January 2005
Some may remember, I started a topic about the New City Rover 12mths ago, saying its aload of rubbish or words to that effect.
Well, I'll say it again.
Recently I've had the opportunity to check the City and other Manufacturers body finishes.
1) City Rover - had more ripples in their doors and panels than what the english channel had and poor paint repairs.
2) Tata - 4 x 4s are hit and miss where you'll find dents.
3) Fiat punto/stilo - not as bad but production dents and finishes on certain models could be better.
4) Proton - getting better as we go down the list.
5) Daewoo(Chevrolet as they are know now), Vauxhall, Suzuki, Perodua, Honda, Toyota and Mitsubishi are pretty good with their finishes.
Unless you know better ???? Read more
Was chatting to my dad and he asked if I knew anything about the new wave of smaller diesel engines - he has expressed an interest in getting a diesel whose engine has no more than a 1.6 litre capacity for when he changes cars again. This is because he lives in the RoI and the car tax system there is based on the engine's cubic capacity. City cars are out, but from spacious superminis to family size saloons/estates, all are possibilities, including those which are about to make it onto the market. Thanks for making it easy, Dad ...
Anyway, the ones I can think of include the Mazda3, Citroen C3 (and C4?), Ford Fiesta, Pug 307, possibly the new Mitsubishi Colt, um ... I think that engine from the Mazda3 is going into the Volvo S40, and presumably the Ford Focus. I seem to remember noticing something about a new 1.6 litre diesel for the facelifted Citroen C5 as well, which probably means the Pug 407 will get it, and I think the Corolla is getting a 1.4 or 1.6. Can anybody tell me what other ones I've left out?
--
andymc
Vroom, vroom - mmm, doughnuts ... Read more
If you're thining of Supermini's you should add the Toyota Yaris 1.4 D-4D to your list.
Brooklands
Can anyone advise me where the fuel cut off valve is on this model? Is it below the plastic cover, with 3 wires protruding (imobiliser I think), on the injection pump throttle control?
Also where do I find the 50A glow plug fuse?
Thanks Read more
Hello folks,
Just looking for some opinions, I've seen a car I really like but it is a repaired Stl/Recovered. Everything else seems fine and I'm planning on getting it thoroughly checked out. Assuming it is in good condition about how much under list prices should I pay? About 20% less?
Specifics - Citroen Saxo 1.4i 00V reg Furio, Cat D Stl/Rec
43K miles on the clock
Hope some of you can help, apologies if this is covered anywhere else, I did have a look around and couldn't see a definitive guide to price reduction. Read more
Sounds like about £3k's worth on a good day in 'normal' condition, so assuming it's straight probably £1,500 to £2,000, bearing in mind that it'll be very tough to sell on unless you keep it for a long time - until it's a disposable car essentially.
Hi,
Thinking of changing Wife's 5 year old Citroen Xsara for a Renault Scenic 1.6 dynamic from www.motorhouse2000ltd.co.uk (they have some delivery mile 2004 for £11599)
2 Questions.
Reliablity- how have other new shape renault Scenic users got on?
Good deal- does the above represent good value for money?
Thanks in advance
Jlo Read more
Try Motorprovider (links from this site) they have 2005/54 plate at £11395 (met extra). These cars are not pre reg, are uk supplied with 3 year warranty. I recently bouught 1.9dci dynamique and service was good. You could also try Motorpoint for cheaper deal but these cars will be pre reg from Cyprus. Also look at Trade Sales. Motorhouse 2000, email me for more info which I cannot post on this site - grlora2000@yahoo.co.uk
"Wheeler Dealers", "Sold in 60 seconds", "Auto Mondial", "Deals on Wheels" - I heard they are all great. I'd like to check 'em out... Do you think downloading 'em from P2P (Torrent) would be legal ? I've been searching all day long, but found absolutely NO links on torrent www sites. Top Gear, 5th Gear - yes, but those mentioned above - not at all.
Read more
Anyone come across any repeat showings of Right Car, Wrong Car (or is it the other way around)?. I have only seen two episodes and quite liked them.
When we privately purchased an N reg Peugeot 306 Xld recently, the seller told us the clutch had just been replaced. This may or may not be true.
Shortly afterwards we had trouble changing gear, and the clutch was biting extremely early (barely off the floor).
