March 2006
Do you guys think that a W124 Merc would be a good bit of budget luxury? Plus, would a tatty early-ish one be worth restoring? Let us say i have £2500 to spend... Read more
im looking to spend £200-300on some new car audio. Im interested in cd/mp3/dab just wondering peoples opinions these days? Read more
Have a look at a Sony MEX-1GP on the Sony website. It has a detachable front panel with a built in mp3 memory.
Read the second item on this month's Sniffpetrol*
www.sniffpetrol.com
and try your hardest not to
a - laugh
b - think either "have they been reading my posts?" or "that reminds of _______"
* link non clickable because of the rude words, you have been warned.
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Magic!
I have a 2001 Mondeo 2.0 16v Duratec. The throttle pedal sticks sometimes when initially depressed and I was wondering what this could be. Has anyone come across this problem? Is it the cable or throttle body itself playing up? Is it a known fault? Read more
I had the same problem in my Mondeo, the dealer replaced the throttle housing, it was the flap that was sticking. It was done under warranty a few years ago.
I found it worse in cold weather.
Have been thinking about buying a celica cabriolet.
I have noticed that all the earlier shape cars (91-94) seem to be Japan imports and all I've seen advertised have 4wheel steer.
Is this steering mechanism reliable, and can be spares be sought easily ?
Or are they more rouble than they are worth and I should pay the extra for a later shape car that don't appear to be fitted with this 4 wheel steer.
Again most of the later shape cabrios seem to be Jap imports - are they much different to UK spec cars and what is the spares situation like ?
I almost certainly want an automatic car BTW..... is the auto box a good one ?
Generally are these celica cabriolets a good buy (reliable with reasonable riunning costs) or should one be looking at a european brand. (audi, vw, merc)
Many thanks everyone !
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IMO 4WS is a gimmick...I mean, its not as if all the manufacturers fall over themselves to offer it! The Cabrio Celicas are rare, made mostly for the US market, and don't think they were officially imported by Toyota UK. Find a nice UK GT4 from the same era, 0-60 in under 7 seconds, but the Autobox is not unbreakable, so change fluid regularly.
Today my car over heated - unfortunately it was bone dry. I know, it was all my own fault, nothing wrong with the car at all. I've learnt my lesson.
So, a very helpful person came along and topped my coolant system up with water. Very kind of him, however he filled it right up, leaving no space to add anti-freeze.
Has anybody got any easy methods I could use to extract about a litre of water? I am not technically minded at all and only have limited tools.
It's a Ford Fiesta 1.3, year 2000.
Thanks in advance.
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I am not technically minded at all and only have limited tools.
Rather than attempt doing the anti-freeze bit can you get mains power to it.
If so consider putting some insulation, blankets, an old duvet a tarpaulin, etc over the bonnet and a heat source under the engine. Probably an inspection lamp would be enough heat.
You can then get it sorted out more easily in the morning.
I'm looking at getting a Roofbox for holiday use. I've a MB C220CDi Sports Coupe (i.e. hatchback).
Because of the hatchback I'm limited in box length. I'd want one with all round locking. As I only intend to open it at our destination I'm not sure that I need dual side opening.
I'm going to aim to get one that will fit under my garage door opener (closed at least).
Any other selection criteria or suggestions?
What effect does it have on driving. I can see the following: -
(1) Worse fuel comsumption. How much?
(2) More susceptible to cross winds and HGVs.
(3) Poorer handing - no elk tests.
I intend to pack soft, light things up there (towels, clothes etc) rather than beer or wine. I don't know if a suitcase will fit or if that is a good idea. Temperature may be an issue.
Any other thoughts or suggestions on suppliers?
Thanks,
Simon Read more
Thanks, all, for the advice.
I'll look at that web site and see what they have to say.
I'd avoid one with a 60mph limit as the first use will be to drive down to the dordogne and 60mph will seem to take ages compared to the 80mph that the rest of the traffic will be doing.
I'll post again when(if) I buy.
Thanks,
Simon
I seem to be getting seeing rather a lot of drivers mouthing off at one another and making rude gestures, add to this the intimidating driving and universal tailgating and I am seeing a depressing picture. Now am I getting paranoid or are other BRs thinking the same. I try to drive considerately within the rules and be polite to other road users..you know..signaling at roundabouts and practicing lane discipline etc. Hardly a journey goes by however without someone getting the umbridge. Read more
I've been driving 23 years and I've not noticed the incidence of road rage increasing (indeed I was guilty of it when I was younger) - but I no longer dare express my annoyance at bad driving - -if somebody jumps a red light and you let them know they nearly hit you all you get is mouthed obscenities and a v-sign.
(Of course, I know 'expressing your annoyance' isn't what the horn's for.....)
But - since I've been riding a motorbike, I've been surprised that the VAST majority of drivers are considerate - I'm always allowed out at junctions, cars have never deliberately stopped me going past, and if I cut anybody up with a bit of misjudged filtering I just raise my hand in thanks and nobody has ever reacted adversely.
The difference I think is that in cars we don't see the driver, we see the car.
(That of course applies to the drivers who look - the idiots on hand-held mobiles, reading maps etc are just best given a wide berth - when one's in my way when I'm filtering a quick beep of the horn (correct use!) soon wakes them up).
I have recently bought a Renault Clio with xenon lamps and would appreciate some advice on how to adapt them fro continental driving ( I go about four times a year ). As they are self levelling and have a different setting at different speeds I don't seem able to blank them out or redirect the light. I have heard of some makes where the lights can be set for left or right - can this be done on Renaults ? On another point do I need a spare even though it can't change it by the roadside ( and it costs about £70! ).
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The first part I would not bother there are so many people with there lights badly set here in Germany it would go unnoticed.The second part you should carry a spare set of bulbs in most EU states.By the way a xenon bulb in Germany at Renault cost 180 euros fitted .
I have a 2001 Mk 2 Punto which somebody decided to kick the nearside door mirror off recently.
I have bought a new mirror and when I tried to fit it, I found that you need a special door mirror spanner. Best described as a socket, approx 30mm diameter with 4 x metal prongs welded to it to mate with and undo the 4 x slots in the plastic nut securing the mirror.
The Punto workshop manual CD Rom says it is Fiat part number 1.870.641.000 for the special spanner.
Can anybody please tell me where I could buy such a tool, I have tried e-bay and Halfords without any success. Read more
Thanks for the help, I used a pair of long nosed pliers & the plastic nut came off easily, did the job in 10 minutes this morning.
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And as if to prove their longevity - there's a 300TD on ebay with 460,000 miles and only two owners - tinyurl.com/kgsv9