July 2003
Please can anyone give a good rough estimate of how often the air conditioner/climate system needs to be recharged? The car in question is a 1998 Audi A6. Think it was last done at a service in 2001 before I had it.
Just interested to know as we're taking it to south of france next week and don't want to be left boiling. Also note that Audi no longer check the system as part of routine servicing. Got a leaflet through form the dealer offering a check up and re-gas at an 'unbeatable' £99. Sounds like a rip off to me...
It's going in for a major service on our return anyway.
Many thanks. Read more
...when you use this site? and why do you visit it?
Are you sneaking in from your workplace? at home? whatever?
and do you come just for a general look, to share an interest? or to learn something?
Just wondered
(told you I was bored this afternoon)
PS I'm at home, registered for advice and decided to stick around for a while and be nosey! Read more
In the office at lunchtimes, and when I can at other times of the day, mainly if there are interesting threads on, or I've posted a question.
Try to look at least once a day, but internet use is observed (by the boss wandering round (though he's normally talking about sport anyway)).
Don't look at home as having spent all day on the computer fixing other applications the last thing I want to do is look at one at home!
Chris TD
I bought a Lada Niva 4x4 (1995) a couple of years ago for £600 - a reasonable price at the time. It's been off the road for a year with starter motor troubles (which I'm about to get fixed).
My Fiesta is playing up, so I thought I might get another Niva. Few hundred quid on a 4x4 I thought - so why not?
Imagine my surprise when I look around on the car sales pages and they're being sold for £1600+!!
What's going on?
Have they suddenly become cult cars or something? Why have they suddenly jumped from a car worth a few hundred quid to that price bracket?
If anyone has any ideas, I'd sure like to know - they don't strike me as the sort of car which will appreciate in value!! Read more
I can remember seeing one advertised for spares for £000! yes free!
I think that the 1500 Riva uses the same engine - not sure about the gearbox. These are worth pants.
I should know, I sold a K reg riva a year ago with 3 months MOT for £100.
I suggest you stick a wanted advert in the local press and see what that brings.
H
Gap Insurance (to cover difference between value of car in event of loss and price paid new) seems to be a good idea.
However, as with all insurance, I want to shop around for best deal but do not know where to start!
Please can other Backroomers give me the benefit of their experience...names of specialists would be appreciated. Read more
Worth mentiong that there are two types of Gap insurance, Invoice Gap, and Finance Gap IIRC.
I got Invoice Gap as I am actually borrowing very little from Ford Credit, all the Invoice Gap does is ensure that you get back the full purchase price of the vehicle.
I still personally find it comforting that I'm still covered after my first year for a new car, 'cos I couldnt afford one otherwise...]
Blue
Renault Kangoos are very under rated in this country I feel. Although I have never owned one, I did have one as a hire car once in Spain where they proliferate in agricultural areas, as many people will have noticed. The one I had was a very easygoing car to drive. Anyway left hand drive cars feel more natural to drive, I think.
And by the way, when I arrived in Spain all I had done was book and pay for a basic sized car through Hertz rentals. They asked me where I was going and I told them ?the sierra? so he said well you going to get a Kangoo. Oh no I thought, but actually it really was a very good car to have there and much bigger than a Punto, say for the same money. Plus air conditioning, turbo diesel engine. The fact that it is slightly slow didn?t matter: I was on holiday after all.
So may I suggest that to get said car, tell the desk that you are driving into the hills!
Read more
My wife's N reg Fiesta will soon need replacing. Our initial thoughts were to maybe get a sports car, but then, practical thinking took over and a Ford Focus looks like a sensible bet.
Our local Ford main dealer has a nice 02 one year old Focus 1.6 Ghia (10,000 mls) for £9995. This looks slightly high compared with a book dealer value of about £9300. Should I
1. Knock him down to £9500, and ask for a tow-bar to be fitted (to occasionally pull a small trailer)?
2. Go for a brand new Focus 1.6 Ghia from a supermarket for about £10,500?
3. Pay a bit extra and seek out a 1.8 Ghia. Is the extra 200cc worth it?
4. Be a bit more adventurous and go for a ST170, and are they any good anyway?
I'd be very grateful for any views on this.
