Following on from the earlier thread here, where I speculated that SAIC were interested in Rover for Powertrain, Rover's engine making business (having begun development on a camless engine using Camcon technology), here is what the Observer had to say:

observer.guardian.co.uk/business/story/0,6903,1406...l

"Central to the deal will be the Powertrain engine business, which manufactures the company's K Series engine. Sources indicate that under the deal, the engine production line will be shipped to China after an agreement to supply engines to Solihull-based Land Rover expires next summer.

"This will give SAIC access to engine production and development techniques, a key priority in its negotiations with MG Rover. Last month, Powertrain casting equipment was packaged and sent to China as part of an earlier agreement to share technology and intellectual property."

"The Rover 75 production line is also likely to be shipped to China, where SAIC believes the car will sell well. "

Half the workforce faces redundancy, too, apparently ...


At least the Chinese will be able to appreciate the K-Series head gasket problems, too ...

:-) Read more

I use the word "offensive" in its adjectival mode as the driver was probably unaware of the situation.

Driving on the M6 heading North near Stoke last evening I saw bright lights some distance behind me. Not just bright, but of eyeball frying intensity. Strangely they appeared much higher off the ground than normal too. I mentioned this to my wife who shielded her eyes to investigate and pronounced that they were probably dipped according to the light pattern on the road as it got closer.

It was not an alien invader from another planet but a Porsche Cayenne. I can only assume that this lighting is legal but somewhere I sense a road rage incident waiting to happen.

TimW

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Time to get the tape measures out please!

Next Thursday is moving day, the Passat has a stupid sized boot which just wont swallow anything, and Polo does his best but is only little. So we're looking at hiring a van.

My digital piano is 30 inches (77cm) high and 54 inches (137cm) long. Will it fit in a Renault Kangoo/Ford Connect van, along with a similar sized bookshelf and numerous boxes, or should I be looking at the next size up?

Before anyone panics, I don't *think* I'll be driving it!

Thanks

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Went to a car supermarket yesterday, drove a very nice nissan primera 2.2 diesel.
I didn't intend to purchase the car then & there, however I did intend to consider it overnight. After the test drive, the sales guy could clearly see that I liked the car, and proceeded to get me to sign on the dotted. I refused as I have a car to sell, which I'm trying to sell privately.
He asked what I would accept, my car is up for sale at £3000, I said I would like to go no lower than £2500. Off he went to see his manager, I nearly fell of my chair when he came back, the most they were willing to give me was £1000, even though he had shown me on his computer screen that £2100 was the lowest price. There was no deal to be done, so off I trotted.
Today he calls me up and tells me "The manager has given authorisation to do 'silly deals' to get the stock moving, as they've had a really dreadful weekend, and he would be willing to offere me £2500 for my car as a part ex" I said that I would consider it, however I have since trawled Autotrader and found better specced cars for around the same money if not less. However if he had agreed £2500 for the car, I think I would have gone for the car, it was nice:-)) I think the moral of the story is to ALWAYS think before you buy and DOUBLE check your market! Read more

Hi

Am contemplating buying a new shape Espace 2.0T Automatic.

Theres lots of bad press for the old one but I can't find anything on the new. Anyone have any experiences of this model at all? Good or Bad!

Thanks

Chris Read more