February 2005
i am considering a 4Wheel drive diesel I have looked at the Freelander,suzuki grand vitara and toyota rav4 I like the toyota best however it has fixed 4wd whereas the suzuki can run on 2wd I do not intend to use it as an off roader but I like the higher driving and where I lve the 4wd is handy in the winter. Has anyone any thoughts about fixed 4wd Read more
I believe the Freelander operates in front-wheel drive mode most of the time, automatically engaging drive to the rear wheels only when a significant difference in average rotational speed of front and rear wheels is detected. Instead of a centre diff there is a viscous coupling.
If you want a high driving position, how about a Renault Espace, Ford Galaxy/VW Sharan/SeatAlhambra or a VW Touran. I think these MPVs look much nicer than most SUVs and, in diesel form, they're more economical. And the Sharan is available with '4Motion' 4 wheel-drive, incidentally.
Cheers, Sofa Spud
All,
has anybody had a non VW towbar fitted to a MkV Golf/Touran? Any issues with VW? Any problems with the car? I don't really want to muck up my computer on wheels, but I don't want to pay VW! My local dealer pretty much says they will not fit them anyhow.
Joe Read more
Not my very own unfortunately!
SWMBO has (bless her) bought some time at Silverstone in an F355.
Has anyone done anything like this before, and would they like to share their experiences?
Also, should I sell the Passat, commute to work on the train, and buy a Triumph Spitfire for weekend & summer fun? Read more
I had a Mk 2 Spitfire in the early 70's, hardtop. I thought it was fun, only thing that went on it over 3 years was the clutch.
The swing axle rear suspension was, shall we say, "interesting. I think later models were different.
I have put my grandmother's Clio up for sale on this site and on a couple of others and received an email during the night from someone purporting to be in Spain which reads:
Hello,I am from Spain,i was going through
the classified ads when i came accross your
advert concerning your Renault Clio £750
for sale i am really intrested in buying,pls let me know the features and condition
including your last
price you are willing to sell,Get me all this asap.
cheers
I sent a reply asking how collection/payment would be arranged and received this email:
Hello,
I willbe paying the 750 you advertised for ok, i will be paying with a cashier check or a bank draft in uk pounds,So kindy provide me the following information ok-------------------
1,Your full name to be on the check.
2,Your postal address.
3,Your phone number both land and mobile.
4,Your postal code.
Get me this as soon as possible.Regards
Pls send me pics
IS THIS A SCAM?
I have heard of such scams on eBay and am very wary - perhaps too wary but do any of you know about this?
Any help much appreciated,
Matthew
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Thanks for all your very helpful (and amusing) tales - I have since received over ten more emails and am simply staggered by the whole thing... Cheers,
Matt
What do you reckon, is he genuine?
Dear James,
Thanks for the mail, I will like to know your last price with the present conition of the car, I am from west part of africa.
Await your mail,
Regards,
Pastor Marrons.
Dont worry about shipping......I will handle it myself
I mean: He's a vicar, so he must be honest, right? :D Read more
I would be tempted to reply that the internet is too insecure for this but if he could give me a call on my (old and not currently used) mobile we could go from there ... and then try to string out some expensive calls for him.
Probably wiser just to ignore though.
Reverting to the subject of water collecting in the driver footwell of my Mk IV Golf Estate, I note that elswhere on this website a similar problem with the Passat is said to be due to blocked drain outlets from the plenum chamber. Still haven't a clue what a plenum chamber is (sounds like a full Houses of Parliament to me), but I'm guessing it's the area immediately in front of the windscreen where rainwater runoff has to collect. Older cars I have owned had obvious rubber hoses coming off the floor of this compartment - easy matter to extract any leaves, etc. that blocked them. On the Golf I can't even see or feel any such drainage hoses. Can anyone tell me where the drainage outlets are on a Mk IV - or does the car have to be taken apart with a knife and fork to get at them?
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Hi I am new to this site - sorry if this comes a bit late for you I have a MKIV Golf estate - still under warranty - cabin leaks both sides can be caused by faulty seals in the door. Look carefully next time it rains you will see a trail of water coming from the bottom of the speakers and onto the carpet. VW dealer solved this - the seal is in the door card somewhere!
Where can I find out more info on this engine pls?
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Hi,
What info do you want? I have a Rover manuals cd which includes maintenance and repair on the L-series engine. Would this be what you want? These cds are widely available.
Rgds.
Can anyone explain why these valuations for trade-in are always so hopelessly optimistic? The values for dealer and private sales are usually pretty accurate so I cannot understand this discrepancy.
It goes like this. Look up the trade-in estimate, say £8000, go along to the dealer and he won't budge above about £5000. Leave dealer dissatisfied and planning to sell privately. Read more
Don't really get the "buy new" thing these days - instantly lose 15-20%. Done it myself in the past but certainly won't again, "Nearly New" for me every day
Hi chaps,
Just bought a Vectra C on a 04 plate, 14000 miles. The problem i have is that when braking at slow speeds i get a grating noise, almost like the pads are worn to the metal, no noise at higher braking speeds. The car was bought from a main dealer last saturday and had a service, i'm assuming the brakes were looked at. Anyone got any ideas before i go back with it, so that i am not feed B/S.
Any help appreciated.
Pastyman.. Read more
Was at the main dealer this morning and both rear disc were just starting to clear a layer of rust. Dealer decided to change pads but couldn't do it under warranty without authorisation from Vauxhall, i then argued that i had the car 1 week and the noise was there when the car was test driven and was told it would be sorted. This seemed to have the desired effect and the rear pads were duly changed.
The fitter also said that the Vectra C models tend to eat rear pads faster than front ones.
Thanks for all advice given chaps.
Pastyman...
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Definitely worth simmering after sustained high speed or high load running. Handbook for Xantia with same motor contains advice to that effect.