September 2004
Think I'm about to buy a nearly new Leon TDi 110 from Motorpoint.
The rep told me they're euro imports and thats why they dont have an Alarm fitted (the UK dealers fit these apparently)
What they do have is a superb titanium effect centre console which I don't think is available in the UK and the car's £2K cheaper than UK dealer price.
Are there any other spec differences I should know about / ask about?
AND..
I noticed that all the Leons at Motorpoint have white plastic (like carrier bag material) sticking out between the rear wing (under the light cluster) and bumper.
At first I thought this was accident repair stuff but they all have it.. even the new ones and I noticed the Leons I saw at another supermarket had it too.
What's that all about then? Read more
A question in HJ's column today got me thinking.
My first two Passat TDI's (Bought new) used about a litre of oil during the first 10k miles or so. My current one was an ex demonstrator with 4000miles and the dip stick indicated the oil to be 5 or 6 mm over the full mark. Now at 11000 miles, the level has dropped but is still just over the full mark. I am still awaiting the first service due indicator but as the car is mainly used on motorways, this may be some distance away yet.
Are there any implications of the lack of oil consumption and would anyone recommend an oil change now, irrespective of the service indicator? Read more
How accurate is the dipstick?
The correct volume of oil inserted into the dry engine may be over the indicated maximum on the dipstick. I'd not worry.
Usually the maximum level is so chosen such that the crank does not quite "hit" it with a cold engine.
If the level is over the real upper limit you usually burn it off quickly (as the bores get drenched), but if the overfill is by lots, excess crankcase pressure is produced and seals etc are at risk of damage. The oil wants "out" and by jingo it finds a way!
While I'd agree the dipstick should be checked regularly, the British do have a history of being paranoid about this. The Mark 1 Austin/Morris 1800 had a history of poor oil consumption (ie lots) but only in the UK. Same car sold in Austalia didn't. It turned out the British were keeping topping the thing upto max on the dipstick and the Australians wern't. A new dipstick with a lower max fixed the problem.
Dear All,
I have a year old SaaB 2.2 diesel, which has the 2.2 GM Ecotec unit installed.
This is quite a good engine overall but suffers from being rather noisy at tickover and low speeds even when fully warm.
My question, to any diesel experts out there is as follows :-
Is it possible on this type of engine ie - direct injection, to adjust the injection timing in order to \'soften\' the diesel clatter and at initial pull-away, or is this not a feasible scenario. I am taking the car for its first service soon and was wondering if this is a thing I should ask them to look at ? Read more
Dear All,
I have asked about the software updates and the SaaB dealer was predictably cagey about this subject !
In terms of mileage, I have done just under 17,000, so I hope you are right that the engine will mellow after 20K, although this is a long time to wait for an engine to bed in.
When I first started work, my boss, a well qualified and experienced Fleet Engineer with a large Transport Company always insisted on "Clearalex" being used in his windscreen washers.
On the basis of "if its good enough for him"..., I've used it ever since (more than thirty years) and been very pleased with the performance. As it is either in powder or tablet form, meths is added in the winter to prevent freezing.
Clearalex now seems difficult to come by and I would like to know whether it is stil made and if so where it can be obtained. Failing this, recommendations on which product gives the best results would be appreciated. Some car magazines often make claims as to which are best best, but I wonder how much the sale of advertising space affects this. Read more
>>I'm all agog to know the brand names>>
The yellow bottle one will most likely be RainX - it's very effective.
In the days when windscreen wipers often used to fail, wiping the windscreen with half a raw potato would keep the rain running off for quite a while and allow completion of a journey.
Hi,
Do any of you have any tips for independant servicing of Audi's in the Manchester area.
Pal has a'99 A6 V6 2.4 which is now costing silly money to get serviced by a franhised dealer.
In anticipation. Read more
A former colleague of mine used to take his beloved golf gti here and he reckoned they were good.
Chorlton Volkswagen Audi
Tel: 0161 881 0258
213b, Upper Chorlton Rd, Manchester, Lancashire M16 0BH
Regards
Jonathan
I just received my renewal quote from Direct Line. To my surprise they've given me 2 years no claims bonus even though I've only been insured for one year (it's my first car). All the other details are correct. Should I just accept their quote price? I was just concerned that it might invalidate the insurance if they've given me the incorrect discount.
Thanks, Blinky Read more
As I said, all the info is secondhand. If anyone is interested then the link is:
www.porscheclubgbforum.com/tm.asp?m=75204&mpage=1&...2;
Hi all,
Never thought I'd give up, but my Laguna 2 1.9 dCi ST is gone!
Traded it in for a 1.8 VVTi Corolla Verso. Lost quite a bit of money, but I could no longer face the prospect of fighting Renault UK Customer (abuse) Services and threw in the towel.
