October 2004
Four friends of mine are in probably the worst rock band in the world. Imagine a more prog rock Darkness, without the looks or talent, and you're probably along the right lines.
However, they've managed to acquire a fair bit of kit and some gigs. They all drive small, recent cars, however - and are more than happy to continue to do so.
As a result, they've been thinking about a van. A Berlingo which they sometimes borrow isn't big enough for the four huge speakers, mixing desk, amps, drums, keyboard and two guitars (plus two more speakers they're planning to get).
As a result they're considering something full sized and cheap. As they also work full time, something that might need mechanical attention isn't an option. However, as they're reasonably well paid, something relatively recent and car-like to drive probably is.
So if we have an arbitrary budget of £6k including VAT (only £1,500 each in essence, and of course it should retain its value quite well) what would be the van experts' suggestions? Due to the very light use it would get, 150k miles wouldn't be a problem on the van if it were pretty new and well maintained.
I'm thinking that £4k all in should be enough to buy a four year old Citroën Relay or Desptach or the equivalent Fiat or Peugeot. Can anyone suggest any better than that? Read more
Anyone bought a Modus yet? In this month's 'Diesel Car' magazine it is very well written up. For 10K this seems a cracking little car and certainly it felt thoroughly well built when I went to the dealer today. It seems to have the charm and character of the old Renault Five but obviously better engineered given the newness of the design. I like the nifty 'boot chute' as they call it.
Would be interested to hear what any owners have found before the cheque book comes out. It's going to be a present for an ill friend - infact wouldn't mind it myself...
Silly thought - Focus Focii - so Modus Modii?? :) Read more
Jazz, despite its virtues and label, is served only with one
engine, which is neither fast nor overwhelmingly economical
Last time I looked, the Jazz was much more economical than its petrol-engined competitors. Unlike its conpetitors, it's also available as a highly-economical automatic.
As to the Modus disappearing fron trace like others including the Megane: have you looked at the sales charts? The Megane sells very well indeed: I think I read that it outsells the Golf across Europe.
Renault doesn't have a great reputation for reliability, but that hasn't dented sales of its smaller cars.
Is there a way to reset the warning lights on the dashboard?
I can\'t put out the low washer level warning light even though I have recently filled it up. Any ideas?
Tim
406 Coupe V6 SE Read more
Is the float sticking?
Advice on repairing torn leather seats
Someone has decided to use the rear seat pocket to help them exit my car. The result is that the leather has been pulled out of the seat frame and now has a rip in it. Any idea who the best people to fix it would be?
Thanks,
Tim
North East Scotland
Read more
This has came up before in the forum and my suggestion then, based on real life experience, was to contact your local undertaker and ask then who they use for leather repairs in their limos. I did this and got referred to a specialist who repaired the half leather in a 306 Meridian perfectly.
Over the past couple of weeks i've noticed that my car (1994 205 STDT) pulls quite sharply to the left when i accelerate hard and as soon as i back off it veers back to the right.
During normal driving and gentle acceleration it's fine so any idea's on what it could be?
Cheers
Kev Read more
Had a similar problem on my 306 after changing front wishbones. Tyres were replaced in original positions. However, it still pulled.
My theory is that tyres had become accustomed to the worn bush position, and had worn unevenly. The new wishbones changed the geometry, and this was causing the pull. Replacing tyres with new fixed the problem.
Several year ago I managed to buy a product called Kraus Bond ( or could be Kraussbond ) that you just dropped down the spark plug hole and it helped seal worn piston rings. I have searched the web and can find no reference to it. Does anybody know if its still available, or something similar, and if so where to get it from .? Read more
If you have a sloping engine, it doesn't even last a week Actually, it doesn't work at all.
This week I have noticed a sign on the northbound A370 Weston-Super-Mare to Bristol road promoting the imminent introduction of a dual occupancy lane, i.e. a lane that will only be able to be used by drivers of cars with one or more passengers.
It is by pure chance, and not by choice, that an individual's spouse, child, parent, neighbour, best mate etc just happends to work or study in the same locality as themselves, not to mention having to start/finish at the same time so as to make it worthwhile sharing the journey .
Why should I have to sit in a slow moving traffic queue because I do not know anyone who fits the above criteria when a bloke in the next village who has a neighbour who works in the same factory can cruise past missing the queue.
Vat on a new car, tax on fuel, road fund licence, company car tax (for some), tax on insurance, parking permits, tolls etc etc, how much more is the innocent motorist going to be percecuted.
Outrageous.
Read more
Some more thoughts, this type of road use is also very common in Sydney, called a transit lane it can be marked as T2 or T3 requiring at least 2 or even 3 occupants per vehicle. These are usually used on multi-lane roads (3-4 lanes each way) and they have replaced the bus lane with a transit lane. So multiple occupany of a normal car allows you to use the old bus lane.
On the dual carriageways without bus lanes prevalent in the UK I cant see them working as well.
StarGazer
I'm trading the car in today at a franchised dealership - what do I do with the V5? Should I fill the garage details in as they will be the keepers after today or just give them the document as it stands?
I'm doing it this afternoon so if you know, please help!
Thanks,
--
Lee
MINI adventure coming to an end Read more
Yep they will just fill in the Transfer to a trader section - nice and simple!
If you read this before you go remember to take any tax out of the part-ex motor and cash it in yourself rather than let the dealer do the same and put it in his caribean holiday fund.
Just picked up the DT and I have to say that I thought you meant the Signum. Regards. Read more
Last time I went to Sweden I stayed in a hotel in the centre of Uppsala. Very nice too - very modern, tastefully furnished and the food in the restaurant was good (a very memorable venison with redcurrant sauce and grated potatoes). The only downside to the trip was that it didn't get light until 10am and then went dark at 2pm (I was there in the middle of winter).
I drive circa 30k a year private miles and have run a Honda Jazz for the last 2 years which I now feel I have wrung the most out of and I'm due a change. (Laugh if you liek but it's a brilliant bit of kit with more interior space than the A4 my wife drives and has averaged over 50 mpg in 60K miles!)
I was thinking of buying a mid size diesel (Passat/Avensis/Octavia) but recently heard about the Jazz being sold in other countries with a 1.5 Vtech rather than the 83ps 1.4 fitted here.
I can't find any info on the car let alone find one for sale. Can anyone help?
Read more
I think HJ knows something about Swedish hotel rooms (today's Telegraph column and separate thread) - maybe the comparison of driving experience was actually a compliment?
My wife would have loved a bigger-engined Jazz - we changed her Jazz for a 2-litre Civic for the extra acceleration, but it's bigger than she needs.
I assumed that anything bigger wouldn't fit (that word again) under the sloping bonnet. But since it does in Malaysia, perhaps the press could encourage Honda to bring it to the UK.
Browse
.jpg)
DavidHM
This is what all successful bands start out with as credible transport:
- Something that is guaranteed to break down on the way to the most important gig attended by record companies.
- The back doors always have a hasp and staple for a padlock roughly bolted and welded on.
- A hideous brush painted paintjob.
- Regular checks by the local constabulary for hidden stash.
Think about it. You can't turn up to Glastonbury in an immaculate polished and reliable 4 year old van. It just wouldn't be cool - man!
What say Growler??