September 2004
I am considering importing a Toyota Camry Gold (1995 onwards) from America. Where can I find more information about doing this and the prices of these types of vehicles. Could anyone give details of a website that deals with these vehicles or who can obtain one. I am also considering a Honda Legend.
On the net I cannot find anything.
Any replies would be appreciated. Read more
My parents have just brought round on test drive the new Colt with Semi-auto gearbox. It was a 1.3 Elegance model. So here are my thoughts: -
Build quality - good, but quality of fittings and plastics etc no better, if not worse than Hyundai.
Space - excellent. Loads of room for such a short car. Boot is quite reasonable, even when the rear seats at at the rear most setting. Certainly, with me in the drivers seat, I can sit behind myself in great comfort and still have a decent boot.
Drive - lots of verve and the semi-auto box is far superior to the equivalent method in the 2-seater Smart.
Ride/Handling - not bad, but I don't remember the Honda Jazz being any worse..
Value - very good, but somehow I think if I were in the market, I would have to have a really good look at the Jazz and Micra, as well as the european models before I bought a Colt. Its biggest competitor is the Hyundai Getz, which I think has lots more room and is a lot cheaper.
Anyone else got any thoughts?
--
Espada III - well if you have a family and need a Lamborghini, what else do you drive? Read more
For anyone who has driven the Colt I'd like you to go and drive the new smart forfour - same car different badges. Let us know what you think about the car, but more importantly how you were treat by a Mercedes dealer when enquiring about the smart.
I've driven the forfour and was underwhelmed. Semi gearbox is excellent and much better than in the smart fortwo, but the 1.5 engine felt underpowered.
So my timing belt question for this didn't go too well. Here is another.
The car in question is an S reg 626 Intrigue with around 40k on. Any ideas for the price please. It's not for me but I'd figure around 3k.
Many thanks
Adam Read more
Hi,
I am working for a year (gap year) and then I am off to uni. I have got a job and I pretty much need a car to get there. Most of the trip is on the motorway and its about 13 miles journey. However I plan to use the car when I come back from uni in the hols, so it's got to last a while.
I've been looking at cars, so far at VW Golf's and Fiestas as they are cheap to run and insure. Corsa's have also been suggested. The main issue is money, I have about £2000 limit on spending on the car, however the less money I spend the better. Obviously I want something that is reliable, cheap to run and cheap on insurance. Anyone have anymore suggestions or more specific ones?
I have a question about insurance aswell; I am going to insure my Mum as the main driver as she is obviously going to be cheaper then me to cover. Can she use her no claims bonus on my car even though she is already using it on hers? My car is going to be bought in her name. I've been driving for over a year insured on my sister?s car as a second driver. Due to this I cannot do pass plus? Thanks for your advice it is much appreciated.
Read more
I went through an independent insurance broker to get my insurance - following his advice, we registered the car (Citroen Xsara 1.9TD) in my mum's name, and took out the policy in her name, but me named as the main driver. I pointed out to him that I'm heading off to Leeds (from Devon) this September and he assured me it would be fine. (Insured with the Co-Op.)
Total cost was £800 last year, and £815 this year with a 1 year no claims. (I'm the main driver, so I get the NCD ;-)) They apologised for pushing the price up so much, apparently it's people crashing uninsured. I let my parents deal with it and then write them the cheques!
From the Observer online
www.guardian.co.uk/oil/story/0,11319,1302395,00.ht...l
Some of the key quotes are:
"Opec ... is poised to raise its target price range for a barrel of crude this week - delivering a harsh message to oil-guzzling economies to get used to a $30 floor under prices.
Ministers from Opec's member nations ... will discuss the future of the $22 to $28 target band, which has been breached continuously since December last year."
" ... analysts say the basic problem is the fastest growth in demand for a generation, coupled with long-term underinvestment in oil infrastructure."
" ... the current price rise also reflects an underestimate of how quickly production from mature fields, including in the North Sea, would decline. Britain recorded a trade deficit in oil in July for the first time in 13 years."
--
andymc
Vroom, vroom - mmm, doughnuts ... Read more
I have just bought a second-hand Win 98SE laptop for No2 daughter to take to uni. It is set to use English US keyboard but I would like to change it to English UK. I have downloaded a kbduk.kbd driver from the web but I can't get it to install. Even though I browse to the correct location of the file I downloaded, it still says the file can't be found when I go into settings and change to a UK keyboard.
