January 2006
I'd appreciate some advice / opinions about my car dilemma:
I want to buy a 2nd hand car with a "sporty nature". I've got a budget of up to £4,000. I want the car to be relatively low maintenance and reliable (within reason for the age).
I'm looking at possibly one of the following: Nissan 200SX (94-00 model), Honda Prelude (either models - like the looks of the older one, but think that the more recent one will be less trouble as it is more modern), Honda CR-X, Mazda MX-5, BMW 3 series coupe (or convertible), BMW Z3. Generally I would prefer the more powerful version of a particular model, and manual is essential. Having not driven a rear-wheel driven sports car before (other than family estates, etc) I'm slightly concerned about my life expectancy in a powerful, light, rear-wheel driven car. Also, I'm not currently drawn towards hot-hatches, figuring that I can do these when I have a family or when I have to be more practical in the future. I'm 27, with clean licence and no claims, so not too worried about insurance. So I'm looking for advice - have I missed a good alternative to the cars that I'm looking at? Will I kill myself? Which car should I be looking at? Any help appreciated.... Read more
Hi,
Trying to get owner feedback on the Fiat Diesel engine in the Astra. I know on paper it looks faster and quicker than the basic 1.7 CDTI engine, but whats it like to drive?
Does anyone understand why its got a six speed gear box? Is there a point?
I am not looking at replacing until June or July, but would jump now if a good deal comes along hence the reason to do my home work without test driving one.
I would look at a Hatchback or maybe estate even. I am also looking at Focuses but have heard horror stories about diesel MPG figures.
My wifes current car is a 04 Peugeot 206 1.4S Estate, but I hate it and want something a little more comfortable to drive when I need to.
Thanks in Advance
Best Regards
Baz
Read more
Hi,
Someone via a friend bought a Focus 1.6 TDCI to use for his new a driving instructor business and is worried as he is only able to get mpg around the 40 mark. The garage told him it was normal during run in and would improve to the high 50 mark. So far it hasnot improved.
I saw in "Car" magazine about a long term report on a petrol focus 1.6 Titanium that was only getting less than 30MPG on a run.
Best regards
Barry
I have the chance to buy an 05/55 9-5 2.2 Tid Vector automatic registered in December 2005 and with 1500 miles on the clock. This is from a friend who after only 5 weeks has decided he made the wrong choice. Now I know that these depreciate very heavily in the early years but I am tempted at that price. Any opinions/observations out there? Read more
Why does everyone slag off the 2.0 & 2.2 Dti engine,they
are a damn good lump, chain cam so no belts snapping,
they do have a bit of poke, and once warm they
are pretty quiet, at 70 on the motorway i cant here
mine, and if serviced regularly they do mega miles.
It is a good engine, I've almost reached 100k miles with mine, it is at least as good in most ways as anything else of similar age. However, engine development moves on and, at least in terms of refinement and power/torque, it's a bit behind the current generation of engines.
The revised Saab 95 with the 1.9 diesel engine was announced in 4q last year so this one may not be quite as good a buy as it seems
Hi. Have a 99 Passat. Can new keys bought from a key cutters rather than VW be recoded on the vehicle as with some Fords or is it dealer only? Some key cutters can cut the keys ok but the encoding machines are very expensive. Thans Alan Read more
LTs have no mapping between the key and the ECU they are bog standard keys with a door opener(and thats an extra).We ran a fleet in Germany on one contract some ran with screwdrivers as keys.Unlike the cars which map everthing through the key ECU,radio,alarm,anti theft.
Hello all.
I am looking to buy a small car to lightly modify (maybe alloys,exhaust system and window tints).I have looked at the 02-04 plate Ford Focus TDCI and the 51-03 plate Volkswagen Golf TDI.Does anyone know whether full exhaust systems can be fitted to diesel cars?Can anyone recommend a small car similar to the ones above which are reliable,economical and cheap to insure (bearing in mind that im 18 with 1 years no claim bonus).
Any help with the above would be greatly appreciated,
Thanks
Read more
If you go to your insurance company with several "mods" such as alloys, sports exhaust and window tints as well as say a remapped engine you'll find they uplift your premium a lot. I know that Milltek and Blueflame do sports exhausts for diesels but I don't think they free up any significant power just sound meatier.
