January 2006
In a week or two I'm about to start shopping for a new car. Thanks to lots of help from the backroom and from HJ's roadtests and FAQs, I have narrowed my choice down to a Nissan Almera 5-door at about 1-2 years old, or a Citroen Berlingo multispace of similar age (the Berlingo is much less likely, too many reports of minor problems).
I'm sure there will be plenty of people who would recommend other vehicles, but I'm beyond that point. There are lots of other good vehicles out there, but on paper I reckon an Almera will fit my requirements just fine: good value, reasonably safe, very reliable, and not too bling or trendy. Unless I hate them when I start test-driving or am seduced by the Berlingo's functionality enough to offset reliability concerns, I'm not looking elsewhere so please save the alternative recommendations for another thread. :)
There's just a few things I haven't decided on about the Almera.
1) I like automatics, because they encourage a more relaxed driving style, and I'm tempted to get one because there seems to be a reasonable choice available at a resaonable price -- but is it a reliable auto box? I know that the usual advice is to avoid Ford and Renault autos, but is the Nissan auto likely to be reasonably reliable for a vehicle I intend to keep for about 100,000 miles over 10 years?
2) 1.5 or 1.8? The automatic only comes with the 1.8 litre engine, but if I don't go for auto there is the choice of the 1.5.
Either will be more than powerful enough for me, and I can see a smallish difference in the fuel consumption, but is it true that the 1.8 is more reliable?
3) Is an ex-rental car OK?
There seem to be several 6-18 month old Almera autos on Autotrader, all with about 7-12,000 miles, which implies to me that they may have been used for rental. (Is that a silly guess?) If a car does turn out to be ex-rental, is that a reason to avoid? I note HJ's comment that there is something to be said about daily rental as a running-in method, but I'm not sure if that was slightly tongue-in-cheek.
Any advice? Read more
My '00 1.9L 115bhp PD TDI with 77,000 miles had a head gasket replacement last year. Afterwards it started to smoke (white/blue) heavily when idling - v. noticeable in traffic queues, cars behind would back off!
There's strong 'sooty' smell but no loss of coolant or oil, performance is unaffected and fuel economy hasn't suffered; the car drives normally.
The headgasket was replaced last year (due to coolant loss) c/w valve stem oil seals done at the time and again since. EGR valve, hoses all checked and OK.
Local independent VW/Audi specialist is now suggesting replacing the turbo saying it's either that or the bottom end. I't's becoming big money so advice welcomed. Read more
Update: all injectors have been swapped - no reduction in smoke. My idea that it might be camshaft timing is ruled out; if cam timing was out that would have led to an increase in black smoke (fuel) not blue smoke (oil).
Car goes in again on Monday....
Hello,
My friend has a VW touran, he has no idea how to remove the rear light unit cover to change a bulb. I have'nt personally seen it. I was just wondering, how is it removed? thanks
dan Read more
The torx screws have a slot in them for a flat blade screwdriver, and there is a flat blade screwdriver in the kit, but I would REALLY recomend a torx driver is used to take the screws out.
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TourVanMan TM < Ex RF >
Hi,
My daughter has lost all the sound from the speakers front and rear on the drivers side of her 2001 reg Astra.The car was bought from a Vauxhall dealer 2 years ago,who fitted a manufactures CD player as part of the deal. She has had the connections checked at the rear of the unit and all is reported as ok so is there a problem with the CD PLAYER or is it liable to be somewhere in the wiring. Any help or ideas are welcomed.
Cheers.
Read more
Your welcome,thanks for the feedback,For some unknown reason DD`s post had me thinking it may have been something else-as you had mentioned it had been looked at already-which I would have thought they would have checked.
