July 2004
I've been made to think about this by the 'drive the deal' thread, but it doesn't really fit within it, so started another one.
In the (reasonably) near future I plan to buy a Fiat Coupe. Now, these aren't the most common car on the road and a combination of the spec I require (air con, either PLUS or LE) and the fact that there are only a few colours I'd be happy with (Ink Black preferably) means that I'm not really going to have much control over where I get the car when the right one comes along.
This creates a problem. What if 'the right car' is being sold privately? What are my options for getting rid of my current car?
Especially if the price means that I need the money from selling the Alfa to afford the new Coupe?
Some sort of bridging loan (possibly on top of finance if I choose to go that way)?
A deposit on the Fiat with an agreement to pay balance and pick up car in x days? (But how likely is a seller to agree to that?)
I'm sure plenty of other people have been in this situation, how did you deal with it?
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I\'ve got a seat ibiza 1.9 diesel The last few mornings its been taking a long time to start, The Heater light comes on and goes out as normal. Can any body help. Read more
The glowplugs probably need replacing.
I estimate my car would be due for its first 10000 mile service in about 10 weeks time. However due to anticipated excesses in my routine mileage I will be cought between either getting it done about 800 miles early or risking going slightly over(will this invalidate the warranty?)
My inclination is to get it booked knowing it will be a bit early (so I can secure a courtesy car). Will this be ok with the dealer? Read more
Ask the dealer?
I have a Fiesta 1.3 LX 1996 Endura-E engine which has developed a problem in the Temperature Gauge giving a constant Maximum reading. It doesn\'t give a max reading when the ignition is on(ie. oil, brake, and battery light illuminated) only when the engine has started and within 2 seconds needles shoots to MAX reading.
This fault only developed after I removed the starter motor to check the condition of the Flywheel. I have gone back over my refitting of the starter and can\'t seem to find anything which differed before removal and before the problem occured. All earth bonds seem fine and car not overheating. Would be grateful for any information. Thanks in advance. Read more
Get a set of jump leads and connect one of the leads to the engine block, and the other end to bare metal body partto see if it fixes it . Given that you have been fidlling with the starter motor and its leads its almost certain an engine earth problem,
Possibly the sensor has gone. Its one of those two things.
I had it my head that ABS was required on all new cars registered after 1st July this year, so was quite surprised that some manufacturers (on Fiat Punto for example) still list it as option.
Can anyone confirm if it is 'legally' required now, or would it still be OK to sell a 54 reg car without it?
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Most people just don't brake hard enough soon enough, ABS or no ABS. Or at all. And many don't steer - there is apparently a natural tendency for people to go where they are looking, which is usually the thing they are frightened of hitting.
Safest thing is to avoid the situation in the first place, which ABS has very little bearing on.
I am not a happy bunny. There I was, pootling along to work, enjoying the first sunny morning in manchester for a while, when up ahead is a traffic light going from green to amber. Quick check of the mirror, and I begin my slow and I come to a stop and put the hand brake on.
I don't understand, therefore, how the woman who drove her big white van into the back of my car managed to not see me.
To further complicate things, her English wasn't as good as her Spanish and she had to get someone at the end of the phone to give me the insurance details.
What a great start to the weekend. Read more
Good deal, if it is as you say. Sadly all too often what they mean is that it won't affect your bonus level, but the base premium will get loaded out of sight.
hi all
my astra 1.7td vauxhall engine seams to be a little bit jerky when driven at low revs in traffic you can feel it wanting to hold back but when you put your foot down and go faster it smooths out this is my first diesel so i do not know much about them i have had a similer problem before on a petrol engine and it was the airflow sensor is there something like that on a diesel.any help would be welcome as im going on holiday soon and i dont want to drive it like this. Read more
Hi guys,
OK I'm looking to swap my ageing 93 Corsa 1.2LS as it's starting to show it's age and it's not worth spending any money on. (only cost £450 and it's done 9-10k trouble free driving).
