May 2005
I've got some vouchers that I can use to go on a driving day. Quite fancy either a supercar / Ferrari day or maybe a single seater.
After going on a rally day a couple of years ago and being really dissapointed at the whole experience, I was wondering if anyone can recommend, a) a good venue and b) a good overall experience.
I'm in Maidenhead (J8/9 of the M4). So somewhere not too far away (100 miles radius) would be considered.
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Anybody chipped a 53 VW TDi 130 for additional horses and more importantly increased torque.
Am intrested in effect on reliablity etc.
Thanks
J Read more
Not the 130 but I chipped my 2000 Passat TDi (PD) from 115 to 136 at 10,000 miles and ran it to 90,000 with absolutely no problems. The improvement in torque was impressive and enjoyable. It always produced a bit of smoke on hard acceleration but passed the first MOT no problem. I changed the oil every 5,000 miles (using either VWs PD oil and later on Millers XFE PD) and always simmered the turbo before switching off. I always felt comfortable that the extra 21bhp wasn't too much for the gearbox or clutch to handle. Some tuners are getting 180+ bhp from the 130 engine which would give me some concern about longevity.
How did Mazda get away with using suicide doors on the RX8 if they're illegal under EU regulations? Read more
Close. The rear quarterlight windows have buttons on to electically open the doors.
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Adam
After 5 months of suffering discomfort and now back problems in my S reg Mondeo Verona, looks like I'll have to sell it.
Two questions:-
1) Are there any companies who could replace the foam in the seat with something softer and more forgiving?
Someone I spoke to said that modern car seats are injection moulded, so I reckon this is unlikely.
2) Can anyone recommend a suitable replacement? Don't care about the make of the car as long as the seats are decent.
I was thinking about Laguna/406. Read more
Although the basic ergonomics are excellent to begin with, I am very particular about easily regaining exactly "my" seating position after someone else has used my car. This was one of several factors in me specifying our V70 2.4T with SE trim; doing so gained triple memory seats plus keyfob encoding (otherwise an £850 option). The keyfob encoding means His and Hers automatic adjustment on unlocking the car and opening the driver's door. The wing mirrors adjust too, though sadly not the interior mirror or reach and rake adjustable steering column!
On a more basic level, such easy adjustment was also a factor in me choosing my MG Metro back in 1984; How anyone can tolerate a three door car with tilting seats that do not resume their previously adjusted position is beyond me. The MG did, but I read just the other day of several current model cars with exactly this problem.
cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=...1
Not sure it's as new as they'd have you believe looking at the pedals and what looks like a bottle of Sunny Delight in the passenger door but still a classic nonetheless.
Whilst it's worth that price for such a "classic" car, I certainly wouldn't pay it.
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Adam Read more
Well it's sold for £8900. Hope buyer is happy!
On my last trip tp Costco I was in the car section and noticed that they had, if I recall correctly, 5l Chevron 'fully synthetic' oil for around the £10 mark (plus VAT). Although I'm not in the market for any oil I recalled previous threads here about the virtues, ingredients and costs of various oils and I couldn't help wondering if this was a very good deal or not.
Similarly, they had 5l of a well known alloy wheel cleaner (can't recall the name just now) for about £6.
Given the wide variation in the price of auto bits & pieces I'd be interested to hear whether these offers are any good.
I must say that everything I've bought for my car at Costco to date has been of excellent quality and far cheaper than I could find anywhere else. Read more
Someone's got their wires crossed here - I think Madf just meant the oil sold by Costco which was being referred to (i.e. Chevron), not oil actually branded 'Costco'.
As you say, Kirkland is their 'own' brand and all of the stuff I've bought with that name has been excellent.
Can anybody advise. If a car is advertised as Cat D registered, I assume this means a note has been placed on its insurance records that car is subject to Cat D and will show up in future sales checks.
Can it be removed with an engineers report and inspection? I have seen a car I like but am concerned about resale.
Thanks
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www.autoligninspections.co.uk/inspections.html can reclassify from condition alert to condition inspected- not sure if cat d is a condition alert status tho
9000
I have held off asking this question for ages, but cannot help myself. Why do people want to drive modified Clios/Saxos etc? I understand being young and I understand going fast, and I understand wanting to show off in a vain attempt to pull women... I am not that old myself! BUT WHY do they drive around town continually? WHY don't they go and drive fast on challenging roads that are fun? Some chavs MUST read this forum, please explain cos I don't get it!
AND my last point... what is good about having an exhaust that sounds as if it's blowing? Please help! Read more
Incidentally, I've seen evidence of the trend being reversed. With some
teenagers, the 'in' thing is now having everything exactly as standard.
Really? If this is the case, i'm well cool :-0
While others my age were trying to stuff the biggest alloys on their car, I was trying to keep mine as VW intended, which included the removal of non - genuine mud flaps etc.
But I've always thought I was old before my time (or just plain square), reading practical classics and all that.
Now, where's my pipe and slippers
The much vaunted Thommo in funds situation has yet to emerge so I've gone for another cheap car. I still have 3 motorbikes though...
The car I went for was an old guy I knows Seat Toledo.
We agreed he would get trade in values for it and I would be offered it at a matching price for cash plus a bit.
It is an R reg SXE. 2 litre, slush box, genuine 30,000 miles, full Seat main dealer history, always garaged, the phrase 'eat your dinner off it' could have been coined for this car.
Most dealers refused to even countenance it as a trade in. The best trade in offer he got was £1,000 and that seemed to be on a jacked up price for the new car. Basically no one wanted to know. We agreed on £1,100 cash.
As HJ said on a previous thread its a MKII Jetta with an extended boot floor.
OK its not the prettiest of vehicles but it is in all senses a modern vehicle air bags and all and I can not fault the build quality and think it will be fairly cheap to run too as its basic enough to be serviced by non-specialists.
OK second hand vehicles of all types are cheap at present but why are these cars so unloved? Read more
Rover 45 was also available as a hatchback, infact its most common in hatchback guise.
hi
i am after finding a trust worthy mechanic in the Milton Keynes area, i have a proton H reg (dont laff ) and its making a horrible banging noise, i did have probs with the drive shaft and think its all connected but i need someone who i can trust to come and check it over for me....cheeply :) Read more
all the wheel nuts were loose
someone had only put that on for me a month ago
It's always best to re-check the wheel nuts are still tight after a few miles of being fitted.
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Just noticed in todays Telegraph that sadly a Ferrari driver was killed and his passenger seriously injured at Goodwood yesterday, presumably on a track or driving experience day.
I have also seen a Cosworth owner get carried away and wreck his pride and joy at Donington on a track day.
It makes the restrictions that some tracks impose more understandable.
IMO anyone going on such a day should be looking very seriously at both their own and the organisers insurance cover and restrictions ..