April 2004
See news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/technology/3610083.stm for full details.
Didn't they test a similar 3-wheeled "tilting" car on Top Gear some time back? IIRC it was Dutch.
Chad. Read more
Talk about pessimism, or generally 'gift horse in the mouth'...
Our magazine is giving away some cars in some competitions. There's a Toyota Tazz and a Ford Ikon up for grabs.
To win the Tazz, cut out the pictures (one every issue), stick on postcard, post to us.
To win the Ikon - Guess how many footballs are in the car, and phone premium rate number etc etc
Ok, so some clowns are now writing to COMPLAIN, because it is unfair that the competition rules state "Winner must be in possession of valid drivers license"... as it discriminates against them!
(Oh, competitions of this nature are, by law, open only to over-18s. Something to do with the gaming act, apparently)
PS: One of my colleagues suggested giving away a free drivers license with the car. Problem solved!!!
Read more
Do any BR\'s know which factory the Vauxhall Zafira comes from. Read more
Bochum, Germany
Or any other car for that matter. Is there any point in changing power steering fluid if it's not dirty or brown?
Thanks in advance. Read more
Ordinarily, it should not be necessary to change the PAS fluid at all. If you have reason to suspect that the fluid has been overheated (holding at full lock for more than about 20 secs at a time may do this, or repeated use of lock to lock during a turn) or that dirt may have entered the system, then a change may be beneficial.
Under no circumstances allow the pump to run whilst dry.
Personally I'd drain as much as possible by disconnecting pipes and allowing to drain. Refill, run for a few days and repeat.
Normally I don't recommend any additives, but if all you're suffering is a little stickyness in the steering i have found about 1/3 tube of Molyslip for gearboxes to be beneficial.
"A CAR thief was starting a six-year prison sentence last night after stealing 36 vehicles in order to satisfy his compulsion to clean them.
Colin Sadd, 41, steals brand new cars, drives them around for a few hours and then abandons each vehicle in immaculate condition after giving it a full wash and valet service."
More: www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,2-1067073,00.html
Is it April fools?
Read more
I remember a new story from a few years ago where a car thief stole a banger. When it was recovered a few weeks/months(?) later it had alloy wheels fitted, a new paint job and lots of other minor things fixed.
Needless to say, the owner was quite happy.
John R
www.angelfire.com/extreme4/kiddofspeed
This is well worth a read, about a woman who frequently rides the roads around Chernobyl! Read more
Mentioned this to a BBC friend. Apparantly there has already been a TV documentary on it !
Ladies and Gents,
After much deliberation - I've sold my Pug and bought something a bit cheaper.
The car in question is a Nov 1997 VW Passat S TDi 110. With 131,000 on the clock. It's got full service history with everything changed at the right times, and has been really well looked after by 1 local owner. All for well less then 3 grand.
Anyway, my question is this. Should I have remote central locking? I know VW were a bit miserly with standard spec then, but I've only got two keys, no blippy things! Is this right?
Also, has anyone got anything else I should look out for? I've looked at the car by car breakdown - and have also spent an hour poking around the car to check for things, but I've probably missed something!
For those who know him, RTB is doing well back oop north.
Cheers.
DB Read more
Thanks to all.
Two new tyres later and a couple of suspension bushes and I'm happy!
Cheers.
Since Sunday the outside temp. gauge on my Citroen Synergie seems to be reading about 20deg C too high. The reading varies from time to time as though it really is monitoring the temp somewhere in the world; probably Bahrain as it said 31deg when I parked up in damp and chilly North Yorkshire this evening. This over-reading apparently makes the fan work a bit harder to stir the air around in the cabin although the rest of the system seems to work OK.
I have checked the big multi-plug on the nearside front door for corroded contacts, but they all seem like new. The wiring from the sensor in the door mirror looks in good nick but I haven\'t yet taken off the door trim to see if any other plugs are hidden behind it.
What\'s next, good folk?
Buy/fit an ambient temperature sensor?
Let the dealer have a look?
Let an independent have a look?
Hawkeye
-----------------------------
Stranger in a strange land Read more
Thanks Aprilia. I have fought my way through the various connectors and multiplugs armed with switch cleaner and WD40.
Still the same; I'm inclined to live with it.
Hawkeye
-----------------------------
Stranger in a strange land
My Mondeo (01 1.8 LX) was approaching it's third birthday so it was time for a change. Picked up the replacement yesterday - a four month old Vectra 2.0T SRi. Initial impressions after a day of ownership are very good. Build quality seems better than the Ford alhough the new car is not quite as agile on the twisty stuff. The 2.0T engine just goes and goes, though I can't say I've tried a performance Mondeo unit to compare.
The indicators are fine once you get used to them as well.
I've read a lot of opinion on the new Vectra on this site but am I the first actual owner of one? Read more
im attempting to start a car stood for around 8 months. after putting jump leads on, it made some clicking noises (pressurising fuel system??) at first. but as i try to start it, all it does is make the ignition lights go dim. any suggestions most welcome Read more
As soon as you get this sorted and the engine fires, change the cambelt. Engines which have been stood are prime candidates for failure, however new the belt is.
659.
Browse
.jpg)
Don't know why this thread re-emerged from the vaults except that this car has been built now - saw it on TV a few weeks ago.