I have recently got a 2004 Vectra estate in metallic blue. I have noticed that the paintwork seems to have a number of very deep looking swirl marks in it when the sun falls in cerain directions. I did not notice these when I bought/picked up the car as it was a bit overcast. The marks look like somebody has either polished it bady or washed the car with something abrasive. It was bought from a local vauxhall dealer and is covered by the Network Q warranty.

I have had them 'mop' the car which has helped a little, but the marks are still there. When the sun is not on the car, it looks absolutley fine.

Is there anything that I could do to remove these marks?

Any help would be appreciated! Read more

I have just had a compression test done on my Rover 100 ascot and was told that the head gasket had gone and that there was water leaking ito the cylinders, I have half expected this as it has been over heating alot recently. It has been mentioned by one garage that as the engine is a K series it is useless to replace/repair this problem as it will go again within 18 months, but other places have not said this, so the first question would be is this correct?

I have also been quoted prices of £650-£700 to get it done (from the garage that did the test) and a ball park figure of £450 + VAT from an engine specialist who hasn't seen the car as yet, do these sound like reasonable prices (this is my first car and I really am not too sure on prices, and as I am a student omoney is tight and I don't want to be ripped off!)

Many thanks in advance for help with this! Read more

I drove down the A3 from Kingston to the M25 at lunchtime. Did I miss something or is the first de-restriction sign not until the vicinity of the Pain's Hill junction, after miles of motorway-standard three-lane road restricted to 50 mph? Do the regulars take any notice?

And what about those 20 mph zones on the A308 approaching Kingston from the west -- Sunbury, Hampton, or was it the Portsmouth Road in Kingston? One of them seemed to last for less that a hundred yards or so -- distraction of change of speed limit, adjustment of speed, distraction of another change of speed limit, adjustment of speed, etc. I was looking out for schools, but am not sure that I saw any.

I have never used these routes before, so these are simply the comments/queries of the newcomer. Read more

Hi, just wondering if anyone can help, ive got v reg saxo 1.1, of witch im having problems getting dash lights/ignition hence the car wont start.
Now the story in full is the barrel got jammed the other day and the key wouldnt come out, this meant the ignition was staying on, and as it was dark and raining, the only thing i could do was lock it up and disconnet the battery.
When i came to look at the fault, i found that one of the three pins on the back of the barrel, you know the prongs that turn the ign swich, had broken off and jammed the ign switch, hence stopping the barrell from turning, now i have managed to repair the barrel prongs using a spare barrell i had lying around, but now on rebuilding it, the starter starts to turn over before the key gets that far (this also happens if i turn the ign switch manually, with a screwdriver)but i am also getting no dash lights except for the battery warning light.?? And the car doesnt start?? Any ideas anyone, i would appreciate your help..
Many thanks

J long affimi

{Shouting amended. DD} Read more

Peugeot 407 had weird electronic computer generated sounding indicators. New Mondeo has half decent sounding indicators. Audi S8 R reg had indicators so quiet, you had to struggle to work out if they were on or not.

How come there is such variation in sound/volume of indicators? Read more