October 2003
Try
www.cbsnews.com/sections/home/main100.shtml
Then click on Pay Your Bills Or Else! for a video clip
If your monthly payment for a car does not arrive on time then there is an auto signal sent to your car and when your car comes to a halt then the engine cuts out. An emergency 24 hours extra useage can immediately be triggered.
The dealer can log on to check on his list of loans and current status.
It did not explain what happens if a car finally stops and how the dealer gets the car back.
How long before it comes over here? Read more
Does anyone know how easy it is to replace the piston rings on this car due to clattering and smoke,will the crank and pistons come out without taking the engine out, can anyone give me any info about this process on this car Read more
Firstly, sorry if this debate has already taken place but I did a search here on diesel etc, but didn't get the kind of info I was after.
Basically I'm thinking of replacing my petrol car with say a BMW diesel, 525td or 530d. Almost all my driving is around town, mainly short journeys. I'll average about 10k miles per year. The reason I was looking at diesel is the fear of getting aweful fuel eco from a petrol engine.
I was wondering if a diesel would be a better bet for me over the same size petrol engine. Being quite clueless about the comparions I was hoping someone could point out what else I should be considering or maybe someone has a link to a site that will help me make a decision.
Do diesels require services more often? Does the cost of maintenance outweigh any benefit in fuel consumption?
Just trying to get some answers to common questions I guess. Thx in advance.
S. Read more
One of the mags did a very good comparison recently (i.e. the last few weeks) of "equivalent" petrol and diesel versions of the same model, looking at the overall costs for a 3 year period. May be of interest.
If only I could remember which one and when - Autocar, What Car or Auto Express?
Will try to dig it out if no-one else gets there first.
Can anyone suggest a solution to my problem with the brake lights on my son's 1.6 P reg Astra premier, Im minding the car for him whilst he's working away, It,s not getting a lot of running coupled with me being away on holiday, when I came back and tried to start It the battery was'nt up to the job, now normally I would just put the jump leads on it but I'd had this gadget in the boot for ages unused that works by transfering power via the cigar lighter sockets, the Idea is to just plug in and wait for enough power to flow into the duff battery, anyway It did'nt work and so resorted to the trusty jump leads, the problem now is that the brake lights won't go out as soon as the ignition is turned on, my own theory is that it may have blown a diode allowing power to flow from another source and feed the brake lights, but where are they located and what do they look like? or am I on the right track? if there is any auto electricians out there or some knowledgeable enthusiasts I'd be grateful for some ideas thanks in anticipation a Pomfrecian.
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Don\'t like sudden movement of pedal theory. I would look at the switch carefully some have the plunger adjustable by just pulling on it it extends then when the pedal first presses on it it finds its own length in 2mm type clicks. Regards Peter
Am downsizing from a 2-0ltr Vectra to a 1-6ltr Astra (yes I know the general opinions on Vauxhall but I have a first class local agent and a good rapport with their staff.)I have chosen the Club model it has no ABS to go wrong green tinted glass(it stands on drive so I dont want the trim fading)I have chosen the no cost option of an alectric sun roof in place of the standard Air/Con,and finally it has the same radio as in the Vectra ie takes tapes of which I have plenty instead of CDs.
I am the octogenarian from how old are you and feel I will be leaving my wife a car with less expensive things to go wrong but adequate for the purpose.
What does the forum think?
ndbw Read more
Hi Chad.R
Re your reply on 22oct I chose the Club model without ABS as I was unlucky enough to need a new ABS pump after six years,very expensive even though Vauxhall considerably reduced the £1000 price thats why I thought that after driving since 1942 without it,and never having actuated it in the seven years of driving the Vectra I would pass on it,the reason for this post is that I have just found out that all Astras ordered after 01-10-03 get ABS as a no cost extra hope I have better luck this time,at least I will get the advantage of straight braking where the wheels have varying degrees of grip.
ndbw
Seen a car I like the look of (from the internet anyway) at a main dealer. Problem is it's 120 miles away and I don't have the time to go and see it. Do you reckon the dealer would consider delivering it to a more local dealer for inspection or meeting me halfway, say at a motorway service area?
