February 2006
After reading the 'mechanical sympathy' thread, it got me wondering whether reving to the limiter is or isnt mechanical sympathy.
I regularly drive my cars to the red line and it doesnt seem to have done them any harm. My rover 214 is on 111,000 and my 75 on 216,000. Of course, they have never been thrashed from cold and only after a long run do their legs get stretched!
What do other backroomers take the tacho to and does it do any long term damage? Read more
Ill set the scene, Dual lane roundabout, car 1 is in right hand lane indicataing right, while car 2 is in the left hand lane, intending to take the 2nd exit; car 1 is about 1/2 a car legnth in front of car 2.
Car 1 decides to take the exit that it and car 2 are passing, and consequently car 1 and car 2 crash.
There are no witnesses - Who is to blame?
Hope you can all put my mind to rest... Please help choose car 1/car 2 liability, or include percentage if applicable.
Cheers guys! Read more
Well, I don't know much about him, apart from the fact that he knew this accident had happened, but didn't produce the documents until months had passed. This in spite of the girl asking him had anything come from the insurer, are you sure you don't remember anything coming from the insurer, they say they've written to me, have you checked for any post at all that would have come for me, I'm getting really worried here, etc. I was there when she made one of those calls and heard her side of the conversation. Seems to me that he deliberately chose instead to let her face the possibility of prosecution for driving without insurance. Considering that she had originally moved out due to his behaviour (selling what he wasn't ingesting, if you see what I mean), I think it's reasonable to use the word "unpleasant". Anyway, back to the topic ...
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andymc
Vroom, vroom - mmm, doughnuts ...
I see from the Channel 4/4Car road test that the new petrol engines are mostly a GM design, with just the cylinder head design coming from Alfa. Also of interest, the diesel engines have a maintenance free particle filter.
All in all, they were very impressed by the car. Read more
They were, as was the 2.0. The new ones are no longer twin sparks
With money being a little tight what are your thoughts on the following vehicles please
2004 mondeo ghia tdci 130 bhp 70,000 miles
2004 VW passat SE 100bhp diesel 80,000 miles
2004 Vauxhall Vectra 2.0 dti 90,000 miles
all are about the same price , what would be the best on reliability standards . I like the Mondeo but heard that TDCi engines are rubbish ? Read more
Yeah, all things being equal the Mond. The other two are 100 horsepower units pulling large cars.
Hang on, I think I just agreed with someone...
Im interested to hear if anyone has a thoughts on the cost difference in servicing and maintaining a petrol car versus a diesel. Specifically, as an example - 51 reg mondeo 1.8LX petrol against a TDDI.
Im looking to get a cheap car for the company that will probably do about 20k per annum. I know the diesel is more efficient but it costs more initially. I can do all the sums and work that out and im assuming the depreciation will be similar (the initial cost of the car would be low anyway and so wouldnt be worth much when sold). I just dont know if i can expect to pay more for keeping the diesel on the road than the petrol. Anyone any ideas?
Oh and i would be looking at the tddi rather than a tdci. From the stories i read on here, i dont think tdci engines will make a sensible 2nd hand buy.
Read more
Depreciation may be similar for small to average size car.
But for a large car, diesel engined are more sought after
Looking for a 1-2yo Almera auto, the supermakets sold out of the ones I was interested in before I had a chance to jump, so I have been trying a few dealers.
Have found one at a non-silly price from a Nissan dealer (done a bit over 10k mils in 18 months), and asked about its history. It was not a hire car, but it was owned by Nissan UK. I asked id that meant it had been a demonstrator and was told no, it would likely have been used by Nissan staff as a company car, possibly on a shared basis. The saleswoman said it came "from group stock", and would have been used for staff to drive themselves home etc.
Any thoughts on this? Is that likely to mean it has been carefuly driven to avoid the wrath of the boss, or flogged to within an inch of its life because it was bought at cost price and can be sold for more than that regardless? Read more
Half of the nearly new cars on dealer and supermarket forecourts are ex-hire, I really don't see it as a problem.
If you think about it, there are relatively few private buyers who buy brand new cars and take them back after a year, that leaves company cars (often on 2 to 3 year leases, not 12 months) and it leaves hire cars which funnily enough are normally replaced at 6 months to a year old. I'm not saying that every 12 month old car is an ex-hire, but many have probably been multiple driver vehicles which is the same as a hire car really.
As I think it was Mark who said, most people don't really thrash hire cars that much, they've gotten over the novelty of driving someone else's car long ago and don't feel the need to childishly thrash a 1.4 Auto Almera...
The last used car my dad bought was a 1989 Orion Ghia at auction from Hertz, it was a cracking car that never let us down, and we certainly weren't put off buying hire cars.
Come to think of it, I sold my aunt one.
NoWheels, don't be put off automatically if it's been a hire car, just take sensible precautions over it's appearance and condition and I'm sure it'll be fine. Hope you find one that fits the bill soon!
Blue
Just wondered what the effect of partially blocking the exhaust pipe would be on the catalytic converter?
The exhaust sounds like it may need replacing and I have spotted rust on the bax box,. The usual way I have used to check for leaks is to put a hand across the pipe to see if it is blowing. Would the pressure affect the cat?
Thanks Read more
go for it as you know what you are doing it wont harm it in short bursts.
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\"a little man in a big world/\"
June 2004 Seat Cupra 20VT, has done 14200 miles on Michelin 225/45ZR 17 Pilot SPORT tyres.
As expected, ride is a little firm, but grip good.
However, while rear wear is OK, fronts are rapidly approaching replacement.
Has anyone got experience on better wear than this (with acceptable road holding)?
Previous Cupra was better, but I can't remember tyres.
Both Cupras definitely hold up to HJ's opinion five years ago - outstanding value. Read more
That's cheap. Last time I got a price for F1's they were over £90 plus VAT. These are directional tread, so if you fit all four, think about the spare...
El Dingo.
Hi all just wondered what it's worth, it's a BMW 320 Baur TC convertible originally a B reg but now got an irish plate on (NI) and 130K on the clock mot and tax 6 months
...cheers...keo. Read more
Surely this can revert to its B plate if the NI plate is an issue (not that it shoukd be)?
There is one on e-bay (german) currently at 1500 euros another even nicer looking one at £1300.00 @ tinyurl.com/drdnb . Hell these were't the prettiest when new, but I could fancy this one.
Hey
What do you think of this. I have a two year old car from Ford with a 3 year exteneded warranty which my warranty guide (issued 2003) says is simply an extension of the original one year. I have a problem which is covered by this. Ford say they will not cover it as their warranty changed to limit cover in 2004. But I bought the car and warranty in 2003. So the 2004 version doesn't apply to me does it? Ford says it does as the documents says "specifications... are subject to change" you know that usual comment in all brochures etc. Any suggestions. they wont budge!! Read more
I doubt if the hinge would be covered under the original warranty anyway, I'd double check your paperwork, I know when I sold my aunt her 53 reg Cmax it turned out that the manufacturers warranty only covered trim for one year...
Blue
Browse
>>Because they're made by Honda and Toyota!<<
Or Alfa
My 1.6TS has done 125k, has never missed a beat, has all original components (except for service items), and still reaches top speed very sweetly, and the rev limiter still cuts in at ~7500rpm.
Not all Alfas are as many peaple like to believe!