Polo failed his MOT today. He's had so much money spent on him over the last year or so, I was convinced he'd pass and am shocked about the reason why. Bit of background:

Aug 2003: Went to get tyres and balancing at Micheldever. They couldn't do the balancing because the front suspension was badly worn. Took Polo to a garage my dad has used for years and I trust completely, and he had new wishbones, bushes etc.

Later that month, a lorry took a shine to my car, which I thought would have ruined all the work done on the suspension, but it didn't and...

Jan 04: Passed MOT with flying colours.

Thought I'd get in early this time and get the MOT done with the service before it's due in Jan 05. (I had to take it VW because I still don't know any decent garages up here.) He's failed on front suspension "both bottom arm bushes split" and they say it's going to cost £270 to put right, in addition to the money I paid today. I'm gutted, and don't understand how the first set lasted 7 years, and the replacement set didn't even make it to 2. I just know that whoever it is in here who likes to give me grief about parking on the kurb outside my flat (there's nowhere else to park!) will be rubbing their hands with glee as I think it's that that's done it.

Polo also needs some sort of distributor and rotor arm but that is only £30 and not an MOT failure. I just hope they can do it this week because I don't fancy driving a car I know is poorly all the way south for Christmas, and I fancy the nasty 1.2 Polo they gave me today even less.

I'm just so annoyed! It's more than my half of the rent for a month and I'm so crap I haven't even managed to get a proper job yet after graduating. Cried in the traffic jam on the way home (which took an hour because some stupid yam yam decided to go through the roundabout rather than round it.) Phoned my dad and he's going to help me pay for it, but I'm supposed to be a grown up now and not need him to! (He insists this is what he signed up to the dad lark for, but I still feel awful.)

GRrr... I feel like leaving Polo unlocked with the key in the ignition as the excess on my insurance is less than the repair bill. I am an appalling mother and an even worse daughter. :( Read more

In view of a comment HJ made in another thread and seeing as the festive season is virtually upon us I thought I'd mention that Costco is currently selling an electronic breath testing kit for only around £20.00. Given that it's easily possible to still be well over the limit the following day it's well worth the price I'd have thought for anyone who's likely to be indulging but may wish/need to drive and wants to be on the safe side. Read more

Hi all,

I have a 1997 Fiat Brava TD ELX, and have recently noticed that the Mileometer and trip are not illuminated at all.
Everything else on the dash is fine.

It was working until very recently as it had just passed its MOT(1st Dec 04).

Does anyone know what the problem could be?
Could it just be a bulb?
Will it be expensive?

Many thanks

Andrew
Read more

Hi,

I have just bought a cheap, low mileage, good condition (apart from a dent in the rear qurter panel) Citroen ZX for my brother from another family member.

The problem is, while driving from Chesterfield to Hertfordshire (about 140miles) I noticed that the temp gauge seemed to move up and down with speed.
There are 3 main lines on the gauge marked 60, 90 & 120, and 2 intermediates which I assume are 75 & 105. There is also a small red one just before 120 mark which looks about 115.
The needle seems to be between 90 and 105 mark most of the time, moving to 105 if cruising at 80+ mph. I just wondered if maybe it was a variable calibrated gauge like some Vauxhalls, and in fact it is marked as 60, 75, 90, 95, 105 (red), 120? this would mean it is only changing between 90 - 95.
It is a 1997 1.4i, and after stopping the car it showed no sign of over heating or hot smells.

Any idea what the normal running temp is on these. If it runs this hot when the ambient temp is 0 degrees C, what will it be like in summer.
I haven't as yet taken the thermostate out to check its operation, but I do know the radiator not blocked.

Neil T
Mondeo Ghia TDCi 130 Estate, SEAT Toledo 20VT Sport, Various Montegos... Read more

13k to splash out on something prestige but has a sports look to it, like the Audi A4 (GMBh Sports Kit inc), what would you go for? Things im considering is quality, reasonable maintenance costs etc etc. Any ideas, other than a Ford Mondeo as l have one of those already and would want to move away from that if i could.

Thanks in advance! Read more