March 2006
Hi
I need to go to London this Friday for an interview. It's near Waterloo, and I'm travelling from Leamington Spa. As it's a bit late in the day for cheap rail, I was planning to drive most of the way and then park up and tube in the rest of the way.
So, what in your opinion is the best place to stop/park and ride? My interview's at 14:30, so hopefully I'll be finished by rush hour (or just in time for it!).
Any advice appreciated.
Thanks,
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Mike Farrow Read more
Thanks to the Internet, it's easy to shop around these days. For a little over four grand you can get a new entry level Hindustan Ambassador ( if I did the currency conversion correctly), only problem is getting it home.
Any more bargains to be had worldwide? The Nigerian Peugeot 504 seems expensive at around £15K. What about other countries like China, Indonesia ? Read more
Cars made in india with over 50% local contect come out cheaper
Ford Fusions (a dud seller everywhre) - less than 10000 pounds
Ford Fiesta Saloons - 8-11000 pounds
Honda City - Jazz with a boot - 12000
Hyundai Elantra - 12000
Hyundai Accent - 8000
CKD cars 50% more than UK
Skoda Octavia 19tdi 90 20000 pounds (bits imported and screwed together)
Skoda Octavia 2 = 30000 pounds (yes - with DSG box 104 bhp diesel - fully loaded - renamed Laura which means something Genitally unmentionable in north India)
Merc C220d - 40000 pounds
Merc E270d - 50000 pounds
Fully imported
Ford mondeo = 25000 pounds
Skoda superb 2.5 TD = 35000 pounds
Merc SL500 - 120000 pounds
and these cars are selling well despite the price parity gap
just been rearended, look into mirror and shes on the phone, in fact still on the phone, as i walk up to her, usual comment, thought you had gone. she owns up , gives me her identity.not much visual damage to her space wagon. l lift my corsa tailgate and show a creased back panel, dont think shell believe the 700 plus quote. no witnesses. if she turnsliar latter, can i have phone call traced to time of accident? Read more
I expect it could be much more than 700.
That does sound very modest if there is damage to the bodywork of the car. I've been told that my Fabia will cost 500 to fix and that is only for a new rear bumper: the car is otherwise undamaged.
An old Escort (a 1997 1.6 16v) has come into my ownership. it drives well and has long tax/MOT so I might keep it but ... the car has two keys, one to start it and one to unlock the doors. the door key is bigger and has the transponder in it. Therefore to start the car I have to hold them both together. this is very much a hit and miss affair so Id like to get another key cut to start the car with the transponder in it. Went into a locksmths today and he said it would cost £70!!! Any ideas on a cheaper solution? Thanks Read more
only cheaper way is to get a key cutter to cut you the big type key and swap the chip over yourself ,i have the same problem but didnt want to spend £20 last time i enquired at a local key cutter.
Be aware most key cutters want to sell you the chip as well which is why the big expense but the same job in yorkshire is between £30/£40, you could try your dealer for the key cut on the empty chipped key,i havnt needed any ford bits lately so never thought of that line of enquiry as a normal key cut there is usually £10/£20
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\"a little man in a big world/\"
Hello,
I am considering buying a new passat. I only do about 25 miles a day, and drive mostly in traffic so performance is not really a big issue hence I was considering the 1.6.
I have been looking around and cant find any specifc reviews on the 1.6 so wondered if anybody had either seen a review, or had better still driven the 1.6 and could pass comment on if the 1.6 is really just enough, or is not really man enough for the job Read more
I have a 1.6 petrol Bora - I would think that the larger Passat would feel a bit weak at the knees with this engine.
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What\'s for you won\'t pass you by
Hi All
just changed my job and my new company car is a 407 hdi 110, my last 3 cars have been VW so i have been told to get used to some reliability issues.
Anyway this one seems to have a kind of wine / catching noise from the clutch / gearbox area, it seems more obvious at 1500 / 3000 revs and dissapears if you put the clutch down to coast, it has done 34000 and im not sure who drove it before any ideas? It also has a habit of putting the overheating fan on for 30 mins after i have stopped, drove 10 mins at 3am in -2 degrees last saturday and the fan stayed on for ages after, im sure about 30 mins cus i could hear it in bed, then today i have been driving 2 hours and it hasnt come on once, the temp never goes even halfway on the guage.
