December 2004
Anyone seen the picture of the new Fiat 500 in "Test Drive" magazine, car to be launched in 2006. has all the cuteness of the 1960's 500 but looks much more solid and safe.
While I'm here, would like to say I enjoy this relatively new mag, especially their constant support for the Honda Jazz, my wife's car (keeps up the residual value). Read more
we are always being told that traffic hold ups cost the country money, so I propose that if the accident was caused by poor driving or the breakdown caused by negligence, then a hefty fine should be imposed on the driver/owner. This money would be paid to the DVLA who would then lower the cost of the Road Fund Licence for the rest of us!
Do I have any backers?
Kev the Rev Read more
My apologies, NoWheels. Irony was never my strong point, I'm more of a sarcasm man.
Hi,
I'm looking for a little advice from anyone with a similar experience to this.
On 19th September, my mum went to a local dealer and ordered a new VW Polo Twist. She asked that it be registered in October (Road Tax reasons mainly). The salesman said he's prefer it to be registered in September (for sales target purposes). Mum agreed to this on the understanding that she would only pay for the road tax from 1st October.
On 6th October, mum found an advert stating that VW had reduced the list price of the VW by £690. On 9th October, mum went, with a dated copy of the advert to the dealer and asked him about it. He told he knew nothing about it, and she began to suggest she no longer wanted to take the car at the price agreed. He then reassured her that if VW had reduced their price, she would receive a full refund of the £690. She took the car on that basis.
This was a dealer whom she had dealt with before, and her father for 20 years before that so she had no reason not to trust his word.
Cutting a very long story short, the problem is that the car was registered in September and she signed the contract on 19th September. She was reassured two weeks after the car was collected that if she sent in a copy of the tax disc showing a date of 1st October, that would also be enough to get her money back. She has still not received anything.
Now she has had a phone call from the sales director offering a "goodwill" payment of £450 essentially to make her go away. But this is after being twice assured by an employee that the money would be refunded.
Legal advice seems to be the next logicial step, but I wondered if anyone here might have any suggestions/advice or have experienced similar problems?
Thanks,
Laura
Read more
3. most car sale contracts contain a term to the effect that
the price is subject to change ...
>>
here is just one typical example i found by googling uk:
jamjar.com/general/purchasetermsandconditions.jhtml
"
3.2 We may vary the purchase price by an amount attributable to any increase or decrease in the rates of car tax, road fund licence and/or value added tax between the date we accept your order and the date we notify you that the car is ready for delivery.
3.3 We may vary the purchase price by an amount equal to any increase or decrease in the manufacturer?s (or relevant concessionaire?s) price for the car or any optional equipment or accessories specified in the order between the date we accept your order and the date we notify you that the car is ready for delivery.
The wife has a N reg citroen synergie 2.0 petrol recently its started to idle fast when cold i have been told by citroen it could be the idle stepper motor needs a clean or replacing does anyone know where i will find this in the engine or even any other sugestion to what the prob could be. Thanks for any help. Read more
Just looked outside and the fog is a thick as you can get!
That means front and rear foglights on eveyones cars for next 3 weeks! Hope this gets past backroom swear filter! Read more
I'd assume other cars are wired up the same?
Mine automatically cancel themselves when either the ignition or the headlights are turned off. Vectra, btw.
I am supposed to be picking up my new car on Tuesday coming. I ordered the car from a broker (good price) but have elected to collect the car from a dealer thus ensuring it is UK spec etc etc.
When I spoke to the broker (small independant but local) on the phone last week when I placed the order he said I could pay him the deposit and pay the rest to the dealer when I collected the car.
Now, as delivery day approaches (was supposed to be Sat but has been pushed back to tuesday), the broker insists I must pay him and I started to get that concerned feeling.
Although I have obtained the reg no and confirmed with the dealer that the car is being delivered to them on Sat and that they are preparing the docs in my name, I am still reluctant to hand over the dosh before I take delivery of the vehicle. Since the broker will not be present how can I check the car and then pay for it with guranteed funds?
I tried the debit card suggestion but he refused as he claims there is a risk of me claiming the funds back under the indemnity.
