October 2003
Hi all
I have just had delivery of my car from a "clutch specialist", where they have just replaced my clutch. And i have some questions if possible can someone please advise??
1. My car has come back with my rear bumper out of line. On closer inspection the paint has flaked where it seems it has been in an impact of some kind. I got on my hands and knees and found that a splitter that had been bonded on had started to come away (3cm distance between bumper and splitter) There is no other paint on it, so i can only come to the conclusion that because the car is lowered on eibach springs, the "specialist" had tried to reverse the car on his ramps due to the front being very low. The bumper mounting on the arches has also come away (bumper has come away from the arch). What can i do? shall i speak direct to my insurance company?
p.s. I had spent 3 hours yesterday cleaning my car and it was not like that yesterday. I also have to reverse my car out of the garage in mornings so i would have noticed any damage this morning also.
When he dropped it off at my work i was unable to test drive it or inspect it hence i noticed it later on.
2. When he dropped the car off he told me that there was a slight squeal when the car is "fired up". He said that this is due to the clutch...he said intime it shall disappear. He also said take it "easy" with the clutch, it needs to be "bedded" in like brakes. Is there any truth in this??
Thanx in advance, awaiting in anticipation
Prax
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Which would be a better prospect over, say , 6 years of ownership averaging 6K- 8K miles per year. I'm tempted by a used 2001 model of each, but am put off by the high initial purchase costs of the Beemer.
Am also aware that the Saab is also a partially re-engineered Vectra !
Needless to say, I like driving, and apart from the load/family carrying aspects of each, want something which is enjoyable to run ! Read more
I would definitely test drive them both. I've had a couple of 9-5s (2.3t SE auto is best bet) and the interior layout and seat comfort is definitely a match for the 5 series. I chose between the two for my current car and the Saab is significantly cheaper with a good equipment level. Over 6 years you are going to have a lot of depreciation in either so purchase price matters more. Watch out for start-up smoke on the Saab - could mean a new turbo though I think this is not a problem on the 2001 model year.
The 530d est is a very good car though!
PB.
I took a new CRV i-VTEC SE Sport manual for a test drive this morning and was very impressed with the driving experience - nice gearchange, good ride, reasonable steering and, of course,the elevated driving position.All in all it is very easy to drive with lots of space and a good boot.
I'm considering it as a replacement for a 13 year old Volvo 740 estate. Although the Volvo is very thirsty I would expect to use the Honda a lot more and so the fuel consumption is quite an important consideration.
I know that some regular contributors to the Backroom have CRV's.Any advice on real-world mpg figures would be much appreciated. Is the official combined figure of 31 mpg actually obtainable. The vehicle will be used mainly in a rural situation on reasonably quiet A-roads with occasional motorway use.
Any other general comments would be welcome, including anything from backroomers who have tested the CRV and its rivals and gone for an alternative.
BTW the Freelander is not an option in view of the awful reports I have read on this and other sites.
Looking forward, as always, to the usual very helpful replies.
HectorG Read more
Thanks for that Claybuster.
I would be very interested to know what youy get mpg-wise on your trip to Norfolk.Please post the results if you work it out.
In normal use I would have thought the 29-30 mpg you are getting is pretty good.
HectorG
Hi can anyone help Identify what engine this VW golf engine No.
relates to. *EW04352* It's either a 1600 or 1800 MK1or2 also
what Weber carb would fit this engine the existing pierburg is a waste of time Read more
I wouldn't rush out and get a weber installed, I did that with an old Golf and it never ran properly. I soon put the old Solex back on. Despite what many people say, Pierburgs are good carburettors. However they are difficult to set up properly and that's why many don't run well. Find a mechanic who knows how to set them up and save your money and hassle.
Shortly to work in Ireland for 6 months, I'll be taking my current car with me, and need a 'runabout' to leave at home.
Looking at the Autotrader website, I noticed (to my surprise) that 'facelifted' 97MY Mondeos with around 100k on the clock are now going for less than £1500.
I know that the used car market is 'under pressure' nowadays, but this does seem to represent a very good deal. I remember test driving one of these Mondeos in 1998 and was quite impressed at the time.
Can anyone give an opinion on what they're like at this mileage - and whether the 1.8 or 2.0 engine is 'preferred' (the less said about the diesel, the better...).
Many thanks.
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Re buying at auction:
My feelings are that many auction cars of this ilk are
overdue expensive repairs.......... :-(
When I traded in my 98R Mondeo (98000 miles), it required about £600.00 worth of repairs for it's MOT including the Cat.
Other things like air con were also not working.
No doubt that the Dealer just sent it to auction.
I drive an L Reg Nissan Micra - unsurprisingly, it's my first car, and whilst it isn't remotely stylish, it's got low mileage and has been utterly reliable since I bought it.
