April 2006
Hi,
Almera diesel 2000-5 model.
Know they look a bit dull but are the a good long term used buy?
Also does anyone know is the engine has a chain-cam or belt?
Cheers, IB
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In the autumn I plan to change my car, SWHNMAE will take on my Renault Megane dCi since she uses it more than I do and has grown attached to it. Also it's only done 17K and seems too young to sell on. So I will be looking at a straight purchase with nothing to trade in.
My requirements are:
1. I have generally owned Renaults and VW's and have had good service from both makes. However I might consider something different since it will still leave me with two Renaults and a VW, I won't feel a traitor. But I am not a badge snob.
2. I only do about 9K a year but I like diesels.
3. Must have leather interior since the dog often gets on the seats and leaves mud around. Easier to clean etc.
4. Must be either a hatchback or estate.
5. Must be able to cruise at 80 mph with ease. (in France, not UK Mr.Officer). Maybe a six speed box would be useful.
6. Must have good seats since three times a year I do 650 miles a day when visiting family in France.
7. I am only interested in buying new or ex demo and keep for two years and 18K miles.
8. I don't like flash cars, I like to waft along discretely and in comfort.
So far my mind is thinking:
Laguna 2.0 dCi either hatchback or Tourer
Megane 2.0 dCi
Passat Tdi
Golf 2.0 Tdi
Accord or Civic 2.2
Focus or C-Max TDCi
Primera 2.2(not a fan of the styling but I liked the way it drove)
What else could I look at? There must be lots of cars I've not thought of.
Thank you.
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Don't understand: Why is my wife getting your old Renault?(!)
Every so often you see something that makes you smile for the rest of the day.
Picture the scene, silver Vauhall Astra being driven at 30 on a road that you could do 40 on were it not for the 30 speed limit. Fair enough.
Enter the picture a Toyota Landcruiser Amazon, determined to make the Astra go faster, mainly by driving 18 inches from its bumper.
Imagine my laughter at the traffic lights 500 yards later when the door of the Astra opens and a very annoyed plain clothes policeman gets out waving his badge and and proceeds to read the driver of the Toyota the riot act. Not sure if he gave a ticket as I drove off whilst the dressing down was still in progress.
And it's a bank holiday weekend coming up!
Lee -- You don\'t sell the steak, you sell the sizzle Read more
Yeah, its a yellow Civic CRX IIRC, theres a few nice cars featured, in earlier episodes he drove a BMW, but switched to SAAB mid way...of course, Jerry is a Porsche fanatic in real life! The DVDs are great, loads of features, just got to wait for series 7 to come out now!
Just for fun, in top gear style. I was wondering what ist he cheapest you guys reckon you could get a decent under 190 year old sports coupe?
And for the hard part, it mustnt! fall apart after a few miles drive! Read more
Calibra's are always cheap.
Neil Kinnock was banned from driving today.
news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/wales/4947284.stm
Just shows some politicians are not beyond the law.
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Roger
I read frequently, but only post when I have something useful to say.
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couldn't he borrow the Deputy Prime Minister's official car, which comes with a driver ?
Hi, i have a 1999 Peugeot 306 Meridain with a CD player in it, for some reason the rear speakers don't work, I've had the car a year and they have never worked, the jack plug is connected and their isn't a setting on the stereo to fade the sound from front to rear, i've included a photo of the stereo.
Can any of guy's help???
i3.tinypic.com/winjtj.jpg Read more
... in fact, come to think of it, the CD option was a boot-mounted autochanger. Is that what you have? - if not, yours must be a replacement. But I would have thought any CD system would be set for 4 speakers.
My wife's Golf is coming up to five years old and has not exactly been reliable. We now want to replace it with something a bit smaller (kids left home), but are not keen on the Polo despite being long time VW drivers.
We have had a look at the Suzuki Swift and like what we see. We had a very brief test drive and it seems to go well enough and is comfortable and spacious for a small car.
Does anyone own one of these cars and, if so, what is your opinion of them?
Thanks.
Ashley. Read more
I assisted my sister in buying a new car (to replace her Punto). 'We' ended up choosing a Swift. Due to delays in delivery she was away when the car arrived and it was agreed that I would take delivery (this was just before Easter). I therefore ended up driving the car around for about two weeks. I'll post my opinions now in a seperate thread entitled 'Swift review'.
Hi a couple of annoying problems with my '98 a4 1.9tdi(ahu engine),
a couple of weeks ago the car developed a water leak which i traced to the plastic t pipe that houses the coolant temperature sensor(think thats the one, 4 wire job blue plug) there was a crack in it which i have now sealed up and the leak has gone. since then there have been a few noticeable issues, firstly the glow plug light on the dash now stays on for anywhere up to a minute before going out although the car will start as soon the fuel guage shows the level, also intermittently but twice in the last two days it has failed to start, it just turns over without firing, i suspect the glowplugs have failed but haven't had chance to check but i did check they are getting voltage.
the other issue is the idle is playing up, when the car does start the idle always goes up to 1100rpm whether the car is hot or cold, it's like the cold start is stuck on, when the car has been ran awhile say 10 minutes it settles back down to 900 rpm like it always used to be, but sometimes the enginehunts and the rpm fluctuates between 900-1000rpm, could this be to do with disturbing the cts or a unrelated problem thats happened by coincidence?
your help would be gratefully received
chris Read more
anybody?
chris
The dipstick on my sister's car a 1.0 kreg is stuck firm. Who knows when the oil was last checked so I've drained it for her and am about to put in the 3 litres that the manual states. Would like to check it properly. Any ideas how this could be freed off would be welcome Read more
its a k reg greenparrot so could be old or new shape
old shape 3.2 with filter
new shape 3.1 with filter
good tip on the dipstick by the way :) a right bad design on the k11 they always break after a period of time no matter how well serviced they seem to be
What is the worst, most embarrasing modifiction you have done to your own personal vehicle?
Back in my student days, I had a Mk5 Ford Cortina. I did the following mods:
1. Put BIG chrome exhaust tip on exhaust pipe
2. Took ford badge off rear bootlid, sanded the back down and repainted yellow and re-attached (i.e. so ford logo was on yellow not blue background)
3. Took cortina 1.6 GL off the bootlid, and instead stuck a RS sticker in the same place
4. Installed some cheapie 6x9 speakers on rear shelf, and attempted to hide their presence by placing multi-coloured bedsheet over them
5. Put sports gearknob on gearstick
I look back and think that I must have looked like a right prat. However, me and my mates thought it was cool!!
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In the 1960's some people used to paint the bonnet matt black (regardless of the colour of the rest of the car) as per rally cars of that period. I didn't do it myself ~ I'd have been too embarrased.
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L\'escargot.
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IIRC the 2.2 uses a chain.