Naturally, I am not organised enough to have a working CD drive and a copy of Win 98SE system disk.
Anyone any ideas?
TIA
Hawkeye
-----------------------------
Stranger in a strange land Read more
I wasn't thinking straight. I use VPN here too and of course I can browse etc when my VPN goes off.
That's what comes of posting after a night in the pub...
I need to find a decent estate. I think.
But I am seriously considering a bmw 525 or 530 tds saloon.
I could use roof bars and my load box for long stuff I guess.
Don?t need loads of room for work, just a big boot
But would like estate, but do I really need it, I don?t think I do?
I do around 40K miles a year, get paid by the mile.
So, the more mpg I get, the richer I get.
I drive a lot at night and love the bmw and audi red dials inside
Don?t want a saloon in audi though.
Wife is telling me to get mondeo, but I have had these for 8 years on and off.
(company cars)
I just cant make my mind up.
So I have a few choices.
1. bmw 525/530 tds saloon around £13K for a 2000/y
2. audi a4 avant 2000 around £11K but reminds me of passat
3. mg zt-t 130 53 plate £13K 10 miles
4. Volvo 2.5 v70 td £11K 70K miles w reg new shape
5. omega 2.5tds don?t know haven?t looked yet.
6. bmw 325tds too small
Any more ideas
Not Renault, citroen,
I am torn between, comfy oldish motorway cruiser and cheap newish low mpg focus or mondeo.
Decisions decisions
Read more
If I had to drive 40,000 miles a year, I'd sure do it in a Volvo over a Mondeo! Laso company I worked for had a Mondeo estate as pool car - most uncomfortable car I have ever driven, pain in feet and legs within half an hour. OTOH I've driven my parents Volvo estates for thousands of miles across Europe with no bother.
Can somebody help me out please?
Take for example, a motorway exit slip road coming onto a roundabout. There are two lanes on the slip road, and three on the roundabout. When entering the roundabout anyone in lane 1 of the slip road can go to lane 1 of the roundabout. Anyone in lane 2 of the slip road can go to lane 3 of the roundabout.
Who has the right of way to go directly into lane 2 of the roundabout?
This question applies to any situation where the number of lanes just change and it is not obvious where you can and can't go.
Thanks.
Read more
DD & Stripey are both right - Swindon's magic r/bout is also useful for making progress if you "go the long way round". Most traffic seems to follow the path of least resistance i.e. what is perceived to be the quickest route as the crow flies. However if you can ensure that you are crossing the main body of queueing traffic from your left i.e. their right, they always have to give way. Sounds all weird and complicated but next time you're on it - go the long way and avoid the queue !! Works every time.
Earlier this afternoon I placed a deposit over the phone for a brand new VW Golf Mk V GT TDI. Just went to search on The Company House website and I don't think the company is registered. I am worried sick now, having been tempted by the cheap price on autotrader. The company is called Barkers of Preston, does anyone have any experience with them? Many thanks. Read more
I think the main problem now lies in the evidence. besides my bank statement showing a payment of £500 to the dealership, it is just my word against the dealership, it was all conducted over the phone and i have not even signed any contract.
Had it a week now and done 2000 miles, no rattles or squeaks, its averaging 39mpg and its just so quiet and smooth. I keep getting out looking at the badge, I'm sure its the only thing thats wrong. Yes it must be a mistake. I'm getting very worried now, surely its a VW or Mercedes, definately better than a Freelander, more room tham a CRV, or a RAV 4. 39mpg and so queit and smooth, its a pity they put the wrong badge on, yes it must be whats wrong with it, because i'm a fussy little idiot and I just can't find anything else, and believe me i've looked. Everyone that rides in it is pysically gob smacked, suerly it cost £24K, and 5 year warranty? you must have got that wrong, its well made, isn't it and comfortable, its faster than my Rover 75 and quieter, its better than my Mitsubishi i'll get one next time, hey this is good isn't it?
I can't help it, its just what my passengers have said. Read more
I've got a R reg Lantra Estate, 95K on the clock. I've had it for nearly 6 years, it gets very little in the way of tlc and has been extremely reliable. I guess the only downside is rock bottom residual values.
Hi
Does anyone know the website for the southampton auction that deals with japaneese auction. I might go there when I have some holiday!