March 2005
Evening all
Mrs B's new Panda (1.2 Dynamic). We've had it 6 months (and 2,500 miles) now and we are both getting increasingly concerned about the lack of grip - it will understeer (or feel like it's about to) at very low speeds (e.g. 10-15 mph turning into a side road). Not confidence-inspiring.
Standard tyres are Continental EcoContact 155/80 R13s. I make an absolute religion of ensuring that the tyre pressures on all our vehicles are spot-on (in fact usually very very slightly over the prescribed pressure, to allow for pressure loss between checks), so underinflation can't be the reason.
I have heard that these low-rolling resistance "fuel saver" tyres can be less grippy than others, and certainly the tread pattern seems a lot less pronounced than, for example, the Dunlop SP Sports on my Civic. My questions are therefore
1) Are EcoContacts particularly bad for grip or is it possible we have a naff set?
2) Can anyone recommend a different tyre suitable for this size of car that will do better? I had thought about swapping the 13" steel wheels for the optional 14" alloys, which come with wider tyres, but we can't really afford that.
Any suggestions gratefully received... Read more
Would like to know if anyone has any idea on this please?
My 1991 1.6 205 GTi has recently lost power. It revs cleanly through the whole range, and can get to 70 OK, but feels a bit slow. Come to a hill, and no matter how much I press the accelerator to the floor, the revs start to fall off and speed drops.
Had the car in to a garage, checked the fuel pressure and voltages at plugs, all OK, but they could not find a problem.
Put it on to a rolling road, all the chap there could tell me was that it had high HC and he had to advance the timing to 21 degrees at idle to get any power, retard it anything less than this and the power drops away.
Changed all the leads, plugs, distributor cap, rotor arm etc, no joy. Compression good and equal accross all cylinders, cam timing checked and seems OK.
If any one has any ideas, or know of a garage in north Kent that could help, would be greatly appreciated?
Many thanks
John Read more
Are you certain the accelerator cable is operating over the full range. ?
I just wanted to share something with you all, I bought a Volvo S80 a month or so ago and I wanted to give it a really good servicing (timing belt, pulleys, plugs etc etc).
I got a quote from Volvo and it was nearly £1K!, I then went to a local family run garage that is near my Dad's house (who the old boy has used for years) and he did the whole job for £350. I picked up the car this morning and he spent about 1/2 hour showing me all of the old parts that he had replaced and then got the car on the ramps and showed me all of the work he had done and let me have a really good poke about.
Also, he did the service yesterday and this morning (good Friday!), the reason was is that I need my car for work and he said it was no problems to do it when I was on holiday.
Fantastic service and I am a very very happy boy!
John Read more
Mate, not sure about that but cheers for the info
John
Hi,
I've been looking around the web getting ideas for new car prices, seeing what I could afford.
I see the website www.allbrandsnew.co.uk seem to have the some of the best prices, but in my searching I cannot find any reviews of their service or info on anyone else's experience of them.
Has anyone on here used allbrandsnew or know of their service?
Thanks
David Read more
On Alfa and Nissan they are dearer than the main agent discount price and unlike Allbrands these are not back door imports.
Hi
I'm going to be doing an oil change on a mates car on Monday. Now without actually taking the oil plug off first, does anyone know the size of the nylon washer?
I'd normally go to my Ford dealer for filter and washer, but I've already got a filter so it's not worth a seperate trip. When I asked in Halfords last time they said I needed to know the size of the washer because their computer apparantly couldn't tell me.
Thanks in advance.
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Mike Farrow Read more
Well that's what it says DD but to be honest it wasn't impeding access, besides which the oil filter points away from the roadwheel. Once you got under there the normal way (from the front!) the only things in the way were the driveshaft and the exhaust, and Haynes didn't tell him to remove them!
Also, I've just thought - I always presumed the "stick it in gear" thing was for when holding the car on ramps, i.e. all four wheels would be on the ground. But how can you do this with one removed? They've got me!
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Mike Farrow
Well,
SWMBO has had thoughts about changing her MINI. She fancied a BMW 120d so we booked a test drive. We had a couple of unsupervised hours with a 5k miler 118d manual. Somewhat disappointed I'm afraid. The engine was lively enough (bearing in mind she wants the even livelier 2.0litre)albeit with an irritating flat spot. Are 6 gears one too much for this car ?
The main disappointment was the apparent build quality. Very flimsy feel to door handles and that strange "evo-stick" smell to it. (see HJ's test.). We sat in three today and they all smelt the same. The
whole car's interior felt insubstansial compared to its bigger brothers. There was an extraordinary cheap feel to the steering wheel. Steering was quite dead comapred to the 5 and 3 (I believe this can be altered). Cheap plastic around the glove-box. Doors closed firmly enough with a BMW thump but the door felt quite lightweight. Ride was good as was handling on some nice bendy bits. Less than intuative ergonomics as well. Cheap feel to rear wash wipe system. You can spec these up to around 25k.....
Not like me to moan about a Beemer is it ? SWMBO remains to be convinced as well. Very rarely left a test drive feeling so flat. Read more
Thanks HJ, she is off down the Honda garage at the weekend. Skoda -
It actually did crop up in the discussion about the 1. In as much as her mother has a Fabia and SWMBO comented how much better screwed together it felt....there is also a Skoda garage down the road....
