March 2006
My Astra failed MOT today (thankfully he found the worn ball joint which had been knocking for weeks, despite my usual garage declaring they didn't know where noise was coming from!).
Amongst other things, the O/S front strut is disintegrating! Said he'd never seen one like it before - The flange which the base of the spring sits on is just crumbling away. Its booked in for replacement next week, but they couldn't give me guesstimate of price, as they usually only replace the shock insert, and need to shop around for the complete strut. Anyone know what £ I'm looking at?
Thanks, L Read more
A colleague of mine has just purchased a 2.1 x type, 53reg. What oil is he advised to use in this vehicle?
All comments will, I'm sure, be gratefully received! Read more
Thanks for the link.
I'm a diesel man myself, so know absolutely nothing about this car, hence the question to the board!
Okay, tonight I did something incredibly stupid.
In the gym car park I looked behind me, saw there was a Clio trying to get around me whilst I waited for somewhere to park. The gap in front was narrow so I reversed, but looked at the Clio trying to get past... and not the Corsa immediately behind me. Other car's bonnet is crumpled, grille caved in, lights and wings are fine, bumper should pop back into place. Basically a typical enough car park accident, small earthquake in Peru, not many dead.
The police didn't attend so little or no chance of a due care prosecution either.
Anyway, on to the question, which is one that I genuinely cannot answer. My car is completely undamaged. Everything is exactly as it should be. Therefore I don't need to make any claim whatsoever for my own car and obviously the other party will be claiming through their own insurance and recovering their excess from me/my insurer.
I've declared the claim to insurance because I don't want whiplash to rear its head in a few days, weeks or months. I've also admitted liability at the scene. However, given that if my insurer picks up the bill for the other party, will I have to pay my own excess? Does my policy (which has 4 months to run) terminate and require me to find insurance again?
In other words, is the excess applicable to the whole policy or just to the comprehensive element, which is intact? Read more
.... and obviously the other party will be claiming through their own insurance and recovering their excess from me/my insurer.
Are you sure? I wouldn't, I'd put it in the hands of my 'legal cover' to claim from you / your insurer. He'd have to do this if he only had third party cover.
We are forever being told that our roads are so congested that the only to manage this in the longterm is Road Pricing.We already have the CONgestion charge in London,with similar schemes being "looked" at for other major cities.
If our esteemed government is really serious about cutting congestion and not about raking in yet more stealth tax,then I propose the following simple remedy which will cut congestion and emmisions.
Ration Fuel.
All drivers will be allocated fuel vouchers.
UK trucks that carry freight will obviously be allowed more.
This would mean that the small efficient cars would do more miles,as would diesels.
Of course this will never happen because we all know that all measures taken by the government to sort out congestion etc,are just a smokescreen to relieve the motorist of yet more money.
I would like to call their bluff though ! Read more
According to the Sunday papers there is already a huge black market in cheap diesel. Simply find a service station near Dover, ask a few foreign truckers if they want to sell some diesel and more than a few will happily do a good deal on some cheap stuff from Eastern Europe.
Off to France for 12 nights in June any recommends for good limited duration breakdown cover.I have UK family cover with AA but does not include europe. Any recommendations idea of cost car is Zafira 04 reg. Read more
"does not cover a Zafira as it's over 1.5 m in height.What good is that?"
Not much good compared to the AA which, for a non-member is £58.70 for a vehicle 1.86m high carrying 4 adults for 12 days in Europe in July.
I am not a member of the AA, nor do I work for them.
I already pay for full British and European cover for 4 people/vehicles via another company. Costs £300 per annum - worth it for peace of mind? That's only £75 per annum for any of those 4 people driving any vehicle anywhere in Europe for any length of time (and towing a caravan/trailer if necessary!!).
Perhaps you should have a good look at Stuart's link - the company I use is there - cheapest is about £47 for your 12 days
--
Phil
Hello
Sorry if this is a bit of a naive question for this forum but a colleague suggested it would be a good place to try so be kind!
For the first time in my life I am having to go and buy a car myself - I was divorced a couple of years ago and before that my husband always did that sort of thing.
For (possibly false?) peace of mind I am going to go to a dealer. I know that the price on the car is not what I should pay and I know that haggling is all part of it but just how much can I sensibly expect to get off? Speaking to friends one suggested only a few hundred, another thought up to 20%.
I guess it depends on how 'competitively' the car is priced to start with but is there a rule of thumb?? Read more
Hi Wanda, Nissan is a reliable make and you should get a good discount on one because many people seem NOT to like the look of them. (I think they look good except for the dashboard).
Look at the online dealers as HJ says , that will give you a realistic price. Have you driven one, if not go and get a test drive but do not make a decision there and then, the salesperson will try and close you on the spot if they can! If you decide you really want one think about buying online, and if you like the dealer tell them what you can buy at online and see what they say.
Good luck.
my mates astra 1.6 16v p reg failed the test on the o/s/f suspension arm rubber bush, is the bush pressed in or do you have to replace the whole arm??? also failed emissions hopeing a good service & all the filters cures that, if not what can you do to reduce the emissions is it adjustable?? Read more
well i wacked the old bush out with a big socket and a big hammer before reading about the pip i must line up!!!! "o" well i'll have a look later when i rebuild it the new bush is less than a fiver so thats not too bad, done the front to rear brake pipes and a service there better be a few beers in this for me!! thanks for the help on the bush number_cruncher!!!!!!
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I know what you're saying Nsar but it's hard not to let them sit on the sofa with you! Even Dad can't stay mad at them for long.
Again PU, very good to hear. Thanks.
hello, i was extremely interested in this particular find off eBay and like the car.
Problem is the questions at the bottom ! Have a read.
Wonder what sort of money he wants for the car ?
cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=4623...8 Read more
It's pretty well immaculate, bound to be comfortable, quite likely reliable
and maintainable, certainly not so slow as to be embarrassing, and
if you like the doleful-catfish expression on its mug, worth a
lot more than its book price to the right person I'd
say.
When one is in the Driving seat one cannot see the Catfish expression or the road presence from behind. If it goes how you like it and it's comfortable and it makes you grin then who cares what anyone else thinks. Sounds an absolute bargain to me.
VBR............MD
HI
I have just bought a Alfa Romeo 156 sportswagon, there seems to be play in the bushes of the antiroll bar to subframe. I have loosened the antiroll bar droplinks and the bushes from the subframe but I can't remove the antiroll bar. Do I have to drop the subframe & exhaust channel shield to get the antiroll bar out?
Any advice would be much appreciated Read more
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Front struts are generally around the £30 mark,without spring.Not something I would get from a breakers,you do not know how worn they are and,as it contains the damper,should really be done as a pair.BTW if your garage cannot locate a knocking ball joint I would find another.