October 2004
Good news. Honda are to bring out a version of the Civic which runs on natural gas from the mains, very clean burning etc. The sale includes a compressor to raise the pressure from the gas main to that required for the car to use, and to store enough. Plug it into the cooker point when you get home, DON'T forget to unplug next morning!
Bad news. We're not getting it in the UK. Read more
Picked up the Leon today from the dealer.
Despite trying to look at and inspect everything, I didn't notice a problem with the back drivers side windows until got home.
Basically the rear door's window is scarred and pitted with seemingly rust like deposits. Never seen anything like it before. Will try to use a glass cleaner like Autoglym tomorrow but it doesn't look promising as they are very hard.
Anyone had experience of this and what the cause / remedy was ?
Thanks,
Steve Read more
Thanks for all your comments.
Car is 15 months old, and shows the usual signs of slight stone chips and small door dints etc. Paintwork is not immaculate, but shows no signs of overspray or other disturbance around trim.
Will ask Autoglass etc for a quote on replacing window tomorrow.
Steve
After hitting some debris in the dark, Ive broken the plastic engine/sump guard on my 2000W 306 HDi, its now in two bits. As the part is £140+ my plan was to repair it. However the bolts at the front have proved impossible to undo as the clips behind just spin round so I cant get the front broken section off to re-join it to the main section I have already removed.
Judging from the difficulty of removing these bolts I presume these have never been removed so guess that changing the oil involves removing the quick snap locks and the 2 bolts at the rear and flexing the guard it down to get to the sump. But this means an oil change cant be done at home without a getting the car a couple of feet off the ground?
As it doesnt seem strong enough to provide any mechanical protection to the sump etc, or be sufficient to completely seal the engine from water spray it is difficult to see what function the guard provides.
My question is, does this item have any important function or can I safely save myself £140+ by not having it fixed?
Thanks MikeC
Read more
Mike - several people in this community (me included) would recommend an oil and filter change every 6K, so you may need to reach that filter soon. My engine uses no measurable amount of oil, but like all diesels it does get black by 6K.
Short notice I know, but tomorrow is the Northern VW Charity "Cannonball Run".
Meet at Chester Services (J14 M56) before 10am and prepare for a 136 mile relaxed cruise through North Wales, taking in Moel Famau, Bala, Horseshoe Pass amongst other places.
Minimum donation of £5 per car, with all money going to Marie Curie Cancer Care
More details at www.merseysidevwclub.com
Hope the mods don't mind me posting this!
DB Read more
Help Please
Have seen in the press in the past few days a write up on a Four wheeled scooter type vehicle all I can remember is that it had a 350cc petrol engine,was fully roadworthy with lights and indicators,and carried two passengers in tandem with some weather protection.Un fortunately our paper recycling collection has been so I am hoping a fellow forum reader has seen it and can give me the contact details.
Here's hoping
ndbw Read more
As well as the 'Microcars' site there's a French firm called Aixam that builds a similar kind of micro car that comes under UK quadricycle regulations. You see a few Aixams about, they look quite neat. Look up Aixam on Google UK. Also Ligier make microcars but I'm not sure they're available in UK.
Cheers, SS
Pretty much as the title says.
As you may remember, I had a little trouble with the tailgate on my car - (Ford's fault - a TSB was released). Also, some lovable little sprog gouged a large dent out of my bonnet so 2 weeks ago, I got the bonnet and boot resprayed.
It's absolutely seamless - fantastic job but I've been told that I have to give it a long time to dry with the weather not being exactly hot. With it being 2 weeks, I'm thinking that's long enough but I want to be sure.
I won't be using a pressure washer but the hosepipe I will be using has a fair bit of power.
Your advice would be most welcome as I'm having withdrawal symptoms from not caring for the car for 2 weeks!
Many thanks
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Adam Read more
Doh - I actually remember reading that post! - What an idiot!
I'll just use a bucket....with water of course and leave the hose for a while.
Thanks very much everyone.
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Adam
My son has replaced the electric mirrors on his 2ltr petrol Rover 420 P.reg with electric mirrors from a Rover 45. Whilst the mirror motors and control circuitry appear to be similar they will only move vertically or horizontally depending on the position of the three wires when connected. Are the Motors and/or the Control Switches different on the 45 and 420? What modifications are necessary to rectify the problem? Read more
Apart from what DL said. May be a lazy motor on the mirror. If you can either see the mirror trying to move/hear it..Try gently pressing the mirror in direction you wish it to go.While pressing control switch..Fraid the motors on these were not the best..If there is no movement at all while doing this. Is either as DL said. or more likely mirror motor..Never known an electrical fault to cause it??
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Steve
My son's almost 17 and plans to insure a Peugeot 106 (1100cc petrol, cover for 3P F&T) in his own name, so he can start hopefully to earn his own 'spurs' in the no-claims bonus world. Can anyone suggest any insurers/brokers who you know can be competitve in this situation? Thanks. Read more
Churchill will only insure you if you are 21...that's what they told me anyway.
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Adam
Workload is becoming somewhat heavier, Alan, Dave and I are becoming somewhat busier, and a new nut in the nuthouse would be a breath of fresh air.
Therefore we have granted Hugo his very own edit button and welcomed him into the fold of the elite.
Hugo has always contributed in a way we're comfortable with and we are equally comfortable that he will prove to be a valuable moderator - and he's probably taller than No Dosh, less pedantic than Dave, but sadly unlikely to be better looking than me.
It'll take the morning for registration amendments, e-mail accounts and the like to catch up, but no doubt he'll show up soon with his shiny new buttons (because we get more than just an edit button, you know !).
Welcome Hugo, and I'm sure you'll be as supported and well-understood as the rest of us - which means you're pretty well screwed.
Be gentle with him, please.
Mark.
p.s. I can't see that dividing my annual ploughman's into 4 is going to be easy. Read more
Consider all the scorn and derision meted out to Alan since
he became a moderator.
Then guess whose turn it is now.
Do your Worst!!
But please be gentle :-o
I've read in many threads in the Backroom about the General dislike of Mercedes and the alleged poor build quality.
Now the Mercedes I have driven over the years including current models the quality seems fine to me, but I guess it's the 'definition' of poor quality is the issue that needs addressing.
Is it the way the car is screwed together, ie poor panel fit, loose stiching on seats, rattles whilst driving etc or is it the quality of materials used?
My definition of poor or good build quality would be quality of materials.
So that makes the current Fiat Punto just as good as an E class IMO.
opinions please.. Read more
There are two aspects to this. One is literally the quality of the materials and construction and the other is reliability.
In the first case, lots of former cheap manufacturers are catching up people like MB and BMW because of components made by third parties and production lines designed by third parties as well. However the quality in the first category does not necessarily relate to the second.
Our new Hyundai Trajet has rather cheap internal fittings, the quality of the plastics is no better than average and the finish of the door edges etc can only be described as poor (there are sharp edges at the corners), but nothing has gone wrong and in the long term it is likely to be far more reliable than a Galaxy.
I am currently driving a Galaxy for a couple of weeks and the overall quality of finish and of interior fittings is far higher and the car has a much more sophisticated feel than our Trajet. However, look at the reliability ratings and the Trajet wimply won't let you down half as often as the chocolate bar.
So what can we conclude from a car which looks and feels solid?
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Espada III - well if you have a family and need a Lamborghini, what else do you drive?
Browse
'And remember, you will need an extra long lead if driving more than 6 or 7 feet...'