Posting a question by my father:
He bought a Toyota Camry 1998 with 75000 miles under its belt+history. The service records don't say specificaly if a cam belt was changed. His questions are as follow:
1.Toyota in Barnstaple insist that they only change the belt and there is no need for tensioners or pulley to be changed as part of the service is this correct? isn't it will be better to do this at the same time?
2.Is £185 for the job and parts is reasonable? Is it an easy car to work on by the local garage and not by Toyota? they ask only £120 for the lot. Read more

I have just bought a car which is 20 months old. It only has 7000 on the clock and is in excellent condition to look at.Problem is I did not look at the service record until 2 days later whereupon I saw that there is no year 1 service stamp. I phoned the garage where the car was originally registered and they have no trace of a service on their computor or on the manufacturers computer. I took the car back to the (non main dealer)cardealer and they say they will change the oil and filter. Problem is of course its next service is due in a couple of months and it is still missing a service stamp. What is the point of changing the oil when the service is due anyway? I would normally have the service at a main dealer at least until it is out of warranty. Does it really matter at the dealer says he will cover the warrenty for me?
Needless to say I am an older female , usually well able to stand up for myself but in this situation I seem to have completely lost my way and do not know what to do.Any helpful,constructive comments?
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'cos I spent mine buying a car...
'R'plate Passat went to dealer for suspension arm recall last week. Yes, two bottom arms covered by recall needed replacing, and were, for free. Other 4 that needed replacing cost £500. (ouch). On reviewing mpg over last 6 months, discovered an average of 27. Unfortunately that ruled out first car we saw which was 'T' plate Jag S class 3 litre.
2nd was a range of ex fleet Passat Tdi's in Doncaster. I hadn't realised how much they had "down specced" the interiors on all but the sport: We test drove a light metallic blue with a champagne velour interior. I wonder why that one hadn't sold? Nice engine, though.
On to a Mondeo Tdci. Super engine, but SWMBO who uses the car daily (I only get it for long journies) didn't like it. Shame: the price was good: 2002 registered, 90000 on the clock, and £5,600 with £1500 part ex for the passat (1.8 20vSE with 127k on the clock, and needing an M.O.T. from Friday...) Promise of cheap money, too: half at 0%, half at 5%.
Finally (Monday) to Mexborough, and we bought a 2001 Y Audi A6 tdi 115. up on miles (116k) but lovely grey metallic with black cloth interior: like sitting in an expensive business suit. Drives beautifully, and the mpg looks promising. Now looking for an excuse to pop out to Harrods for a pint of milk!
Tim{P} Read more

In one of the little villages on the road between Abergavenny and Chepstow, there used to be 'home made' 30 signs just after the 40 signs as you entered the village. Obviously put up by concerned locals who wanted the limit lowered (I think it has been now).

Whats the deal with these? They were as good an imitation as you could make with a piece of hardboard and a red magic marker. Surely there must be some rules against displaying signage designed to mimicks official signage? Read more

'A 22k mile 03 reg Toyota Landcruiser 3.0 D-4D GX 7-seater was a lot cheaper at £20, than these vehicles used to be.'

I'LL SAY!

Got £60 in my wallet can I have three?

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