June 2005
On my recent car-buying travels, I have come to learn the true meaning of some of those terms that we see in almost every car advert.
Two that spring to mind are: 'Outstanding condition inside and out, and absolutely no rust' - means 'very average condition but with loads of rust round wheel arches etc, with worn interiors'.
and 'Very good condition, no rust' actually means 'a pile of absolute rubbish, falling to bits with more rust than bodywork'.
Why on earth do sellers make these claims? I specifically asked them to be honest on the phone, to save my time and theirs in viewing something which I wasn't going to buy. Do they really think that a buyer is going to go and view the car and not actually notice its faults? I know some faults may be more concealable but those above were apparent a mile off.
What's the point?
HF Read more
I run AVG anti-virus software on my PC. I have had a message telling to download the latest update, when I try to download the update it freezes.
In the download box there is a rectangular window labelled - server. Immediately I start to download, the message - closing connection - comes up. I Read more
Avoid Evesham, they are really cheap Mitac's.
Acer or Toshiba are the brands to go for.
Never seen this before, with Kia, looks like a dealer may have gone bust!!??
From an asset finance company 23 models from Kia range, most less than delivery mileage, in BCA Belle Vue 21 June.
Clik in Auction View to our left.
if you want me to put a few examples in here, just ask!
Interesting to see how low the prices will be, 'cos they don't discount much anyway!!
VB Read more
You should be told in advance if there is a separate airport tax for car rental returns. This is to pay for the additional facilites which the airport provides to car rental companies.
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Espada III - well if you have a family and need a Lamborghini, what else do you drive?
Just renewed brake pipes ,front disks on my Vectra after an MOT failure to find it is now overheating. I had also renewed oil and all filters and was fine prior to taking the vehicle off the road for a few days. I took it for a run yesterday and it was overheating as a result of a binding front brake , the disks were in bad shape So I decided to change them today. Now the car overheats and goes to the same mark on the gauge whether I run it on the road or it stands idleing. Any ideas chaps ?. I did remove a pipe from the radiator filler to get at something and then put it back ,so ,if I've caused a air lock , how would I remove it ? Read more
Hi all, When you say gets hot,how hot are we talking? My fan won't kick in until the temperature gauge shows 100 degrees. To me that seems very high. None of my previous cars have gone any where near that sort of temp.
My 93 TiD (2000 reg) cut out completely on the motorway last week. It was on cruise control doing a steady 80mph when the engine management light came on and the engine stopped at the same time. Has been in a saab dealer for a week. They have replaced the engine management unit claiming the existing one had virtually melted but the car still wont start and they are baffled. Any ideas? Read more
This might help, I hope
www.partsgateway.co.uk/sitemap/saab-diesel-fuel-pu...l
A pillion lost more than £10,000 when his rucksack burst open on the M3, the BBC is reporting.
The rider and pillion, from the Isle of Wight, were on their way to buy a car when the bag opened on the M3 going south near Winchester.
Drivers stopped on the motorway to help retrieve the cash as it whirled around on a windy Tuesday night (June 14). Just £500 of the original £11,000 was recovered.
It got worse for the unlucky duo two junctions further down the line ? their bike broke down. Read more
Well, back again on the fuel octane issue.
I recently bought a rather good Suzuki Ignis Sport (RRP £10K, from dealers for around £7.5k, bought a 5 week old one with 2K miles for a bargain £5200.. )
Anyway, on looking through the manual (I know. One's no supposed to read the book!) It states that only 98Ron fuel and above is to be used. This is re-iterated on the filler cap.
I've been using Optimax as the only 98Ron fuel around, but now there is a new kid on the block - Tesco super is now 99Ron, and slightly cheaper (86.9p/l in Tesco Extra - Camberley/Blackwater) than Optimax (Around 89.9p/l in Fleet and around 85.9 in Portsmouth).
FYI, I've run my 2004 Punto 1.2 16v on Optimax for the last 7 tanks (5 weeks) and it seems to run more responsivly with the 2 tanks of Tesco 99 I've tried so far..
May be worth a try for some of you lot.