I've been playing with some figures and I reckon my budget is around £6,000. (Mainly finance through a personal loan - seems the cheapest option).
I'm probably looking for something of a similar size or slightly bigger as it's difficult to park where I live.
Unsure of my mileage at the moment as my work situation has recently changed and I'm now mainly working from home but I have to go into the office usually once a week which is a 100 mile round trip via motorway / dual carriageway (Newcastle to Stockton) so 1.0L engines are out. Also as I'm unsure of the mileage I'm not looking at oil burners.
I am mainly looking to buy through a dealer, I've been looking at various approved car schemes and prices. I've come up with a few ideas - what do you think?
Skoda Fabia 1.4 (pref 16v)
Seat Ibiza 1.4
Toyota Yaris 1.3
Ford Fiesta 1.25 or 1.4
One reason for considering the Fiesta is I have a good contact at one of the local Ford dealerships so I should be able to secure a healthy discount on anything he gets in.
Cheers Read more
Thanks for the info and the tips.
Air-con would be nice to have as I know it increases the residual value of the car, also it would be a novelty not to have to drive with the window down (currently I ain't even got a sunroof).
As for the comment for the Fiesta driving position - I'm sure the Corsa's is worse. You don't notice it too much until you drive a couple of hundred miles then get out of the car. I've seen it described as the quasimodo position...
CD nice to have but I do have a Sony CD headunit (£30 from a mate) which works fine, although with the level of integration with the dashboard on modern cars they make it trickier to change the headunit.
I did go past the dealership where my friend works and noticed he had a Citoren Saxo on the Forecourt for £4200 but the thought of French build quality and electrics scares me.
Hi all
I've mentioned this problem on another thread, but it probably warrants being covered seperately.
I have a high-miled Mk2 Gti 8v that has recently had a temeperature sender replaced to cure an idling problem. The car now idles well, but upon collecting from the garage the expansion bottle was empty. I filled this and thought no more of it. However, my girlfriend uses the car a lot and she told me that she has had to fill the expansion bottle repeatedly. I contacted the garage who replaced my temperature sender and suggested that I'd look for a split pipe and would get back to them if there were any further problems.
Whilst running the engine up to operating temperature during checking I noticed a bit of steam/vapour escaping the expansion bottle, and then suddently a lot of of water rushed up the bottle and came out in quite a jet from the expansion bottle. There are two slot/hole things on the back of the expansion bottle that I assumed were vents or relief valves, and it is from these that the water came. It took less than 10 seconds to drain the expansion bottle. Apparently there aren't any vents on the bottle, so it looks like a split somewhere within these slot/holes. This has now happened a few times, and tneds to occur when the engine is switched off after a reasonable length journey.
The current thinking us that the thermostat is shot and (obviously) so is the expansion bottle. this doesn't explain why the water was ejected so forcefully. The head gasket has been mentioned, but I've heard that there are usually tell-tale signs in terms of the water becoming contaminated etc., whereas the water ejected from the expansion bottle was clear water (I didn't have any coolant at the time). steve-o suggested that it could be an airlock, which makes some sense. As mentioned before, it really only seems to happen when the engine is stopped (or the car is stationary for a while).
Does anyone else have any ideas? I am trying to get the garage to check it out and make good any problems caused by the temperature sender, however it's not clear how much liability they'd accept.
All advice gratefully received.
Matt Read more
Going down the replies, I thought expansion bottle cap. Happened on an old SAAB of mine. Sometimes difficult to see as the rubber looks OK, but isn't. Remember all systems are pressurised. If it can't, the water may boil and woosh out. Sometimes antifreeze stains on the bottle neck are a giveaway.
Very occasionally releasing the clutch and starting off in 1st gear produces a slight rumble mid way through the travel. Doesn't happen every time, and varies with RPM and enthusiasm of take-off.
Car is 2.2 Vectra Petrol 5sp 2001.
Any ideas ?
Cheers,
Steve Read more
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It is a great car. I think you should at least go along there and see it up close. I am sure they'll lend you the £8450 :-)
teabelly