September 2005
My 1997 model (ie Mark 3) Espace 2.2DT has just been diagnosed with a faulty ABS pump. Estimated repair bill from a main dealer is £1250. Does anyone know a cheaper option - can these be repaired? I was planning to change it shortly - is it worth repairing or should I just take a hit on the trade-in value? Read more
I have always fancied an executive style car, but don't want to stump up the cash for it. I understand that older exec cars like Mercs may outlast some of the newer models.
What would forumites recommend for my £3000?
I want reliability of course, but also an excellent ride, image and reasonable insurance/bills for a year of motoring pleasure.
Any dogs that I should avoid?
Cheers
Piglet Read more
Guess what - an older 5 series (E39) should fit the
bill, regardless of what people think of the current standards in
the BMW range (both quality and looks) can't go far wrong
with an older 5, found myself parked to an even older
5 the other day, )on an M plate) still cuts the
mustard, this one was immaculate, simple enough to keep away from
the dealer networks.
Listen to Pugugly. The E39 5 Series is perhaps one of the finest cars ever produced - so if you can get one for £3000, it will trounce all opposition.
Brilliant cars.
Hi,
A pal of mine runs an X reg Scenic 1.9Dci as a taxi and has over 250,000 miles on it.
Can anyone comment on the longevity of the injectors and glow plugs on this engine - its started to get a little sluggish recently.
Its still on the original clutch & exhaust!
If the injectors do need replacing - whats a likely cost?
Thanks Read more
Get the injectors serviced rather than replaced-look in Yellow pages for a diesel specialist.
Good morning,
Before you go getting excited, I'm not getting one. Well - certainly not for a good while yet. When I've finished Uni and got myself a decent job I've been thinking what car I would have. One option that I can't seem to get rid of is the S60. I try but fail miserably so I want both the good and bad point of them. (Preferably the bad).
I have no idea how much I'd have to spend on one. Say I saved up and waited till I had enough dosh, 8 grand as an absolute maximum. (Probably not even that much). I realise values will shift a hell of a lot by then but the cars will still be the same cars so what I'm asking still applies.
The T5 sounds like an attractive proposition but seem quite rare. I understand that they're all turbocharged so I'm guessing the 2.0 woulid be a bit of fun too?
The only thing putting me off is the interior. I'm not a great fan but sometimes I look when it has leather in and think it looks rather nice. Oh - it's a Volvo too and I'd be 21 at the earliest when I got it. Not the traditional young man's car (neither is a 4dr Focus for that matter).
If the T5 is a completely different kettle of fish then please mention that also. Insurance shouldn't be too much of an issue as by then I should hopefully have 4 years ncb which are like gold dust and I can't see it costing more than 2 grand then.
One final point - I'm not getting rid of the Focus. I still love old Bess and I'll be having her for a good while yet. I'm just thinking aloud.
--
Adam Read more
There must be something seriously wrong for yours to run so badly - sounds like something major. Petrol used mistakenly by previous owners, or injectors up the Swannee? Although I've only driven a D5 for a few miles it was smooth and responsive. The sales guy was keen to show off its 'refinement", compared with expectations from a petrol Honda owner. Rev'd it in neutral: gave it some welly whilst I was passengering, so I could hear without distraction.
My M reg passat won't start. It was turning over but not firing, but its not even doing that now. I am wondering if it could be a glow plug unit problem? I notice that there are 2 slots for fuses to be placed in it but there is only 1 30A fuse inserted the other slot left blank. Is this right? This car has been a nightmare for me. I put it into my local garage when I first bought it to have it checked out and it came out 5 months later after having many new parts (this being because my local garage insisted a new cam belt was not needed) Anyway exactly 1 year later the damper cog (which I replaced a year earlier)started to wobble and my fan belt sheared. Well back it went again and this time it needed a complete new engine!! Thankfully free due to the warrantee on the defective part. Well eventually got the car back 2 YEARS later (not kidding) when the garage lost all their Franchises in deleted (no wonder really is it) when they literally just knocked on my door and handed me the keys to a car that won't start!! So need some good luck with this car guys so hoping you can point me in the right direction. Any ideas?? Anyone??
