August 2003
I am looking for an MPV with 4wd to accommodate a family of teenage kayakers & gear. One option is a Toyota Estima Enima 4wd 2.2Td perhaps via Algy's Autos of Cyprus. I would be interested in hearing from anyone with experience, good or bad, of a) the vehicle; b) the importer; c) any other 4wd MPV. Thanks
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My experience of Ford service departments leads me to believe that they have little experience with dealing with the Explorer.
Does anyone know of a good mechanic in the midlands area (I live in North West Leicestershire, but distance is not a problem) that has a good working knowledge of the Ford Explorer.
Many thanks Read more
You could try 'Hill Top Garage' near Hinckley (on main A47 going into Earl Shilton - they are a 4x4 specialist). There is a guy there called Mike Leadbetter; ask for him, he knows what he's doing.
Sorry to be so dense, but I have had a quote (approx £300) from a Citroen dealer to repair bodywork damage (remember my tale of woe in Argos car park?) Anyway, as the quote has been issued by computer, does this mean that if I approach another dealer for a quote, that they will have access to the first quote?
The car is 03 reg - should I only consider repairs done through Citroen? I'd like to shop around, but don't want to compromise warranties etc.
And a final question (for now!) - when I got the first quote, the guy was keen to know if it would be an insurance claim or if I would be paying. Seemingly if it was on the insurance they would replace the whole panel (which is half the car) for £1000+. How can I be sure I will get an 'invisible' long lasting repair without replacing the panel?
Thanks in advance for any help.
PS Kids social calendar does not permit joining you in London - but have a great time! Read more
R - many insurers 'recommend' a repair shop somewhere near you, who may get in touch with a suggested date when they will take the car away, leaving you a 'courtesy vehicle' until yours is returned, all costs included. But you won't get all this for £300, nor a replacement panel all painted etc. As insurers aren't involved I don't see why you can't shop around wherever you like. But shopping round slowly costs money, and if you get a quote much less than the £300 you will start wondering about the quality of work.
I had an insurance job done last month (screen, new wing and tidy up doors). Insurers recommended repairer 30 miles away, but I preferred my independent's local recommendation, who used to do his race cars. Insurer didn't even ask for second quote, and result is excellent. Can't tell how the costs compare, but it was certainly more convenient - except having to wait for the French to come back from hols and produce a wing.
The front driver side window on my Accord (93-98) leaves it runner if used (common problem going by CBCB).
It seems to be a small plastic wheel that should keep it in the runner that has broken.
Does anyone know how much this will cost to fix.
Cheers,
Chris Read more
Could equally well be entitled, "Why do people do this?"!
On a nice new 4-lane stretch of the A1(M) near Peterborough, I've repeatedly noticed the following behaviour during a daily commute:
Driving at a steady 70 (on cruise control) in lane 2, passing trucks etc., a nice orderly line of maybe half a dozen cars will all diligently follow me - even though traffic is light and lanes 3 and 4 are virtually empty.
After maybe a mile or so, lane 1 will become empty as far as the eye can see, allowing me to move over into that lane - without altering speed one jot or tittle. So why, then, do the cars that have been following for the last mile or more now decide they want to go past??
Is it just an "I'm not driving in the 'slow lane'" mentality?
Just curious. Read more
Entertaining is it? For those you follow, it's anything from at least irritating to at worst threatening. I hope you reflect on that.
I just deleted a load of e-mails from my Moderator account. So many of them looked like they might be virus related that checking them individually was too much work.
If you have sent me an e-mail in the last 48 hours, perhaps you could send it again.
Thanks. Read more
When did M$ claim this about Linux?
They (especially Steve Ballmer) have made many claims about it being un-American, and its licence a cancer etc., etc.
As you say, the MS web site isn't actually running on Linux but it is running behind servers provided by a company that uses Linux. See www.theregister.co.uk/content/4/32385.html for the most sensible article on the subject.
On the other hand, for a long time after MS bought it, Hotmail definitely did run on FreeBSD, a free and therefore very un-Microsft version of Unix.
In a feeble attempt at getting slightly back on topic I can report that the Honest John site works fine under Mozilla for Linux.
Would Sep/Oct be a good time to buy a used Beamer 3 series ragtop 2/3 years old. i.e. would the prices be cheaper as we approach the Autumn and Winter?
Anyone any idea on price differential (%) between buying one in Spring/Summer versus Autumn/Winter.
Cheers,
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What,s the most catastrophic engine failure anyone's had the misfortune to suffer whilst driving?
What does it sound like when the cam belt throws the towel in & valves & pistons form an intimate relationship? (A cam belt went on me once but I was lucky & nothing went bang).
Had a Hillman Imp many moons ago that hydraulicked! The cyl head warped so much that the bores filled with water & the engine refused to turn over. Quite amusing looking back... Read more
Hugo;
What a splendid situation 4 a ovloV driver to end up in...!
Not real ones, but pictues in car adverts....seem to vertically challenged compared to real life, eg the Pug 307, Honda Civic
appear much taller in real life.
Is this the use of artistic licence to make the cars look better?
Ian L.
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I believe it is (artistic licence). Easy with Photoshop, but in the old days, lumps of lead were hung round engines and other heavy stuff put in the boot. Unless it was a Citroen, of course, when presumably they had to jack it up...
Hi,
A friend is considering buying a 2.8 Capri as a bit of a laugh.
Has anyone on the board got Capri ownership under their belt?
I would be grateful for any technical advice on common faults, etc, to look for when viewing potential cars.
Cheers
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The other car to consider is the XR4i. This had the 2.8i engine and gearbox from the Capri, but was the Sierra equivilent.
Charles, my long standing friend and fellow backroomer used to have one and was very pleased with it, so I understand.
If your mate has two options it will make it easier for him to find a good 2.8i Ford.
Oh, and you mustn't forget the Xr4x4i, the 4WD answer. I think they made them up to 1988 or so, but I will probably be corrected in good time...
Any one of these would be a good car to have.
H
Browse
Totally off topic, as usual.
Surfkayaler, you don't know anyone with a Pyranha I3 222 for sale do you? Looked in all the usual places and they go before the advert posts! Just getting back into paddling after a 6-7 year break and somewhat shocked to find out that nobody paddles dancers anymore and that stuntbats are no longer considered state of the art.
If I don't reply it's nowt personal, I'm just working!