January 2006
{Moved from the recent ALDI thread - DD}
I do have one reservation about buying more expensive items from Lidl. I went into my local branch for the first time last week and noticed a sign stating that they reserve the right to check returned goods for faults and any refunds over £10 may be sent by cheque within a week.
I can see how they may want to check returned items, but I'm not sure how they can do it in a sparsely staffed supermarket. As for the possible delay to the refund: is that legal?
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It doesn't matter which way you look at it, switching rent payments to mortgage payments has to be the most logical choice in the end.
One payment is down the drain, the other is an investment.
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What\'s for you won\'t pass you by
Hi folks I am able to aquire from my company's fleet management provider an end of lease 1.6 Zafira Comfort for £5k.
It has approx 55k miles, FSH and 6 months warranty (xtra £200 for 12 ), 51/02 plate, Silver.
Not sure that I will be able to talk to the previous user through official channels but I will be able to see all work done and will be able to inspect etc. SWMBO has decided she wants one of these to replace the ageing Spacewagon and I though this looked like a reasonable proposition.
Would welcome your thoughts on the price/deal/car.
(PS with it being a 1.6 I'm not expecting it to be a rocketship !)
Thanks P Read more
Test drove Diesel this time last year as they were on 0% offer, before the new one came out in the summer it was ok, the interior finish was in my humble oppinion was only average/poor but as a tool for doing the job it seemed acceptable depends on what deal your being offerd.... Then went and test drove the Honda FRV seemed a much nicer place to be.
ended up not buying either... Don't ask!
Too late for MG Rover owners though.
We published an amusing and thought provoking article in our motoring magazine this week. We positioned a badly crashed Poski Fiat against a tree on a desolate stretch of road with an editor slumped at the wheel and hid a photographer in the bushes opposite (all under police guidance of course). The idea being just to see how many people would stop. Out of 31 cars that passed, 13 people stopped to help, two of them were women. Nobody called police or rescue services. Only one person knew exactly what to do regarding first-aid - an 18-year old girl who had only just passed her test.
I wonder what I would do. When I was 19 or so I pulled four teenagers out of a van that was on it?s roof and leaking petrol. The boys in the seats were ok but the girls who had been in the cargo area had broken noses and cut faces. I just called the police because the driver was drunk. But on one journey over new year I passed six or seven cars rolled over in heavy snow on country lanes and I couldn?t give a monkeys. Drive like an idiot in the snow and take what?s coming to you.
It probably depends on circumstance but in snow, with my children in the car I wouldn?t stop to help anyone, another time maybe if it looked serious and I had nothing better to do, I might... Read more
Recently just around the corner from my house a chap working for a plant hire company managed to overturn a mini digger whilst loading it onto a flat bed. He had received a cut to the head but was more concerned about cleaing up the mess and getting back to the depot.
Between us we managed to get the mini digger safely onto the flatbed. He strapped it down and went on his way.
I took the number of the hire company and asked that his boss made him go to see a doctor as soon as he got back.
Vehicle - Renault Trafic Van, (camper), 2002 2.1 diesel.
Hi,
Hope this will be a simple answer.
Had my van in for an MOT a couple of months ago and it has been stood since then. Came to use it this weekend and it judders quite badly at around 55 to 60 mph.
Is there a process of elimination of what it could be. The only thing I can think of is getting the wheels balanced. Could the tracking be a contributer as well.
Thought I'd ask before I take it to a garage 'cos no doubt they'll want to change everything.
Cheers Read more
My appologise. I guess I was being a bit rude. Just got screwed over from a garage who changed my radiator unnecessary - left a bit of a sour taste.
Thanks for your advice.
Hi
We have recently bought a '96 Audi A4 Avant which is suffering from water leaking into the cabin. The rear seat behind the driver's seat is getting soaked, and the carpet in this area seems to be getting damp too. Have also found some damp on the front passenger seat.
Yesterday we cleaned out the drains under the battery and behind the servo unit - the battery drain was clogged with mud and on clearing some water came out. Spent the day drying the car out with a portable heater and a dehumidifier. However, it rained overnight and the rear seat is damp again - seems to be spreading from the edge of the seat against the door?
The car has a sunroof - could the drains be blocked and somehow leaking around the rear door? The car is parked on a slope so the nose is higher than the back end so I guess water would drain towards the back of the car. If it is the sunroof drains, how to we go about cleaning them out?
Also, I have read that it could be watere leaking around the pollen filter - where should this be located, as I'm not sure if our car has one (no climate control on our model).
Thanks in advance!
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Found the leak (we think) - seems that the rear sunroof drains were blocked. Front ones were clear, as were the drain holes under the battery and behind the servo. Admitted defeat and got the local garage to sort out the problem, as couldn't get to the drains to clear them.
Seems to be a common problem with Audis, but Passats seem to be even worse - have heard of several gallons of water sloshing around the floor which blows the electrics.
I have a 1995 mark4 Passat 1.8 which I have just bought with a genuine 38000 miles. This lovely car has really stupid gearing as it pulls fifth gear at less than 30mph and starts to get noisy at 60mph corresponding to 3000 revs. Does anyone know if the passat (or golf or vento) diesel gearbox would fit? I did run a Vento diesel (75hp) with much better gearing but the clutch was cable operated (very heavy) whereas my passat has a hydraulic operation. Any tips would be most welcome.
Allan Crossley Read more
Different engines different bellhousings I think.If you could use your bellhousing it may be possible check out the relevent gear ratios.
hello, i've recently encountered some starting problems with my mg zs 180. it will click on turnover but not start. the strange thing is that it doesn't do it all of the time. i want to check all connections to the starter for corrosion and clean them up.
My question is where is the starter motor on my car (blushes) ? What kind of shape is it ?
cheers Read more
Starter motors only work to start the engine. Either you're hearing something else or the starter is very ill indeed.
Jim
Does anyone know how to disable the annoying advert on the Car by Car Breakdown on this site?
I have blocked all pop ups and tried closing the ad but it keeps coming and wont go away. It is making the content of the page unusable. Read more
Netlang,
Hopefully it will be sorted today. See here for details:-
www.honestjohn.co.uk/forum/post/index.htm?t=38070
DD.
Browse
"This is another confirmation of TfL's excellent track record of delivering major projects on time or ahead of schedule and to budget."
Oh god, spare trousers required...and a mop.