He claims that in the past he has had customerts set up a CHAPS transfer with the funds being held until the customer calls the bank with a prearranged password and rthe funds are then instantly transferred. Although I am aware of CHAPS transfers I have never heard of this instant facility and neither has my bank. My understanding is that once a CHAPS payment has been authorised, off it goes.
Does anyone else have any experience of, or suggestion on how this problem can be overcome.
I know this may seem like I am being over cautious but I work in dipsute resolution within the commercial finance industry so I know many of the scama that go on out there. Read more
Good news guys & gals.
After talking again to the main dealer who is supplying the car it became apparent that there is a fleet broker between the original broke I was dealing with and the supplying garage.
I discussed with the garage's fleet manager & expressed my concerns and she ageed to speak to the fleet broker. She came back and said they had agreed for me to pay the dealer.
I feel much happier now.
Can't wait till Tuesday!
Ford Fiesta, 1999 - brakes are squealing.
Plenty of pad material, and discs look fine. Can anyone offer any advice before I start pulling the rear drums apart?
Also, the caliper guide pins on the front discs seem to require some sort of enormous allen key. Can anyone clarify what's required here? I'm not even sure I'll be able to buy the required tool easily.
Cheers in advance. Read more
Agree with Snakey..would add to deglaze the shoes and brake drums-helps prevent squealing
--
Steve
I found the serious part of that site funnier...but in the
pitiful sort of way.
Such as the bit that reminds readers that "Pedestrians and cyclists account for 46% of deaths and 42% of serious injuries on Britain’s urban road network, despite doing a tiny fraction of the mileage of car occupants"?
Was that funny? Read more
£25 is not unreasonable if you view it in the context of what some banks charge you if you accidentally go overdrawn by 50p for a few hours.
--
Use it up : Wear it out : Make do : Do without
At my local Safeway's petrol station today I noticed a lorry parked at one of the normal pumps filling up with diesel.
However, the driver was walking round his lorry cleaning the lights whilst leaving the nozzle in his tank. I am assumin this was pumping diesel into his tank at the time.
If so, how did he do it? You normally only see these things in American movies? I know that you can get such pumps in dedicated HGV fuel stations but in your bog standard Safeway forecourt?
Read more
Looking at the recent filling station thread caused me to do a bit of research on nozzle operation,I came across this and,as I have the answer, I have dragged it out of retirement.
Diesel pumps at commercial stations can have the latching mechanism operational,it is disabled for petrol because holding the nozzle earths it.If it is let go of then returned to a static discharge can take place,with obvious consequences.
I have the offer of a Renault Laguna 2 Dynamique estate with a 1.9 DCi engine and 6 speed gearbox. It is a 2002, 52 model and has 73k on the clock with a full service history. It would be available I estimate at a little under £7k. Whilst high miles it is in excellent condition with metallic paint and has a full set of extras including sat nav, air con, keyless entry and igntion and lots of other toys. It seemed like a reasonable deal to me, and with the Audi knocking on to 130k trouble free (so far) miles I thought it might be time to move on. However a quick google search looking for user opinions suggests a long list of potential problems, largely associated with complex electrics, a fragile clutch not up to diesel style torque and general dodgy quality control. I was actually rather taken aback at the negative comments, and the CBC breakdown certainly doesnt inspire confidence. Can these cars really be that bad or is it that everybody who has had a problem feels the need to burst into electronic print? Perhaps the later models are better - or not? I would welcome any comments based on experience. At the moment I am inclined to hang on to the Audi diesel I have rather than spend more to buy problems. Any insghts welcome!
Many thanks MGs Read more
Many thanks indeed for the responses to my original enquiry. I did go back this weekend and take another look and whilst everything seemed to work satisfactorily I am not sufficiently convinced to purchase. There seem to be too many negative stories around and the one thing we all need as a minimum is reasonable assurance of reliability. It doesnt seem to be that much of a bargain to take the risk. At least my 31 year old MG doesnt suffer from sun roof problems, injector malfunctions and playful central locking even if it did come with the non-optional extra of rust trap design. The Audi will soldier on for a while yet as day to day transport.
Thanks folks, MGs
Browse
My guess is that the world is growing tired of retro styled cars*, so it's a pity that the prettiest of them has come so late in the day.
*I can't see VW or BMW producing a new 'New Beetle' or a new 'New Mini' when the current designs get stale.
Cheers, B55