December 2003
My daughter has just bought a fiesta Mk5. The spare wheel is stored outside under the boot floor. Looks a bit vunerable to the attentions of the light fingered fraternity.
As the car will have to be parked on the street does anyone know of any aftermarket security devices or is the best method to just store the spare in the boot?
Many Thanks in advance,
SeanO Read more
Hi,
Iknow this isnt a strictly technical thread, {In that case, over to discussion you go. DD, BR Moderator}
but I\'ve seen halfords mentioned a few times on this site and was wondering how the motoring public sees us?
Has anyone really noticed how much its changed over the last year..if so for the better or worse? And how do you rate us staff?
I only work there,im not a suit trying to get some free information so say what you think...im thick skinned!!!
cheers. Read more
How can you possibly complain about a place that has "half price mats" in its January sale? They are obviously out to corner the Backroomer market!
Can anybody give me some advice? I am looking for a 2nd family car for approximately £4000.
I have so far narrowed my selection down to:
Ford Mondeo (Petrol)
Citroen Xantia (Diesel)
Vauxhall Vectra (Petrol or Diesel)
Nissan Primera (Petrol or Diesel)
I want the car to be no more than 4 years old and I am not too fussed about the mileage, so long as there is a FSH and the car is in good condition. I would like to buy from a garage to get the piece of mind of a warranty.
A garage approx. 50 miles from me has the above types of car for sale, all 1 owner with print out FSH and high mileage (65 - 90K).
I have looked at the car by car breakdown, but I would like to hear from people who have had experience of any of the above cars or can suggest other alternatives.
I would like the car to be economical, safe and above all reliable (don't we all!!)
Look forward to your replies.
Thanks in advance
Jason Read more
Obviously not all Vectras were quite as bad as mine! I would concede that the Vectra 2.0 is an excellent motorway cruiser and prices are indeed very low.
In response to positive comments about these cars i would refer the chap who raised the query to HJ's car-by-car breakdown entry for the '95-'99 Vectra.
Took my car in today yet again for the continuing misfire saga- its also been very sluggish below 2000 rpm and then taking off like a rocket leaving a thick cloud of black smoke. The fault codes indicated that the EGR valve was sticking open - this was replaced. My dealer then told me that a design defect has been identified with the EGR valve which is now being redesigned and he will call me back to fit new style valve as soon as they are available. He says the valves have a tendancy to stick open just as they should be closing and so this upsets the calibration causing misfiring, flat spots and poor response.
Has anybody seen a TSB on this or heard anything about it?
By the way Ive had the fuel filter upgrade, the fuel pressure sensor wiring upgrade and the last software/ recalibration was on 4 November- there is now an even more recent version available.
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Most if not all cars have problems that the manufacturer doesn't recognise or have problems that are kept under wraps, for commercial reasons..
--
groups.msn.com/honestjohn/problems.msnw?Page=1 - Pictures say a thousand words.....
Used to be SUV's. Now it's S A V's.
www.philstar.com/philstar/Business200312104001.htm
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Sports Utility Vehicles.
Normally driven by people who are too lazy to park up and walk to the cashpoint/post box. Instead they use the 4x4 capability to mount the pavement!
MikeM
I have today had a tyre repaired at my local tyre dealer. They did the job properly, taking the tyre off and also re-balancing it. The fitter then said it wasn\'t worth putting it through the till, and just asked for a couple of pounds for doing it! Anyone know if this nice little earner is a common practice? I now have the slight worry that if anything goes wrong, I have no receipt.
Pete Mansell
{company name removed for obvious reasons. DD} Read more
The fitter then said it wasn't worth putting it through the till, and just asked for a couple of pounds for doing it! Anyone know if this nice little earner is a common practice? >>
IIRC, some national fast fit tyre places offer a "free puncture repair". The place you went to may have been one of those. fitter may have realised that you were unaware of the fact and decided that a "tip" for himself was in order. Even with a free repair, you should still get an invoice/receipt to cover yourself against negligence.
As for some of the other replies justifying underhand practices, I have to say that I personally disapprove. I remember another thread on this subject which diasappeared in to ether when the topic led to comparisions with copied-software, pirated-CDs, shoplifting, driving without tax/insurance, stealing radios/cars, robbery, theft, fraud, ..... etc.
I was watching the ITV evening news tonight and, more specifically, a report about the new M6 toll section. The reporter was extolling the virtues of toll systems and using the Durham and London congestion charges as expamples. He quoted a reduction in congestion by 80% and 30% respectively for the city experiments.
How do you quantify congestion so that you can quote percentage reductions?? Are these figure plucked from the sky with some dubious political reasoning or is there a complicated statistical formula? Read more
vOn,
Your experience is similar to mine. Living in zone 2, working in Whitehall area - luckily I can park at work. Cost £4 return taking 2 x bus journeys or £5.20 bus + tube. Time 45-60 mins each way.
Car costs < £1 petrol + £5 for Ken. Time 15-20 mins listening to Radio 4. No contest! I suppose that a £10 congestion charge would be the point at which I might start to reconsider my options.
As you say, bus journey times could be reduced considerably if taxis were not allowed in bus lanes - see separate thread.
Another point is that the Euston Road and Park Lane (the major roads bordering the North and West of the Zone) are more congested than ever with traffic avoiding the £5 charge for entering the zone.
Lastly it is a certainty that most major towns and cities will follow London's example.
"Congestion charging is coming to a town near you soon!"
C
Who will police this new road? As it is 'private' and one pays to use it will the national 70mph limit apply, can one be breathalysed on it and if so by whom? I don't want to break the law but I wonder who will be applying it? Read more
I have used M6 toll a number of times over the past couple of weeks - usually around peak time morning and evenings. It has been *far* quieter than I expected and I wonder how they are going to make a profit at £2 a car? I pulled into Norton Canes services last Weds. morning about 8.30am for a spot of breakfast and the place was virtually empty.
anyone any experience of these: www.ecotekplc.com Read more
My consumption looks fairly similar; from 63 miles to work and back : I reckon +/- 15% variation in mpg isn't unusual, even on the same journerys
Given a big garage stuffed full of equipment, plenty of money & time of course, what sort of car would you like to create?
For a laugh, I'd like to take a largish saloon or coupe, put a V8 in the back of it & make it front wheel drive...
Then trying to make it handle well...
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No, the cars were stopped in 1998 after 101 years of manufacture. Aircooled diesel trucks are still made though. My last one was like the one in Car, quad cam V8 semi-mid mounted for excellent handling and good interior space. Big though!
Solid axle with a rear engine? Don't forget those crossply tyres will you? I'm guessing that speeding won't be an issue for you, 10/10ths concentration to keep it in a straight line at 30mph!
Gareth
Browse
Many thanks for the replies, covering with a bin bag is a really good idea. I hadn't thought about the implications of a loose spare wheel if (God Forbid) daughter had an accident so certainly will be taking that advice on board.
So thanks again to all who replied,
SeanO.