Although I am prepared to do a deal on the day on the right car, do you think I would be under any obligation making this request?
Thanks Read more
Anyone got any experience of electric bikes?
I live close to work and the route includes a few steep hills. A bike would make sense, and an electric one even more sense. I've more or less narrowed the choice down to a Powabyke folding machine.
Apparently it's Chinese, crude and heavy, but compared to others in the same price range (£700 ish) seems to offer good value. Anybody tried one ?
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SB. Had already checked the very good AtoB site, that's where I got most of my info.
JBJ and SB both mentioned that a light bike is best. One road tester of the Powabyke said that running out of battery power would lead to hard work pedalling it back home. Could be a hint there !
I thought about a moped or motorbike but then I would have all the hassle of riding gear, tax, insurance etc - and overnight parking. I don't have any sort of secure parking and with a folding bike I can take it indoors and recharge, and know it might be there in the morning.
He bought a brand new Ferrari 360 spider in San Francisco and drove it directly to a business meeting.
Anyway, after the meeting was done, Bill took a limo back to the airport (same day). Few days later Bill received a call from SF Mayor stating, "Mr. Gates I believe you left your Ferrari in SF. Our guys found it parked in the back alley, we've impounded the car for security purposes."
Bill said, "So sorry, I didn?t realize I drove that day. Ill have someone pick it up right away."
The joy of being the richest man in the world...you have the freedom to forget you just left your 200k+ Ferrari in an alley.
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Many years ago I had to take a painting up to London to submit it for an exhibition. I drove my Frogeye Sprite from Salisbury to Merton and caught the tube to central London. Later that evening I caught a train back to Salisbury from Waterloo, forgetting the Sprite.. A few minutes of panic when I got home, thinking my car had been stolen, until sanity returned. Caught the next train to Waterloo, back out to Merton and home at last in the early hours..
P.
Taken from my contribution to the Cycling thread
www.honestjohn.co.uk/forum/post/index.htm?t=16984
Now here's an idea:
Let's be nice to EVERYONE we see on the road for the next 48 hours. Cyclist, Nova-driving boy racer, super-gran, truckbloke, even Rob the Bus. If we make a mistake, acknowledge it. If we get cut up, live with it; back off, no aggressive eye contact, no retaliatory gestures. We witness someone driving too fast; well perhaps if the word has spread enough, everyone will get out of their way, they will arrive safely, ahead of time and spend the next couple of weeks with a headache, trying to work out just how that happened.
It'll never work...... Read more
So, it's driving as normal for me then?
;-)
Hawkeye
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Stranger in a strange land
From www.fleetnewsnet.co.uk/newshome/home_fullarticle/?...1
FUNERAL director the Co-operative Group has taken on 18 Citroen C5s as transport for customers on their final journey.
The 2.0 HDi SX estates will be used by its newly-branded funeral business, Co-operative Funeralcare. They are fitted with full-length internal hearse decks and tinted window glazing in the rear compartment and are able to carry up to two removal coffins or stretchers.
Gloria Daly, Co-operative Funeralcare's transport manager, said: 'Prior to specifying these C5 estate cars, we examined a number of other vehicles. However, only the Citroen C5 offered the combination of load space, low cost of operation, comfort and an easily-adjustable load deck height. In service, these cars have proved to be very fuel-efficient and their two-man crews find them ideal for the purpose.'
During their four-year life with Co-operative Funeralcare, the C5 estates will cover up to 140,000 miles.
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Interesting to note that those hearses are HDIs - told you
they're quiet!
Well lets face it - you aint gonna wake the passenger up are you?
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These engines seem to be sensitive to regular oil changes. The independent workshop I take my MOT's to have replaced two Fiesta engines in the last 12 months both having had little regular maintenance. You cannot do the job without taking the head off as the pistons have to be loaded from the top but it isnt a DIY job anyway. Exchange engine from a reputable source the best bet.
Andrew
Simplicate and add lightness!!