February 2005
Yes, I have had a good read through past posts using the forum search, but I am still very ignorant of these things!
I feel like treating myself to a new "toy" and fancy a PDA with satnav. Have seen a Navman Pin 300 for £399 in PC world and there are also a couple on ebay for around the £300 mark. Anyone with any experience of these systems? Any advice with regard to advantages/disadvantages welcome. Any better systems for about the same price? I fancy something that is movable from car to car and also fancy the PDA bit as well as the Satnav bit. Thanks in advance!!
PhilW
P.S. please use simple language - I ain't too hot with regard to modern technology!!
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I am currently looking for a hot hatch in the region of £12000 and have decided on either the Ford Fiesta ST or the Seat Ibiza FR. Can anyone suggest which to go for? Does anyone own either of these cars (user road tests)? Performance and Fuel economy read very similar but im just not sure. Post any thoughts on either of these cars here??? Thanks, Tim
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There is nothing 'different' about selecting a Ford Fiesta or a
Seat Ibiza, especially as the former is bound to become a
boy racers choice in years to come.
Although out of the three cars being discussed here, i'm fairly confident that the Seat will have the lowest sales numbers (for each model range, that is). Therefore the Ibiza would be the most 'different' out of the three.
I've seen a Mercedes C270 2.7 CDi Avantgarde Saloon on sale for £15,500.
Does this make sense or will I be buying an expensive door-stop?
I believe it has FMSH ....
Kind Regards
hugh Read more
I saw a 270 cdi Avantgarde auto on a 51 plate with 55k on the clock make £15,500 at auction last week. This was despite it being of unknown origin and without a full service history.
So maybe the one you're looking at isn't that far off on price.
Mind you everything was selling very very well that day.
James
I read (in the motoring section of one of the Sunday papers) that the Citroen/Peugeot 2.0HDi has a turbo.
If this is the case,
1) why don't you get the audible 'whistle' that the VW/Audi TDi gives on acceleration?
and,
2) does that mean they're not such a good buy 2nd hand (with all the warnings about older smoking turbos?
and finally,
3) if they are still a good buy what mileage (with a serviced example)should you start to be wary? Read more
I never know why people worry about turbos. I've driven (2nd hand high-ish mileage) turbo powered cars for the last 8 years (c. 160k miles) and only had to replace one turbo which cost less than a set of tyres all round.
I seem to have a similar problem as BobG "Blowing bulbs and ECUs. Renault Megane" My Astra keeps blowing headlight bulbs.
I have been advised to add an extra bit of wiring (please excuse my complete lack of technical knowledge). This extra piece of wiring apparently gets attached somewhere between the switch and the light. I have no idea what it does or where it is supposed to go.
Could anybody advise me on the best course of action in such circumstances. My neighbour has offered to do the work for me but is unsure exactly where it should be fitted.
Thanks - Duffbus Read more
Duffbus,
Re: replacing socket. Yes, it seemed to cure the problem. It went from a bulb blowing every month or so, to being on the same bulb a year later when the car was sold. Apparantly Vauxhall are aware of the problem, hence when my dad mentioned it to the garage, they knew how to rectify it.
Re: closing the bonnet by pushing. Always do this by using the palm of your hand rather than finger tips. The modern body panel is a lot thinner and easily dented.
A fully comp insurance policy, bought online, is about to end.
I am thinking about the possibility of the having a TPTF insurance for just six weeks.
During that time the car will be off the road, in the drive and not driven. As far as I know we are not in a risky area.
A normal annual insurance would then recommence.
1.Is such insurance possible?
The objective is to save money and to move the renewal date.
2.Is it going to save any money?
3. Is it a case of an annual policy and then cancel to get a refund? I guess a cancellation fee will be charged.
4.I assume it would be through a broker. Will the cost of not using an online site be more expensive than the potential savings?
5.Or is it simpler with a phone call to extend the existing policy by six weeks which will at least achieve one objective in moving the renewal date?
6.If you buy a policy online and several months later move to a higher risk area obviously the insurance co would be informed and an additional premium incurred. Is there an additional charge for not doing it online?
