October 2004
I've just been looking at Vectra's. Due to heavy early depreciation, top-range models are cheap.
But just what is the V6 diesel Vectra like-is it better or worse than the V6 petrol (I'm looking at an auto box).
Or would the 2 litre turbo be better suited? Read more
Hi, just wondering if anyone has experience of a chipped VW tdi, as thinking of getting a golf mk3 90bhp tdi, and if there are any particularly effective methods, and what sort of gains are experienced?
Cheers Read more
Thanks for the feedback everybody, upsolute do seem to offer a good service!
A friend of mine has got a 1995 Rover 827. The car is in great condition and having driven it I think the 2.7 V6 is one of the most underated V6 engines out there. (Much better than the KV6)
The car has been reliable over the last two years except for an annoying intermittent fault with the electric windows and sunroof. Most of the time they work fine yet occasionally they will refuse to work either not opening at all or refusing to close once already opened. If the engine/ignition is switched off then restarted, all the electrics work correctly.
Where are the control relays located?
Many thanks in advance
Spanner Read more
I will email you Spanner with the info as the explanation is quite long.
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\"Nothing less than 8 cylinders will do\"
Whats plan,
Take the fuel pipe off over a drain
Put it back on and bleed the diesel through ? Read more
Agree with you Steve.......I hope it was a joke.
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groups.msn.com/honestjohn - Pictures say a thousand words.....
Regarding my father's 2003 Fiesta 1.4 Zetec (new shape).
I noticed the other day with the car idling at standstill, when reved up towards 2500 - 3000 rpm there is a loud resonance from underneath the bonnet, similar to a plastic panel vibrating.
It goes as the revs climb but you can hear it again as the revs drop throught the 'zone' to idle speed.
I wondered if it was anything to do with the air cleaner housing, or perhaps an engine mounting issue? Something is certainly vibrating at a certain engine speed. It did not sound like a rattle caused by exhaust heat shields.
Any suggestions would be of help, I will carry out a visual check first for obvious issues such as engine under tray. Read more
Due to a combination of long term roadworks and flooded roads, the amount of traffic using the very narrow lane past my house has significantly increased over the last week or so. This has led to the inevitable meeting of vehicles coming in the opposite direction and one of us having to back up to a suitable passing place. Now I don't know about anyone else but I find it very difficult to reverse at night (no I'm not a flat-cap Rover and my vision does not require correcting, night or day) when all you've got to illuminate your path backwards is one or two 21 watt lights, not focused on the road, and someone coming towards you with 2 x 55 watt bulbs concentrated right in your peripheral vision or framing your side mirrors. Factor in the effect of rain and the manouvere becomes even more difficult. So my request is - if the other driver has the decencey to reverse back for you, show them a bit of consideration and go to side lights until there is a clear path for you to pass. It will benefit you since you'll be on your way that bit quicker. This is even more significant if you drive anything where the headlights are high off the ground (e.g. 4x4s, Transits, lorries) i.e. at the eye height of car drivers.
And as for the eejits who for some reason think front fog lights are necessary in such conditions i.e. dark and not foggy, well I may as well talk to myself where consideration is concerned. Read more
If they refuse to switch off their headlights, flick your own on to full beam. It might not help the vision situation but always makes me feel better. After all, you're doing them a courtesy, they should at least make the job easy for you.
Hello,
I went to view a car last night and was wondering if it is on the level. Full details are:
RED VW golf 1.4 P-reg (1996) 3-door
PAS, MOT june 2005, tax end 2004, 75,000 miles
Dad is selling on behalf of daughter who got a company car 6 months ago. bought from dealer about 3 years ago.
asking price is £1700
unfortunately I could only get there after work so the light was fading on me. when i arrived it was immediately noticable that the offside rear panel was a faded red as opposed to the rest of the vehicle which was a bright red. The seller said that it was like that since they bought it and suggested it was sun damage. he denied that it was ever replaced.
