October 2004
Just been reading Autocar magazine dated 28th Sept and the interesting article on the Renault Logan. It made mw wonder how they can produce this car for so little - about £3500 although closer to £5000 apparently for Western European markets.
The write-up is positive about the car, this is not something lashed up from dated technology but utilises some of Renault's current engineering such as engines and chassis.
Admittedly the styling is a bit restrained compared to other Renaults but how do they do it for so little money? I would have thought the cost of the raw materials would be close to the selling price!
Maybe we really are entering the age of the disposable car. Assuming it comes with a 3 year warranty (and most cars do), it's difficult to see how one could lose out on this. Read more
Does anyone have contact (websites, phone numbers etc) of any Belgian dealers or companies that are prepared to export Volvos to the UK?
Thanks Read more
Not Belgian, but Dutch, if you are interested.
I used Bluekens in Breda - close to Antwerp, Belgium - last year, and the whole experience was superb. Terrific attention to detail, and a pleasure to spend our money. On collection day, I was even given an accurate scale model of our car, correct down to colour! All the export/import paperwork was prepared accurately, which made registration and tax payment in the UK a doddle to do, and me glad that I hadn't paid an agent for this easy task.
My father had previously purchased from them and had the same positive experience. He and Mum arrived the night before from the UK, and when Bluekens learned of this, collected them from the train station and treated them to a superb meal.
Note however that we just managed to beat the slide of Stirling against the Euro, and for a full UK spec V70 saved a hill of money, even compared to some good UK offers and import agency options that existed at the time. My brother then investigated buying a V70 himself, and the saving was so small that he ended up buying from a UK dealer.
Anyway, the contact details:
Autobedrijf Bluekens b.v.
Ettensebaan 17c
4812 XA Breda
pw.breda@bluekens.nl (pw means 'Personal Wagon', car to you and me)
Hi all, my wife has a 1.4 16V P-Reg Auto Corsa. Normally runs fine except that when it changes from 3rd to 4th there is a slight hesitation as it changes (seems to change up really slowly), and occasionally there is a noise that sounds just like a big spring that lasts for about 1 second ( i guess it could be the teeth of the gears "just" touching as it changes or something!!)
Any ideas please people??
With thanks
Carl. Read more
Hi Paul
Thanks for your suggestion, however the springy noise is definitly louder than the pedal and you can tell it's coming from outside. I'm conviced its the exhaust mounting, just trying to find the time to look at it...will keep you posted!
Yes, i would definitly recommend the Corsa Auto. Its a great little car with a proper autobox. None of this belt drive malarky.
Cheers
Carl
(Posted elsewhere, but opinions from the BR are always valued)
I used to have a 1996 525 TD, which without SE spec had relatively low equipment (no aircon, limited seat adjustment) and was pretty slow (115 bhp from a 6-cylinder turbodiesel) - these were the factors that made me choose to sell it on and replace it with a Passat. However, I liked the way the old machine drove, and I prefer the look of that generation model to subsequent offerings in the range. Also, I reckon they were better built, so every so often I browse for a better specced version.
I've just seen a 525 TDS SE advertised, and I'm going to have a look tomorrow afternoon. However, I want to make sure of what I might be buying, and when looking on the What Car site, they provide the same spec list for all 5-Series from 1992 right up to this year. I can't imagine that the standard kit on a 2003 model was the same as for a 1995 model, so here's my first request: I'd be grateful if anyone could point me towards an accurate spec list for the TDS SE, or at least tell me what's incorrect about the What Car description (link via www.whatcar.com then Used Car).
Another question: although the car is advertised at £2500 (sounds ok), the mileage is up to 190k . Now, with this diesel engine I'm not particularly afraid of anything up to 130k, but at this stage I reckon the engine is nearly three-quarters of the way to retirement, not to mention suspension components or aircon. I think that for a private sale £2500 is well over the money. I'm thinking around £1700-£1800, although the vendor may not agree! So, in that regard, all opinions are welcome regarding price (and advisability!).
--
andymc
Vroom, vroom - mmm, doughnuts ... Read more
1995 - E34 shape. Like I say, there's something about the look of them that just says "classy car" to me, in a way that the E39 and the Bangle Beemers don't.
Having said that, perhaps I was remembering a little too fondly - I never thought I'd say it, but I guess now I have a Koni kit installed, I'm nearly prefer the Passat.
Still liked the sound of that six cylinder engine though - hmm, there was a 1994 model advertised with 130k on the clock for £1800 ...
--
andymc
Vroom, vroom - mmm, doughnuts ...
Does anyone know where the central locking relay is on a Punto Mk2 JTD ELX?
Cheers if you can help Read more
Hi
Has the law changed on access to and from your drive in the past 18 months or so??
I'm certain that before that time - you had the right not to blocked in your drive if you had a legal crossover, but now you can't be blocked out!
