September 2005
Hi I'm looking to replace my current Volvo S60 D5 auto.
I've recently started towing and could do with a the 4wd for "Green Ice" and slippery mud paths and roads. I've driven the Volvo XC70 which is expensive and I didn't like the way it rolled in corners. The Audi All Roader is a bit pricey and I don't like the Audi dealers in my area. I don't want an all out fashion/serious 4wd.
We've had a Skoda Fabia before and I've always quite liked the previous generaiton Octavia. The Octavia is very well priced and looks very well specified.
I was wondering if anyone has driven the current 4*4 Octavia and can comment on how it drives. Does it handle tidly, does it wallow in the corners, is it too slow?
Thanks WipeOut
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How much would it be to buy a replacement head gasket for an M Reg Rover Metro, just the parts not the labour?
Cheers Read more
Reception (on FM) is very poor. It is a standard fit Blaupunkt (and I've tried another) and the aerial is the "bee sting" on the rear roof. Any common problems? Any easy solutions?
Tim{P} Read more
AM reception is lousy, so I'll try replacing the aerial base. Just a question of finding the time to get to the Vauxhall dealer!
Tim{P}
Hi people.
Can anybody help. I want to change the thermostat on my Mazda but have not got a manual yet and can't easily see where the thermostat is. Does anybody know whereabouts I can find it please?
Many thanks.
2ndhand_some. Read more
My car is a VW polo GT 1991 J reg. (early 91 I guess) I 'll get the exact date if necessary.
When were cars compulsorily required to have cats?
So a car from before this date fitted with a cat from new can have the cat removed and still be ok for the MOT? It would then be tested as a "non CAT" car.
Please explain how the ECU would handle this situation.
Any benefits I might expect, apart from a less stressful MOT test for the car.
Any disadvantages, except environmental ones.
Thanks Read more
If you decide to get rid of cat,make sure the downpipe is capable of accepting the oxygen sensor.if it isnt,ecu will remain for the time being in manufactures spec,ie it should give a warning something is wrong.and may cause problems as time goes on,as it is not connected
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Steve
Saturday was very, very wet here. Had to take the Tipo though torrential rain and very big puddles, but seemed fine. Came to start it later, not at all happy. Only just prepared to run, and not on all cylinders.
Essentially it seems that connecting plug 3 causes it to go very lumpy and stall, but read on..
I cleaned out the distributor cap, and WD40d it and the leads. Still the same. Started fault finding, so took off plug lead 4, the same. Took off lead 3, and it starts, funs and idles on the other 3 very happily. Put it back on and it goes horribly lumpy and stops.
Removed lead 3 and put in in place of lead 4, leaving cylinder 3 with no lead. Car starts and idles OK on 3 again, so lead 3 is OK.
Swapped plugs 3 and 4, and tried again as above - only will run with 3 disconnected, but proved that plug 3 is OK.
Took lead from 1, and put it in place of lead 3 - won't start or run as above.
So it seems that plug 3 and lead 3 are fine, but that cylinder 3 is doing something strange to interfere with the running of the engine. No water loss, so I don't think it's a gasket issue. remember, all this started after a period of running in extreme damp.
It's driving me mad - over to you, Backroomers... Read more
Traced this - by fitting a new dizzy cap, which solves the problem. Inspected the inside of the old one, and there are cracks from plug 3's connection, tracing round to the next one, prob 1. The damp has got into the crack, and transmitting some of the spark to another cylinder, hence the rough running when plug lead 3 was connected.
The dry summer kept it away until a wet day allowed moisture into the cracks, and so start the problem.
I have sold the Blackbird after 6 very happy years and 47000 miles. Totally reliable and it only lost me £2850 on the price I bought it at, £438 a year is pretty good I think.
Anyway onto the main point, I really miss the performance but another bike is not on the menu SWMBO has put her size 5s down. So I am looking to replace the worthy, reliable but dull Primera and was wondering what to get. It will be on private lease and I am looking at an absolute max of £400 a month. It must perform but also carry the family in comfort (three boys who will all be teens by the time the lease 2 or 3 years runs out).
I had sort of half looked at a Scooby or Evo 8 but maybe those are flights of fancy.
Looking for your input guys!
Thanks in advance.
Bill Read more
No but I will recommend the Momdeo 2.2TDCi - much better than the standard TDCi!
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Espada III - well if you have a family and need a Lamborghini, what else do you drive?
A Google search throws up lots of unhappy people.
e.g.
tinyurl.com/azt49 Read more
What an absolute appalling situation. I read 2 other forums about UK Vehicle Solutions. It appears that there are many people who thought they were getting a bargain in car contract hire. In reality they were asked for a deposit, which they have banked, but no vehicles were ordered. The business disappeared a shortwhile ago, but nothing could be done by the Police until the magic date of 12 September as this was the date for delivery of virtually all of the vehicles.
The main problem seems to be people's expectations of getting what they see on screen. They have not done sufficient checks in to the business before parting with their cash. All of the delas on offer were significantly better than all the other known firms in this sector. No true contract hire firm would ask for a deposit before the customer sees the finance document. Then the payment would always be made to the finance house, not the broker. Many customers failed to get any finance paperwork, just a receipt for their deposits.
It appears that there is little that can be done for these people taken for a "ride" (pun intended). The fraud has probably netted between £350,000 and £1,000,000. The Police, Trading Standards, the local Glasgow newspaper, the Daily Mirror, and BBC Watchdog are all on the case. I do hope this pair of fraudsters are caught quickly.
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Roger
I read frequently, but only post when I have something useful to add to the thread.
Hey everyone! Did any backroomers go to the Autojumble at Beulieau motor museum on Sunday? If so did anybody like any of the motors that were on sale at the Automart section? Do any of you go there every year like myself?
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Its not what you drive, its how you drive it! :-) Read more
Yes, I was there Saturday and my legs are still aching! Always a personal challenge to complete all three autojumble fields in one day. Did it rain on Sunday? Reasonably sunny on & off on the Saturday. Being a Vauxhall/Opel fan the gold Victor for £1,500 and both the low mileage Chevette and the the Opel Kadett reminded how good these car looked before they rusted away! The 2,500 mile Austin Maxi was interesting too. Lots of late model Jags for little money if you could afford to run them. Were Men & Motors still filming on the Sunday?
I have done these in the past. Its an OHC engine and I would always get the head skimmed *and* have it pressure tested. I was charged £60 by a local machine shop last time I have this done.