February 2006
After a new Suzuki Swift (no. its not for me, BTW!). Talked to a couple of dealers but apparently there are no discounts to be had - there has even been a short waiting list for the car. Few ex-demos around and they are not much cheaper than new.
Does anyone know of a broker who is offering a discount on these cars?
Very good car - I had a drive in a couple and they make a lot more sense than the Mini. 1.5 VVT engine is quite powerful and the handling is very good. I suspect they will sell strongly (which is probably why there are no discounts!). Read more
Just after a few opinions on the approach to take after having just received my V70 back after a rear end collision repair.
Firstly, the WHIPS system has not been repaired so the driver's seat is still in the wrong position with the base cushion pushed forward and the back rest twisted back. The fact that they evidently weren't aware that this needed doing does not exactly inspire confidence.
Looking at the back of the car the rear tailgate is clearly higher on the left than the right and the panel gap between the door and tail lights varies signficantly between the sides. Looking down the car there is still clearly a slight buckle in the roof directly above the "c" pillar. There is a slight buckle in the lower part of the rear wing and the fuel filler does not fit flush. The rear wing has been replaced but the paint has not been carried forward onto the rear door to improve the colour match.
All in all I'm not desperately happy as at a glance you can see the car has been twisted.
My question is that, apart from the WHIPS system which obviously needs to be done, to what standard is it reasonable to expect a car (which is only 16 months old) to be repaired to after an accident? Is a visible buckle acceptable as long as the chassis is straight and am I just been overly fussy?
Assuming I'm not happy with the repair, should I approach the repairer first or approach the insurance company and ask them to have a look at it? Alternatively should I just pay for the local Volvo dealer to go over the car and express an opinion as to whether it is to an acceptable standard or not and then approach them either directly or (if it is not an acceptable standard) via a solicitor.
Thanks. Read more
As far as I am aware there is no dispute or issue with the other party or their insurer. The issue is with my insurer and their approved repairer. They're getting the money of the other party anyway so why the hell they couldn't do the job properly I don't know. I can't blame the repairer at the moment as I don't know what the insurance assesor told them to do - they might have just done what they were told to do.
I'm awaiting a response from them - I'll give them to the end of the week and then get tougher. They might turn out to be completely reasonable - we will see.
I have the car although I am not using it. I have bought a temporary car to use as I am expecting this to drag out.
As posted in disscusion just bought a imacc. Scirocco but radio reception is carp
Wing mounted ariel the telescopic section came out in my hand
Question how does one replace these VW wing mounted ariels of this era as it seems a lot of work to get to the bottom
Any help would be appreciated MM Read more
Halfords used to sell a replacement aerial element with a spike on the end to push into the wing mounting.
I don't know if they are still available today.
When buying a new car, will the dealer discount options or is he making his margin on them (and not the base car)? Or as ever does "it depend"?
What did you find when buying your new car?
Cheers as ever for the views
TimBo Read more
Yes you can get discount on the options and extra's. Sometimes when the dealer is not keen to give discount off the vehicle you can push for free extra's that cost little to the dealer but if you were to buy them would cost you an arm and a leg.
I may have missed this as a topic, I did do a search and found an FAQ but it didn't cover this -
Do you buy a car with SatNav built in, or do you buy TomTom et al and stick it on the windscreen?
Most car makers want £1500 - £2000 for built in SatNav where as TomTom etc are £300-500.
So come trade in time will you see anything like you £2000 back? Will SatNav just make it a bit easier to sell the car on? Or are you better off with TomTom etc and spend the money on leather, or a week in Cyprus or something else?
Thanks for the views!
TimBo
Read more
Well, I have had my Nokia 6630 with Tom Tom 5, and GPS bluetooth box for a couple of days to compare with the Philips/Carin/VDO monochrome unit which is 8 years old and in my dashboard. Even though it is 8 years old new software makes it almost identical to the bottom of the range VDO systems, especially what it says and where is identical, the alogarythms are the same, and map software the same, the voice and phrases are the same.
TOTOM
Pros - Portable/transferable, much better add-ons such as pocketgps speed cameras, much more customisable, faster re-routing, many more features and options.
Cons - Can't use with car radio on quiet and tinny/grating, voice not pleasant, sends me on strange routes especially when you go wrong or ignore it, very poor accuracy of map data, it even thinks my own house is a quarter of a mile down the road if I enter my road and house number! If I enter my postcode, it gives another road 300 yards at the back whose postcode is different. I think TomTom uses Teleatlas mapping which I have found similarly useless on the car's built-in system. Spoken instructions were usually 15 yards later than the VDO which was too late in estates etc..., unable to choose to prefer main roads/avoid main roads etc..., possibly too complicated for an old lady?
