February 2005
I took a look at the new Focus on Sunday, with a particular interest in the TDCi CVT version. I was told it wouldn't be available until July. I asked about the C-Max version and asked (again) about the problems with getting this car. I was again told they were keeping the transmission back for the new Focus (so why isn't it available now?). They dismissed all suggestions of problems with this transmission, just because they hadn't been told of any. One of the salesmen even said ''I don't expect you will believe me because I am a salesman''. Could be that he is right.
I had already drawn my own conclusion by that time, which was that it is strange that Ford would want to keep back the transmission for the Focus, when it is losing sales that it could be making with the C-Max CVT.
The latest development is that I received two phone calls last night, from one of the aforesaid salesmen. This was a response to my request for a test drive through the website. He obviously didn't recall my name, or the visit on Sunday. So when I reminded him that my interest was in the Focus CVT and that I had been told about the delayed release of it, that stalled the conversation somewhat. However, within a few minutes he rang back again to say that the Focus CVT would be available in March and the July delay referred to the C-Max (which is supposed to be available now).
So, what does one conclude from all of this? Personally, I will believe it when I get to see a Focus CVT. Read more
My MiL has been taken ill and as a result both my wife and SiL may travel (fly) from London to Inverness quite frequently in the next 5/6 months. Rather than keep renting cars for 3-4 days, several times a month, my wife & SiL suggested (read decided) to keep the Omega up at the MiL's for use as the family "pool" car.
My main question is how best to sort out the insurance/RAC stuff etc.
Obviously the car will now be kept at a different address and there will be at least 1 new driver (SiL).
Should I ask her to include the Omega on her insurance or should I include her on our insurance?
What changes should I notify to my insurers other than new address?
TIA,
Chad. Read more
You have to disclose any conviction that is not spent under the rehabilitation of offenders act.
i.e. Drink Drive for 11 years. Be careful with bans as a long ban might mean that the conviction is spent, but the ban is within the period that the insurer wants to know about. Also with totting up bans, make sure the person you are speaking to knows what they are talking about as you may be over quoted as some insurers just take the TT code, where I have known some insurance employees to adopt a belt and braces approach and tap in all the convictions and the TT code. Whether this is correct depends on the insurers underwriting. If in doubt check.
This DVLA link gives you most of the information you need to know.
www.dvla.gov.uk/drivers/endorsem.htm#1.%20Endorsem...e
with all these hybrid cars coming out, can someone explain why they are petrol/electric rather than diesel/electric? it seems that the petrol/electric doesn't give any better return in fuel economy than a diesel engine in the first place. Read more
Having driven both versions of the Prius i can say the currewnt prius takes a bit of getting used to but once you do it's a good car whereas Prius 1 was more of an experiment that was unleashed on the public to do long term user reports.
Hi,
Does anyone on this forum have a mk4/5 fiesta with a towbar. If so would you be so kind as to tell me the entry point of the electrics into the car's boot?
I have a towbar to fit to my car, and it'd be handy to know the best route for the electrics - I've not looked at the car in daylight yet.
Cheers. Read more
Can you help me.
In the last 16 months I have got through 5 headlight bulds in my Ford Focus (1.6 zetec).
Original bulbs lasted just over a year - not too bad
Second set (Halfords all wheather) lasted approx 3 months
Third set (Halfords super briliance) one blew last night, they have been in since the middle of January.
The car is booked in for its 50000 service next week, is there anything I should ask them to look out for, of have I just had bad luck with bulbs?
They have alwasy been fitted correctly, and I have made sure I didn't touch the bulb glass whilst fitting them.
Cheers
(Glass-Tech) Read more
Replaced the rear combined stop and tail lights on a Spacewagon several times and used Halford bulbs. Swapped to mitsubishi OEM bulbs and no problems thereafter.
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Espada III - well if you have a family and need a Lamborghini, what else do you drive?
I wonder why we now have a preponderance of peculiar model names? What image is Vel Satis, Kalos, Terracan, Cerato, Gen-2, Ignis etc. intended to convey? Whatever happened to the fashion for meaningful names such as Gazelle, Vanguard, Barracuda, Thunderbird etc.? I'd be much more subconsciously attracted to a car called Rapier than I would to one called Terracan.
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L\'escargot by name, but not by nature. Read more
Same subject raised earlier this month:
www.honestjohn.co.uk/forum/post/index.htm?f=2&t=29...7
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What\'s for you won\'t pass you by
Hi,
Please can anyone advice if £6990 is a fair price for a sept 2003 registered polo. 1.2litre, 65BHP, S model, 5 doors, 8000 miles, manual, air conditioning.
Regards,
Nicole Read more
Should have written couldn't find any Seats that matched needs.
Just done my wife a fantastic deal. They gave her a reasonable quote anyway, so I suggested she ring them and see if they'd give any extra discount because someone else in the household (me) was insured with them.
Not only did they do that, they've also taken the whole 5 years NCD off for her despite her having no NCD at all, and if she makes it through the whole year they'll give her 5 years NCD in her own right.
Read more
despite her having no NCD at all, and if she makes
it through the whole year they'll give her 5 years NCD
in her own right.
Eh?
Does that mean that if she then went to another insurer
after the first year she could legitimatly claim 5 years NCD,
that seems a bit weird, or is ot only applicable as
long as she stays Mrs Bear and you also stay a
privilege customer?
CF
So it seems. I think it's partly to do with her having been a named driver on my insurance for a fair while.
I don't suppose it's any less legitimate than the companies which offer 10 month accelerator policies.
I am about to take out our second insurance through 'confused'. The latest saving on my wife's previous policy is nearly £100 on a renewal premium of £227 for comprehensive! This almost sounds too good to be true.
Anyone had experience? Read more
both - two different contracts.
My dad is pondering buying a used small car. He currently has a L plate Rover 214sli, which I have said (to his utter dismay) is worth a few hundred quid.
He never drives on the motorway, never goes above 3000rpm, never drives quickly at all.
He will probably keep the car until it gives up the ghost.
his only requirements are - fitting the weekly shop into the boot, reliable, 5 doors.
Ive suggested Polo, Yaris, Jazz. Budget is about £6k. anything else he/I should be considering?
(He's poo-pooed anything french or italian BTW.)
Read more
Sounds like a nearly new Corolla would do the job nicely.
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broadsword calling danny boy
dont buy a CVT
its such a bad idea
they are just so unreliable