July 2004
Private seller - 2003 VOLVO S60 Saloon 2.4 T SE 4dr [Geartronic]
leather seats, 9800 miles. £15100.
Is this a good deal? A lot of depreciation for 2003. Read more
Having said this morning that I was oblivious to the usual stupidities of drivers not being in control I witnessed this afternoon four young scooter riders - three learners and a fully qualified ( or not showing L plate) riding two abreast at 30 mph paying no attention to the road but laughng and joking with each other.
I kept well back from them when the 'qualified' one actually decides to get up and ride along kneeling on the seat of his scooter to show off to his mates
He carries on for about a quarter mile in this fashion with his mates around him and then actually tried to stand up on the seat!!! - He at least had a helmet but no other protective clothing at all.
Just how stupid can these kids be?
Read more
Tom that is true, scarey and depressing!
It's not just scooters, either, it's all bikes, any one of them is done for if any motorist fails to see them (the SMDSY thing).
I do try really hard to keep vigilant all the time for bikes coming up behind me, but I wouldn't pretend that I am constantly aware of every single thing that happens behind or alongside me.
As a parent of a 14 year old lad, it is not very long at all until I will have to start facing these things from a personal level as well as a road-using one.
Just hope he gets the training, or the sensibilities, as soon as possible - or preferably that I can buy him a car as soon as he hits 17!
Afternoon all,
I am new to this forum and hope that someone maybe able to offer some helpful advice to me .
I have recently purchased a Zafira 1.8 comfort and it would seem that the power steering is making quite a whirring sound even when the steering wheel is not turned. (I am not 100% certain that it is the power steering - but it seems like it)
I have spoken to vauxhall to check that there are no product recalls - and they did not have any other advice. So has anyone got any ideas or knowledge on this one
Cheers
Nick Read more
Thanks for your thoughts chaps - I will look into it this weekend.... I think the car is falling to bits lol - looks like I need a new alternator too - thats making a heck of a noise and battery not taking charge - oh well looks like i will have a busy weekend ....
Nick
...the gullible.
So you have just returned from holiday in Spain. In the mail awaiting your return is an official letter from Medio
de Corte Credito Recoudale Estorbar Exiyir and signed by Juan Carlos Jemenez, or one from Deuda Recaudar Alguacil Y Exigir Servicios (Drayes) signed by Miguel Walbery.
Either letter will alleged that traffic offences have been committed in Spain by your goodself for which there is an outstanding fine of 108 Euro's (72 quid) which should be forwarded.
This is a scam and should not be paid and your local Trading Standards made aware who are apparently collating incidents with a view to having the Spanish Authorites take action to stop.
Currently scan doing the rounds in the NE England.
DVD Read more
Are these the people who are getting names and adresses of timeshare owners in Spain? I think the Saturday Telegraph Travel agony aunt (Gill Charlton) highlighted something like this recently.
tinyurl.co.uk/x8vw
She also featured the Austrian trick of catching large camper vans etc for extra road tax
tinyurl.co.uk/9866
--
Terry
Does anyone know of any current internet discount/promotional codes for car hire?
I am shopping around for 2 weeks hire in France (all the usual major companies and holiday autos etc). All the sites have a field for discount codes, so I wonder if anyone knows of one?
I am a member of an professional association that supposedly gets good rates when quoting the affiliate number, but these don't compare well with the cheapest quote so far.
Thought it was worth asking, you never know. Read more
Saw a TV advert for current 'sale' prices on car rentals from the firm that lastminute.com have taken over.
Sorry, wasn't paying attention so the name didn't register, but I expect if you look on the lastminute website, all will be revealed...
I have been asked to carry out a valuation of a garage building which includes an operational and up-to-date MoT testing bay.
Has anyone ever equipped a garage from scratch with all the necessary equipment and how much does it cost? Also, has anyone ever bought an established MoT testing garage. Can you give me some thoughts on how you arrived at the purchase price?
THanks
--
Espada III - well if you have a family and need a Lamborghini, what else do you drive? Read more
I would consider an MoT testing station to possibly be a DETRACTION from the value.
You'll make more money / hour from a ramp, with repair & service work, if you run things properly.
& thats without the extra costs / paperwork / forth-coming computerisation,& hassle from staturatory requirements, operating a test centre.
I did the figures time & time again,a couple of years back - less red tape, then, still didn't add up.Saying that,I wonder how many gas testers/rolling roads/ramps I've paid for, with all the tests I've had!!??
VB
Guess I'm getting old.
Heard the term Kev-car last week for the first time, and now heard it again yesterday twice. I believe it means a heavily modified car. Is this true? Where did the name come from? Is it in common useage? Or only among teenagers?
Can anyone point to a website for this kind of info? (Google no help)
Thanks. (Uninformed middle-aged saddo needs help!)
Read more
Well this Kev's KEV-car is currently a 205STDT and a Rover 75 Diesel. Does this make me a chav?
Please offer you condolences to me, my N plate 1996 e34 525 diesel has today gone in for an MOT. As they were doing that damn stupid emissions test (do you ever drive your car until the rev limiter kicks in? NO? neither do I) and the engine blows up! Even though the engine is chain driven, I guess this is pretty bad heh? Andy advice on what to do next, i.e.
Value of car approx £5k
(a) New engine - approx £6K
(b) rebuilt engine approx £3k
(c) Recon engine???
I guess rebuilt/recon engines are never as good as the orig, so please any CONSTRUCTIVE advice much appreciated.
Thanks in advance Read more
well most diesels will run all day at 3000 rpm and indeed lots of cars ( and defenders)will do 70mph at under this engine speed so although they might do more revs overtaking etc there is a very sound argument for testing at 3000 rpm after all if you get caught doing more than 70 its not likely emmisions will be checked .the tester may not like it but cant argue with a motor limited to the legal speed limit.
I've got an A6 2.8 Quattro at the moment. I drove a new A6 3.0 tdi Quattro a couple of weeks ago and was mightily impressed. A quantum leap forward in handling and that engine is sewing machine smooth, would never have been able to tell by listening that it's a diesel. Couldn't even hear it in the cabin, had to open the window. It might even have BMW worried for once. Particularly with the eccentric looks of the new 5.
As H.J. said in his review, do you really need more ? Well I don't.
Anyway, my question is this. I don't fancy the standard (16") alloys which come with the 3.0 tdi. I like the look of the (18") 9 spoke jobs which are optionally available but I don't want the ultra low profile tyres which come with them. I'm a middle aged dad, not a boy racer. The same 9 spoke wheels are available in 16" for souped up VW models.
Anyone know if I could I fit those ? Are there any additional considerations ? Toe in (whatever that might mean) or gearing or anything else ? Read more
Sorry, I misread your post!
The A6 takes 205/60 R16 tyres on 7J x 16 '9-arm' design alloy wheel, the VW Passat takes 205/55 R16 on all 16" wheels, but the wheels are the same width, so it looks promising.
Her Madges Gov. are proposing record spending on the railways.
Now I may be wrong, but why do I get the funny feeling it will be the motorist bearing the majority of the funding burden? Somehow I don't see 80,000 civil servants going quietly to help pay for this, do you?
There wouldn't be an election due in the next 18 months, would there? Read more
There's lottsa reasons ppl don't want that sort of high-
density housing, but it is an option.
Such as two small children ... in a flat ... well I'd work much longer hours, I can say. About 24 per day...
Browse
This week's Auto Express Page 64 - Used Car Buyer's Guide.....Volvo S60!