November 2004
Anyone looking for a GPS speed cameras, radar or accident hotspots detecter at a reasonable price might be interested in the Snooper Neo S3 Speed Camera Radar Detection Unit for £175 including VAT at:
www.bigpockets.co.uk/product.php?lang=&product=GAD...8
However, I'm sure all forum members are not the slightest bit interested....:-)
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What\'s for you won\'t pass you by Read more
Many new cars used to have an annual upgrade/refresh (maybe improved seat trim, new wheels etc etc) around this time of year, although that seems to have dropped off now.
I'm looking at Accord, but it's got a couple on annoying ommissions in its spec. I asked a dealer but he told me Honda keep these things very quiet (which I can understand) and often the first they know is when upgraded cars turn up.
Does anyone know if Honda Accord is about to get any kind upgrade soon? Read more
This is my last chance to pull out of buying a 51 plate Mondeo 1.8 Zetec.
Is there anything wrong with them?
Every review I read tells me that they are great cars. I've been over it with a fine tooth comb, I've driven it, I like the colour, etc, etc. There are a few minor points I need to have sorted (a ding on the boot lid & some minor scratches), but otherwise, it looks like a nice motor.
Has anyone had any bad experiences with one?
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Sorry - I was merely commenting on the A4LD gearbox - even this was supposedly unreliable. I think it was suitable, although obviously not as good as the BMW/Merc units of the same age.
It could not handle the power of the 2.9 24v cosworth engine - which I think had the same gearbox. Many only lasted about 80-100k.
Personally I would not have an auto, would prefer manual, unless the car is a luxo-barge and preferably rear drive. Only exception is Mercedes - due to the horrid manuals they use.
In all other cars would prefer manual every time. Less complex, less likely to go wrong, 95% of cases better mpg. The press are raving about the new DSG style boxes at present - wonder how costly these will be when they need to be repaired/replaced!
In another thread the subject of tyre noise etc. came up and it set me thinking. I own a Mazda 7 seater MPV.
The tyres supplied are Bridgestone Turanza ER30 - 215/60/R16 95H. I must admit I've never gone out to buy a specific brand of tyre for a specific reason but I'm wondering:
a) if these tyres are good/bad/ indifferent and
b) what I should consider replacing them with when the time comes.
My driving is almost all urban with some motorway (currently about 5k pa). I'm not into high speeds and my main concerns are grip, safety, durability, noise, efficiency and price (not necessarily in that order).
Anyone got any thoughts as to what'd best suit my car or where I'd find out? I don't have a local friendly tyre specialist who I know I can trust.
Thanks. Read more
>> Anyone know anywhere cheap in the N E Midlands that
could
>> be recommended?
>>
Seems like nobody else in this forum lives in the E
Midlands.
I used to live in Leicester and used a cheap and cheerful independent, not far from the Holiday Inn on Richard the III road. It was also accessable from Vaughns Way.
I can't remember the name though.
H
I had a very embarrassing moment last night approaching a T junction indicating to turn right.
The road to the right was blocked solid by traffic waiting at the level crossing about quarter of a mile away so I changed my indicator to left , glanced in my nearside mirror before moving over to see the livery of a West Sussex Police Car screeching to a halt inches from my rear bumper.He did let me turn left.
SWMBO was in the passenger seat and said that he had approached the junction very quickly and he did not pull me over. I was expecting a word from him at least.
Hypothetical question luckily, but if he had hit me - whose fault would it have been ?
Guess who spent a very uncomfortable next couple of miles at 29.99mph with a police car following .... Read more
I accept that I made a mistake by changing my mind and that I was wrongly positioned.
Good point though Phil. It did all happen rather quickly as these things usually do.
I did not see what SWMBO did as I was looking in the nearside mirror ( believe it or not).
She regularly travels that way to work and is constantly complaining that whenever she is in a hurry the level crossing gates are against her for up to 10 minutes at a time.
She is always 'driving with me' and as a driver herself she is always aware of potential danger and will warn me ( even if I have seen the danger). Some people call this back seat driving and find it distracting but it is more often helpful I think to have another experienced set of eyes beside you.
Consequently when I got to the right hand turn and said that the gates were down and I was going to go to the left she was probably either looking in the mirror or over her shoulder behind her.
I was too busy worrying about the police car behind me to notice what she did but as we left the junction I said something to the effect of 'that was a police car that I just cut up' to which she responded 'well he was coming up behind us too fast'.
As I say she is not normally noted for her restraint of criticism of me when it is warranted........
What sort of car would you expect an Accountant to drive? Read more
We have 2 Golf drivers (out of 22 staff) in the accountancy practise I work for.
