August 2005
Opinions requested.
I am looking to buy a 2+2 coupe sports car and will spend up to 35k. Don't like the RX8. Want something with power and panache. MPG not important but don't want to be hit hugely by depreciation. Two main contenders are used Porsche 996 or Maserati coupe (2001 '3200' or maybe 2002 '4200' (just about for the price). Maserati less common than Porsche and look good but need to have the thing start every morning. Porshe too obvious a choice???
Cheers,
Taccy Read more
I've heard recently that the ability of a Land Rovers are just a myth compared to other 4X4s but lots of people buy them so they can't be that bad? What do you think?
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I drive a '94 Range Rover and my neighbour a 2000
Mitsubishi Animal pick up. The Mitsubishi is crude by comparison. I
didn't realise they still used leaf springs!
Remember that the L200 is a utility vehicle capable of carrying a huge (1000kg?) payload across rough terrain, hence the use of leaf springs.
The RR is a luxury 4X4 which probably cost more than twice as much when new, so no surprises about the different "quality" interiors.
Though the off-road ability is a little hampered by the limited axle articulation, L200/Hilux type pickups are still excellent offroad vehicles.
Finally, the reliability figures (pretty much any source) speak for themselves.
Evening all, been considering a couple of cars this weekend, both auto Merc C Class from dealers priced at £4000. I've only viewed one of them so far. One is a 95N (presume 4 speed 6 cyl) 280 Elegance with 99k, leather, aircon, alloys, FMBSH. The other is a 97P 180 Elegance with 79k and FMBSH.
The car will be used as a second vehicle to be kept for 3 years minimum doing max 5k pa - so I'm not concerned with petrol costs. However am I looking at potentially big bills on the 280? I'm tempted by the 280 but my head says the 180 (with none of the goodies)
Anyone got any views on this? (Aprilia - I gather you know a fair bit about Mercs) Read more
Can't really lose at 4k...
4k is a significant amount of money for a 10 year old car. I know W124 is too large for Marc's requirements. But for between 2k - 2.5k, you can buy a very nice E280 with leather and A/C.
About 5 years ago Trade Sales were selling new W124 E220 Mercedes made(or rather assembled) in India for less than half the price of 'regular' E class Mercedes.(about £13k?) At that time the E220 was not imported into UK.
I am told that some of these are now appearing for sale at prices not much cheaper than regular Mercs. Given that there were lots of personal imports from Europe at that time, you would need to be something of an expert to know that these were not the same as a European spec car.
Does anyone have any knowledge of how these cars stood up to the test of time, one assumes they have a harder life in India. Or have most been stolen and shipped out in parts to the Far East
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The indian made w124's were very reliable and of a high
quality. Indian factory has the best quality audit for all DC
factories.
Yes, I agree that the MB built in India are not actually inferior, I am sure DC worked very hard to ensure this. However, the PERCEPTION is that they are inferior, and at this level of the market, image is everything.
Hoping someone can give advice on my renault espace 2.2 td - have been advised the engine needs complete replacement after the water pump has gone and woodruff key missing from keyway on cam?? obviously new engine costs fortune - not sure whether this is viable for age of car. have also been told that maybe other types of engines can be fitted (cheaper alternatives). the cheapest quote i have had is £1600 for a recon. thanks
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The price you have been quoted seems realistic. The car is worthless as is but how much is the replacement going to cost? Far more than the cost of replacing the engine. Other options may be to have your own unit reconditioned as long as the thrust washers havent fallen out and allowed the crank to beat up the block it is a viable option. Check locally for a reconditioner who is affiliated to the Federation of Engine Reconditioners (FER) and seek his advice.
I rebuilt my engine so didnt source a recon but worth trying Renault.
Andrew
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Simplicate and add lightness!!
My boot has suddenly stopped working,.
the remote no longer opens it...and nor does the boot button just above the number plate
the only way to open it is manually via the key.
i have tried to open the door with the key,,to reset the system
and i have also checked all the wires to make sure they arnt loose...
and there is power getting there...
so my guess is the actual lock has gone???
sound reasonable??
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www.storme.co.uk Read more
No I haven't done it yet, touch wood. But I was reading the front page of the Telegraph Motoring sction today where this issue was discussed and the huge expense of getting your car fixed afterwards. Up to £7K was mentioned.
It's about time the someone came up with a device for preventing this. I guess the car manufacturers are not going to take the lead since they would argue it's not their fault. But surely some clever person must be able to come up with a method of preventing petrol being put into a diesel.
I am putting my great mind to work. Well, my mind anyway. Read more
A possible solution is to colour the tarmac on a forecourt. Green channel for u/l and black for diesel, then have all the u/l pumps on one side of a garage and all diesel pumps on the other. For those who are colourblind, they can just watch out for the greasier looking tarmac covered in patches of sand soaking up spilt diesel.
Just got a 1998 S reg Escort 1.6 16v Zetec with 73k on the clock. FSH but no sign of a cam belt change. When should it be changed and how much should it cost? Read more
Do it now. Fit a full kit and allow for a water pump as well. With genuine parts and allowing for a new auxiliary belt an indy should charge around £200 - £225
NDREW
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Simplicate and add lightness!!
Is anyone else having a problem with the Kia Pop up ad locking up Firefox. I have tried it on 2 different PC's, One running XP the other running W2000Pro, And I have the same problem on both. When I have Clicked on the Kia Popup (either by accident or on purpose) a new window appears that then locks up the screen and it is a CTRL+ALT job to close it. Am I alone in this? I have emailed HJ but he has said no one else has reported it!!!
As a note, I would like to say that I have no problems with Pop ups being used, but I do have a major issue if the ad companies just assume we all use IE and dont test the ad's properly.
Am now going off to write an email to Kia to explain the problem to them and see if they can kick the ad company into gear (am convinced it is not me) Read more
Version 1.0.6 has been out for quite a while.
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What\'s for you won\'t pass you by
I wonder why oil change intervals vary so much. In the USA they tend to be quite short as well. My Renault is scheduled for 18K which I think is too long. I've had it done at 8K and on the advice of one RTE, I'm thinking of having it done every 6K. Read more
That is strange - you'd think that with (generally) big, low
revving engines, it wouldn't be a problem. However oil is
stunningly cheap in the US - 4 US Quarts (almost 5L)
of Mobil 1 fully synth was just over $20 in Walmart.
Ordinary stuff was 7 or 8 dollars.
"Quick Lube" service centres seem much more popular throughout the US; they seem to have retained the concept of the Service Station where attendents pump the fuel for you, check the oil etc.
Have a read of the forums over at www.bobistheoilguy.com if you're interested in oil opinions over the other side of the pond.
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No, not unreasonable to mention RMS; the question needs to be asked of a seller.
It is, however, unreasonable to say: