September 2004
Sorry for the title of this thread but unfortunately its true.
Driving along the road at the end of my estate, the one that is 30mph limit but most people do up to 40, its wide, there are no houses on it etc.
Last night I was in my Scenic and driving along but only doing 31mph, purely because I was travelling in front of a police car (which seemed annoyed by my low speed). Just prior to this incident, it pulled off into a side street.
I noticed on the left hand pavement a group of girls, maybe aged 12 and 13 walking along. Literally, just as I approached them, from within their midst, a toddler ran out, straight off the kerb and half way into my lane. I stamped on the brakes and swerved to avoid him. I ended up with my front on my side of the road and rear across the white lines.
The toddler was frozen with fear and was still standing a good couple of yards into the road.
Now, being honest, I am one of these guys, "it will always happen to someone else" etc. But I was shaking last night. The "what ifs" then started.
What if I had been doing my usual speed on this road?
What if I had been driving the Saxo which doesn't have ABS, EBD etc
Does my child know how to keep safe on pavements at side of road?
Through no fault of my own, I could, quite literally, have taken a young child's life and that really got to me.
I have watched that advert where it shows if a car wasn't speeding it wouldn't have knocked the boy down. Now I know how true it is.
I am not going to preach to anyone else or beg you to drive safely, I have read such comments in the past and it has not affected my driving.
What happened last night, however, has. Read more
Volvo V70 2.5 tdi se 98 r plate Man (metallic Dark Blue)
velour uphols
air.con
rear spoiler
computer
t5 alloys (all 4 brand new tyres)
original exhaust!
inside hasn?t seen a vac or cleaning for 3 years !
140K miles
7m mot
fvsh
1 owner
new rear shocks & springs
roof bars
body work has 20 dents on roof, not real bad
scratch?s and slight dents all over, front bumper large scuff mark
rear bumper scratched to hell, on loading area
parkers says £7845 good
bad is £6200
but alliance-leicester.co.uk/smartermotoring
says poor is £3800
good £5110
and trade is £4445
? bit of a fluctuation from £7845 to £3800
Read more
This is probably more accurate.
Dealer £7,751
Private
£7,292
Part Ex
£5,444
Trade
£5,326
Cost New £27,020
Engine
Cubic capacity
2461
Cylinders
5
Max power (bhp/rpm) 140/4000
Max torque (lb ft/rpm)
218/1900
Urban mpg
39.2
Extra-urban mpg
64.2
Combined mpg
44.1
Fuel
Diesel
Ownership data
Insurance group
12
Service interval
No data
Volvo V70 (96-00) Estate 2.5 TDi SE 5dr
Estate 5dr
1998-R
140,000 miles
What Car? verdict
Volvo doing what it does best. Tremendously versatile estate with bags of space, a fine driving environment and loads of safety kit. Ride is harsh, steering is dull and chassis struggles to cope with more powerful engine variants.
For
Versatility, space, safety kit
Against
Harsh ride, dull steering
Reliability
Suspension will need work if used for towing. Turbodiesel's timing belt can snap. Spares are costly. Replace brake discs after 50k miles
Other models to consider
BMW 5-series, Mercedes C-class
Model History
Dec 96 Range Intr as 5dr est. All have alarm, immob, r/c/locking, rake/reach/adj/PAS, airbag, ABS, e/adj/htd/mirrors, e/wins, r/cass, st/h/adj, side airbags c/keyed mirrors and bumpers and s/f/r/seat. SE adds aircon, lthr/s/wheel, alloys, r/spoiler, integral child seat, and f/fogs. CD as SE plus climate control, e/s/roof, lthr seats, e/drivers seat, CD, c/control and wood dash. R as CD plus Met paint, 17" alloys, t/control, lowered suspension, aluminium inlayed dash, multi CD player and htd/f/seats.
V70 2.5 TDi Intr with 140bhp 5cyl Turbodiesel eng, 5sp man 4sp auto opt.
Jul 98 Re-aligned
As mentioned before, I purchased a pre reg Scenic from Renault dealer. Car was registered on 29 June and I purchased it on 3 July with something like 6 miles on clock.
I have not received the log book in from DVLA yet. When I questioned this with the dealer yesterday, he advised me that as it was a pre reg, there would be a 3 month delay. Unfortunately my mobile went dead at that time and salesman is not in today.
I am not unduly concerned however, it I had to present this at a police station, or there was a speeding ticket where would it be sent to?
Is the 3 months a tax loophole that the garage needs to allegedly keep the car for? Wonder what date of change of ownership will appear?
Any ideas, experience of this? Read more
DD, just tried it, you are right again! Only has a build date, not registered!
...I'm really a very good driver!
