August 2003
Sapristi! Heatwave in UK and the best we can manage today is a lousy 31 C in clouds and rain. Just collected Number One Daughter off Gulf Air from London and she says she's feeling cold.
I mentioned the pristine 1982 Merc 230E my 87 year old neighbour is trying to sell me. It is a superbly kept car and while I have no earthly need for yet another vehicle it's too good to pass up.
I would just like to know of there's anything I should look out for. Mercs are known here for horrendous parts costs.
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Morning everyone.
Seeing as how we have this lovely weather at the moment, lets have a summer theme topic.
On the drive home last night from work I spotted the following
4 x MGF
4 x MX5
2 x Escort convertables
1 x Astra convertable
1 x 206CC
3 x SAAB cabriolets
1 x C70 cabriolet
1 x Vitara convertable
2 x Megane cabriolet
Now I'm a firm believer in you spend your money how you like, you earned it, but of the above 19 cars only 5 actually had the roof down.
This is a pet hate of mine and I know fully well that in the great scheme of things it makes no difference to my life what so ever but AAAAAHHHHHHHH.
And don't give me all that "its more comfortable with the roof up and air con on" because most of thm had the windows down.
Time for a strong coffee.
Buy the way whats the difference between a convertable and a cabriolet ???? Read more
Coincidently, there is an article in today's local paper (unfortunately not on the web yet) which warns of the dangers of convertible driving in hot weather. Apparently Austrian authorities are seeing plenty of cases of ragtop drivers dehydrated, badly burnt, or suffereing sunstroke because they don't apply sunscreen and/or don't keep hydrated.
The airflow whips the sweat away at such a rate that the driver doesn't realise he's sweating cobs - or being burnt crispy - apparently!
Hi,
This is my first post so i apologise if this is a much-discussed topic previously. i have also e-mailed Honest John himself but thought it would be interesting to hear other folks advice/experiences.
I am a 22 year old med student at Glasgow uni. I have had my license 4 years now but haven't done much driving (on parents insurance, hence no NCB record).
I am looking for a small modern car, either nearly new or brand new. My budget is £10K maximum. I am thinking along the lines of the SEAT Ibiza, Ford Fiesta or Vauxhall Corsa although would be open to any other suggestions (although no girly cars please!).
Thanks in advance,
Glasgow Mag.
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Mag - older cars aren't dirt-cheap because they cost a lot to keep running. It's because there are loads of newer ones available which are more desirable in the status race, and lots of people have money to burn. Provided you avoid buying a real lemon (and it's not difficult) you can save several grand without losing all your street cred.
Having read the road test of the new Audi TT, I have a question for people like me who've always gone for manual - if this gearbox is as good as it seems to be, would you consider converting to using an auto transmission, or will you be a manual driver till the day you die?
andymc Read more
On the subject of transmissions, why do the majority of motor
manufactures give you an automatic transmission coupled to a petrol engine,
but not with a diesel?
I would love to own a small hatchback--European or Japanese, that
has a diesel engine and a tiptronic style box,but, guess what?
Yep, very rare. Is this because a little diesel (15dci say)
can't deliver the required boost needed to make a transmission perform
effectively?
A friend has a Merc A Class diesel (1.7?) with the tiptronic gears - I've never driven or been in it so can't tell you first hand but he certainly seems very happy with it.
Chad.
I didn't realise that they came with a 3.2 engine !
I shall be a little more respectful when coming up behind one next time. Read more
When Merc put their 3.2 into the SLK it certainly made a big difference. Really smooth, nice drive without that rather coarse 2.3 Komp.
That was well worth the extra. The TT certainly needs more than that 1.8T - which is not very smooth and doesn't give the poke it looks deserve.
i have a peugeot 406 1.9dt and think it is developing a knock,
The knock is not constant but is noticeable at low revs, the knock is deep sounding but not constant, any idea what this could be? and is it a big job to do? Read more
HJ - that's because we're all still trying to work out how that gearbox works - you'll have to do little diagrams next time, for those of us who are a little bit hard of understanding.
Must be a hard life in your line of work..... ;-)
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why's he not a nice guy?
i dont know any of you but i'm just intrigued!
I have a squeaky door and a clutch pedal that squeaks every time I press it.
I think it may go if I dump grease on them. But then I thought I'd try WD40 first. WD40 dissolves the grease doesn't it, so though these are two solutions, they seem to be opposites.
So, do I need more grease or less. Confused!! Read more
Gen,
As you suggest, there are different viscosities and types of grease. For example, there's lithium-based grease which has good resistance to temperature and often used for wheel-bearings. Then there's calcium-based grease (light/medium/heavy grades) which has good water resistance. Etc, etc.
However, for the sort of use you are after, where getting the grease into the assembly is more important than its physical or chemical make-up, I'd go along 100% with Richard's suggestion to use a general purpose spray grease.
Did anyone watch this programme about the real swiss tony on yesterday?
Details are here:
www.bbc.co.uk/bbcthree/tv/realswisstoni.shtml
Was anyone appalled by the selling techniques of the salesmen. They even recorded anything that was being said when they went out of the office during a deal.
Anyway, they were very persuasive and forceful towards their customers. In fact, the worst I have ever seen. It is cruel and deceptive, and they almost forced customers into making a deal.
It does explain why so many in the UK are in debt, as it shows just how impulse buying happens. And the worst thing about the programme was that the cars were actually bad examples and were overpriced.
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Has anyone had any experience of this?
I was driving on the M42 yesterday in 5th gear and starting up an incline when I lost all drive in 5th gear.
I checked I wasn't resting my foot on the clutch, nope. Not knocked it into neutral, nope. I dropped down to 4th, and that worked. Quite strange.
Stopped at the services and checked I had all the other gears, yes all present and correct.
I've had no problems with the clutch/gears prior to this. the car has done 126,000 and been dealer serviced throughout.
I'll have to take it to the garage to get it looked at, but if it's going to be an expensive job, then its not worth doing, well by the garage anyway.
Anyone with any ideas?
TIA.
Big Tim Read more
Hugo. You mention universal parts. Can you give us their contact
and address details so I can try them out?
Thanks
Greg
Tel 08456 099199. They are based in Kirkby - West Lancs
I actually found them in Yellow Pages. They were the cheapest out of everyone for my replacement engine. They will sometimes match other prices.
I think they deliver on a national rotor. The engine took about a week to arrive, but it was exactly as they promised. I even got a nearly new clutch with it as well.
H
Browse
Try pulling up at a freeway toll booth on a bike and balancing on the greasy detritus left by countless weeping sumps before you while you fumble around for small change and the guy in the 75 seater bus behind is getting antsy. Even worse, forget to wipe the gloop off your boots before you walk indoors all over that nice Moroccan rug you picked up last holiday.
UK you've got all this to come.