September 2005
Ok this one's too late for me, as I've just bought a petrol 1.8 Focus CMAX, but was wondering what other folk thought ?
The diesel was about £1000 more, on fuel economy this would pay back at around 40,000 miles by my reckoning. However is it still true that the diesels can be harder to start and need much more frequent oil changes ? What are the other advantages / disadvantages of the two fuels ? Read more
Did anyone watch the programme on C5 last evening about the German Autobahn system?
I loved the bit about it being illegal to flash drivers from behind to get them to move over and that you were 'expected/obliged' to get out of the way for any car approaching from behind that carried a BMW, Audi, Mercedes or VW badge - funny they didn't mention Porche, unless I missed it.
They don't seem to have jam problems as when busy the hard shoulder is made available as an extra lane and in practice works. The road surfaces are in superb condition (2 or 3 times deeper than UK motorways which is the only way to make them last!) Cheaper not always the best then, now there's a surprise. From what I saw there weren't that many trucks in evidence either (Bliss -- sorry truckers)
A very interesting documentary but I still can't decide if I was envious or not. I don't mind moving along a bit but I think I might be a bit concerned being on the same road as some of the characters interviewed --- 185MPH unless I'm mistatken didn't seem uncommon (Some guy even had a car built specially) and if there's a prang and there often is and you are involved its usully curtains! Having said this it does sound good fun in a thrill seeking sort of way!
Any views?
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Nurburgring is one place I'd love to have a go at but can't seem much opportunity these days.
Been on Donington, Oulton Park, Knock Hill and one or two others - great fun...:-)
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What\'s for you won\'t pass you by
Anyone have views on whether these are worthwhile ? I've just bought a new car for the first time and have been offered it by the dealership, my first question being "What's wrong with the paint that's been put on ?" (still not had a reasonable answer). They're asking £235 for it, my gut feel is if it were so important Ford would have made it standard or a condition of the warranty. Read more
I think very highly of Autoglym. I have used it for years.
I have a M reg fiat punto sx 8v.
A light on the dash board keeps coming on, it looks like a hose with water comnig out of it, once this light starts coming on the car starts loosing power, it will suddenly go slow and start jumping about and the speed up and will be fine for a while and then start again.
Eventually (after about a week) the car will just pack up. When I take the car to the garage they say that it needs a new coil (sometimes both the coils need changing)
This has happened a few times now so I think that there must be something else making the coils go, they shouldnt need changing so often should they?
Last time that the car broke down water also started coming out of it but when i took it to the garage they said that they couldnt find anything wrong with it.
Does anyone have any ideas???
Please help!!
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my sis in law has had this problem twice (annually), costs about 60 quid for oxygen sensor, and an hours labour.
Currently I have a Zafira 1.6, 1999, live in town, 4 kids. Am moving to Scottish Highlands in the new year and want to change the car to something more suitable. Also, I may have a commute of 500 miles to come back and see Grandparents. I was looking at getting a second hand discovery, but have been told it would be difficult to park. I thought about the Kia Sedona, then looked that up on the web and found a site with numerous complaints about it. I'm not mechanically minded so it would need to be reliable. There's only an occasional need for the 6th/7th seat too.
thanks for any suggestions.
Claire
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I agree too. You already have a seven seater vehicle that is perfectly capable of comfortably carrying you and you family 500 miles. If you want something newer, the brand new Zafira is slightly bigger.
Heard an item on the radio recently which quite surprised me. Apparently consumer borrowing in the UK is growing by £1m every four minutes - much of borrowed to spend on cars.
This item reminded of an incident recently when I was selling a Mercedes (a W202). The buyer was organising a loan to buy the car. He also wanted to put a 'cherished number' on it so I helped him sort out the DoT paperwork.