The most amazing thing about the whole experience has been the incredible attitude of Renault CS, they seem not to care at all. I guess Renault is riding high with its huge profits, but I hope their attitude and poor quality control will come back to haunt them.
I think the lesson here is pay attention to a manufacturers customer satisfaction ratings and don't be seduced by HUGE discounts - which leads to HUGE depreciation!
C'est la vie!!!
l2cv Read more
Bobby,
The garage I was using is the Sighthill Reg Vardy.
Read the car manual yesterday and the noise it makes when moving off after it has been standing for a while is the Traction Control System testing itself.
Guess I'll be comparing Renault with Toyota later :-)
lnm
I have just had a garbled message form daughter that I have been detailed off to give a used Peugeot 306 Diesel the once over on behalf of her boyfriend who is useless!
I have printed out the car by car breakdown from the HJ site so can see the recurring bits and bobs - so happy with that.
However, I thought she said it was a 1992 1.9 Diesel and this is not covered in the 306 dates, so assume that must be my error and the car is a 93 or a 94. Or was the 306 available prior to 93?
Can anybody enlighten me on the engine is it likely to be turbo - if it is is there anything I can realistically check at the roadside or during test drive?
I would be grateful for clarification of the above and any other inspection tips. This is not a car/model I am familiar with at all.
Answers befor 2pm would be really useful - after that I am on my own doing the deed.
Cheers
NormanB
Portsmouth Read more
The essence of good comedy is timing Ben, while you may be factually correct, as information for me and the 'Laddo' it is now at best, superfluous. But thanks for the thought and dare I say it the amusement factor! NormanB
SWMBO said to me last week that she wouldn't have a clue what to replace the trusty A6 with when it goes to the parking lot in the sky (not for some years yet we hope). She is right when she says that modern designs are getting uglier.
This is not an anti-VAG rant but I have to mention four recent products in despatches, having seen them all, and driven all but the new model A4.
The new A6 is ugly, the new A3 sporthatch is very ugly, and the A4 "advance" or whatever they will call it when it gets to the UK, is downright hideous. That grille doesn't work guys, on the A6 it is tolerable if the car is in the right colour but on the A3 and the A4 it just looks daft.
Thought the new Golf was ordinary and bland? Wait until you see the new GTi in the tin, the face that sank a thousand ships or what?
And no, the BMW 5 series has not grown on me, the 1-series is very unpleasant on the eye both in reality and in pictures.
I could go on but it is depressing me. Read more
The Toledo is yet another one with this oh-so-fashionable 'reverse rake' rear door windows. Personally I think this is ugly every time I see it, but I must be in a minority.
The Peugeot 206 is an example - quite apart from aesthetics it means very poor rear visibility, which I would say is unsafe, even dangerous at some types of road junction. The Megane is even worse. SWMBO had a 206 and the blind spot was a retrograde step compared with the 205.
The 205 was pretty by any standards. It's a matter of personal taste I know, but perhaps someone can suggest what it is about the 206 and Megane that people find pleasing to the eye.
Hello all
I'm generally a lurker, but have decided to come out of the woodwork. Awfully bright out here...
Anyway, if any of you have read my profile you will see that I have recently given up my (sorry if this sounds smug) quite high-powered, well paid job in finance to be a bus driver. Am I as mad as a penguin? I don't think so as my stress levels have plummeted. Sadly so has my income, but I think that it's a small price to pay. Anyway, I'm waffling.
As a newcomer to the world of public transport I'd be intrigued to know the view that you all hold on the bus as a mode of transport. Obviously as this is a motoring website, I'm not expecting you all to go off in raptures of joy but nonetheless I'd quite like to hear your two penn'orth.
TC
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One a-ha-ha, two a-ha-ha, I love to count a-ha-ha-ha-ha! Read more
We have B10M single deckers in our depot and they are generally very liked by all that drive them due to their acceleration and speed capabilities.
I suppose if I think back hard enough I can remember brakes on buses which were downright dangerous and pulled to the side when braking. I suppose the company I work for maintains its buses quite well. I do get the feeling however that maintanance and quality of the vehicle is different between buses and coaches.
If you're sure the spec list meets or exceeds the UK one apart from the alarm, it shouldn't be a problem insurance-wise, especially if you get a dealer to fit an OEM alarm (but still worth bearing in mind that other companies may be less accommodating that your current insurer). I would just double-check with the dealer that it's possible to do an after-market fit, but I can't see why not. Do you know what company the warranty will be with - is it Motorpoint themselves, or are they acting as an agent for the likes of Warranty Direct?
Otherwise, seems like a good price - somewhere under £10k, yes? Must agree that I prefer the look of the current Leon to the next one.
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andymc
Vroom, vroom - mmm, doughnuts ...