold of the terms and conditions of the isnurance. In the mean time, any ideas?
Thanks in advance.
Peter Read more
Check the wording of their letter very carefully and look at excluded or limited occupations. Business cover for a freelance musician is unusual and tricky. You need to be careful.
If you drive a car owned by another person on your 'any car insurance' does the car have to be insured in its own right?
OK If you park and leave it there maybe an issue.
Is driving another persons untaxed car to a prearrranged MoT acceptable?
pmh (was peter) Read more
Also should note that the car may not be owned by you, if it is then you should add it to your existing policy.
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I too have just bought a 1998 Nissan Maxima 3.0 S Touring which I suspect is the Australian version of the QX. It has 25,000 km on it and is immaculate. Serviced every six months at the main dealer. I've had the wheels balanced and it will get an transmisson service at a specialist next week I was looking at a 2005 Maxima but when SWBO sat in it she felt it was too big and intimidating for her in comparison to her Micra.
The Maxima is the latest in a long line of Nissans since I migrated; 1200 SW, 260C sedan, Bluebird, Micra, Navarra dual cab. All gave years of faithful service and rarely a major problem; I put this down to my simplistic view of servicing--take to the main dealer every six months or 10,000km for him to work his magic. This paid off when the Micra ate its timing chain out of warranty and the main dealer persuaded Nissan to come to the party and pay the labour costs.
Nissan cars, except for the sports models, are regarded over here as being not very exciting if not in fact plain dull. That may well be so but as I've had 40 years of trouble free motoring out of them why look elsewhere.