So, my concerns are:
has this vehicle been in an accident? it it was just a scrape would the panel have been replaced? could it be worse?
if it has been replaced why come up with a flimsey reason for the faded colour? why not hide it with cutting compound for faded red cars?
why was this the only faded panel? it it was a respray i would have expected one bright red panel and a faded car..not this way round which doesn't seem to make sense...
is it possible for only 1 panel to get faded by the sun?? never had a red car so i don't know.. wouldn't the sun damage extend over that side of the vehicle?
finally is this a lemon? I've considered doing a vehicle check but they only tell you if it's been written off and re-registered not if it's been in a more minor accident. The seller lives in a small mansion and seemed like a nice bloke but I know this isn't a good guide.
opinions anyone?
many thanks, luke
Read more
Hi Luke,
Solid red paint is a pain in the posterior for fading. The fact that some paint has faded and some hasn't makes you right to be suspicious.
At least the sellers haven't covered it up by cutting and polishing, which is what a dealer would do. This suggests that the seller may be being honest with you. The dealer who sold it to him may not have told him everything at the time.
I think that a vehicle check may tell you more about it. A good look at panel gaps, shut lines, spot welds, etc should help you decide how much bodywork has been done.
Armed with this knowledge and information, you may choose to go no further, and walk away, or use your evidence to negotiate a hefty price reduction. Without seeing the car, and without being in your shoes, I don't know which choice I would make.
number_cruncher
Hi,
I've just had one of my cooling fans replaced a few months ago and i've recently noticed that my alarm sounder doesn't sound.
The job was done by a garage who who had to take the front bumper off. I've briefly taken the cover under the nearside bumper.
I understand that the alarm sounder is under the nearside front bumper. I've had a quick look and I've noticed two horn sounders, I believe these are for the normal horn only.
I've checked the fuses.
I need to know where does the cables go from the alarm sounder as I can't seem to work out where the wiring disappears to.
Any help would be appreciated.
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306 2.0 SE Cabriolet Read more
Mine doesn't have this. Its 2000W model. The key switch was fitted in conjunction with keypad immobilser (Phase 1 models).
Phase 2 models and Phase 3 models have no key switch or key pad.
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306 2.0 SE Cabriolet
Went in an 04 reg Volvo S40 1.9d yesterday. Is the very intrusive engine noise a characteristic of these cars? There were three of us in it doing a trip on urban roads and the engine noise in the cabin was so loud I could hardly hear what anyone was saying. I was also concious of having to raise my voice when speaking. I drive a diesel every day and around town it has a gentle diesel thrum, but not so loud you can't hear people talking. The noise of the engine in this vehicle really suprised me and was reminisecent of my old Ford 1.8 diesel! Read more
It's a Mitsubishi Carisma in drag with all the disadvantages but not the single advantage - the reasonable price.
The Fiesta is going. 19 yo daughter has following requirements:
Not Red
Aircon
Power Steering
1.4 or below (to keep ins down)
Not too small (i.e. not Ka size)
Pref 5 door (but 3 would do)
Not the same as her mates have (206, Fiesta, Clio, Corsa)
She quite fancies a Seat Ibiza, c2000 - 2001 seems about the mark.
Anyone have any thoughts on the Ibiza, or any better suggestions please?
Read more
Tyro has a point. You also know that it won't be too rusty in your time with it and the depreciation on a £5k car down to £3.5k in three years is extremely low.
In fact it's probably similar to the depreciation over the next three years of its life so if the loss of interest on £1,500 is less than the additional cost of repairs/value of warranty/new car smell/convenience then the new one can be a better buy.
Admittedly if you've not got the cash it's not an option.
I know Michael likes his cars big and luxurious - so do I - and so I'd never consider one for myself but plenty of people just want small, easy to drive, cheap to run and worry free.
Browse
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The Trooper!?
Mmmmm, just brings to mind some rattle old thing...but if SAAB and Vauxhall use it, then it must be ok.