May 2003
I have recently bought a secondhand car (2001) from a large Nissan dealer.
"Just had a full service,Sir"
Service record stamped both for this service and last years.
I checked the air filter and plugs and both had not been changed.
(The air filter looks like it has never been changed)
I am concerned that the oil and filter may also have been missed as there is no sign of the drain plug having been recently disturbed.
I have not, as yet, looked at the brakes, although as the vehicle is of fairly low mileage, I don't expect any horrors.
I am due to return to the dealer to sort out other matters and will point out these findings for his comment then.
It seems to me that a dealer stamp is no guarantee that the work has actually been carried out!
Buying a car with a 'full service history' is of little benefit if this is common. Read more
I'm easily confused. I've just read HJ's piece about the Wave 100cc bike. It's not mentioned on the Honda website - obviously too new - but is it to replace the Honda 90? There's no mention of the 90 on the website so is it discontinued? After all those years I'm surprised not to have seen something about it if it is.
KB. Read more
30,000 baht is UK£436 at todays rate (and the baht is dropping fast).
In the States people are sometimes employed to drive vehicles from one place to another (e.g. coast to coast) on behalf of people that are relocating. Does anyone know if there's anything similar operating between Britain and Europe - i.e. for people over-wintering in Spain etc, who want their vehicle with them but don't fancy the long drive. I'm interested in seeking employemnt with such a company.
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Must be a very minor facelift! What differences are there between this model and the original?
clariman Read more
I posted loads about this on a thread a while back - something about small cars for under £5k I think.
Not many actual changes, more that they've rejigged the versions they do so there are now far fewer trim levels to choose from.
Oh, and they are finally putting a boot light in. Shame it won't get a temp gauge as well.
(Anyone care to donate enough to buy and insure a T.Sport Turbo?)
HJ,
Indeed I am honored by this dedication. I hardly know what to say.
Indeed those Waves are everywhere here as it were. We now have a Chinese one built under licence which is cheaper than the Honda. Roughly £450 here also, but remember that's about 4 months' salary unless the Big Guy with the beer belly decides to deliver a token of appreciation before he returns returning to Sydney, Frankfurt, Des Moines or Newcastle...
Many of my aging pals in my sub-division use 'em to commute to the bar and back.
There is only one thing to remember, as you point out, if you haven't fallen off yet, you will.
Now, I was just going to say it's really great if your girl has one, so she can give you back-rides everywhere, but your last para anticipated me.
PS: You were kind enough to add Philippine Bike Week to your site links, so I'll be posting some of the better pix on the honestjohn photo site soon.
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This website must, for a motorist, be one of the most interesting on the web. It is superbly presented, navigation is easy, and is fast even for those of us on a dial-up modem.
MJH
Hi All,
The auto box on my 318i is reluctant to change up from 2nd to 3rd when cold.
It needs about 3600 rpm before changing which is excessive on a cold engine.
After about a mile the gearbox warms up and things happen normally.
The car has been checked and found OK.
Has anyone else experienced this proble on 318 autos?
Regards
Malcolm
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Hiya.
It is not a problem so no need to worry as this is a BMW design feature, my 318i auto 1999 model also holds the gears longer when cold, but changes up quicker when warm.
Rgds
kal
To become more like a proper trader, I need to learn the language. I know some of it already, e.g.
"Earn" = profit;
"Cup of tea" = very small profit;
"Bath" = heavy loss;
"Proper car" = one in good condition;
"Landmark" = one that won't sell;
but does anyone know any more? Read more
One thing I've seen on the Brightwells Auction results is "CAP Clean" and "%age of CAP".
Anyone know what CAP stands for?
Terry
This is a download off the Mazda website www.mazda2.co.uk/parmov/
Check it out if you haven\'t caught it yet....
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Now thats a classic, but SWMBO must not see it otherwise she will want on. And I only spend money on the bike not the cars.
Bill
This might be a daft question, but I\'ve heard mention of Italian Tuning on here a few times, but while I\'ve read *what* to do, I\'ve not heard how long to do it for! Is it enough to hold the car near the limiter in 2nd and 3rd for 10 seconds or so, or do you need to do it for like 10 miles or something?
Was interesting to note the Yaris was getting almost as good comsumption in 3rd at 70 (>40mpg) as it does in 5th! Read more
'L' is indeed 'low' as opposed to '3', '4', 'D', 'N', 'R' ,'P'.
Where I live there is a long dual carriageway with shops either side. The speed limit is 30 mph and that is quite reasonable. Every 100 m there is a junction with lights. In the last 6 months 20 mph speed limits have appeared just before each junction, extending to just after the end of the junction.
Now I obey speed limits and have no problem with them with the exception of these limits. To be honest it does not seem safe to slow to 20 mph, forcing traffic behind to slow, causing bunching of cars behind. I tend to drive at ~20 in a residential area with a 30 limit for safety but this limit just seems plain stupid.
I don't think IAM and similar groups recommend taking junctions at 20 mph so what's going on? What do people think? Does anyone know the rational behind these limits?
I suspect I will write to the council to find out.
(Please, this is not an anti-speed-camera thread.) Read more
Morris Ox: Indeed, I don't think the 20 limit improves safety. Our council have re-engineered quite a few junctions and roundabouts recently resulting in significant improvements. So it's not all negative. But then again this is where speed humps come to breed.
When I drive in London, I do find it hard to drive and follow all the road markings, signs and lights, and keep an eye on other cars. Sometimes the left lane becomes a turn left only lane, sometimes the right lane becomes a turn right only lane. You can end up veering from side to side like a drunk.
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quite right never take a book full of service stamps without back up from invoices etc as "proof" of fsh, i used to have a mate in the printing game who could supply you with a perfect copy of any dealers stamp you care to name in 24hrs for £20!