August 2005
The outlaws are so impressed with the wife's Panda that they're going to splash out and buy themselves a car to use for trundling round Copenhagen in their retirement.
Before they make the decision & buy a new Panda - 1.2, mid-spec model - it was pointed out to them that the new VW Fox costs only UK£400 more (1.2, 3-cyl. motor)... Should they be tempted?
VW is supposedly the better brand, although plenty of us on this forum think otherwise based upon bitter experience.
Both brands have a dealership within a mile of their home, so no big advantages there.
Since they're buying cash, with nothing to trade-in, surely a 10% discount on either car is possible too? Read more
I have a Fiesta Encore 1.30 P reg. The car has quite suddenly developed a problem which causes sluggish acceleration both from a standing start and when moving up through the gear box.
I know it could be a whole host of things from simply needing a new set of plugs to a faulty ECU and anything in between. I guess what I really asking people to do is give me some idea what the 'in between' stuff might be. (I've changed the plugs and leads all to no avail).
It's a very open ended question and I appreciate that but if folks could give me some pointers I'd appreciate it - any comments would be appreciated,
John Read more
I had a similar problem with a 1990 Fiesta which turned out to be a collapsed baffled in the exhaust silencer causinga blockage.
It felt like when you reached 3000 rpm approx you were at a brick wall and the car wouldn't go any further, ie strangled feeling to the engine. I got a new system fitted and it cured the problem. Previously it made an odd wheezing sound from the tailpipe with the blockage in place. This may be your problem.
If you were on the motorway it would struggle and gasp to reach 60mph. These engines are pretty tough and should rev (if noisily) to their limit. I would check the Cat and exhaust for problems. Not sure how to approach it though - perhaps dismantle the exhaust system?
I'm hoping someone can help me out here, I've seen a car advertised on Autotrader that I'm very interested in buying, the only problem is it's sitting on a garage forecourt over 200 miles from me.
Would any Backroomers be in the Waltham Cross area over the weekend and be able to take a look at the car for me? It's sitting on the forecourt so should be easy to look at, all I'm interested in is whether the car is visually in good condition, no dents, and no car wash damage to the paint finish etc.
I'd be mega grateful if anyone can help me out with this, as I don't want to travel 200 miles to turn around and come back because it's all scratched!
The car is a black Focus TDCi Sport.
Thanks in advance.
Blue Read more
02 is just starting to get outside my margin of acceptability really, I'd consider one if it were mint and cheap enough, but when it is occasionally possible to get a 53 reg Sport for £8K, I would take some persuading that a Ghia was a good buy!
I wouldn't rule out a Zetec, I know my main reasons for not being overly keen are silly but here they are:-
1) The alloys are too common and plain
2) No body colour plastics
3) No standard fit 6 CD player.
The 04 model Ghia fixes all of those faults, I know the alloys on the last Ghias weren't stunning, but they were smarter than Zetec. Also the Ghia 115 has Digital Climate instead of A/C, which I would like, and I also vastly prefer the standard of interior finish (electrics all round, chrome handles, lumbar support, two courtesy lights etc.)
I reckon an 04 model TDCi Ghia can be had for under £10K in reasonable condition is I look around.
The problem is now that I've seen the Sport, I want that instead, sure it doesn't have digital climate, but it does have 6 disc, smart alloys, half leather and above all else, it's the type of Focus that I think suits me better, I like the sporty look.
Just gotta keep searching now. Shame there's only 11 left in the country on Autotrader :-(
Blue
It's probably me being silly - no. It isme being silly but since the car had it's cambelt done, there's a whine. No - I wouldn't call it a whine as such - that indicates something bad. This really sounds like a turbo whine. You can hear it above 2,000 revs. The car runs perfectly, Mum thinks I'm crazy but I can definitely hear one.
I'm not complaining - I'm just curious as to what it is. It sounds...strange.
--
Adam Read more
The very reason I never changed the belt earlier.
Mum always said "Well - you could change it and it snap the next day".
Of course, if it snaps now I won't be impressed.
--
Adam
I have tried twice to get an answer to a question in two other threads. Having failed, I will try again under a specific topic title.
How significant is (say) a 2% difference in the figures given in the J D Power tables? The table for 2005 (UK I assume) shows a difference of 11.4% between the top (Lexus at 84.8%) and the bottom (Alfa Romeo at 73.4%). The industry average is 78.6%, with Ford just above the average at 78.9% Read more
For surveys like JD Power, it all depends on the bias that is put on each section of their survey.
If reliability and driving enjoyment were considered equal factors, you might find Alfa et al in an ok position.
If reliability is considered much more important, then Honda, Toyota etc would likely be high up.
Presumably the weightings used are determined by market research of which factors are considered most important by the average motorist.