I am thinking of getting my first diesel car. It used to be the case that, although there was virtually no carbon monoxide emission from them, the large quantities of carbon particulates emitted were thought to be responsble for the great increase in asthma sufferers in the UK. Has this been sorted? Read more
My source in Germany is very reliable and works in the Diesel component industry - I don't want to say more than that. His information is bang up to date.
I gather that there have been quite a few problems with the pumps and there are arguments between VAG and Bosch about who picks up the bill for warranty claims. Note that post-2003 cars (e.g. Golf V, Touran etc) are no longer bio-D approved unless fitted with the optional factory 'RME pack'. I don't know what the situation is in the UK, but in Germany I gather that any warranty claim must be accompanied by evidence (e.g. fuel station receipts) showing that the car was fuelled with bio-D to the DIN standard at no greater than 5%, otherwise the claim is refused.
Anyway, that's the information I have. I've no axe to grind either way, so feel free to take it or leave it as you wish.
Despite the Japanese manufacturers holding the high ground in the reliability tables, it was interesting to read that Lex rated the top lowest depreciating cars after 3 years were all from German prestige marques.
Lowest being the Porsche Boxter 54% retained value
2. BMW Z4 52% "
3. BMW X3 52%
4. BMW MINI 52%
5. BMW X5 51%
6. BMW 3 Series 50%
7. Mercedes SLK 50%
8. BMW 1 Series 49%
9. Mercedes CLK 48%
Source Autocar 22 March 2005.
Read more
I have always said that there were certain cult cars that were the current in thing and would become passe whenthe next 'big thing' came out.
I think of all the women who luch who live near me. They go from Range Rovers to Beetles to Minis to Cayennes and they do not give a hoot about their actual requirements from a car. It's just the latest toy their husband buys them or is told to buy them to keep them sweet.
Next big thing - probably the Disco 3 but suspect there will be another German coming around soon. I am surprised its not the new SLK, but most drivers of that I see are men.
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Espada III - well if you have a family and need a Lamborghini, what else do you drive?
This really one for Lawman and his profession.
I own a third share in a property which was originally gifted to my sister, brother and myself through a deed of gift. This ran out earlier in the year, so it is now totally ours.
As my sister was, and still is under 18, (16 at the moment), myself and brother were also appointed her trustees.
I want to buy out the other two and own the property out right. The other two agree to the sale and have no interest in keeping the property.
I have had three independant valuations, all of which are within 10% of each other.
I appreciate that I cannot continue as trustee for my sister, and we are asking another relative to act on her behalf.
The solicitor that holds the deeds is saying that the property must go on the open market, in an estate agents window.
He is saying that this is to make sure the deal is fair and above board.
Is this correct? Does it need to go on the open market?
Does the trusteeship make a difference?
The estate agent seems unneccessary expense.
I thought if all parties agreed on the sale and the price, then the deeds could be transferred and monies paid.
Help!
Thanks in advance.
Read more
Brilliant!
A 50 post discussion, where everyone has basically agreed with what I said originally, but argued about semantic points. :D
Helicopter: I certainly wouldn't argue that it is an incredible achievement, but the reason why I suggested it wasn't overall a generator of energy is that, without energy already supplied to the grid by other, more conventional generators, it could not actually supply energy itself.
It takes energy from the grid, stores it as potential energy (water at top of hill), then at need converts this to kinetic energy (water running down hill) then to electrical energy (via the turbines)
For the first time in my life, and with SWMBO visiting her parents in the Czech Republic for Easter, I've been dangerously unfaithful.
I've fallen in love with another.
With the sun shining, and the prospect of a bachelor weekend ahead, the umbilical cord that is Optimate life support was removed, and my freshly serviced Honda Hornet came out of the garage for the first time this year. As a warm up for the season ahead, a nice flowing carve on the flowing A413 followed suit, in the company of a few like minded souls that I came across. With progress being made, though no heroics and everyone sensible with cool tarmac, plenty of tractor muck by gates. and post winter gravel down the crown, the pleasure reminded me why I ride.
Anyway, I degress.
Return route took me down the A41 towards Aylesbury, where an obligatory pit stop at On Yer Bike was made.
It was there that love at first site happened.
A beautiful, sumptuous, gleaming MV Agusta Brutale. Wonderful curves, nips and tucks for the right reasons, and an engine made in Heaven. Sure, she'd be high maintenance, but with the luxury of a nice bonus arriving in the bank yesterday...
God, was it tempting.
Unfortunately, I'm a coward, and after half an hour in deep thought I came back to my mistress without a word, and will give her the customary post-ride polish up with usual tender care. My First Love will never know how close I came, either... Read more
Thanks for your support, Guys!
Unfortunately, not only am I a coward, but I'm too honest for my own good. I casually dropped the subject in to conversation last night, but the tiddling on my parade was more of a down pour! :-( Seems there won't be a Brutale in the garage just yet! Mind you, she said that about spending nigh on twenty seven grand on the V70, and more recently, on spending 880 Euros on chip tuning it (I didn't need sledgehammer performance, apparently), so there's always a glimmer of hope.
I guess I've got to turn up at the airport for her return on Thursday night clutching a nice bunch of roses. On second thoughts, may be that'd bring suspicion!
Oh well! At least I don't have to break divorce proceedings to the Hornet just yet, and she has another summer to keep the smile on my face.
Good luck with your troubled relationships, G. You know the Vulcan is the imposter really, and there can only be one solution...
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>>Might still see if I can run to those alloys, though
Wouldnt advise it.Going on older Pandas they get into skid very easily with no control.I would stick with what you have..
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Steve