Is this the kind of probs i should get used to?
Jon Read more
Isnt this 407 still under warranty?
A Peugeot main dealer should be able to sort these issues out.
Hi
I've been having a bit of a clearout and have come across some bits that may be something to do with the old Renault Trafic (96 on an N).
Can anyone please help with a full description of what they'll fit please?
They are:
Brake Shoes - BS 409
Wheel Bearing - AWB 480
I want to be able to gove people the correct info when they ask about them.
Thanks
Hugo Read more
Thanks for that Defender.
You don't want to buy them from me do you? Make me an offer :)
H
Can anyone shed some options on the recent oil sludge appearing in our 1998 Freelander xei ? Read on another site about problems involved with only ever doing short journeys (esp.in winter)and not allowing the oil to ever get to a decent 'working' temp. I am also aware of probs with the head gaskets on early Freelanders and am concerned about this. We are also losing coolant like it's going out of style !!
Looking forward to some top tips. Read more
The problem with the K series engine is that when it really cooks the head it cooks the bolts as well, on this engine it is better to change the bolts normally sourced at a local specialised Knut and Bolt supplier at a very fair price you could almost knock a nought of the £120.
Hi
I have a requirement to put a number of engineers through a high performance vehicle course. These guys are expected to conduct high speed testing often on specialist oval tracks at speeds up to 155mph.
I am not really interested in the usual track day have a go sessions / corporate fun days. I am really looking for a targeted session in road legal cars covering high speed driving and associated risks such as aquaplaning.
Were is Paul Ripley these days? I seem to remember a TV show he appeared on a few years ago, He was at an impressive facility with a long water trough where he was doing an aquaplane exercise in a VW Golf.
This course would complement a defensive driving course from IAM fleet or ROSPA for the public road testing.
I have done a quick Google but would be really interested to hear if people have specific recommendations.
Thanks
Read more
Hi Big Vern,
You could try contacting Cadence Driver Development (www.cadence.co.uk) and I'm sure they will be able to meet your needs.
I did a half-day course on road driving with them which I thought was well worth the money, and learned about the other activities they can offer.
Regards,
Charles
Took my Nissan Primera 1.8 SE to a main Nissan dealer for a major servicing and MOT today. According to the glossy leaflet sent to me by Nissan the cost of a major service is £199 including VAT with the MOT thrown in for free.
A couple of hours later I get a phone call from Nissan saying the car will need new rear brake pads, new front tyres, and new wiper blades total cost £789. 19. I asked if he was pulling my plonker or was it April the 1st already?. Even without the tyres he said it was going to cost £591.
Now I am not daft I expected to pay £100 to £200 on top of the £199 quoted for parts etc. But almost £800 to service a Primera that has only done 17,000 miles. Are they taking the P out of me. Should a car that has done 17k (mostly motorway) need new tyres.
What would people on hear expect to pay for a major service on an ordinary family saloon? Should I kick up a big fuss when I pick the thing up. Its warrnty is up at the end of the month so i don't need to go to a main dealer anyway.
Disgruntled of deleted. {By giving your location, and also mention of using a main dealer, you are potentially naming & shaming by questioning their workmanship - hence the deletion. DD}
Read more
Slightly off topic, but we just had to buy a mirror
glass for our company SAAB 9-5 estate. £71.95 + VAT, and
it came in a GM box.
Thats because the GM infiltration of SaaB is now complete ! If you are a Star Trek fan I guess it is similar to A Borg assimilation !
Browse
Hi
Thanks for the replies. I've decided to heed your advice and go by train. The train should (I think) take my to Marylebone, so that'll be on the Bakerloo line going straight to Waterloo.
Train was only £22 when I checked and will hopefully get me there a lot quicker. I'm catching the one that gives me an hour to spare, I hope (?) that's ample to get me through the tubes and to Waterloo.
They said they would, and even provide me with a form. That's why I wanted to go by car! Though they don't say what they pay per mile.
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Mike Farrow