Old VDO In Car
Pros - Less likely to be stolen, less clutter, much clearer audio - can be heard over loud audio playing, seems to give more useful instructions, has better set of phrases and places to say them to make sure you are in the righ lane, prepared and also not bombarded with instructions of little use.
Cons - Sell the car and lose it, harder to enter details, less features, slow to calculate or regain bearings after being indoors.
Verdict - It's impossible to say one is better than the other, a combination would be perfect.
My mercedes has developed a flat spot in that when trying to pull away at roundabouts, etc it has very little power until it manages to pick up. It does not do it all the time. Sometimes it will also just cut out when I slow down (although not very often), although it always starts immediately again. I have taken it to a garage twice but they couldn't find any thing wrong with it. Any ideas? Thanks a lot Read more
This would be a W129 with the M103 engine would it? (Engine type on plate on slam panel).
These are fitted with KE-Jetronic 3.5 and I would suspect some problem with this, rather than the ignition (unless it is obviously missing).
You could try thoroughly cleaning the meter head mechanism and making sure that the brass plate moves smoothly within the aluminium 'venturi'. When you press it down a cm or so it should rise smoothly back up and come to an abrupt stop. Clean the whole area with carb cleaner.
You could also clean all the idle air pipes and the warm up idle air valve. Check the pipes for splitting, esecially the one that is out of sight under the metering head.
Note that these engines benefit from new injectors every 80k miles or so. They are not dear (c.£20 each) and a doddle to change.
Hi
When i try and start my clio there is a clicking noise and the enginge dosn't turn over.
Could it be a jammed starter motor.( where is it by the way)
Or is it something else
Cheers Read more
Could it be a jammed starter motor.
Yes
Or is it something else
Could be.
Its more likely to be a battery going flat
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TourVanMan TM < Ex RF >
hi there!
does anyone know of a web page were the pollen filters are fitted ? thanks Read more
Be aware that the access/fitting instructions are not always correct. They were a bit wrong with my Xantia, the cover had to be pushed over to one side, not just unscrewed. Might save you damageing something ---
SWMBO bought a 51 1.6 LX Focus auto with 40k in August 05. FFSH, ex Motorbility lease car, paid £5,000 from a Ford dealer.
She'll do about 10k pa, mostly short (10 miles) to very short (3 miles) trips. It gets used most days. I'll change the oil myself every 5k, and get it serviced to schedule, prob at the dealer, who is not expensive.
When should we change it? 2 years, three, or run it into the ground?
On a side point, we live at the end of a muddy track which can be very wet in winter, so it's often parked up quite wet underneath. This hastened the end of a Mk3 Golf. Any rust issues with the Focus models to date? Read more
If it was me, I'd invest in an underbody steam clean a couple of times a year and a re-wax once a year...
I would also consider taking it for a deliberate run once a week (20 miles or so) to avoid sludging up the engine from the short runs.
Your exhaust will probably die young due to the condensation not clearing on the short runs, so you might want to budget for an exhaust (and possibly cat) at some point. Also keep an eye on the battery in the winter, as 3 miles won't put back in what it takes out to start-up when you've got the lights/demister/fan/etc on as well.
Not sure how the auto gearbox will take to constant 3 mile trips... possibly see issues with it never warming up properly... perhaps someone with more knowledge will comment...
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MoneyMart
Current car: 55-reg Audi A4 2.5 V6TDi Quattro flappy-paddle
V.interesting ad.for the Audi RS4 Quattro in the Telegraph Mag. on Saturday - a 14 page sci-fi 'graphic novel' type comic strip. Very dystopian,(sinister scientist, torture machines)which builds on the Audi 'spider' television ad. I thought it was a real attention getter. What did other Backroomers think of it? Read more
Audi/VW/Skoda adds used to be clever and amusing. This was a pretentious, sinister, overlong complete waste, in my opinion... Who is the target market it was aimed at??
Browse
Phoned around a few dealers and got no worthwhile discounts (max is £300). Tins seem to be selling only at list price at the moment.
Interestingly several dealers open told me that whislt they themselves would like to sell at a discount, Suzuki UK were not allowing discounts on the Swift and that they would have supply restricted if they sold at discount. The 'free market' at work again, eh?