Hi backroomers,

Since you were all so helpful with my last thread, how about this one... in my quest for a used Megane II, I've read (here on HJ and elsewhere) that the early cars (2002 especially) had all kinds of problems, which have been sorted on later ones.

But does that mean that buying an early model now would necessarily be a bad idea? Is it still likely to be causing trouble, or is it more likely to be the case that the unfortunate 1st owner has shaken out the faults (either under warranty or otherwise) so that all the defective parts have been replaced by newer items?

I'd go for an earlier one (because they're a bit cheaper!) but not if the consensus is that I shouldn't touch them with a bargepole.

Thanks! Read more

I will deliberately keep this as vague as possible as the mods may get a wee bit uneasy!

All day yesterday the gritters were out on all the roads in my area. Forecast was for it to go to minus 6 last night.

When I got up at 6 am this morning it was raining but my pathway was pure ice. There was no signs of any frost but all the rain was turning to ice, very quickly.

Driving along a certain motorway I feel uncomfortable about the conditions. When I pass the huge sign at the side of the motorway and it tells me it is currently minus 4 outside, I slow down from 50 to 40.

Half a mile on, there is a car lying on its roof; another hundred yards there is one impaled in the crash barrier. And so on and so on, a total of 9 different accidents within a stretch of 2 miles. Two of these accidents involved cars that had went racing past me after I had passed the first accident.

Why, oh why, oh why, can people not use common sense? Many of these cars will have had temp displays in them, what do they think the purpose of these are? Did none of them see the minus figure and think that the road might just be slippy? Why when they had seen a car lying on its roof, did they continue to race along the road?

Do drivers now feel so safe in their cars with airbags ABS etc that they don't take basic driving precautions? I was driving a Saxo with probably zero NCAP rating and I drove carefully, but not any differently to I do in my 5* rated Scenic.

No doubt they are all now writing their letters complaining about the authorities not having gritted the road the 5 mins before they drove along it! Well they wouldn't admit that they had been driving dangerously would they?

Just had to get that off my chest!

[Rant mode off] Read more

My Nephew wants to treat himself, having spent 6 years as a penniless medical student. He wants to buy a new Merc E Class diesel. He is keen on the 270Cdi, but at a pinch would get a 220Cdi. What are the chances of a good deal in the run up to Xmas?

(By the way, don't let new Doctors tell you how crap the pay and hours are! He is on £35K as a newbie. Hattie Jacques and James Robertson Justice would have a fit if they knew. And, how about this....he gets £50 a pop to sign a certificate for cremation) Read more

Any ideas how to clean out 'fan' jets on a 2001 Passat?
They are not totally blocked yet. I admit to not using the special expensive VW washer stuff all the time.
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I wasna fu but just had plenty. Read more

Well, the younger version of Blue is now ready to start driving, but it seems that all of my knowledge of which insurance companies are any good has totally evaporated as the cheapest quote I can get him on a 1.4 Escort is £2400.

Has anyone got any ideas of where to look for cheap younger drivers insurance, I've tried the usual suspects, Direct Line, Liverpool Victoria etc.

He needs a larger car like an Escort as he will be using it to travel from the south of the country back to the north east on a reasonably regular basis.

If anyone has any bright ideas about what other car might be useful then feel free to share them, it should be commonly available for less than £500.

Blue Read more