May 2006
I have £3k to spend on a car to drive me to and from Geneva where I will be living for 8 months. I want something that is going to be relatively comfortable on the motorway, largely maintenance free, fuel economy is not highest priority but a concern. I need to be able to put stuff in it as I will be moving so tiny cars aren't going to work.
My question is, what do I get? I have been looking at cheap Volvo V40s, leather clad Honda Accords and even a couple of big Toyota Surfs and tinny RAV4s. So far I am not convinced by any of them.
What are the honest John recommendations for a cheap reliable workhorse? I think trouble free motoring is most important, I have had my fare share of buying from the heart cars, now I am trying to buy using my head. Read more
GM to top up drivers' fuel bills
GM's previous attempts to lure customers have hurt its profits
Problem-hit carmaker General Motors has offered to subsidise petrol prices for drivers of its vehicles in California and Florida in order to boost sales.
The move comes after oil prices surged and US petrol costs hit record levels.
US average gasoline prices are close to $3 a gallon, prompting complaints from consumers and warnings it would lead to a spending slump.
GM plans to cap petrol prices at $1.99 (£1.05) a gallon for buyers of certain 2006 and 2007 SUV and mid-size cars.
Attention grabbing
GM is looking at new ways of luring customers from Asian and domestic rivals after it said earlier this year that it would cut back on the amount of discounts and incentives it offered customers.
The problem with heavy discounting of vehicles is that eats into profits and dents the resale value of cars, analysts said.
They added that the gasoline offer could prove attractive.
"This incentive is likely to get the attention of many consumers," said auto market analyst Jesse Toprak.
GM said it would pay drivers the difference between the average price per gallon of premium fuel and the $1.99 for the miles they drove.
The company explained that a consumer in California who bought a 2007 Chevrolet Tahoe and drove it 1,000 miles a month would get a credit of approximately $103.75.
That compares with the $60 credit a earned by a driver from Florida who buys a 2006 Buick LaCrosse and drives the same distance, GM said.
Long-list
Customers would get the money paid to a credit card that would be valid until the end of 2007 and would not have a limit on mileage.
However, one condition attached to the promotion is that drivers must sign up to GM's OnStar vehicle diagnostic service, which is free for the first year but will then be charged at $16.95.
Vehicles that qualify for the deal include the 2006 and 2007 Chevrolet Tahoe and Suburban, the GMC Yukon and Yukon XL and the Hummer H2 and H3.
The government's Energy Information Adminstration said on Wednesday that the average price of a petrol was $2.88 per gallon.
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TourVanMan TM < Ex RF > Read more
Why don't they just make cars that can do more than 3 (Or thereabouts ;o) MPG?
Serious question.
There's just something about the rear end of the Disco Mk3 that just screams law enforcement at me, especially with the dark glass which they all seem to have.
Every time I see one I automatically slow down and keep it below a hundred as I pass it (that last bits a joke treehuggers).
Am I paranoid or just mad. Read more
I know what you mean - although I think they look fantastic. A mate of mine has one in black and IMO looks very good. He let me drive it the other day as well and I was well impressed.
What are these cars all about? Is it a Laguna underneath, i.e. lots of common componentry? Or is a Laguna a safer option regarding servicing and spares availability?
I don't think I could live with an Avantime.
X Read more
Rode in the back of one being used as a Taxi in Belgium. Nice seats, but the ride was very rough. Could be due to its use/abuse bombing around Brussels, but then the Merc E class taxis I rode in weren't as uncomfortable.
if i dont tax the car until a week into the month ..will i get in trouble?? ( car will be stored off road)
thing is they wont let me tax online as my insurance ran out today..the new insurance hasnt shown up on thier database, so by the time my certificate arrives and i get to the posty it will be past the 1st of the month!!
im going to try again online soon, maybe the database will be updated Read more
When you get the insurance you could always walk to the Post Office.
I have a newish Espace and my wife wants it pimping in the back with tinted windows. I have seen some kits on ebay for reasonable money, but suspect it might be a nightmare to fit.
If I were to splash the cash and get the professionals in what will it cost me, or should I have a go at it myself? Read more
Craig.
Pay a pro to do it mate. The espace has a very curved rear window which even pro's can struggle with. The rear doors, and quarter glasses are quite flat, but have a lot of trim oround the edges, making it difficult to get a nice clean finish around them.
You'll waste three or four kits just getting yourself to an ok standard.
Is this how it should be done?
exodus.interoutemediaservices.com/?id=910dcaf4-730f-4eff-8d29-739cdeba3fac&delivery=stream
{Link made non clickable to preserve HJ's bandwidth. Copy and paste into your usual URL browser, adding http:// at the start. It's also worth mentioning that this video isn't for the faint hearted, for various reasons that I won't go into - DD}
Chris M Read more
Hi,
Just p/x my 95 Golf VR6 for a 2001 S60 T5 SE. Picking it up next Thursday :)
May be a bit late now, but any opinions on the T5? Have read HJ's roadtest and cbc but just wondering if anyone has any ownership tips or comments?
Thanks in advance
BB
Read more
Cheers chaps.
I didn't get a quote for 10,000 miles per annum, but it reduced my VR6 insurance by about £150 a couple of years ago and I have kept it the same every year since.
To be honest, how would the insurance company find out if I did more mileage? They can't can they?
Only 6 more days to go :)
Hi all,
Just received my renewal for AA cover. The are wanting to charge $46.50 for Option 100 cover. I've just been on their website and they are offering it for £36 !! Is it standard practice to rip-off faithful customer or am I being a bit thick ??
Any good alternatives ?
Cheers
Richard Read more
Time for a smug self-satisfied smile. - I took out life
membership of the RAC in 1974 for all of £80.
Reminds me of a Futurama quote:
"Sir, your membership card has expired."
"But it's good for a lifetime!"
"Well, yours expired."
been a member of the RAC now for two years and have had to call them out a a few times.
1st time my car was over heating,patrol man popped a radseal pellet in the rad and everything was fixed. i was impressed and he got on his way.
2nd time round i just picked up a car from a trader,driving it back on the motor way and started over heating. pulled over rang the boys in orange and about an hour later he pulled up had a 3 second check and told me he was 95% sure the haed gasket had gone. got car towed back to the trader and got a refund.
3rd time was 2 days ago on my 1997 mk3 golf tdi.it was chucking out smoke and over reving on its own then cutting out. patrolmen arrived in 10 minutes, done his walk round and smelt a few things and proceded to explain that the turbo seal had gone.
next day rang vw and told them whats happening and said what the RAC had told me.
they laughed and said there is no such thing as a turbo seal.
got my mecanic round today,plugged his computer in, pressed a few buttons and reset the ECU and everything is now all fine and only cost me £35. considering i was expecting to pay in the region of £500 thanks to the patrolmans prediction.
ANYWAY do these patrolmen actually know what they are talking about because the last two times they have been completly wrong and very far away from what is really wrong.
might move to the AA Read more
I have to ask: why was there a kebab present while Hugo's friend was having his car mended?
Nice of it to offer to make the complaint though. Do you think the RAC would have given him a chilli reception?
Want to buy my VW Transporter? Will cruise all day at 70mph, and being a LWB High Roof model plenty of room inside for skis & snowshoes.On return trips to Blighty, think how moch booze & tobacco you can carry!
Price negotiable.
regards