January 2004
after loosing 2 tyres and a alloy wheel on raised ironwork, why do I have alloy wheels, what was wrong with the good old steels with a good cover? Read more
Hi all,
I've just bought a Golf Tdi 52 plate and it has an annoying rattle that's coming from behind the dash clocks on the drivers side. Is there an ECU under there or could it be the air vent pipe ? I'm asking this before i let my dealer start taking it apart and possibly creating more noise after they put it back together.
Any help would be grately appreciated. Read more
Many thanks !
The rapid ticking noise is exactly what i've got. I'll give my dealer a call on Monday and get it sorted. Everything else is fine, it's just that noise that's spoiling it !
Hi All
Wonder if anyone can give me some advice about this problem...
I'm planning a honeymoon fly-drive trip in California in April and have found out that to drive in that state it's mandatory that you have indemnity insurance. Now, I've found rental firms with decent prices for the two weeks, but they want more than £100 for two weeks insurance, and it's only the equivalent of third party!
I'm sure there must be a better way of doing this, but not sure what. Any ideas?
I've checked small print on my travel insurance, and my current motor insurance, and neither cover me for this, but I intend to contact my motor insurer with a view to providing the cover I need for a supplement.
Anyway, if anyone has any experience of this, or can provide any advice, I'd be glad to hear it, cheers. Read more
For information, in case anyone else plans this trip in the future:
I ended up booking the insurance through Natwest credit cards for £75, and the car through Thrifty.
The saving made by doing it like this has enabled us to get a convertible, to make the honeymoon that extra bit special, for a reasonable amount less than we would originally have paid for a compact.
Thanks for all the advice given.
So what do people think to Mud flaps on cars?
I like them as they keep the car a bit cleaner. Also after a while I think you get stone chip damage on the bottom of the front doors, which is eventally turned to rust, and this is reduced by mud flaps in my opinion.
So I've had mud flaps on a few cars.
I got them fitted on my V70, and there is so little ground clearance that road calming bumps, going over the drive lip etc. that each time I get a horrible scraping noise, front and rear.
It strikes me as a bad design.
Does anyone else have any views on Mud Flaps, or Volvo's implementation of them?
cheers
Durelli - son of a famous Italian tyre maker
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I always put mudflaps on my cars. My thinking has been it will protect the car and also reduces spray on the rear window.
As my previous two cars were self levelling Citroens, I never had the problem with them hitting the ground.
Unfortunately, the rear mudflaps on my Laguna 'estate' have been 'designed' for the car and are VERY short. They may protect the car a little, but don't stop much spray.
I'm unable to access either the AA or RAC web sites.
Anyone know if there is a problem on the Internet? Read more
I have not cliked the link here as there's something fishy about a new post replying to a mundane thread from 12yrs ago.
Its sky customer services...
Anyone experienced driving from JFK airport out of the city? Heading north towards Rochester - any general advice appreciated
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right on red - not in new york city though!
mike
I have a Y reg petrol 45 that has begun to have engine start problems on cold frosty mornings. The engine cranks but I need to put my foot on the gas to get the engine running. At all other times the engine starts no problem. The problem has only come on this winter (last couple of months). It's been in the garge for an updated 'tune' but that hasn't resolved the problem. Any suggestions? Read more
Spark plugs & leads?
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groups.msn.com/honestjohn - Pictures say a thousand words.....
A genuine question - what makes you feel passionate about cars and/or your own car in particular ? Have you always stuck to one marque or have your opinions changed as a result of problems (reliability, servicing etc.), dodgy design/ styling in new models or other issues ? What factors are most important to you when choosing your new car ? Read more
He he, yeah, it's strange how you just like some brands and not others, I wish I knew why. Personally Citreon are one brand that I would never consider normally, the only thing to change that slightly has been the C2, I've seen the TV adverts for the C2 VTR and I'm impressed.
Maybe it's cos in the olden days my parent's ran Fords, Two Fiestas, and an Orion Ghia, that was truly a lovely car that I always loved and was sorry to see sold. It was replaced with a 316i that was frankly drastically underpowered compared to the Orion which flew (well it was ex-Hertz and they say nothing goes faster than a hire car:)
I always wanted an Escort, then a Focus, I haven't yet owned either, I keep getting sidetracked with Fiestas! :-(
Blue
My local Ford dealer has had a base spec 1.3 escort (S reg) sitting on its forecourt for almost six months now with a screen price of £3999. A quick look at price guides suggest he will do well to get half this for it, yet the price has not changed at all.
I cannot understand the mentality of this, will some mug come along and eventually pay up £3500 and think they have got a great deal or will it sit another six months before being sent to auction? Even its purple paint is off-putting! Read more
"Ford Escort (Yes, ESCORT):
1998 (S) Ford Escort 1.8 Cabrio: £8995
1996 Ford Escort 1.6: £3695
1996 (P) Ford Escort 1.8 Ghia: £4495"
My 95 Escort 1.6 with lowish mileage, neat and tidy, cost me less than 30% of the one listed there!
Those prices are just silly
A rather trivial question but one that sparked my curiousity;
Why is it that when a vehicle is fitted with disc brakes all-round the front calipers are usually located at the "3 o'clock" position and the rear calipers at the "9 o'clock" position?
Chad. Read more
Pmh, What I meant was that one caliper was forward of the stub axle, the other behind. Sorry for any confusion. I suppose that it's possible (in this case) that two n/s or two o/s suspension legs had been fitted. (If you follow what I mean)
Browse
Current fad? They've were standard fitment on some cars at least 25 years ago. Remember the XR3 (which was before the XR3i, for the benefit of younger Backroomers), for example?
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L'escargot by name, but not by nature.