However, I had it serviced in July at a Nissan dealership and they seem to have caused more harm than good. They swapped one tyre for the spare - fair enough, but I've taken it back to be re-aligned twice and the car still vibrates at over 60mph. This hasn't happened before. They tried to charge me for multiple unnecessary jobs - including £4 for air freshener.
I'd had the car looked at briefly beforehand by an off-duty RAC bloke, and he noticed that the cover of the catalytic converter was worn. He told me to get Nissan to remove it, but not to replace it as the car would function perfectly well without one.
Anyway, I asked them to, they charged me for the job, and I didn't think any more of it. Until yesterday, when a metal plate dropped off the bottom of my car on the M6 and scraped along the tarmac.
I managed to make it to the next junction with the plate hanging by one corner. Now it's dropped off entirely and it's about the size of an A4 piece of paper, but curved and with horizontal slits that make it look like a vent cover.
Is this the cover of my cat? Can the car cope without it? And what should I tell Nissan when I write a letter of complaint?
All advice welcome - I'm living many miles away from the person that I'd usually consult, and so I hope someone on the board might be able to assist. Thank you! Read more
By modern standards your Micra is a simple car and a good independent would be a much better place to have it serviced than the Nissan dealer.
Incidentally, I don't know how much they charged you to remove the loose catalyst heat shield, but it shouldn't have been much at all (its only a few minutes work).
In my local free paper last Friday, full article on Jeremy Clarkson getting the next Bentley Coupe stuck on a local beach in a piece for the new Top Gear series.
The producer asked him to drive the Bentley onto the shingle beach (Budleigh Salteron, Devon) in the sunset. The car (probably weighing c 2 tons?) couldn't drive off as it sunk into the shingle - so they spent some furious time digging it out & using boards!
Jezza was apparently not amused ("I told you that would happen"!) & stormed off.
This was all captured on camera by a local journalist. I have to say Jezza's face was a picture!
marky mark Read more
Clarkson speaks highly of the Rover 75. Indeed, I beleive I once read him saying that he could find no better Motorway cruiser for the money.
Absolutely no reason to part with my trusty 6 yr old Carina (81k trouble free miles) apart from vanity but I saw a supersite advert at the weekend with lots of Omegas at knock-down prices. I've read lots about them over the years. Two questions for you in the know : (a) IF I go for one, which engine represents best value and (b) will it give me relatively trouble-free cheap motoring a la Carina ?
My requirements are plenty of room (family of five), ability to tow trailers all over Europe, good Motorway runner and I like lots of bells & whistles on.
Any advice appreciated
Cheers Read more
Bob,
For a guide to running/servicing costs, see:
www.honestjohn.co.uk/forum/post/index.htm?f=4&t=15...3
I've been in a relationship with an Omega for nearly three years now. We've had our bad times, but overall, we've had a beautiful relationship. I really can't imagine a better partner, and to be frank, I can't see what might split us up in the end. I think we could easily end up celebrating our 200,000 mile anniversary together. If/when we finally split up, I will be looking for a similar relationship with an updated model.
Three other people now drive Omegas after witnessing my deep felt love and they are all happily wedded to theirs. One of my friends is in a (deeply unnatural) foursome with him, his wife and their two Omegas.
If you get a good one, you're in for a life of bliss. If you get a bad one (and some on this forum have) it'll be misery before you're even down the aisle.
Hope this helps.
V
I was following a driving school Golf yesterday..... with V5 badges!
I'm sure it will teach learners to respect the throttle pedal, but they going to be very dissapointed when they pass the test and test drive anything that they'll be able to insure.
PS Not sure if it was the 150 or 170 bhp version. Read more
Marketing reasons I think. I remember reading the adverts:
"Learn in a top of the range Ford Focus with Air Con" etc. etc.
Much more attractive to customers in the summer months than:
"Learn in a bottom of the range Focus CL, or maybe a Micra that we had lying around". ;-)
It's all about image really, and a fleet of Focus Ghias presents a good image.
Blue
I visited a local "Countrywide" store yesterday, they specialise in serving farmers and the horsey set.
They were selling Q8 oils very cheap.
Full synthetic 5/40 SL A3B3 £11.99
Semi Synthetic 10/40 SL A3B3 £8.99
Mineral 10/40 SL A3B3 £6.99
Is it any good? Does Q8 still exist?
Read more
In my local discount stores "other" branded 10w40 semi synthetic is avalible for £7.99 for 5 litres
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Update
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The "specialist" said it is not the clutch screaming its the 'brass screw/bolt for the starter moter, where it attaches to the bellhousing' Which should dissapear in a week, if not he will replace that scre/bolt.
He still denies all knowledge of the damage, but in the end he agreed to accept 2 quotes and choose the cheapest of the two. Which i think hopefully is a result.
I have contacted my insurance company and told them the outcome of my visit. And passed on all the "specialists" details to them, as a precautionary measure.
I'd like to thank all who helped
Prax