May 2005
On collecting your brand new car can the dealer force you to sign something to say the car is cosmetically perfect before you drive it away?
I think under the Sale of Goods Acta you are entitled to a reasonable length of time to examine it, say a week or so? Some things show under different lights for example and are not immediately apparent.
Anyone know the answer? Read more
Bonhams is about to offer an exclusive opportunity to acquire a single-owner collection of nine commemorative hand-built Aston Martin V8 models. The collection - privately commissioned in 1987 in order to celebrate the 21st anniversary of V8 production in 1990 - will be sold by Bonhams on 4 June at Aston Martin?s Works Service facility in Newport Pagnell.
Full details here:- snipurl.com/ergb
Anyone got any spare change they can donate to me?
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I will settle for the auctioneers commission.
Renault are advertising their "minute" service, similar to Ford rapid fit etc.
Phoned them today for a price of oil and filter change - was quoted £45! When I asked how they could justify such a price, they said that the oil alone (semi synthetic) was £30 !
Even more worrying, when I first phoned, they put me through to the normal service dept - they quoted me £80!!
One of the fast fit places was advertising at the weekend for £25, fully synthetic I am sure! Read more
£45 for an oil change at a main dealer is not too bad. Look at their overheads, someone has to pay for the posh showroom and receptionists etc. You only need to have it done every 18K, although I am not so sure about using semi-synthetic. I am pretty sure my dCi needs fully synthetic.
I have used Renault Minute to have some mud guards fitted to my Megane, they were very quick and efficient and replaced a front side light bulb for free.
I agree it's a bit odd you got two different prices though. Case of the left hand not knowing what the right is doing?
I shall be definitely using Minute again.
Does anybody know where I can buy a fault code reader for Simtec 5.6.5, I have been in contact with Draper but they can't help. Thanks. Read more
That's the most common fault. It could just be the sensor, or the plug / socket joint.
Whichever it is, details of the fix is here:
www.honestjohn.co.uk/forum/post/index.htm?v=e&t=30...9
Car insurance renewal time and thru the letterbox comes More Than's notice - same price as last 2 years, but (as mentioned here) I check with insuresupermarket.com to compare prices. In goes my car registration, personal details etc. Up comes largish list, with cheapest from (yes, you've guessed it) More Than - at nearly £100 less than they're asking me via the postman. Ring 'em, and they offer to knock off £9. Why the big difference for me as an existing customer than to come on-line as new business? I ask. Oh, you get discounts as 1. a new customer, and 2. for being on-line, says "Customer Manager". That doesn't explain the big difference - ridiculous, says I, Sorry, nothing I can do, she counters. How abt if I cancel my policy and come in as new customer at quoted price on-line? No prob, she says. Yes, I keep my No Claims etc - same conditions.
Has world gone mad? Just wish they weren't competitive, so I could tell 'em where to go! Read more
The fundemenatal problem with insurance is as with all financial services, it is an incestuous industry, I made the point on another thread recently about knock-for-knock settlement of claims, a great way for the insurance industry to justify increasing the premiums of two, as opposed to one, of it's customers without incurring a greater collective cost.
Likewise mortgages, customer retention is not a major objective beacuse it is in the lenders interest for customers to move around so as to maintain their collective revenue from admin, survey, legal fees etc.
Although the FSA have ensured that the matter of endowments is now in hand pensions can/are still being sold on the basis of the brokers fees, i.e. it is in the brokers (advisors!) interest for his customer to move his/her pension around although this is often not the best for the customer.
We complain and for good reason about bad dealerships who do or don't do this that and the other. However lets list some good dealerships and why they were good.
I want to start with Sky Ford in Watford. Really good and polite service, good advice is given and problems however tiny are taken seriously and addressed. No "hidden nasties" have appeared on the bill since i have used them. Car comes back cleaned and not covered in greasy marks all over the upholstery and isn't left unlocked down some side street. As dealing with a car dealer should be.
And secondly Chiltern of Bovingdon (independent) Jaguar, I like these dealer since they take into account personal usage when advising about servicing, and don't try and replace parts that will last for years with current usage.
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Hi, I have just made a purchase of a shiny new Nissan Primera I bought from www.uk-car-discount.co.uk I found this company on the website and am not associated with them in any way. The car was delivered to my door (St Ives in Cornwall) on a transporter, it has a pre-reg 05 plate with 2 miles on the clock. With a saving of over 27% otr price I am extremely pleased with the vehicle and the friendly/excellent service. I was sceptical in the beginning about buying online but the car was exactly as was ordered. These days it makes a change to have good service and I can't praise this company enough. I would use this company again and would recommend them. Regards, Dave.
Just bought toyota corolla t spirit second hand. Where is the sat nav unit?? Is it in the boot or under a seat. Also how do you change the clock on the sat nav mine is out by hours cant see how you change it in the manual.. Read more
The Sat nav unit is situated under the front passenger seat.
Can anyone point me to the best place to sell a Toyota Yaris that has been modified to suit a disabled person? Auto trader has no section for disabled vehicles and surfing the web has not pulled in any thing major.
There must be something around that is easily found with a large catchment area?
Any help would be appreciated.
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eBay has half a dozen disabled cars listed at the moment.
(Do they have flat tyres?)
No, they have wheels, just the driver's wheelcair ...
a pal of mine is on the wating list for a new smaller model aston martin, never heard of it myself but there you go.
he siad some one told him it has to services every 1000 miles
has anyone else heard this Read more
If it was every 1,000 miles I'm sure JC would have taken great care to mention it - very loudly.
Andy
Hi all!
Any advice on a fault which seems to have occurred on my 406 after standing for 2 weeks (not seen before).
At certain steering angles I get a vibration in the steering wheel and a sort of vibratey grindy noise from under the bonnet. Power steering fluid level is at max as it has been for some time. Some of the pipework appears slightly damp with some fluid - can't see any serious leak though.
This happens whether the car is moving or not so hopefully doesn't indicate something about to fall off!
I'm currently thinking power steering pump but am also suspicious of pipework due to the age of the car (98). Can anyone tell me which is more likely to cause this fault?
If it is a leak and got suddenly worse to the point all fluid was lost would this affect any other components (eg the pump) if I drove it?
Has anyone changed the PS pump on a 406 3.0 V6 (ES9J4) and if so how easy / difficult was it? It looks doable to me but I'm a very amateur mechanic...
Thanks for looking! Read more
I would not rely on fluid level as being correct.If the level of fluid has dropped (but engine run power steering working)
The fluid froths up so looking as though its full..My motor not pug. Was leaking fluid and was from base of reservoir..It was not detectable untill revs went up-and no leak at all at engine stop..But did exactly what yours is doing.£45 later new reservoir and all is well..Just a possible reason?
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Steve
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If you find any defects within a "reasonable" amount of time the dealer is responsible for rectifying them. If the weather is poor or it's too dark to inspect the bodywork etc simply write on the documentation "not inspected"