{Whether in the past or present, no naming/shaming please. DD. BR Moderator} Read more
Thats not a lot to go on. Firstly raise a court action against the garage as it is their fault. However are you sure the fuel system is properly primed. ?? and has the immobiliser unit been recoded now the engine has been changed. Regards Peter
Hello,
Would anyone please be able to advise whether a portable sat nav could be used to show distance travelled from a start point without having to put in a destination in advance and have the navigation instructions whilst travelling.
Thank you. Read more
>>TomTom3 had a facility to record the GPS data - this has gone in TT5; don't think any TT would directly support what you ask.
<<
That really annoyed me with TT5. The record facility was great for laps during trackdays as well.
Any way of re-installing that bit of TT3?
We diesel car owners are being ripped off by the oil companies. I have kept records of how the diesel price per litre is made up and it is clear that the oil companies are taking 3-4p more per litre than historically. It is not the retailers who are taking the money - their margins are pretty low (but then again lots of forecourts are owned by the oil companies anyway). It's in the wholesale price so even the supermarkets can't do anything. It has been usual for the price of diesel to go up in the autumn by up to 4p more than unleaded (blamed on the winter demand for heating oil which is very similar to diesel) but then to go down again in the spring or early summer. This year the oil companies have made the differential stick throughout the year. The excise duty on diesel by the way is the same as unleaded at 45.8p per litre. VAT is levied at 17.5% on the retail price including the duty (not a fair application of Value-Added, either but Customs and Excise wouldn't agree, I am sure). So if you wonder why the oil companies are making such huge profits in the UK, now you know - 4p per litre of diesel sold goes straight into their profits.
Read more
I don't just agree with Red Baron. I agree with Stuartli as well. Can't quite understand what he considers to be mixed up nonsense, though.
Have decided to return current Passat when the final payment is due in 2 months time, and replace it with a new model Passat. I am currently in the process of speccing it up, and was wondering if anyone could tell me just what the benefit of paying £185 for "sports" suspension would be. The suspension is apparantly lowered by 15mm.
My current Passat is a Sport model, so it has the lowered suspension. Couldn't spot the difference on the test drive.
Should I go for the wooden interior, or is that tacky. Haven't seen it in the flesh, as it were, and hard to tell from pictures whether it would make me look like an old man!
Help! Read more
Precisely the reason I did not buy one. And there is no way of getting the higher profile tyres on the Vector model without actually going out and buying a new set of rims from the Linear model.
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Espada III - well if you have a family and need a Lamborghini, what else do you drive?
I have a V reg Civic AeroDeck (Estate) and am considering having it converted to run on LPG
I would like to know if anyone has had their Civic converted to run on LPG.
Are Honda engines OK for Conversion??
Any Horror Stories relating to Honda Engines and LPG.
I changed from a 1.6RT Renault Scenic that had an old Gas conversion on it (Non Injection type)and had problems that were quite costly.
any information would be greatly appreciated Read more
HJ,
What about an AUDI 80, Auto, 2.6E with LPG conversion?
oh dear.. i seem to have mislaid the red key to my 1998 Mondeo and was planning to sell it soon.
Although i've never used it for anything,what problems could this cause? Read more
They changed in 1998 so it could or it could not.
I'd agree - you should go back to the dealer and show him what you found yourself and demand to know why you should pay for such diabolical advice. Presumably you were given a receipt which details work done and the work required?
I would not advise getting "angry" with the service manager. Be assertive certainly, but remain calm and polite. Focus on the facts of the case.
If you have a detailed receipt and the service manager isn't prepared to budge, speak next to the dealer principle. If that gets you nowhere Trading Standards is your next stop.
My guess is the SM will be very embarassed about how poorly Nobby Nolevels has done his job and will either offer you a refund or a free service. Oh, before you go in have it in mind what you are prepared to accept from them.