One other query, I had my crossover extended from 9'' to 14' when we moved to the present home - people at times block part of it - makes it difficult, at times impossible to turn the way I want to - where do i stand on this in legal terms?
Thanks in advance. Read more
ISTR somewhere here that blocking someone in their driveway is classed
as imprisonment and therefore illegal ...
Obviously blocking someone in would be worse than blocking them out. Surely preventing them from using their car isn't actually imprisoning them though, however annoying or anti-social this may be.
Hi
Saw a tv programme a while back when people drove away as the parking warden was writing out a ticket and about to put it on the screen of the car - I think most go away with it.
My understanding was that the law varied from location to location.
What is the law on this?
Thanks in advance. Read more
Thanks, very help and it has answered my query.
Regards
LD
My VW Bora will idle quietly for a moment or two before this loud "tappety" noise starts up from the engine compartment. Its loudness never fails to draw comment from passengers. The noise is coming from what I think is the fuel injector on the front top left of the engine. You can feel the tapping when you put a hand on it. I have heard that VW engineers say that this drumming noise is a "characteristic" of the engine and there's nothing that can be done about it! Any thoughts/suggestions? Are all Boras like that?
Bob. Read more
Yes, you're right. I presented the car to a VW main dealer today and, after the usual "it's a characteristic of Boras and Golfs" routine, agreed to replace a component after listening to a couple of other similar cars that weren't nearly so loud. The job took about 15 minutes under Warranty and the mechanic said he had replaced the "A.C.F.solenoid valve" - or something to that effect. It's certainly made a big difference and is now at a reasonably acceptable level of intrusion into the car. The part replaced is a black plastic disk, inch-and-a-half diameter and three-quarter-inch deep, with a pipe and cable connected to it. It has "Sagem" and "Made in Brazil" stamped on top. It's attached to a black plastic canister which he said contained charcoal. Interestingly enough, another VW man said that they get lots of complaints from VW Golf and Bora owners about the same noise (I suspect many are happy to accept the "characteristic" nonsense.). They've started sending QCR's (Quality Control Reports) to Volkswagen in the hope that if enough people highlight the problem, VW will look at redesigning the valve and perhaps have a Recall.
Many thanks for your, and others, interest and much-appreciated advice.
Hi all.
Firstly thanks to you all for some great info and feedback.
I have a 1999 omega 2.5 v6 cdx estate.
Recently I had to change the battery and once i had coded the radio I found that I couldnt code the cd changer.I have a Philips CCRT 700 with built in mobile phone.
I followed the handbook instructions,ie switch on ign,hold cd button,switch on radio,wait 3-5 seconds,then enter the code.
The display goes from "cd-safe" to "cd-code" but doesnt go to the screen where you enter the code.
I have tried several combinations, including holding the cd button for up to 15 minutes!I have spoken to my local dealer who said that the procedure is correct.Yeh well it maybe but it still dont work lol.
Is there someone who can help? The kids miss their fireman sam cd. NOT! Read more
Hi Phild. Can you pass me the contact number for your auto electrician who fixed your CD SAFE problem? Did he reset the box or just wait the required time to key in the code?
I have the same problem with my Vectra. Keyed the radio code too many times (about 4) before realising that it needed a CD code which was a different number! I have found the CD code but it's stuck on CD SAFE and I can't just leave it with the ign switched on for as many hours as it takes. I have had it on for a 90 minute journey and it never let me in. I need someone to reset the box for me. I've tried my local dealer and even Vauxhall, but the are ao no help.
Hi
I have a mondeo 1.8 1995. with 130000 on the clock. Recently it has started misbehaving.Sometimes when i start it nothing at all happens - the other - it will turn over but not fire until about the fifth attempt. Sometimes it will fire immediately but then the idle speed drops and it stalls. This is quite random, and can happen at any time - even stalling at junctions.I have taken it to Ford who wish to charge me an arm and a leg to put it on a computer. Can anyone give me any suggestions as so what the fault could be.My local ( not ford) garage cannot replicate the problem and therefore cannot fix it.
Thank you for your help Read more
Thanks John.
I check the starter motor and take it from there. I believe the plugs/leads were changed recently.As for the stalling/failing to fire,i daresay i will have to get it put on a computer for diagnosis but where i live they are charging almost £100 - and thats just for diagnosis - no fix! - i shall shop around for somewhere cheaper. Wish me luck!
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I met a proud Logan owner in Bucharest this week. Apparantly they are selling 50% faster than Dacia can build them. When you consider that the Dacia 1310 (Renualt 12) has only just gone out of production in Romania it gives you a sense of perspective and makes you realise why these things are going to succeed in the developing economies. When the staple vehicle has been based on 1960s technology then even a low spec car based on new technology is a huge advance.
The knock on is that the road systems are even worse than the UK (!!) and traffic congestion is appalling.