August 2003
Does any know of the report disclosure of a Mark 5 Golf at a German car show last week. Regards Peter Read more
I work for a company which has sites in Scotland and SW England. Soon, I will have to travel from my base in England to the Scottish sites once or twice a month. The company will pay me expenses based on the actual mileage. As far as my insurance company is concerned is this business use or can I claim that I am using my car to simply travel to my place of work? My assumption is that since travelling to the local factory every morning is covered (I always ask if travelling to work is covered by the policy) then so is travelling to Scotland when I need to work in the Scottish factory. However, I am worried that since a mileage allowance is paid then I may not be covered.
Should I inform my insurers of this forthcoming change and if so will it increase my premiums. Read more
Thanks to everyone who answered my question. I'll give my insurance co., Direct Line, a call when I come back from my holidays.
Robin
I was in my local Citroen dealer recently and took the opportunity to sit in the new C8. Our Synergie has given us excellent service, I like the folks at the dealership and a discounted C8 would be a logical replacement for the Synergie.
However, I was disappointed to see that the C8 instrument cluster is in the centre of the cabin. Now in 30-odd years I've never owned a car where the instruments aren't in line with the steering wheel and I associate the central positioning of instruments with old-fashioned or utility vehicles e.g. Morris Minor, BL Mini, Land Rover. If I'm going to shell out thousands of pounds, I want the car designer to make the driver's job as easy as possible. That includes arranging the switches, stalks and instruments around the driver, not sharing them with passengers or scattering them around the cabin.
What do others think? Irrational prejudice or valid point?
H.
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Stranger in a strange land Read more
Something else to consider [noticed this especially in the MINI] is that the most commonly done speeds are to the left pf the dial [ie. 30, 40, 50, 70] so are even further away.
Surely it must be harder and taking more time to work out if it's pointing at 30 or 40?
Also with central mounted stuff, the area infront of the driver looks bare and bland, [Yaris, Primera] and like something is missing.
Kev
Please see:-
www.pistonheads.com/news/default.asp?storyId=7219
Tomo as was! Read more
I have a 1998 "R" Saab 9-5 2.3 SE Eco LPT saloon (manual)
About 6 months ago the engine started to surge and stutter, usually at about 30 to 40 mph it seemed, and quite often in damp weather. After a couple of attempts, the local main dealer diagnosed a faulty DI cassette and this was replaced. The fault was cured, but now the problem has begun to re-appear. This time it seems to be off power, whilst cruising without too much load on the engine.
Has anyone got any suggestions as to a cause? Is all this going to kill the cat / other parts of my engine?
This car has only done 40k miles and I'd like to keep it, but I'm conncerned that there may be an expensive time-bomb under the bonnet (the fuel guage has also started to fail intermittantly on a sudden basis)
Any suggestions welcomed! Read more
saabclub.co.uk also have good forums.
I have often wondered if someone could explain this to me - what can you tell about the state of a car from the liquid that comes out of a car exhaust? is it simply condensation or is it possible that it might be fuel of some sort? Read more
I think if the steam on a cold morning effect persists then it shows that the engine isn't warming up properly. It could indicate something else amiss - when the duct to my AMM came off I first noticed constant steam from a normally colourless exhaust.
You can also do a useful diagnosis by running your finger inside the tail pipe. It should be absolutely clean and sootless.
My wife has a 1995 Passat 1.9TD Estate and the central locking is playing up. When the central locking engages it doesn't lock the boot door. This means that it has to be locked manually. The locking works okay, if a bit lazily on the other doors via the key or by pressing down any of the locking buttons. The central locking system can be heard trying to lock/unlock the doors for up to 30 seconds on each activation.
Is there an easy fix for this or is the central locking unit (I think it is under the floor of the boot) on its way out?
Any thoughs appreciated. Read more
Pipes run from pump in boot to the various locks, so I'd guess the first place to look would be behind the tailgate trim, as that is the lock that isn't working at all. Where the lines split from the pump to the individual locks I'm afraid I don't know - my friendly VAG dealer sorted it after I'd let it degenerate... Check for disconnected or loose connections, chafed pipes, etc...
Just had a wee peek into another (note I did not say rival)forum run by a popular weekly motoring publication,(no prizes for guessing what it is) after being invited to join in for some "petrol headed banter".
Well, it's just as well I declined the offer because I think I may have ended up talking to myself judging by the number of posts!.
Mal.
P.S. please don't call me a traitor, I promise I will always remain loyal to this site in future :). Read more
1: You go drive into a car park, pick a spot miles away from everyone else, & lo & behold when return to your car, some half-wit has parked right next to you...?
2: Just seen a full frontal pic in last weeks Autocar of the new 5-Series, taken from low down... Reckon Bangle's really lost it this time... Read more
Target Fixation. Your vehicle follows your line of sight. Fundamental in biker training, look where you want to go and your bike will follow, so it can be a positive effect.
www.msgroup.org/TIP069.html
On the matter of fixation, why is everyone so fixated about car parks? Herring bone makes perfect sense, I far prefer those car parks which are laid out that way. Nice also when you get a blank space in front, you can simply move into it, park facing forwards and you're good to go with no hassle when you want to leave. I think a lot of it is UK car parks are so stingy with space, like cynical airlines and their very reducing seat pitch in coach.
Although I've driven cars with power steering (both medium and big size) for a few days at a time, I've never owned one before for longer term driving/ownership.
Now all the cars I'm looking at to buy have power steering (being something I physically need) but every single one I've test driven so far is still heavier than my current car (Corolla E reg), even the M Corolla I tried today. The vehicle body size isn't that much bigger or heavier surely, but if that is the case then surely the PAS would make the car as 'light' as my current one to drive. I certainly don't want to drive a small car again.
Is there a specific reason for the power steering seemingly heavier than a none PAS similar sized older car or is it just a sign of older and possibly knackered PAS?
Also what are the faults to look out for with PAS cars? On this site I read about watching out for black fluid rather than the red it should be, but what other stuff should I watch out for?
Thanks. Read more
Isn't it the Fiat Bravo/Brava that comes with a "girlie" switch
that alters the amount of power assistance?
No its the Punto from 1999 onwards and its called the 'City' switch. Had one on hire a few weeks ago and it does lighten up the steering to Japanese late 80's/early 90's levels.
I used to have an '89 Prelude that you could manoeuvre with one finger. At speed though the assistance reduced so you had plenty of feel. Best of both worlds IMO.
Charles
Browse
I agree. After the new VW Golf Mk V launch everyone will wax lyrical how much better is was over the old one. Then we get into the 'Old Ones Suffered From...' syndrome.
I know that they will improve the new car somewhat, but the outgoing model is still a great car-I sold mine after 4 years for 58% what I paid for it new.
By the way...I would not buy the new Mk V for at least a year; let them get the production niggles sorted and allow them to cut in the problem fixes reported by owners after launch. I'm an engineer..seen it all before: Cars launched when they are not quite 100% ready....