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Thanks for the comments. It seems that whatever the version - it's best to go armed with a checklist of goodies just to be on the safe side. The Zetec title seems to have been a moving feast ever since it used to refer to just a type of engine. The Ghia has been described as a bit 'pipe and slippers' - and, alas, I have reached an age where I try to avoid anything with this label! Has anyone an opinion of the ST170?
I've got a quickclear screen on my Mondeo and have found it very useful. Some have been put off by the fine wires running through the glass. Maybe your eyes are drawn to this initially but I have never found it a problem and , given the choice, would go for it again.
Having said they never break down on a thread in discussion, my MX5 has suffered occasional overheating on 2 occasions now.
It seems that the radiator dries out over a period of 3 or 4 weeks/600 miles. The expansion tank is quite full, the pipe to and from this to the top of the radiator is not blocked.
Perhaps I've lost a clip on the hose into the top of the radiator? Could someone look on a mark 1 for me and let me know whether there's a clip near the radiator cap?
If anyone else has had this problem I'd be very interested to know the whys and wherefores. Could it be a slight leak in the radiator?
Thanks for listening. Read more
Just an update to thank you again and say she's running beautifully.
If anyone needs to do this on an MX5 and wants a couple of tips let me know, rather than me posting a load of gumpf.
Regards.
I have just been reading the posts from the \'Snapped Belt\' thread and it got me thinking.
The cambelt in my 306 was last changed 30,000 miles ago,is it due for been changed????
Thanks.
Mark. Read more
I agree with David. 48,000 miles (to be safe), and about £110 at a local garage. Personally don't think it's worth bothering DIY at that price.
Regulars here may know that I\'m giving the lovely Mrs V. some driving lessons prior to her starting to pay for the privilege with a pro in a couple of weeks.
Well after just 3 \'lessons\' lasting less that 2 hours in total, she appears to have got the hang of the clutch and can pull away smoothly forward and in reverse, controlling the handbrake herself and without having to look down at the pedals or gear stick. It was a long time ago that I learned to drive but I don\'t think I picked up this aspect as quickly as her so all in all I thinks she\'s done very, very well so far. It\'s funny isn\'t it, how some people have a knack for certain things and I have to say she\'s very comfortable judging distances, gaps etc. so I\'m quite confident she\'ll do well and be a good safe driver.
(still gonna touch wood though !!) Read more
Just an update really for those who are interested. Mrs V. never ceases to amaze - after some 10 weeks with no driving whatsoever she gets back into her car yesterday and drives me around as if she'd been taking lessons all the time. Had her first 'proper' lesson today and the instructor was confident enough in her ability to take her on a dual carriageway - apparently she did 55mph. I must say I was expecting her to be a bit rusty and very anxious but she seems a natural really. In total now she's only had about 3 hours with me on the road and 1 hour with an instructor. I really am very proud of her :-)
Me and my partner are thinking of getting a C70 but can find very little info about it. I was hoping someone might be able to give some assistance.
firstly i was thinking of getting the T5 but didnt know what the performance difference between that and the 2.4t were?
Also what sort of mpg can you expect (on both)?
Also what are the pros and what are the cons of the cars?
Basically i'm looking for as much info as possible! I'm sorry its a little demanding but it would be a great help.
i look forward to your responses! Read more
Hi Phoenicks,
I haven't got most of the info you require, but I can tell you, having spent a long time working at the Volvo Engine plant, in Skovde, Sweden, that they passionately believe in continuous improvement and quality.
They are very much into TPM, FMEA, SMED, six-sigma and 5-S.
I can tell you all about these, but everyone else will nod off.
I've seen the best environmental treatment plant in Europe there, too.
They wash things down the drain, then separate out aluminium from machining, oil, grease, treatment chemicals etc, then recycle the water through fish tanks.
Superb products. Possibly even better than VW, but not really, as I'm biased.
Browse
Good point DL. I second that.
My advice to Cheeky stands only in so far as he has prearranged plans to be in France with his car next week.