Nice to hear its ok
--
Steve
Can council cctv cameras catch you for going through red lights? Read more
The law is very much the same as it has been for the last twenty yeas (plus). At the time of the offence the Officer can give you a verbal NIP, in the old days this was sufficient, now more likely to be backed up by a written one. Coppers used to type these up themselves, these dys probably an e-mail whizzed to their admin dept and posted out fro their. A nice little thing I've done in the past is when an Officer claimed to have given a verbal one at the time, I get them to recite it in the box. "You will be reported for the consideration of the question of prosecuting you for the offence of....." I wonder how many cops actually can claim to know that word perfect ?
Hi
as per my other post I am pouring money into a car that has some oil burning problems but intend trading it later in the year.
Do garages insist on an MOT cert when accepting a trade-in?
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I wouldn't sell privately or as a p/ex - too much hassle if it has no MoT. Get it to an auction - they its 'buyer beware'. I have seen unroadworthy and smokey cars going through auctions..
hello, I've been reading The back room for ages - and have been impressed with (nearly) all the threads and quality! Now I need help - so this is first post!
SWMBO has a S reg VW Polo 1.4CL - we've had it virtually from new. Its recently developed a sort of misfire - but only when it's warm, and only under harshish acceleration. It happens in all gears, and at all revs - its more annoying than anything else. Particurly noticeable when pulling away from junctions etc.
The last 3 fill ups have been with Optimax, and there has been a slight improvement - but why does this happen when its at normal temp. and not from cold? I've removed and cleaned air filter - and inspected electrics visually, all looks ok.
I'm reluctant to take to a garage to diagnose - as its difficult to explain - and ideally I'd like to be able to point them at the problem? Can anyone shed some light?
Tilda99 Read more
Thanks for the advice - here's an update. (Have been out of the counntry, hence the delay!)
Changed plugs yesterday, and also cleaned out a load of whiteish sludge from a small breather tube that feeds into the air filter housing (from the crankcase???).
Anyway, runs like a dream now, so either it was plugs or the sludge! Can now take the unnecessary HT leads I bought back to Halfords for a refund! Thanks T99
ALDI are having a sale on car stuff this Thursday, they have some pretty good deals like a jump starter with air compressor for 25 quid... other stuff includes trolley jacks at 9.99 (2 tonnes max); axle stands, creepers, impact wrenches, etc. etc.
I don't work for them, but thought people might be interested. The full list is available online.
www.aldi.co.uk/special_buys/index.html
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In my dim and distant past I had the unfortuante pleasure of working on a Netto contract delivering to their stores in the south, one of the only things I ever purchased from them was their ready mixed screen wash, it was 99p for 5ltrs, the truck used to go through about 15ltrs a week in the winter and I always had a few bottles of the stuff around the place.
Warning light on dash with the above, what is it. any one any information. Read more
Although ESP uses ABS sensors there is a bit more to
it than programming. You need yaw sensors and sensors on things
like accelerators, steering angle, gears etc. so the car can work
out where the driver is trying to point it and whether
it is doing so.
Yes, I was a bit quick off the mark there, should have given it a bit more thought! Not sure how authoritative the link below is, but interesting.
www.whnet.com/4x4/esp.html
I've been offered a car, worth a fair bit more than the price offered to me, and in sound condition - but it has not been taxed, or sorn declared. The car was out of use for around 15 months, and only just been brought back into use (though not been on public road yet obviously).
The person I'm potentially buying from has had a bit of a rough time over the last year or so, and effectively put his head in the sand - hence why no sorn done etc.
Now, If I was to buy the car, put it through it's MOT etc - will I be able to tax it at the post office, or will the unlicenced and un-sorned status prevent a disc being issued?
Basically, I don't want to buy it and then find I cant make use of it without paying backdated tax and/or fines - especially given that they won't be mine to pay anyway. Read more
If you go to the post office with a valid MOT and insurance certificate for the car and the green slip from the bottom of the V5 with the date of transfer less them two months old you will be issued with a tax disc, no questions asked. I speak from personal experience from just two days ago.
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I hadn't noticed it was getting near the hundred :)
I will keep y'all posted.
Well, now that you mention, I was just doing an autotrader search for a VW FatOne .... :)