Well, as we all know, in my recent youth, I wasn't a very good driver, and the time has come to renew the car insurance again.
Last year I think I paid about £800 fully comp, and this year the best the broker can come up with is £760, which I don't think is particularly good as I now have 3 years no claims discount and am practically an old lady (can't wait til I'm 25 and break through the magical young driver barrier!). So I've been doing some research of my own this morning.
The best quote is from the sister company of the one Michael Winner does the stupid adverts for (is that as good as naming it?sorry!). They've quoted me £560 fully comp which is a pretty big difference to the one the broker came up with. The reason it's so low is (I think) that they wouldn't let me tell them about the accident that was my fault in feb 2001 because it was more than three years ago. All the other companies I've tried to get quotes from go back five years, so I have to declare it and it bumps up the quote.
I'm just a bit uneasy about it because it's so much lower than everyone else. Have they made a mistake only asking me to go back three years? I tried to put it in on the website and it told me I couldn't because it was over 3 years ago. Is the five year thing a requirement for all insurers or do they set their own limits?
I guess I just don't want to have to make a claim and for them to say "sorry, you're uninsured because you didn't tell us about that accident" when they wouldn't let me tell them!
Second question is a bit easier I think! I'm temping at the moment in boring office jobs while I freelance and look for a job that is actually something to do with my degree (PR/Marketing). In the occupation question, what should I be putting? Does it make that much of a difference? (I know journalists get higher quotes, and PR is usually in that category.) I've been putting PR, but again don't want them to get awkward if I have to make a claim.
Sorry for the long post, hope someone with a bit more brain will be able to sort me out!
Thanks!
Read more
ok...
Esure - haven't got 4 years no claims so they wont quote.
Privelige - just laughed at me and said I'd be better going somewhere else once we got to the "claims or points in the last 5 years" bit.
Liverpool Victoria - quoted more than the broker.
Norwich Union - wont quote me as I've had more than one loss/claim in the last 3 years.
Direct Line/Tesco - wont quote me. Didn't say why (through confused.com)
More Than - more than the broker!
Kwik Fit - actually quite a good quote, and a kwik fit discount card too.
And those are just the ones I can remember!
Hello all, this is my first post. I've come across this site while researching for my new company car.
Firstly, let me set the background - I'm english but living in Belgium, I'm driving an Alfa 156 Sportwagon, all cars in Belgium nearly are diesel. Today the Alfa is completely inappropriate for our needs as we now have twin girls, rapidly approaching 1 year of age - we realise we need something bigger.
I'm a little bit loathe to move towards a full sized MPV as I like to drive a bit - my personal favourite is the 2.0 TDi Touran which is pretty fast, handles nicely and is VW so good build quality. However, my wife is pressurising me to take a Galaxy, Espace or 807 - tha latter because of the sliding doors...
Her argument is that we need the space. My argument is that we need the space 5% of the time when we go on vacation, the rest of the time and most of the week it will just be myself driving an empty van around. My solution would be to buy a luggage box for the Touran to boost the available volume as and when needed.
Does anyone out there have a simillar experience? Will I regret taking the smaller car, would I hate driving about in a Galaxy etc? I'm really stumped on this... Read more
I'm back!
Well, after more research, lots of garage visits, some test drives, some discussion, more research, more garage visits, many sleepless nights and a stomach ulcer I have made a decision.
So, it will be the Touran 140bhp 2.0 TDi Highline (that's Sport model in UK I think) - beige interior and Indigo Blue exterior (I'm limited in colour choice you see).
Only question now is the options to take, hence my other post regarding the factory fitted Navigation System. I'm also thinking of taking the DSG auto gearbox as I do a lot of driving in Brussels and not having to sit on the clutch half of the time is quite appealing.
My take on the other cars, well I could have a Galacy Ghia with leather but it's too old a model. I love the exterior of the Espace but the interior design makes me queasy, I mean it's like something out of Space 1999. The design on the 807/C8 I just don't like at all - too whacky by far.
I also calculated that a Touran with a decent roof box has the same capacity as a Grand Espace so I'll purchase one to use as and when needed.
Any ideas on the best brand roof boxes??
I read recently that most manufacturers spend 2-3% of their total budget on advertising; and some considerably more. That amounts to several hundred pounds per car.
Most people are cynical about any form of advertising and some adverts - like those for underwater Mitsubishi Colts or the pop-up butterflies that appear on this site are plain irritating.
Whilst one assumes that marketing professionals know what they are doing, can adverts really influence people to buy Car A rather than Car B?
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>>I am talking about manufacturers advertising new cars, not second hand dealers advertising their stock.>>
If you read my post again you will see that I was referring to new car advertising in the first paragraph.
Later on I stated: "It's also why second hand car dealers..."