I reckoned the clutch cable had stretched beyond the limits of the auto-adjuster, and effected a temporary cure by putting some spacers onto the cable at the release fork end (effectively shortening the cable). Although the clutch now releases and gear change is okay, the pedal has got progressively harder to depress.
We have subsequently taken the car to our usual garage, who have told us it needs a new clutch, and that adjusting the cable had worsened matters. The clutch is not slipping.
Questions:
1. How has the garage diagnosed the need for a new clutch, if it is not slipping?
2. How would the temporary cure have worsened the problem?
Read more
Thanks for responses, which are very helpful. Having read them through and had another look at the manual I think the seller had perhaps changed the clutch friction plate, but not the pressure plate, & that it is the friction plate that is failing, hence the clutch was barely disengaging.
The spacers I put on the cable have given it an extra push,forcing the worn springs on the friction plate to disengage the clutch.
I'm taking it to be looked at by a mechanic on Saturday. It would be nice if it only needs a new cable, but I'm not overly optomistic.
A colleague of mine had a loss of water on his way to work on Monday in his Chrysler Grand Voyager 2.5 CRD (2002, 68k mile).
It came to his attention when the heater went cold. Having topped up with water he carried on to work. A brief look under the bonnet made him think that the water pump was leaking.
When he last saw the vehicle is was running OK.
The vehicle is now at a Chrysler dealer. He has been told by the dealer that:
1. The vehicle would not start when taken off the recovery truck.
2. The water pump bearing and/or timing belt tensioner has failed and has caused the belt to jump some teeth.
3. This has not caused any bent valves as this engine is a non-interference' type.
4. However there are 8 damaged rocker arms which need replacing.
The belt could have jumped teeth while it was being manovered at the dealers premises but no one is admitting this.
Is anyone familiar with this engine? Is what has been described possible? I would have thought that the only way rockers could get damaged under these circumstances is if a piston has hit a valve and the force has been transferred upto the rocker/cam assembly.
The dealer is asking big money for this repair.
Any comments gratefully received. Read more
Thanks for the information. This is a common rail diesel engine.
It was moved by transporter because we work in Cambridgeshire and he lives in Sussex. The owner wanted the work done by his 'trusted' local dealer. The quoted cost for this rebuild is over £2000. Ouch.
At these prices I would be inclined to put in an engine from an accident-damaged vehicle.
I know a lot of people on here rate the Primera 2.0 petrol engine as very good, but are their auto boxes bullet proof as well, and is there anything i should look out for on these cars. It would be a 1999/2000 model. Thanks in advance Read more
The one of the Primera lifts out dead easy. You
don't even have to disconnect the feeder pipe, just lift over
the front end of the car and tip the contents out.
>>
Going O/T here, but I guess that's one example of an advantage of a larger car, well, larger Nissans anyway :) -- less cramped under the bonnet. Brother runs two old, but still serviceable, late model Bluebirds he can't bring himself to part with. Acres of space under the bonnet on these -- can't imagine a better car to work on. (Helped greatly of course by lack of todays' emission control devices, etc).
Could start another thread about how so many routine service jobs are made so much more difficult due to awkward access on modern cars...
I could do with a new starter motor for my Audi.
Once I
1. find out its part number (easy enough, I suppose)
How can I
2. find out what other VAG cars used the same part number? (So I can search eBay for somebody breaking a more common car than mine.)
Suggestions gratefully received. Read more
OK, Keo, I'll try that:
Ring ring....
Good afternoon, GS&F?
Hello, Mapmaker here.
What can I sell you today, Sir?
Well... it's like this... I need a new start...
Certainly sir, what's the car
well, it's an Audi 100 2.3
Marvellous! #84.99. In the post to you already, could
I just confirm the credit card number we have on file
for you Sir? last four digits 1234?
Er well...
Are they the last four digits of your credit card, Sir?
Yes.
Supa! Thank you so much for your custom Sir.
It'll be with you by noon tomorrow. Goodbye
Hello? Hello? Hello? I didn't actually want....
[Beeeeeppppp!!!!!!!]
wouldn't have that problem here i know my local gsf and they are pretty helpful with cross refference on parts ie will this part fit that car or what other car uses the same bits because thats too expensive and i will search round breakers etc. local shop good as gold and always try to help but then again they do get a lot of money out of me each year...cheers...keo
Browse
Like Concorde and many other icons of British engineering, it lost money. That just makes it a trendy failure.