Alternatively you could be really sad like me and form your own extremely complicated Excel spreadsheet to give you the car of your dreams. Mine is weighted according to cost of purchase, running costs assuming set mileage/fuel prices, insurance, performance, depreciation over 3 years, creature comforts, practicality, predicted repair/servicing costs, and others.
My one happens to tell me that i want a Seat Ibiza FR TDi, or maybe a Peugeot 406 Coupe 3.0 V6. Both score around 12500 in my spreadsheet, but only beat my current '95 Escort 1.6 by 850 points. The Escort comes in last out of 11 choices.
Is the Escort only 7.3% worse a choice than the other two? I think not. For my spreadsheet, each point difference means something. It all depends on the weighting.
Or alternatively again, you could not waste company time creating ridiculously complicated spreadsheets, and instead go out, test drive the cars you like, read a few reports to gauge estimated reliability, then buy the one you really want.
hi all, anyone know where mac tools are manufactured? i know there a american company but wonder if there actually manufactured there also any general opinions on them would be appreciated ,cheers Read more
I used to work for Snap-on Tools which is Mac's major competitor in the "garage professional tool market".
Mac is part of the Stanley corporation.
Historically I would have said that their tools would generally have scored circa 8/10 for quality and Snap-on would have scored 8.1/10- not much in it and one or two things Mac did better but not many. I have actually had to go onto a Mac tools van incognito and buy product for testing against Snap-on product.
However, in recent years, as with most businesses, both Snap-on and Mac have been looking for ways of cutting costs and have bought out manufacturing facilities in other countries; some in Europe and some in the Far East. This has had an adverse affect (IMHO) on quality.
These "professional quality" tools (again IMHO) are only worth the premium cost if you use them all day, every day, in the course of your trade. I used to get 40% discount and am a tool nut but I only bought a few key items in the 11 years I worked for Snap-on.
BTW, the "guaranteed for life" claim that has always been made on these tools used to men that if it stopped working, they replaced it. Now they are claiming that the guarantee is against faults in manufacturing or material. It was costing them a small fortune!
What is it with the diabolical level of car driving on this road?
Why do car drivers think that it is perfectly safe to overtake on a SC road with oncoming traffic because it's wide enough if everyone moves over to make room to squeeze through?
Read more
CDM on the way (Cadburys dairy milk)
As my car's MoT was imminent, I gave it a good shot of diesel conditioner and warmed it up thoroughly on the way to the test. The tester gave it a good thrash and when the soot clouds dispersed it had passed. The engine is now quieter and more responsive, but is showing a dislike to start when hot, and a tendency to idle at 800 instead of 900 rpm. Cold starting seems to be normal. Any suggestions (99T, 47K miles)? Read more
sorry, mods - can you move this to Technical, please?
Done. DD.
Mates car has a broken Cat matrix.
On my 406 2.1TD a couple of years ago, same happened to me (After 180,000m)
The garage just rodded out the old cat, leaving an empty chamber. No real problems but was slightly more bassy noise. At the time (late 2003), Cat not required for MOT as test was on emmissions.
1. Is that still the case about MOT?
2. Would rodding the 306 be the same as the 406?
Cost would be about £10 instead of £200ish Read more
spend £10 not tested on mot and possible performance gain too
Hello,
I had two tyres removed and refitted yesterday due to leaking valves, I was a bit concerned as to how the various pneumatically powered devices bent and distorted the side walls while removing and refitting the tyres though all seems well.
Any thoughts? Read more
As NC says, knack is important - but make of tyre is just as important when fitting them manually. Of the tyres I use Michelins and Bridgestone are the easiest to fit, Goodyear are usually pigs to remove and fit. I have to disagree with NC on one point though (again) A decent clout with a decent lump hammer is whats needed !
By the way, I know of one blowout caused by a hammer being left inside the tyre. (No, it wasn't me).
As for tubes, the local tyre shop stocks them in a very limited range of sizes - none for low profile tyres. We sometimes have a hire vehicle returned with an irrepairably damaged tyre with a wrong sized tube stuffed into it, in these cases the hirer pays twice - once to have the tube fitted and again to have it removed and a new tyre fitted.
Browse
- 4WD not worth the extra £££ layout, and besides looking at the Fiat Denmark website I don't think it's even offered in that country. (Small market).
Everyone has winter tyres over there - the garage will keep a set for them as part of the deal and swap them over each Autumn/Spring. And it's a flat country, so no big hills to navigate!
Bear in mind the 100%+ car tax in Denmark, the 1.2 2WD will be setting them back almost UK£12K s it is..!!
They are in their late-60s, won't be driving great distances and will keep the car for several years, so resale value is not top of their list.
I imagine the Fiat is cheaper to maintain too? I just paid barely UK£60 including fitting and VAT for a new door mirror for the wife's (don't ask...).
I think Panda is the best choice too, I was just curious to see if the Fox had any admirers (yet).