October 2004
I recently hired a ford focus 1.6 16v whikst in south London and it did around 35mpg with not much use of a/c and plent of fifth gear usage even in town, chnging up quickly and keeping revs around 2-3k etc etc ....is this reasonable I would have expected nearer 40 mpg, how much would an equivalent GM Astra or Honda Civic 1.6 have done.
Any replies will be appreciated. Thanks. Read more
Hi Again, thanks to all the responses to my previous query about oil for my tdi. I ended up getting quantum from the dealer, not cheap but at least I know for sure that it meets the spec.
I've noticed a noise coming from the engine when I change up through the gears, noticeable when the engine is warm.
It's a kind of "chirping" noise, noticeable when I change up at around 2k revs. It also happens if I lift-off whilst in gear so don't believe it's the clutch/gearbox.
The car is a 51 reg with 70k and a full dealer history.
Being new to diesels I'm not sure if the noise is normal or if it's a aign something expensive is on the way out.
The car drives v.well (pulls like a train) with no smoke or loss of power at any point. Economy is also excellent.
Any hints or tips would be appreciated.
Thanks,
Neil. Read more
Possibly turbo noise?
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groups.msn.com/honestjohn - Pictures say a thousand words.....
Guy across the road bought himself a 51 reg Alfa two months ago, not sure of the exact model name but the one with T-Spark on the back.
Anyway, I got home from work quite late tonight and as I was unloading the car I could here what sounded like someone's central locking being activated every few seconds. Couldn't see any one about in the driveways opposite where the noise seemed to be coming from, and listened to this for about five minutes or more. Then the alarm on the Alfa went off, and the neighbour came out to investigate. What was happening was the electric fuel filler cap was opening and shutting of it's own accord which was the noise I had heard. He had to operate the key fob five or six times before it stopped.
When I commented he said a few loud prayers about Italian cars and reckoned all the electrics had started going haywire, the mirrors self adjusting of their own accord while he was driving and the boot lid releasing every now and again among many other things. It is due in to be looked at tomorrow, but he is now wishing he had never bought it. Apparantly when he told the dealer on the phone that he might disconect the battery overnight, he was advised not to as that would confuse the ECU and cause real problems.
I know Italian electrics have had a reputation for being a bit eccentric in the past, but I thought they had got their act together by now.
Or is he just unlucky. (With apologies to the Alfa fans on this forum) Read more
A 147 owner has had similar problems on www.alfaowner.com
iirc it was a good 6 months back. Not heard of any other instances like this. That's multiplex wiring for you.
I've just posted a SORN form to the DVLA (my 309 is now off-road for the winter!).
Because there's still several months road tax left, I've used the special SORN form from the Post Office instead of the annual tax renewal form. There is minimal guidance supplied with this form, so ...
Will the DVLA automatically refund the outstanding road tax? Or do I have to take the tax disc to the local Post Office for a refund? Or should I have included the tax disc with the SORN form (too late now)?
I am assuming the car can't be both taxed and SORNed simultaneously.
Ian Read more
For your information, the first form I got from the Post Office and sent off, was a V890 "Statutory Off Road Notification (SORN)".
The V890 is a pretty useless piece of paper. There's no mention of what to do if your vehicle is already taxed (other than a comment that there is no need to declare SORN while a tax disc is in force). Its limited uses, as far as I can see, are ...
1. When you buy an untaxed car and want to immediately declare SORN without taxing it.
2. Or, for some reason, you don't get a tax renewal reminder and so can't use the reminder form to declare SORN on the renewal date.
3. Or, you are already using the car illegally without tax or SORN, so the V14 isn't applicable.
Hope this helps.
Ian
We're talking 3.5 V6 Initiale for about 20 000 Euro in Germany, 2-years old. HJ's Car-by-Car Breakdown says it's:
"A very different driving experience from almost anything else.
Curiously un-carlike to drive, but not unpleasant."
Hmmm... I'm scheduled for a test drive on Saturday. What do you think ?
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Nah, nah, nah - you got it wrong pal, all wrong. Vel Satis IS loaded, but C5 2.0 (brand new) IS NOT (we're talking no more than 20 000 Euros).
For once, no problem but a question.
Given that this place is a collection of the most intelligent people I know, I was hoping someone could enlighten me.
/flattery off.
Could someone give me a detailed explanation of what clutch slip and what clutch drag is please? I did a forum search but all I can find are sentences saying well it isn't clutch drag
I know it's an unusual request but I've learnt so much about cars from here in this last year, I hope someone could add to that (limited) knowledge.
Many thanks
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Adam Read more
or by sticking clutch cables or faulty clutch springs or - in the case of mid 1990 Citroens - especially Xantias- by both together.!:-)
madf
What is delivery mileage for a new car? What is a good mileage for a delivery and is 277 miles a second hand car? or bad luck? or a good percentage off the asking price.?
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is there a road test part of a PDI..Yes all PDI`s are road tested. Including Inspection by supervisor. before car is released to customer
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Steve
Evening All..
A good friend and neighbour of mine recently died, and left behind numurous old cars in all states of repair,that his wife is having to sell, one of which she thinks she may have an interested buyer. Trouble is, we have no idea of its selling value. It is a 105E Ford Anglia, it needs rebuilding, all the parts are there, including the engine, which is sat in the back seat. Would anyone no of its round about value??
Regards Johnny. Read more
hahaha! no what ya mean Polo..I had the same trouble when i owned one a long time ago, never got it to start first time!.
Your right about Harry Potter... never gave that one a thought.
Thanks "Frosty" you got me onto a few links there, amazing how prices vary.
I have a pretty major failure of the AC compressor on my '99 Mondeo 2.0- loud noise like a bucket of bolts revolving rapidly. The dealer says its kaput and then tells me that I also need new piping as the new compressor has been modified by FMC since the car was made. All in all the cost is over £1000 at which stage I gave the dealer two words! and took it home. The whole car is not worth much more!
Does any have an AC specialist - prererably mobile that they can reccomend in SE London or Kent. Any thoughts welcome. Read more
tinyurl.com/52v6u
The above may be of interest to you. My a/c compressor failed and I had the repair done for £500 by Andrews Garage, Smeeth nr Ashford, Kent. 50k miles later it is still fine.
Andy
I've seen a fair few of these for sale of late, all old shape 2.6 V6 SRi auto 5dr hatches, factory lowered with xenons but lacking in air con, with around 90k on the clock.
Most are on Y plates in white but I have seen two 02 plates in white and silver too.
My question is this - should I touch one of these with a bargepole?
I know they'll have been thrashed to within an inch of their lives, and the majority will probably have had some kind of accident or other mishap, but should this put me off if the price is right?
The 02 plate in silver I've seen is up for £3995 which seems quite a bargain with only 89k on the clock.
Does anyone know what these fetch at auction, and which auction house the majority of them go through?
PP Read more
Err, suggest you look at the post date.
And I will refresh my screen - open and unused for a few hours - before posting in future! :-)
Browse
So who can get the best MPG then??!!!
My 1999 110bhp Passat TDi returns around 65mpg on my 42-mile run up and down the A1 (Cambs, Beds & Herts) to work. Meaning over 700 miles from a 62 litre tank.
I'm sure someone with a feather-like foot can beat that.....