Interestingly, there are only 3 diesels out of the lot. 1 person wanted a diesel but didn't want to pay £1,000 more for it.
I drive a (7 month old when I got it) Citroen C5 diesel.
Hi,
I'm considering buying one of these (with the 1.1 engine). We've had a decent test drive and we're very impressed. As the car will be shared with SWMBO I'll be using it every now and again for a 125 mile each way run that is mainly motorways and dual carriageways. I'd appreciate real life feedback anyone can give me on their experiences particularly on fuel economy, how it drives on long runs, does it keep up at motorway speeds, comfort and if you've had any problems (hopefully not). Many thanks. Read more
It's not designed for the motorway driving you will be doing, so as its only every so often you should be more concerned about its everyday driving. For this it is probably more than adequate, and it may surprise you on the motorway. If it simply tolerable that is no surprise.
If you want a cheap small car for 125 miles each way trips then choose a Skoda Fabia Diesel, Hyundai Getz Diesel or a 2nd hand Yaris D4-D.
--
Espada III - well if you have a family and need a Lamborghini, what else do you drive?
I have two and would appreciate any advise:
1. The battery warning light stays on permanantly. I assume this is the alternator ?
2. The abs warning light also stays on permanantly.
The main reson for this post is the following question...GIVEN THE PROBABLE NEED FOR COMPUTER BASED DIAGNOSTICS AM I RESTRICTED TO HAVING THE REMEDIAL WORK CARRIED OUT BY A MAIN DEALER ??? which will no doubt be v expensive :( Read more
correct diagnosis many tx
Well my daughter is very happy with her newly acquired Ibiza - 2000 model.
She wants to get CD player, or more preferably an autochanger.
I looked on the SEAT website and their autochanger is about £250, possibly plus cables (not sure) then plus fitting.
I haven't looked too closely yet, but it seems the radio is fitted behind a fancy display, so replacement with a straightforward slot type is probably out of the question. I also don't know whether the radio is designed, and the car is wired, to make the addition of the autochanger simple.
Has anyone any advice on a source of a reasonable quality but also reasonably priced autochanger which would fit? I thought I found one on Halfords web page for about £150 which said it was suitable but I can't find it again. I also wonder what fitting is likely to cost, and whether I will also need to buy and install cables.
Alterbnatively, if the cabling is already in place, is it something I could try myself? Read more
No, that's useful to know.
What frequency do I get them on? ;-)
We're thinking of replacing the wife's Mazda Xedos 9, and having been very happy with Mazdas in general, we decided to have a test drive in a Mazda 6.
This was my first test drive ever, and I was pleasantly surprised. No hassle, just show my licence, fill in a quick form and off we went without the salesman. He was even happy for us to put the kids' carseats in the back (we've had problems in the past on this score with them not fitting well).
Off we went. We were driving a 2.0L hatchback manual. Now the manaual was a bit of a shock after three years of auto boxes, but with a lurch or two we were away.
In many ways the 6 impressed us. Very nippy, VERY big inside; the same size as the Xedos 9. Also, I was impressed by the airbags everywhere, such as in the windscreen (A?) pillars. So far so good.
But the RACKET! The noise from the tyres was nigh on unbearable. Even around town it was awful and once we got on the motorway we just couldn't believe it. Several of the roadtests had mentioned noise as a problem, but I took those with a pinch of salt. Climbing back into the 9 year old Xedos 9 was a relief.
So, we come to my question. Why, when cars seem to be becoming quieter by the year, would someone bring out a car with this level of noise? Is it the fashion for wider tyres, or just poor engineering? Or am I just missing the point and expecting luxury motoring just because a medium sized family car has expanded to the same size as executive cars used to be?
And, more to the point, will my test drive of a Mondeo over the weekend reveal the same problem?
V Read more
I picked up the Mazda6 this pm....leaving the 1 year old Vectra. First impressions....looks...fantastic! Obviously im looking at this vehicle with rose tinted spectacles however i hope my opinion is impartial.
The car had 4 miles on the clock....my test drive vehicle had 17,000 miles. As for road noise...totally non instrusive,took a spin down the by pass in todays wind, again suprised...minimal wind noise....car is eager and pulls well,responsive and sharp. The feeling of being in the soundproof Vectra bubble is recompsensed by the'feel'of being attached totally to the road.
This has taken me back years ago to my Lancia!Looks,handling and an attentive growl from the engine when you give it some poke!
Ive driven the Vectra for 7 months...Its like sitting in an armchair and driving from A to B with earplugs..if that is the future of main stream car design........I know what I prefer............
Browse
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I also have the optional space saver spare, not as good as a real one but means you don't have the panic of finding one. Still leaves space for a layer of wine bottles under the boot floor!
Ian