7. Any companies recommended for to talk to?
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My girlfriend has just had a similar situation - bought a new car so transferred her existing policy over to that but also still had the old car, which she wanted to sell privately. After contacting her existing insurers (Direct line) they gave her 1 months FREE insurance on her old car - yes you read it correctly FREE & then charged her per month after that (around £30 I think. When she sold the car halfway through the month they even refunded the remaining 2 weeks !!!
Give your exisitng insurers a call
Hello.
Having just browsed the ford website i have noticed that the model names for the fiesta are changing.
For E.G the finnesse (Finesse or however its spelt) will now be a studio.
Is this inline with the new focus.
Also having chatted with a ford dealer they say they are giving the Fiesta a spring clean starting next month (March) does anyone know what has or will change.
I have noticed for one that the durashift gearbox has dissapeared from the build your own is it unreliable.
The reason for noticing this is that next march we plan to change the Fiesta for a mk6 (wife currently tootles around in mk5)
All advice greatfully recieved.
--
(iam not a mechanic)
Martin Winters Read more
>> The Zetec now has boot spoiler but they have downgraded
the
>> engine to the 1.25 instead of 1.4.
What? A spoiler on a 1.25? I think they're
trying to appeal to the "1.0 Mk3 Fiesta with full body
styling kit and drainpipe exhaust" boy racer brigade.
In all fairness to Ford though, there is only a 5PS difference between the 1.25 and the 1.4 engine, so it's not exactly worth getting excited over.
I always found my 1.4 to be just about quick enough, although I wouldn't have liked it to be any weaker.
Blue
1998 (S) Peugeot 306 1.9 Turbo Diesel,Diablo Red, Meridian Estate.pas, rcl, a/c. One careful lady owner (my nan).Genuine 28k miles, Full Peugeot service history, like new. She was wondering what is the most she can get from a private sale?
Any ideas?
Rich Read more
Try 3.2 but expect as low as 2.7, 2.8 - it's slow out there at the moment and a private sale with no warranty won't match trade.
I seem have a problem some yob has wallked over my bonnet
And put a foot mark in it was wondering if any one has any ideas to get the dent out with out to much expense
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Posting in capitals is regarded as shouting and ill-mannered.
{which I've now edited, and not for the first time, IIRC. DD}
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What's for you won't pass you by
Hi guys
For a few days now I have noticed a distinct thump when going over potholes coming from the rear n/s of my 53 Vectra sxi. I did the usual of emptying the boot (not much in there anyway) and checking the parcel shelf was secure etc etc but the noise was still there.
Anyway,today I had a look underneath the car (its done 22k miles and is a Sept 2003 reg).
The n/s rear shock is covered in oil , whereas its counterpart on the other side is dry.
Ok so that explains the noise - looks like I need a new shock but could you chaps let me have your opinion on these points?
1. The car is now in year 2 of the 3 year warranty. The Vauxhall warranty specifically excludes shock absorbers in year 2 and 3. Personally I think its appalling that a part like this should give up after just over a year and a modest mileage...do you agree?
2. Is it worth calling Vauxhall customer services to ask them if they will cough up something towards the repair?
3. I know the standard advice is to change shocks in pairs - would that stand with my case? Would it be really necessary to change the other side too even though its currently showing no signs of leakage?
Thanks in advance Read more
Result!
Garage have just called me - Vauxhall are meeting the cost of repair in full. (just for the faulty side). Happy with that result :o) and I have to say fair play to Vauxhall.
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I use mapstore/via michelin on a palm tungsten T3. Overall, I am hugely impressed with what it does for the price (EUR 150 plus cost of PDA). Especially as it includes maps for the whole of europe - this made a holiday in Italy so much easier.
The software works extremely well once set up, but entering a new destination can be a bit of a faff. I am also a bit frustrated that even if I set 'shortest route', the software jumps back to 'quickest route' at the drop of a hat.
The bluetooth GPS receiver seems to have very good battery life - happily goes all day without a recharge. It would not work in front window of a rented picasso - but I solved that by putting it on the rear parcel shelt instead.
The price asked for factory fitted GPS seems a dreadful rip off compared with what you can get on PDA devices now.