June 2003
I'm looking at buying a used car & wondered about the insurance i would need for test driving. If i were selling a car for a reasonable amount, i would want the person to be fully comp.
So, my insurance company weren't too competitive about insuring me fully comp for any car. Any other ways round this? Read more
Just had a quote for a 3 year / 30k mile service on the Yaris which has rather stunned me. They want £118.50 for the service and another £50 to change the coolant which is due at the 3 year mark.
According to the book, a 3 year service in an intermediate comprising oil and filter change with brake, tyre and light inspections. Also, as it's 30k there is an air filter change. To me, £118 for this sounds totally unreasonable - the parts are unlikely to cost more than £20 and surely it's not going to take 2 hours to do? Ditto for the coolant change TBH.
They did say that to maintain the extended warranty I got when I bought the car I would have to get it serviced at a main dealer. Is this correct? I'm sure I read somewhere that as long as you get it done at a reputable garage you are OK.
I must admit I find it odd that I was told when I was looking at one new that the *total* servicing costs for the first 3 years would be around £300 - not sure how they get this figure when this intermediate will cost over half that - I can't see a full service and an oil service coming to less than £150 somehow...
Do I need to bite the bullet and lighten my wallet, or can I save myself a lot of money and get it serviced at a reputable garage? Read more
OK, time to hold my hand up and admit I appear to have done my dealer an injustice. Rather than the £168 quoted, I was actually charged £108. It must be the case that 'fixed price' servicing means fixed *maximum* price rather than an actual fixed price regardless.
However, I must admit the old Toyota reliability thing is starting to take too many knocks for my liking. The latest problem is a report of an oil leak at the timing cover. Luckily this should be covered by my warranty as otherwise it's apparently a 3-4 hour job... OK, so nowt major has gone wrong with the car, but there have been quite a few niggles which is something I didn't expect from someone like Toyota. I only hope I'm the exception!
Usual summer time chestnuts...
1. Current price of french petrol? ( supermarket / Garage )
2. Is GB sticker still a requirement?
3. Spare bulbs or is that a myth.
cheers Read more
Well spotted. 70 Euros/litre doesn't come till next year.
Friend of a friend has a problem with the driver's side electric window. The information is a bit woolly and all I have been told is that it doesn't work! I haven't looked at the car yet and don't have recent experience of Fords, so I don't want to take the car apart if it is a simple, well known problem
Have any Backroomers experience of the Ford electrics? and how do I take the door trim off, if necessary? Read more
I'm kind of thinking that I've got a lot of enjoyment out of my two Rover P6's that it might be time to move on to a new challenge.
I've always liked the Citroen DS. My own knowledge is a bit patchy but I know that I'll probably go for a 21 Super 5 as it's by far the most popular one sold in the UK. Hopefully in the dark blue with white roof, lovely :) I wish I had the £50,000 ! that's not a typo, for a 60s Decapotable but I haven't.
Has anyone ever owned a DS that could impart a little inside know-how?
I've have limited funds, probably stretch to about £8000 which should buy something in VGC. I usually outlay about £700-1000 a year to keep the P6's on the road, I'm wondering what spares and availability is like mainly.
I'm looking to sign up with the owner's club at the next local classic car show that I usually show mine at I'll be off to chat with a few owners. Read more
Thank you very much indeed. I guess I best have a deep think over a few beers tonight and then probably sign up and get reading. Hawkeye's right though; this is a 2004 thing, it took almost 12 months to read up, search out and buy my P6. I have a buyer who been nagging me if I'm going to sell up, Christmas might come early for him.
Many thanks for the tip on prices too, that makes it a little more palatable.
I have the 3500S all sorted for some summer miles now, both carbs are on song, engine tuned (again) and rear brakes sorted, time to scare some 1-litre Novas with my 21-yo car. ;)
Looks like it's going to be a lovely weekend. :)
11 years old, 301k, usually better than 62mpg, reliable, but o/s radius arm bearing knackered.
Is it worth replacing? How much? Read more
Of course it's worth doing - it's probably a great car - Go to Andyspares. £27 DIY will cover it. I did the n/side on my daughter's 205 in preparation for selling.
buying a second hand car in august from a dealer. which is the best time of the month to buy, or would you reccomend waiting till september, i don't know?
has to be a dealer co i need to part ex my car. Read more
put it this way, i was going to buy at the weekend but thought august would be better?
Went for a play in a new S Class last night.
What a car ! How much do I want one !?! Every extra you can think of, loads of a power (even though previously HJ thought the engine was only adequate in his reports, I guess they must have improved the engine as well) and a seriously big car - probably got more space inside than the landcruiser. And really pleasant to drive - the suspension is a lot softer than the E Class and therefore, I think, better.
I was happy with the E Class until I tried the S, now I\'m in a major sulk.
Now, if I can just get it for the weekend rather than one evening....... Read more
>Are you leaving RLBS,
Yup. (I hope !) Which is going to give me a username crisis.
"Mark (Bicester)" just doesn't hack it really.
Still, to put a motoring note in and avoid having to delete myself, at least it means my life will be mostly on the M40 now rather than the #$% M1.
If you've seen that contra-flow from J15 - J13 get used to it. They're forecasting 3.5 months !!!
Mind you, those insane new road markings at M40 J9 are a nightmare.
Does anyone know if the Mercedes 450SLC (W107) has hardened valve seats, and can be run on unleaded alone, or does it require an additive?
I\'ve tried looking on the www.mbclub.co.uk forum, and had no luck.
Any help would be appreciated. Read more
Car buying time again and this time it's for SWMBO. She wants a small sporty number preferably Japanese such as Mazda MX5, Toyota MR2, Honda Somehting-or-other. Budget is £5K and I want something reliable and not too expensive to run but fun to drive. I'd consider anything up to about 5 yrs old. Am I asking for a bit too much for £5K. Anyone have any suggestions? Read more
I'll tell Mrs Vansboy to make sure she wears a hat in future!!
VB
Browse
If you buy from a dealer or trader, their insurance should cover you to drive the car (only third party, of course). If buying privately, you need a policy that covers you for driving other cars not belonging to you. It's unlikely the seller's policy will cover you to drive the car. And if you damage it, they'd probably expect you to buy it...