March 2005
Maybe i fancy a change, maybe i'm losing patience with living with a high mileage car. Either way, I'm thinking about swapping cars.
How much should i expect to get for my W reg 2000 Skoda Octavia SLX TDI. It's in boring silver, but has climate and CD player and so on. It's done 110,000 miles, and just the cam belt done.
It's not behaving very well, and i don't have time to sort it out. So i intend to Part Ex it rather than sell privately. It's not great cosmetically either, and was from new a private hire car until i bought it.
A trawl of Autotrader suggests £3000 - £3500, Is this about right?
Thanks Read more
Motoring services group RAC has agreed to be bought by Norwich Union-owner Aviva for £1.1bn ($2.1bn).
news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/4331733.stm Read more
Interestingly, AXA had just sold their motor insurance business to RAC so my renewal quote came from RAC (for 05/03/05). Norwich Union then proceeded to better that quote, and I got 14 months for the price of 12. Perhaps my timing was just right!
Tim{P}
news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/4329455.stm
All up north? I'm sure there's some down south! Read more
It appears that the AA has been caught "exagerating the truth".
From this weeks 'motorcycle news'
Where their web site said 26 bikers killed on the Cat & Fiddle, this was corrected to one some days later.
Cheshire Police say "We've questioned the figures with the AA. We don't know where they got the data from. And to say there's a mini-massacre is appalling".
The AA report author Dr Joanne Hill said "the figures came from the Department of Transport". The DfT said "we don't know where the figures came from. We don't think the AA's methodology is particularly robust."
I witnessed a strange accident on the way home yesterday. The car ahead of me, doing about 40 mph on a straight road with a good surface, suddenly flipped over and landed upside down neatly on the carriageway.
It had not been weaving about, had not braked, and to judge from the absence of tyre marks there had been no sudden mechanical seizure. No other vehicles were involved, as they say.
What could cause a small modern hatchback to do that?
(The driver was unhurt, but understandably shaken) Read more
Growler, I suppose the Department for Transport's answer to the disturbing file-on-four report will be to stick in more "slippery roads" signs. Job done!
FOR INFORMATION
Daughter has just receieved a recall notice from SEAT in respect of her X Reg Ibiza (but the letter is also headed Cordoba/Vario, Inca, Leon/Toledo). Excerpt follows:
"The brake vacuum pipes may leak due to a production fault. If the pipe leaks, the brake servo loses it's function. Without the servo assistance a lot more force must be used on the pedal. But this will not lead to a total failuire of the braking system."
FoC examination and if necessary replacement - about an hour.
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Is the C class (2000-) known for drifting to the left when the hands are taken off the wheel while driving on the motorway? I tested an 18,000 miler approved used c220 cdi with new tyres and even with slight reverse camber it did it - the salesman said they all do it.
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Well my Fiesta needed new front tyres after about 14,000 miles, I wouldn't think 18,000 miles is too bad for C-Class.
Blue
Hi
Have a C5 Estate which has done around 42000 Miles
I will have to have the Particulate Filter done at 50000 according to the Manual and was wondering if anyone knew of an independant specialist in the London area North London preferably..
Thanks
Ian.H
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I'll second Louis Barbour - I always had my Xantia serviced there during the 5 years I owned it. It was worth the extra mileage IMO.
Though, even Louis freely admits he prefers servicing the older models before the likes of the C5 et al with loads of electronic gizmos to check (and of course, go wrong).
Can anyone recommend a reputable specialist in this area for fairly simple repairs to a 5 year old 306 petrol estate( I've had enough of the franchised dealers ! ) ?
Thanks. Read more
i do have a confession actually my mate works at that bodyshop
i always try and sneak a look at whatever bodywork hes done and can never tell till he points it, out,, dead helpful and the garage do a good job as well
I have been searching through AutoTrader for a few months now for the newer shape model of Nissan Maxima QX 3.0 SE+ to replace my 1995 Nissan QX 3.0 SE. There is not a single car on sale in the last four months!! Am I looking at the wrong place for this particular car?
I am looking for a cheap, reliable, large saloon with folding rear seats, 3.0L engine with auto box with 100k on the clock and must have LSD and switchable Traction Control - for Road Rally use.
I am not interested in the Toyota Camry or Honda Legend as they do not have standard LSD. All German or Swedish brand are ok but I have heard a lot of horror stories with autobox going, meaning they must be manual but I haven't driven for over 50k.
Is there any other brand/model suggestion?
Many thanks,
Gazza Read more
try the import auctions at southampton such as "motorway auctions or
A1 auctions"
You will be surprised what comes thru them with different names
to european models.
I suppose I can go for a Nissan "Cefiro" but I prefer a UK car for insurance reason and the de-restricted top speed. I also prefer the UK version final-drive ratio (31 mph per 1000rpm) than the Japanese version (25 mph per 1000 rpm).
So how do rate them?
I am torn bettween the BM530D and the Merc E 270CDI. Which is the better car??
Both look good, great residuals etc. I need the car for 3 years will pay cash and want a 1 year old with less than 10k on the clock. Which would you choose and why?? Read more
Hi HJ,
Thought the new V6's were both the same capacity (3.0?) though with different designations to indicate power output, i.e. the most powerful being called 320.
Regards.
Browse
Parkers says:
Franchised Dealer £ 4070
Independent Dealer £ 3650
Private Good £ 3355
Private Poor £ 2335
Part Exchange £ 2745