June 2004
I've had my car for 2.5 months now, and its cursed! The first week i had it, it was broken into(its a vw... probably no suprise) and a tool kit was stolen, (the police caught the guy, he got one day detention!) a week after that it was clamped when my valid parking ticket fell out of the window.. cost me £75. 2 weeks later someone put a brick through the rear window... thats another £115. Then about 2 weeks ago some uninsured muppet drove into the side of my car, destroying 2 doors... £600 of damage. The damage left the locks nicly exposed for someone to break in again and steal the speakers and break the cd player trying to get it out... £300 of damage. So its cost me around £1100 for a car i bought for £700.
Someone must be able to beat that and make me feel a little better about my car... Read more
Hi all, I wish I found your website before we purchased our car... We have bought a one-year-old VW Golf IV TDI three weeks ago. Since the first days we (my wife and I) had difficulties selecting gears - we returned the car for a check and VW readjusted the gears. However, a week later the same problem reappeared - we have been to the garage again and now we have another appointment. We are not sure if it is related, but in the three weeks that we have had this car, it has cut out on low speed whilst changing gears about 6 times.
On Honest John web page it says: "Cable gear change on all but 1.6 and 1.4, and have been problems with early 1.4 and 1.6 gearboxes." The fish 4 cars website says to look out for: "Gearbox - Can cause change problems by itself or might be clutch problems".
We were wondering if VW can rectify this gears problem at all or should we get a different car?
Bye, Alex :) Read more
Have just completed a 2 day Motorway refresher course. This is where you learn the art of closing motorways for the maximum ammount of time at the most inconveniant time of day with the sole purpose of cheesing off the greatest ammount of motorists for no reason at all!!
During the classroom period the trainer showed a number of short video clips which he had obtained from various sources, of road safety adverts from different countries. It soon became apparant that Ireland and Australia pull no punches when it comes to trying to get the message across.
One particular clip was based around father and small children playing in garden. It then switches to male playing football and then going for a beer after the match. On his way home he has to swerve, clips the kerb and barrel rolls through the garden fence and wipes out a child. The child was positioned between the camera and the fence as the car came through.
The impact on the class was phenominal I have never seen such a reaction from a group that has seen it all.
Apparantly it has not been allowed to be shown on English TV. A great pity!
Fullchat Read more
Same here, refused because I travel regularly through suspect countries for various infectious diseases (malaria, yellow fever) and can almost guarantee doing this at least once a year. For example staying an hour in Singapore or Bangkok airport on route to Oz. I am honest and declare this and I get turned down straight away. Despite regularly getting letters to donate as I have a slightly unusual blood group.
Ian L
Never mind Formula 1 what about the Turkish Rally?
Gronholm had just started running in first position and was out on stage when his co driver let out an enormous shriek and went very quiet. Gronholm had to slow down as his co driver had given up.
Turned out that a piece of steel had pierced the floor and the co driver\'s seat and hit him in \"****\" (Gronholms words not mine! Apparantly its Finish for bottom\")
Fortunatly his posterior only sustained bruising but it could have been extremely nasty if you know what I mean.
The initial inference was that the metal had been put there deliberatly but it was never expanded upon.
Fullchat Read more
any body dealt with this internet car dealer im thinking of buying a picasso from them. Read more
In line with Adski's other thread, I also have had a rather inquisitive day. Having almost agreed terms on a new car, I am wondering who actually decides on the value of a used car?
The dealer refers to their litle black book (presumably Glass's), Glass's will no doubt claim they take their values from actual cars that have sold in auctions and forecourts and the prices they realised.
But the man at the auction would most probably have been referring to his Glass's guide before bidding...
Is this a vicious circle or is there outside forces applied to it? Read more
Totally true I'm afraid. That's the law of supply and demand in action.
Price too high - purchaser won't purchase.
Price too low - vendor won't sell.
Between these two points, and price will do and is dependant on the gift of the gab shown by the vendor and purchaser.
Mods, I'm sitting here bored, tired and in a generally inquisitive mood. I've done a forum search (albeit rather brief) and I'm just curious....how did you become moderators? I've always wanted to know so I figured I'd ask...
Forgive me if it's an impertinent question :-)
Thanks
Adam
Read more
how could you ever doubt it ??
A friend of mine got back to his car - saw the dreaded yellow ticket - near his car (had fallen off) the windscreen.
The traffic warden has entered the colour of te car as blue.
It is black.
Can he refuse payment - on these grounds - i.e. details are incorrect on the ticket?
Thanks for your help. Read more
The traffic warden has entered the colour of te car as
blue.
It is black.
Can he refuse payment - on these grounds - i.e. details
are incorrect on the ticket?
Try it, theres only one way to find out, and there is a noticable difference between blue and black.
Be advised though, appealing against the fine waives your right to the reduced ammount - if you loose the appeal you pay the full whack.
can anyone help me is there a quick fix or is it loads of money for the car dealer location of it is it easy to replace or cheap to buy thanks Read more
Sorry - it would appear you've already posted on that thread....
in the words of the great Mr ND,
"I'll get me coat"...
Sorry again
Adam
Have a friend who has recently chaned car but didnt mention to his insurance company he has a past history of heart problems and are considered medium to high risk for a heart- attack.
the doctor has said he can drive short distances trouble free.
he realises he should tell the insurance but is fearfull that they will fine him for hlding back information when beginning the policy so would rather leave.
Does he have to tell them? (presume yes)
what extra costs will hit him?
his age is 45 and he drives a citreon picasso 1.8 and is now medically retired.
normally pays round 380 pound for him and his wife fully comp. Read more
Not only the insurer, he will have to report it to the DVLA.
So he could be done for no insurance and no licence if not reported.
www.dvla.gov.uk/drivers/dmed1_files/group1.htm#hc
Heart Conditions
H1
* Angina (heart pain)brought on by driving
* Implanted pacemaker
* Disturbance of heart rhythm significant to cause dizziness, collapse or loss of consciousness
* Any other heart condition
DEFIB1
* Defibrillator Immplanted
Browse
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I believe that James Dean's Porsche Speedster was even worse - not only did it kill him, when the parts were sold off the cars that they were fitted to also suffered horrendous accidents.
Get rid of the devil in your car with a gallon of petrol and a box of matches (or a £15 ad in Autotrader) and move on.
On a similar subject, some cars do seem to want to "stay alive", my friend had a VW Beetle that despite being badly maintained and run on a shoostring budget, always got him home despite several epic 250 mile trips. At the same time, I had an MG which would need several hours of work and love spent on it before it would even move out of the garage onto the driveway.
This kind of thing must happen to lots of people - why do you think the "Herbie" and "Christine" movies were so popular? ;-)
Gareth