September 2003
Im looking for a new car and have also worked in the motor industry , for Toyota motor manufacturing, making the new Corrolla and old Avensis and before that for a joint Ford / VW francchise.
I went to look at some cars today. Fiat Stilo and Nissan Almera and Im staggered at how poor the quality of the cars interiors were, the cost accountants must have got a stranglehold over Fiat and Nissan because the plastics in both were really flimsy and had no real attempt at style or graining. Not a patch on the Corrolla, the only snag being I cannot afford a new Corrolla. Proud bolt heads in the Almera cabin and seat fabrics that looked wafer thin topped it for me and christ the roof lining creased where i touched it followed by the roof light falling out. I was at a car supermarket and also saw a brand new Rover 25 ZR with panel gaps you could drive through. Has anyone else come across this quality issue? I mean nobody even bothers to paint the underbonnet area these days it just looks so tacky nand offputting! Read more
My brother was doing the head gasket on my car for me and has just informed me the BOTTOM part is warped and needs skimming, its for a 1987 MR2 1.6, has anyone idea of the cost of skimming the bottom part of the engine? ANY feedback or tips about this would be appreciated Read more
Well its a nasty lookin one, its quite deep, u can really see it without having to feel. In my opinion it will need a skim, its not a pretty sight but i'll get it checked. I can get an engine for it for 260...whats labour like fitting one? Looks quite simple with the gearbox down the side, should be straight forward...any ideas?
Well if you believe what you read in the press, we could be facing these again before long.
What do you reckon people ? Read more
The current Cheltenham situation is not typical of the country as a whole because there is effectively a local petrol war there that will probably result in the closure of at least one filling station because they are running at a loss. It's great now but watch the prices go up when that happens.But that's what market forces is all about ain't it?
My sister is going to buy a new Yaris 5 door diesel. Any ideas where the best deals are? Read more
Even if she does have a trade in, she should give the brokers a try as ultimately she'd be dealing with a franchised dealer who might be interested.
(Though she shouldn't expect any over allowance and the deal may not then be as keen as one the local dealer could offer). Tend to agree that Yarii are better when they're not imported; at the moment the savings are minimal and mainly at supermarkets, while most appear still to be old stock.
We\'ve recently bought a 95 Calibra 16V but the Engine Control Indicator keeps staying on. we are aware having had one before that it gets stuck on when it rains but its been dry here.
what could cause it to stay on and has anyone any ideas as to the cost to fix it?
Thanks Read more
As mentioned previously, ECU codes can be checked by using a paperclip and the instructions from this website:-
www.topbuzz1.carenthusiasts.co.uk/info/fault_codes...m
Has anyone experience of 1.3 or 1.4D Yaris.
I do a low mileage but is it worth the extra for the diesel engine given the rave reviews?
Thanks
Read more
I agree with the others, if you're not going to be doing a high milage then the diesel isn't likely to be cost effective. I suspect that the break-even point will be betwwen 40K and 50K miles, because that's what it worked out at when I did the calculations for the Peugeot 206/Citroen C3/Renault Clio.
I've got a diesel Yaris, and based on the milage so far ~5000 miles, mainly commuting 80 miles/day on country roads, I'm getting 68-70 mpg.
My Peugeot 106 Diesel has a glow plug that is not functioning but can\'t be removed as it is stuck - Any one any ideas how to remove it? Read more
SueH,
It might be that the thread in the cyl head has stripped. This means that the plug turns, but won't unscrew. Could mean Cyl head removal.
hi all, came across someone selling a copy of the volvo vadis dvd which is the system only normally available to dealers which contains a wealth of servicing,troubleshooting and parts information etc, which sounds like a very usefull thing to have compared to the inadeqate offerings from haynes etc anyone any info or views on this system? (he is asking fifty quid for it) Read more
Hi, I have purchased a Peugeot 106 1.1L March 98 Look 2 67K for my daughter. Nice clean car drives well and stops well. However I notice that the reverse gear is quite noisy paticularly if I reverse up the drive. It\'s not a grinding noise just a cyclic straight cut gear type noise. Is this normal for this box, does your 106 sound noisey in reverse? Thanks Read more
Thanks you that guys I am reassured that others find the reverse noisy. Have given the car a once over and all look look. Got a slight noise from the Cam belt area at tick over but vanishes then hot. Either the Tensioner was not change by Peugeot or the the new belt is exciting the water pump bearing. Any thoughts here, what is the typical life of a 106 water pump. Regards
Peter
Got a new 1.8T Audi A4 as a company car in June and have had two back to the dealer problems already.
The aircon was sending out a very musty,mildewy smell so it had to be cleaned out and recharged.
Then the central locking went wrong. As I took the key out of the ignition all four doors locked.
Prior to this I had a Honda Accord for three years and it was 100% reliable, absolutely faultless.
At the same time as I got the Audi we bought a Honda CRV for my wife (replacing I quite awful Freelander) and this has, of course, been 100% as well.
A colleague at work has had to have extensive work to the electronics/engine management system of his BMW 320D at less than a year old.
Are the enormous volumes that BMW/Audi now sell at affecting build quality?
I must say, if I was changing my Co car now I would go for another Accord. Read more
Same faults with all vw's, why do they sell so many, don't have a Saab they are just the same.
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In some ways, but it seems mainly aimed at older cars. For example, the Yaris isn't in there at all even though it's been on the go 4 years now. The other discussions have pointed out that it only reflects the actual cost of repairs without factoring in inconvenience etc.