The number was of the form XYZ 123A (i.e. the old style introduced in the 1960's). The number didn't look anything special at all to me - but the 'XYZ' bit was his initials. I was staggered to learn that he'd paid just short of £1000 for this number - and borrowed the money to buy it! As my grandfather used to say, "A fool and his money don't stay together for long". Read more
Obtaining cheap debt via your mortgage to help finance a nice car is OK within reason. What matters is the size of your mortgage repayments in relation to your salary. This should always be kept to a comfortable(ish!) level.
If people have some "slack" and they wish to spend it on a car rather than upgrade their house or retire early, good luck to them. What's the point in spending every last penny on the roof over your head when a considerable amount of time is also spent in the car?
Advice point: don't overdo it as the car will depreciate faster than the loan is repaid, so successive car purchases could hurt and there's no escape!
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Mattster
Boycott shoddy build and reliability.
I bought a brand new Navara nine months ago (Reg December 2004 direct from a UK Dealer), and recently noticed a couple of bits of rust:-
Three out of the four locking wheel nuts are rusting inside and one of the side step / running boards on the side of the vehicle is covered in what looks like white specles. However when you rub them with a cloth, some of the whiteness goes away but the outline remains. I have been informed by the independent garage that I use to valet the vehicle (this may sound OTT for a pickup but it is a commercial vehicle and has all our advertising / logos on it so we keep it clean) that is is the first stage of rust.
I took it back to the Dealer who was not hugely helpful. When I showed the locking wheel nuts - I got "they all do that" and when I showed the side step / running board, they could not provide an explanation but took a picture to send to Nissan UK. They did try to fob me off by telling me that it was an optional extra anyway (quite untrue - it was standard fit for the Navara but an optional extra for the basic pickup). I am now waiting for the result of the photo from Nissan UK.
I had originally thought about importing this vehicle but eventually went to a main dealer (and paid more) because I had heard that imports are prone to rust, so I am particularly disappointed with the outcome.
How do I proceed? Read more
Good News - Nissan have just phoned me to confirm that they will replace the running board / side step and all four locking wheel nuts.
I am really pleased (did not expect it - they certainly managed my expectations down!!!)
I prefer old cars to new ones because they tend to have more character, and they're a lot easier and cheaper to repair, and more robust. Also I don't think that new cars today actually run any better than new cars did 20 years ago....
My own car is a 1994 Vauxhall Astra 1.7DTL. Is has no engine management, no ABS, no central locking, no electric windows or mirrors, no alarm or immobiliser, and no fancy bells and whistles that can and will go wrong, usually at great expense.
It's done 196,000 miles and still starts on the button and drives very quiet and smooth, and has no rust in it at all. Exactly what I want from a car.
Problem is, what do I replace it with when it does eventually die?... Read more
My Ford Fiesta is faster , more comfortable (aircon and all) and of course far more economical than the Jaguar XJ6 I drove in the 1980s.
Of course if you want to drive a badly built rusty fuel consuming piece of rubbish , a mid 1980s Jaguar is ideal..:-)
madf
Are RAV4's still hairdressers cars? Read more
Does anyone know if "in car CCTV" exists? If not it should!
I was in court last week at the case of the driver who pulled out into the side of my car on the M62 in March. Although the magistrate said that I was a credible witness, and that the defendant was inconsistent, there was not enough evidence to convict him beyond reasonable doubt.
Overnight someone has driven into my car outside my house, and caused damage similar to that of the March accident, which means another claim on the insurance, as it was a £1200 repair.
Given the size of cameras, and cheapness of electronics these days, someone (maybe even the car manufacturers) should develop a system of in car cameras which monitor the outside of the vehicle, so that evidence is available to determine who is responsible for accidents. 4 would suffice at a minimum, mounted at the B pillars, pointing forwards and backwards.
Maybe it's time I made use of my electronics degree. Read more
Thank you Avant, no problem. I was sure I had posted and read it back and the next thing was it had gone ! LOL
The Focus IS available in a lovely blonde colour - much better than all those tiresome blacks and silvers.