February 2005
The car : 2000 Toyota Avensis (1.8 vvti) auto 48 000 miles 1 owner.FSH and all the extras etc £5900
Me - after something reliable for me and a young family of 2 kids. Average 10 000 miles a year.
Before I get it any reason not to? Read more
Drove 200ish odd motorway miles in a Kia Cerato today, Engine humming away in 5th gearand 80mph at 4000rpm made me wonder.
My own car (V6 Mondeo) at simular speeds revs at about 3200ish.
Now to me the higher revs means higher fuel use also i've heard the terms 'high geared' 'low geared' etc but what exactly does all this mean? Why are some high geared and other low? What's the advantages and disadvantages?
All in laymans terms of course! Read more
All very complex in detail but basically, comfortable and economic cruising relates to piston speed. You can reduce this by high gearing, or by having a shorter piston stroke. With the first you go the bigger engine way, with the second the multi cylinder way (Mondeo V6 a compromise, like Sonata?). Ideally I'd have large capacity and a lot of cylinders!
I'm sure this question has been asked in the past,
Is it worth protecting a no claims discount? Read more
Thanks to all who replied to my queery'I will probably protect my ncd for peace of mind.
I've seen a very nice 3 series tourer at a BMW dealer, for a very cheap price. It's got lots of options and looks a very attractive car. However, it's a 316se. Any comments on the engine size (1.9) and the 115bhp. Owners views would be appreciated. Read more
When I was looking to replace my car, there were quite a few pre-registered Legacy 2.0 Sport Tourers in the Subaru network at £13995 IIRC. I was quite taken with them - the interior is a vast improvement on the previous model, and apparently the economy is much better. The performance is slightly more slothful than the BMW, but it has the advantage of not encouraging heckling from, well, just about everybody;) I was only put off because the length of it meant it would hang out over the end of the drive, which appears to be an invitation to passers-by to tweak the rear wiper or help themselves to a badge.
The A3 Sportback looks smart, but for the money that's a low spec 1.6 (102PS) I'd imagine. The boot's on the small side too - like the Alfa - but if the the interior's anything like the A4, it will make even the BMW look like a 1970s Datsun inside:)
Enjoy looking!
Went out this morning around 7:15am this morning and the way people were driving put a cold shiver down my back. The temperature gauge on my car was reading zero degrees. Half a mile down the road (dual carraigeway)there was a multi car pile up with cars skidded off everywhere on black ice. There was a Police car sitting with lights on and policeman waving people down,warning them to slow up. People were absolutely oblivious until they were on him despite the bright lights. I went through this and another quarter mile up the road there was a two car shunt. Another 300 yards and a new Mini was into a tree!
Coming past the two car shunt and passing the Mini, a guy in a Picasso was two inches off the rear of my car and then overtook me in an industrial estate/30mph
On the way back home around an hour later, we were u-turned on the dual carraigeway with the multi car pile up, to enable them to clear up the carnage. Now there is another idiot tailgateing me along a small untreated country road, while texting on his mobile phone!
What is wrong with these people. Can't they see what has happened around them? Read more
Oh dear - I do hope the forecasts are not right then, for it seems our winter is yet to come, here in the south-east. Next week, apparently, is our time.
I put a load of anti-freeze in last week, but I am not sure there is an awful lot more I can do except pray!
Pray that other road users don't do as others in this thread have told, and that when they do, I am a million miles away. Selfish, yes maybe, but if I and you can protect our own then so should everyone.
Night for now
HF
I know, as back roomers, we're all interested in motoring. I tend to wash our cars every 3-4 weeks or when they are dirty/dusty enough to warrant it. No point in washing a clean car!!!
Who among us is out with the shammy leather at the first splash of dirt?
Who among us accumulates litter inside and attracts 'clean me' messages on the paintwork?
Cheers, Sofa Spud
Read more
Good point greg R made. I was going to change my bike last year, and gave it a thorough makeover before offering it for trade in. When I finished it looked so nice I thought what the hell do I want to get rid of it for?
An afternoons graft saved me a few grand there.
I thought I read last year that ABS was to be standard on all vehicles sold in the EU. Judging by the panda 4x4 road test, which lists ABS under optional extras, this isn't so. Anyone know the story ? Read more
There's something a big vague about this rule though, as I found when considering a Fiat Punto last September that the dealer insisted didn't have ABS as standard.
The rule was apparently 'agreed' with car manufacturers, and I'm not sure that it's legally binding / enforceable.
Hi Folks,
What is the 'proper' name for the little pointed fasteners that are often used to keep things like the door trim in place ... if they have a proper name of course.
I have a 406 coupe which relies heavily on these to keep the door panels attached; a mistake in my opinion because they are about as effective as Bluetack.
While I can got to my local Peugeot dealer and pick up replacements for 25 pence each I wonder is there is something better that can be used ? higher quality plastic, better grip etc. I presume this is a part common to all cars?
Any thoughts?
Tim Read more
Yes, they are a pain. Most seem to be made to work one time only and lose their grip if repeatedly used. They are specific to the particular application.
This is a 'don't assume, check!' story and one which could have cost me my car, or at least its contents.
Every time I 'plip' the car key on my 406 to lock it, I assume it has locked all the doors and the boot because I hear the sound of the central locking motors and see the indicators flash. Well, this morning I locked the car as usual, but then for some reason checked my rear offside doorhandle as I walked away. I was shocked to find it unlocked. All the other doors and the boot were working fine and I've no idea how long this one door, the one that is used the least, has been faulty. Anyway, I think I'll do a periodic check from now on to check just to make sure its all working.
And the problem? A dirty connection in the plug/socket between the door and the body and cured with some Electrolube. Read more
Problem is with the Renault keyless system, if you do this the doors will unlock automatically. I think you have three seconds or something in which to check before they unlock.
It's a great system on balance though, can't be bothered with keys now!
Ive been trying to look into this and find out what happens but it all seems a bit misleading when looking DVLA and web sites. If you purchase a car without a V5 (say from a reposession company) what are the problems, or how much hassle is it to sort out the new V5. In the wording of the DVLA such a sale is illegal, but this isn't applied to this scenario is it?
thanks
Gav Read more
Under the circumstances the V5 has been lost hasn't it?
So:
Post Office
Form V62 - complete
Cheque for 19 pound
Post to DVLA.
Should the "lost" V5 appear then return that to DVLA with covering note.
DVD
Browse
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(re-posted this as put it in the wrong place before..)
thanks for all your thoughts. had a look at the tradecentre site and there were several newer examples, albeit with slightly higher mileages, for a lot less.
is it a good place to get a car?