January 2005
I am looking for a used car with a budget of £7000 and I can't make up my mind between the Volvo and the BMW. I'm looking at the frugal end of the engine scale: 2.0 on the S60, 318i on the BMW. I'm looking for a good all rounder not a "driving experience".
Other than buy another car altogether, any advice? Read more
I want to get some VW wheel trims for my '95 Passat Estate to replace the aftermarket ones fitted. The steel wheels fitted are 6J X 14. Lots of adverts e.g. on ebay for sets of trims, but variously described as 14" and 15", and "fit any VW" etc. However as the trims on my 14" wheels, measure 15" diameter, is there a sure way of identifying the corerct size ? I'm not particularly worried about the specific style, there appear to be many options for VW trims from Polo's, Bora's,Golf's Passat's etc. Will a trim from one 14" wheel always fit any other 14" wheel, or are the wheel profiles different? Any advice please? Read more
>>Will a trim from one 14" wheel always fit any other 14" wheel,
No reason why it shouldnt.
--
Steve
Are there any cars that currently on the market that don't suffer engine damage from a snapped timing belt. I was always under the impression that at Hondas were designed like this? Read more
Better policy is to avoid it all by aiming for cars with a timing chain. Seems like madness to risk all to a rubber belt, along with connected problems of water pump failure etc.
Belts are a cheap solution and in theory fine if replaced regularly but there is always the element of risk and expense.
It's been discussed previously, I think most Nissans have chains instead of belts. More of the modern Fords and Vauxhalls also.
Have just bought a new MKV Golf 1.6FSI SE version and am delighted with and all its sophistication and features etc. BUT am slightly surprised at the amount of tyre noise that penetrates the cabin. The car is shod with the standard alloys that come with the car and have Michelin Energy tyres size 195/65 on 15" wheels. The engine is very hushed and there is very little wind noise and so perhaps I'm more aware of extraneous noise.
I wonder if the extra amount of rubber on the road, compared with my previous car's (Rover 414 on 175/65 14" wheels and same tyres) has something to do with it? Read more
Having driven numerous MK V golfs(1.6 FSE,1.9 TDI,2.0 TDI AND GTI)over the past four months.I have not noticed any unreasonable tyre noise from any of the models i have driven.All have been fitted with various tyre sizes.Think that as you have changed vehicles to a car fitted with tyres that have a bigger contact patch on the road,you are hearing more noise,but not an un reasonable amount.As suggested, check the pressures using a couple of different gauges when the tyres are cold(always).
Are OEM parts the same as manufactuers parts in a different box? or can be be of a differnent quality to "dealer" parts? Read more
But then the often all originate from the same place anyway.
Example: When I recently had a timing belt change, VW dealers and my local independent talked of 'genuine' belts, branded belts and cheap belts from Halfords to be avoided like the plague.
What is a 'genuine' belt? Does anyone actually think that VW make timing belts? Of course not, they supply a specification and place an order for X number per year with Bosch, Gates, GKN (or whoever). They also supply them with a logo to be stamped onto each belt in place of the regular Bosch, Gates or GKN logo.
Often the only way to find out is by comparing the 'genuine' part very closely with some of the branded alternative. But the independent specialists tend to know through experience, and were able to tell me that for my car the timing belt is by Bosch (but with the VW/Audi logo instead). Safe in the knowledge that they are the same item from the same production line, I buy the Bosch belt from German & Swedish rather than the dearer 'genuine' belt from the VW dealer.
Hello everyone, my sister has a Nissan Micra 1.3LX, from 1994, and it judders whilst pulling away from a junction. When we had a diagnostic check done on the car, we have been told the problem is the air flow meter, but a different garage did a diagnostic check and said it was the throttle body, please could someone help, as we cant keep paying £35 for diagnostic checks. Many thanks in advance. Read more
Hi, my wife's 1994 1.0 Micra is showing similar symptoms and was wondering if the resoldering fixed the problem?
A quick heads up, looks like car maintenance week at Aldi
Trolly Jack £11.99
Axle stands £5.99 pair
Under car creeper £11.99
Ratchet tie down kit £4.99
Garage shelving, tidies, tool clips etc etc Read more
W.D. may not honour their warranty - your contract is with who you bought it from and the Aldi warranty is probably better than the WD one anyway.
I have put a full gti6 brake setup on my 306td. It has new flexi's, new master cylinder etc.
Anyway when the engine is off the brakes are pretty much solid as you ould expect but as soon as the engine is running the brake pedal travels almost to the floor. I have bled it several times using a pressurised kit and theres definatley no leaks or air in the system.
Is it possible the master cylinder needs to be the same as the gti6 master cylinder to displace more fluid or something?
If it does then will the gti6 cylinder fit onto the same servo or is the servo different as well? Read more
At the moment its still has the non abs 19mm cyliner. The 22.8 came on the 406 2 litre without abs. I didnt know the piston placement was different on the abs versions, very handy to know, thanks.
I'm going to source a 23.8 non abs if I can. If not it will have to be the 22.2 non abs.
I have a 1996 3 Door 306 dt, the model with all the color bumpers alloys and little boot spoiler etc.
I want to be able to transport my mountain bike, i tried to fit a Thule boot rack, but couldn't shut the boot, and becuase of halfords incompetence on the subject i gave up on them.
Can any tell me if they have succesfully fitted a good boot rack (not a flimsy £30) or a roof rack to one of these cars.
I have removed the roof strips and a i cannot see where i could fit a roof rack.
I know on a four door it fits under the door seals.
Read more
the rack I have is a Hollywood Rack, it is a 2/3 bike rack called the original.
www.hollywoodracks.com (look under the bumper fitting section)
there is a dealer in the UK, it tells you on the site.
laters
H
I'm the first to complain if something not rights, so for a nice change I'd like to say how I am happy with a service.
Hi-Q Motorway (Owned by Goodyear Dunlop) on Blackpool Road in Preston. Your usual kwik-fit type place that does tyres, brakes exhausts etc
First visit I went in for 2 tyres.
Second visit I went in for them to find the fault with my exhaust / and repair it.
Both times I received excellent service. I was served by a guy called Simon (who looks like Tommy Harris from Coranation Street) He was cheerful, explained what needed replacing, why it needed replacing, showed me on the car the damage, explained how the new part would be joined on etc, and quoted me what I think was a very cheap price (lets put it this way, if I got the exhaust done at the dealer it would have easily been 4-6 times more expensive)
The tyres took 10mins to change and the exhaust took about 15mins (I'd like to see a main dealer do a job that quick) and as I said the prices were very very low. The tyres were about £39 each from memory (195r15) and the exhaust, which was the system from and excluding the cat to the backbox was £64 fitted.
Also there is a 2 year warranty, which is nice, oh and unlike a certain other yellow coloured tyre and exhaust franchise they didn't break my cat while fitting the exhaust and try and get another £400 out of me.
3 cheers for Hi-Q Blackpool Road, Preston, Lancashire
Luke
Read more
My local Hi-Q just got fined for letting a customer drive out of the workshop without tightening up the wheelbolts....quality.
Browse
Pos
there are so many alternatives, I would drive a few before deciding on a particular model.
I like the Volvo (had an S80) and find them very comfortable although the ride is a little firm. A BMW on smaller rims will offer a better ride and handling compromise.
The Audi is a good alternative, but there are many left field choices including Avensis, older Saab 9-3, Accords. IF you don't do a huge mileage why have a derv drinker and enjoy a broader choice.
--
Espada III - well if you have a family and need a Lamborghini, what else do you drive?