If you could find a standard car that looks the part with factory fit alloys and just declare the engine mod you might find the insurance more bearable and then you could build up some more no claims and carry out more mods later on. Look for a specialist broker that understands what you are doing - they'll want to know how much bhp the engine mod finally gives you and your premium will reflect this.
The engine mod will produce anything from 110 bhp on a Pug 306 HDi 90 to 190 bhp on the Golf so think about how much power you need because this will definitely affect your premium and the vehicle's economy and some would say the reliability of for example the clutch with 190 bhp and 300+ ft/lbs of torque. I can't see it being cheap for you but I suppose that depends on what you consider cheap.
and the motoring connection is, errrr, Triumph?
John
Read more
This morning I sent the same link to a mate of mine who has built a complete flight simulator in a bedroom, complete with networked servers, full cockpit, linked display units for graphics, dolby surround, vibration pack and just about everything else. It really is stonking, but I suggested that his missus build him a real aricraft as her project!
I have a 2000 "X" pre face-lift Passat with the 115 HP TDI PD engine. The VW engine code is ATJ (unless I'm mistaken)!
There were relatively few of these engines fitted into the Passat as not long after it was introduced it was quickly uprated to 130 HP in the face-lift model (from early 2001).
My question is, what is the recomended change interval for the cam belt on this engine? Is it 40,000 miles or is it 60,000 miles?
Since I brought the car (new) I was always advised by a number of different VW dealers that it was 60,000 and I did get it changed at this mileage. I have now noticed that there is a sticker under the bonnet advising this to actually be 40,000 miles (or 60,000 kilometers!!!).
Am I missing something or is it possible that VW advised dealers that the change interval could be extended to 60,000 miles after they had built them?
I do not know if I should carry-out the second change at 100,000 miles (60K plus "correct" change of another 40K) or wait until 120,000 miles.
Nick Read more
I had a similar situation with my 2000 Passat TDi 115. At 40,000 miles I had the belt changed as per the sticker and service schedule. Approaching 80,000 miles I booked it in for another belt change and the VW dealer checked their records and told me that the *different and improved* belt they fitted at 40,000 miles was good for 60,000 miles which was what new Passats (this was late 2002) had fitted from new hence the change to 60,000 mile intervals. I now drive a Skoda with the PD engine and called Skoda who checked my registration against their database and categorically told me that 67,500 is the change point for my belt. Maybe a phone call to VW will clarify things for you. Maybe not ;-)
I cam across an LPG converted 2002 Micra 1.0s in the Autotrader and we are thinking to go and see it. Is there anything special we need to look at? The seller say it is a government approved conversion kit. We don't really like to spend money on cars so this look like a good idea (LPG)and we already have very good experience with Nissans. Read more
It should have an LPGA certificate. Your insurance company may insist on it. Make sure the LPG kit has been serviced regularly, there is usually a water trap that needs emptying. It might be worth a look at www.lpga.co.uk
Hi all,
Just fitting a new stereo to my Mk3 Golf Estate after taking out an old Blaupunkt system. The radio stations aren't staying in the memory so its a taking from the ignition switch 12v. The problem is that there doesn't seem to be any usual colours ie yellow on the wires. can someone tell me what colour the switched 12v is and what the permanent 12v. Don't fancy forking out for someone to make a simple change....
Cheers
Richard Read more
Spot on Peter, sorted it and switched the 2 around. Still need key in the ignition but thats the same as the old stereo...now i've got the added benefit of a cd player as well as usb input and sd card input !!
Yippee
Cheers
Richard
i have a problem with the above car. it seems it has low compression on number1 cylinder. Im not burning oil, and it hasent overheated. has anyone got any ideas what could be causing the problem. could it possibly be a faulty tappet are they hydraulic?cheers for any help
Read more
yes they checked leads.plugs,coil all ok
Browse
I did think about the Fiat Coupe briefly - unfortunately I really don't like the looks. I'm not sure that I trust the Fiat reliability as it gets older either.
Thanks for all of your comments - they have been very helpful.
I did think of another alternative, which is the 97-01 Honda Integra Type-R. However, it's a little outside the price range and I'm worried that cheap ones might have been thrashed to death.