Mods - sorry if this is technical. I guess you'll move it if you so deem.
I guess I should change my name from Alfa_Pug to Ignis_Punto? Read more
My daughter has been running an Ignis Sport for a year or so. On enquiring, I was told she was feeding it on "ordinary bog standard", which I take it means premium unleaded at best. It has behaved perfectly with no untoward happenings. I just mention this because one can't always obtain these fancy brews conveniently.
It is called Will, from will-o-the-wisp or ignis fatuus.
Great little car!
I'm in the market for one of these but are having a bit of trouble with the salesmen (no surprises!!).
Looking at drivethedeal.co.uk there seem to indicate a discount of about 5.8% buying new and whatcar? have a target price which is just under 4%.
I'm intending to wave these prices under his/her nose but thought I'd ask to see if anyones got any examples/ideas/etc.
I've a car to trade in or sell privately which may affect the deal I can get...
Finally, has anyone any experience of drivethedeal and what sort of service they offer? They've been around for a while but I'm not sure if there are any problems. I like the way that the cars are sourced through a UK dealer.
Thanks in advance! Read more
That's similar to the deal we got a couple of years sgo, and where I live there (unusually, I think) happen to be several Honda dealers within close(ish) range, including 2 with a few miles of each other. I played them off as much as I could but they clearly don't have anywhere to go. I did get a few hundred pounds worth of mats/flaps/side bumpers/extra plip at 'cost' too, and they threw in a free first service (after 12 mths) as the handover was a bit of a disaster (they hadn't fitted the mats/flaps/side bumpers/extra plip!). I felt embarrased as I'd 'sold' Honda to my wife (she wanted a Fiesta!!). She loves the Jazz now, though.
We were p/x'ing a car (98 Clio RXE) that everyone said was 'overbooked' in Glass's at £3500 - most offers were £2800-£3000. So I was pleased to get £3300 in the end. I also got the £600 extended w'tee cost refunded (never expected that when I bought it). I wanted to P/X it because it really needed a new cambelt and a chunky service as it was 5 yrs old.
Take a look at this short BBC news story:
news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/hampshire/4102758.stm
The last line is a perfect example of 'It never rains but it pours!' Read more
Isn't it amazing what greed will do?
Kevin...
But surely they were all doing it in order to return it to the owner...?
I am having problems with the starting of my 1988 Rascal van in the damp. At first it is difficult to start as it dies as soon as the ignition is released. Then when it is under load/pulling away the engine seems to be misfiring and lacking power, usually causing it to cut out again. The same happens when changing gear.
Once it has been going for a while it seems to sort itself out a bit.
I have checked all the usual: points, plugs, timing etc.
Any advice would be greatly appreciated. Thanks
NB: all upper case is regarded as shouting on the internet. I have amended your note, but please bear that in mind. Thanks - Mark. Read more
At some traffic lights a few weeks ago I sat behind a tatty old Suzuki equivalent to the Rascal and thought something was wrong with the engine from the erratic idle, and that the exhaust had a major hole in it from the flatulent boom.
When it then came crisply on cam and howled away from the lights - leaving the car alongside for dead - I realised that it almost certainly had a sports bike engine fitted.
This is the second time I have come across such a device.
Just great! :-))
Beats the Gixer 1000 engine Smart Car hands down for effect.
Browse
Quickie. Finally got Fiesta tonight and took me all of 2 minutes to get used to it. To me, it drives like a dream. Would have said this earlier but it seems teenage son's hormones take priority over my car stuff these days.
Think me and car are going to get on very well. Astra is going tomorrow, and Steve I can't even suss out how to get the roof bars off let alone start selling it for parts. It's just going, end of story, and I was very sad about that earlier. I'd be interested, by the way, Steve, if you could email me the name of the garage you referred to earlier? Just so I know?
Since it's mega-late I will spare you all any further details except that the garage blokes all seemed to be laughing when I attempted to drive the Fiesta off for the first time. No idea why.
But so far, so good - don't hold your breath for the first 'Fiesta - help!' questions though!
HF