September 2005
Can anyone tell me what is the real world economy of this engine? i.e. some A roads, bit of town driving etc.
It's got the 6 speed box.
Thanks Read more
The new system must have been 'designed'by a non driver, or someone whose car is maintained and serviced by someone else.
The test now takes much longer, a minor failure requires a complete new test, which means waiting for another appointment( 2 weeks!)and of course another fee. Garages are reporting a shambles, and as a result we will now see a huge increase in cars without MOT,Tax and insurance.
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This does not suprise me - As I work for the large German company that has implemented the project (i'm not involved with that certain business group). But I have heard through the grapevine that they have had lots of problems. Partly due to their own fault in not getting the right people for the job.
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306 2.0 SE Cabriolet
Hi, Got oil and filter change at garage. Took car 1 mile home. Next day checked level and found oil very dark - black greenish film around edge - like I'd expect after 2k. Took sample and challenged garage this morning.
Told me o f was changed, and that Castrol GTX has detergents which act on the sludge. After 1 mile, this seems like deleted.
What does the panel think ? TIA. PS Car is Primera GT.
{Swearing deleted. See sticky in the discussion forum for clarification. DD - BR Moderator} Read more
The main issue here though is garages or other service providers
for that matter, not doing their job properly, and I think
they did a poor job on my car. I'm paying good
money and they cant do the simplest of jobs.
There is too much shoddy service around and that incldes main
dealers.
In my view all that you're paying for at a main dealer is the main dealer service stamp. I'd actually rather they left the vehicle alone (and I'm convinced that's happened to me in the past).
Can anyone help with this? Insurance wrangle is dragging on and on. In February, a van driver pulled out of a T-junction, to turn right and drove straight into the side of my car - car a write off.
I was overtaking a bus at a bus stop with passengers getting on and off. I'm a careful driver, I took all the usual precautions, checked blind spot, signalled, etc and was alongside the bus when the other driver drove into me.
His insurance company have offered half the claim, saying I shouldn't have overtaken next to a junction. Ok, my mistake ... EXCEPT the bus stop was directly opposite the T-junction. It's a narrow, busy road, I was doing the usual thing, overtaking a stationary bus to keep the traffic flowing.
The other driver says the bus driver waved him on, yet in order to turn right, he would have had to drive along on the right hand side of the road until he passed the bus, before he could pull into the left. Also,the bus driver must have waved him on at the point where I was alongside the bus. The Highway code says "you must not cross or join a road until there is a gap large enough for you to do so safely".
I've taken photographs of the bus stop, as advised by my insurance company, has anyone any other suggestions? Should I just accept I was in the wrong too despite the bus stop being bang opposite a narrow T-junction? Accepting the half payout they are offering could affect my no - claims discount so there is little point in accepting anything.
If anyone has any constructive suggestions as to how to argue this I'd be really grateful.
Many thanks Read more
"the bus driver beckoning him from the junction" - he is unlikely to own up to this as it's for precisely the reason in question that you shouldn't beckon/flash or otherwise indicate to someone that the way is clear - if you are wrong then you have some liability.
So I was told anyway. :-)
Didn't take long did it :-). My Alfa has developed a drone whilst driving similar to wheel bearings on the way out, but the bearings are new & ok. Any ideas as to what else it could be? Getting rid isn't to be one of em :-) b4 someone else says it. Read more
Checked the bearings, they are fine, but the noise increases and decreases when speeding up and slowing down.
Interesting article in the weekend press where the fuel economy of a 1.1 litre petrol Citroen C1 was compared with a 1.4HDI diesel C1 on a complete lap of the M25 at 50 mph (traffic & cameras permitting).
Contrary to expectations the the diesel car achieved 82.7 mpg at a cost of £6.37, whilst the petrol engined motor returned a remarkable 85.5 mpg at a cost of £6.10.
So the most economical car tested to date is a petrol, which has beaten not only diesel but all current hybrids as well.!!!! Read more
How has What Car? arrived at those figures? Insurance on both
is broadly the same, as is servicing, and the TDCi has
stronger residuals as well.
OK, I?ll have a go, using What Car? data from the September 2005 edition plus I've assumed fuel prices of petrol @ 89.9p/l and diesel @ 92.9p/l, comparing 2.0 petrol and 1.8 TDCi diesel 5-door Ghia hatches. Depreciation is based on What Car? target prices of £14075 on the road for the petrol and £14532 for the diesel. Fuel consumption is assumed to be the official combined figure of 39.8 mpg petrol and 54.3 mpg diesel and. 12000 miles per year.
Costs for 3 years, 36000 miles:-
(a) 2.0 petrol
Service £773
Insurance £393 x 3 = £1179
Depreciation £14075 x 61% = £8585.75
Fuel 36000/39.8 = 904.52 galls = 4111.47 litres @ 89.9 p/l = £3696.21
Total £14233.96 / 36000 = 39.5 p/mile
What Car? say 41.9 p/mile
(b) 1.8 TDCi diesel
Service £729
Insurance £345 x 3 = £1035
Depreciation £14532 x 58% = £8428.56
Fuel 36000/54.3 = 662.98 galls = 3013.56 litres @ 92.9 p/l = £2799.60
Total £12992.16 / 36000 = 36.1 p/mile
What Car? say 40.1 p/mile
I think that What Car? include finance charges so this is probably where some of the differences come from. The remaining differences probably come from the assumed fuel prices.
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L\'escargot.
As some of you know I own a Ford ka base model (05 plate) which i bought brand new in may this year, although im happy with my purchase, If i keep at my current usage I will be doing 15k a year. I know this is slightly above an average mileage, I would like something bigger/more comfortable, is it worth me buying something larger (mondeo size) for total comfort, but obviously if I buy (or do a straight swop, which is more likely if i do change) something like a mondeo for example, it wil be say for example 4 years old, therefore it will have a short warranty on itm compared to 2.5 years left on my ka.
What cars would you reccomend that i could do a straight swop for? i want a diesel although i know i would not be able to afford a mondeo tdci, unless it had a very high mileage.
Cheers
MML Read more
So sell with 6 months warranty remaining!
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Espada III - well if you have a family and need a Lamborghini, what else do you drive?
Hi my 205 broke down and the AA guy said I needed my Carb and fuel lines cleared.
How much should I expect this to set me back? Is it an expensive job?
Any advice much appreciated. Read more
Rather a vague diagnosis,did he mean the fuel line is blocked?If so make sure you get an inline fuel filter fitted to prevent recurrence.Don't know about cost,I don't use garages.
I've got an R reg 1.8 Diesel and the clutch is slipping (revving away, so to speak).
Im presuming I'll have to get a brand new one fitted - does anyone know a general ball park figure for getting this done?
Cheers
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No idea of the cost, but my neighbour who runs his own small garage won't touch a Mondeo clutch because of the amount of items that have to be removed just to get at it. At least a days work I believe.
Mine has started not to like starting when the engine is warm. Cold is fine, but when warm I have to dab the accelerator and then rev the engine otherwise it fades and dies before I have time to select drive and move off. Any thoughts? Read more
Hi, I would check/replace the coolant temp sensor if its reading wrong ( which is quite common ) it could be over fueling which could cause your engine to slightly flood on start up when cold and coinside with the fuel smell! Also if its starting up fine when its cold would also tie in with this fault!!!
Meant to say, for best economy , don't use 6th gear till you are doing about 50mph, even though it will sit quite happily in 6th at 40.