With regard to McDonalds, Pepsi etc the point I was making - or at least thought I was - was that no matter how famous the name, advertising is still regarded as essential to keep that name, brand or whatever to the forefront.
It applies equally to car manufacturers.
please? Read more
Hi.
I had exactly this problem with my pug 406 2.1TD
My pug garage eventually said (after much investigation and therefore cost)they changed one of the thermister valves,(i think that is what it was called, sorry I don't have bill with me )this fixed problem.
I am not very technical i'm afraid but apparently they have to run within a narrow temperature range or they send misleading info to the fuel pump.
I don't if your car has them but hope this might help.
gsb
Still looking for a different car , but unfortuantly not a new one now as i hoped .
Whats the best out of these please , ive narrowed it down to
2001 Mondeo 1.8lx
2001 Vectra (old style)1.8 club
2001 Omega elite 2.5td automatic
The omega is truely beautifull , but need your advice please ?? Read more
I would take the Omega out of those 3 but its a very odd list.
Why Mondeo 1.8 LX v Omega 2.5 higher spec?
If the Mondeo in question was a 2.0 or TDCi in Ghia or Ghia X specification and was a Mk3, I'd take that over the Omega. But if its a 1.8 LX I'd have the Omega.
Went to look at a new Almera Tino today.
Crikey. Bit cramped across the shoulders compared with my beloved Xantia.
Lots of rough edges and very wide gaps in the dashboard plastic.
Fiddled with roof light and whole roof lining moved up about 2 inches and twanged back.
My wife spotted the Nissan badge on the tailgate being at least 10 degrees out of level.
At this point we both said stuff that it's junk.
Of course I know it isn't but it was not very impressive at all.
Is this what you get for serious money these days ?
Why oh why did Citroen not follow up the Xantia with a carefully aimed er---follow up. Like Xantia 2 and not that gallumphing C5. Read more
>>>>>>> This is why I can never understand why people think the Japs build good cars,
I don't know if this has relevance here, but where I live it definitely does. An "real" (sic in the local vernacular) Honda or Toyota from Japan will command a better price than a locally assembled one, even though the local factories are Japanese-managed. Call it snobbery if you will, but the widespread perception is that genuine Jap is best.
I can't vouch for that, having had excellent service from a Honda Civic and Mits L200 locally made. But I can certainly quote a parallel from Nokia. My first 4 Nokias fell to bits or gave up the ghost (especially the batteries and keyboards) in mere months. Then I bought a Siemens which was even worse, then an Ericsson, well enough said about that piece of junk. Finally I was enlighted by a friend: "before you buy any Nokia open it up and see if it was made in China. If it was don't touch it, ask for one made in Finland. It will cost you more but it's worth it". My Finnish Nokia is still going strong despite being dropped, soaked, abused, left behind in bars, and otherwise maltreated.
I'm always suspicious of any company which boasts a "Quality Control" dept. If it made the durn thing right from Day One it wouldn't need one.
Company culture is everything. Maybe Nissan, given the faults mentioned, has now got Renault Disease.
Upon returning a Tumble Dryer for a full refund that was only 18 months old and had caused nothing but problems since I had it, I was concerned that it was not repaired and sold on but scrapped in its entirety. (This little intro story is non motoring related but the warranty was out by 6 months and I still got them to refund the cost of it - can post this on "I have a Question" if anyone is interested)
It got me thinking about what happens to cars that have been taken back by the manufacturers when they have caused nothing but trouble for the owner.
The two cases I know of is a backroomer who got an 85% refund on his VW, and a friend of ours who managed to get his Y reg Fiat Multipla swapped for a 51 Reg vehicle by Fiat because of all the trouble he had with the Y reg one.
What happens to these cars when they are taken back?
Do they simply get fixed then pushed out to some unsuspecting dealer through an auction? Do the main dealers get to sell these cars on as used or do they get reduced to produce for spares and the bits sold though car breakers?
Is it something that nearly new car buyers should be aware of?
Hugo Read more
IIRC, Fords replaced under their old 'lemon' garantee went back into auction with a vital plate chiselled off from under the bonnet. Perhaps someone with better knowledge of these things can confirm/elaborate?
Regarding not braking correctly in a emergency, I had first hand experience of this a couple of months ago when a cat ran out in front of me. I was doing 30mph in a 30 limit. It was sitting on the pavement looking across the road, but when I got within about six feet of it, it bolted out. I felt the sickening thump as I hit the brakes, but for some reason in the heat of the moment, I let the pressure off the pedal again, maybe thinking it would have time to escape my rear wheels. Then came a second thump from the back. Maybe I should have kept my foot hard down. I was pretty shaken up by this experience and kept thinking about it\'s poor owner. But what if it had been a child that ran out? No chance...