May 2006
In my quest to spend under £10k on a 530i Sport, HJ's excellent auction roundups from the BCA auctions have prooved invaluable as a useful guide as to what I can expect for my money.
Unfortunately, they seem to have all dried up! Is this something thats been stopped or will it be making a welcome return soon? Read more
I have a 2002 three door corsa which when driving on uneven roads there is a rattling sound coming from both sides but mainly the drvivers side. I was wondering whether anybody else had come across this problem, and how it was resolved. Any advice would be greatly appreciatled, as you could proberly guess it is rather ignoring. Read more
I used the white spray grease.
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Fullchat
or Leon 130 SE TDI? With my annual mileage now topping 20k, it's back to a diesel for me. This means not spending any more than £10k, but getting the most fun i can from an oil burner.
What i really want is a Leon Cupra TDi, but the budget just wont stretch.
So Polo GT, Fabia vRS or Ibiza 130. Whats the difference between them, and which one would you go for?
over to the experts.......... Read more
Well I have observed Hampshire police have used a unmarked Fabia VRS in the past on motorways.. I think its a crafy move by the police - well who would expect to be caught speeding by a unmarked Skoda! Now they use the Octavia VRS... so if its good enough for Hampshire police it must be good!
I am not a real F1 driver by the way..
Dorian
Seen the persuasive adverts but trying to find one in the shops is hard work. Are they available yet (910 and 710). Is it reasonable to expect a demo in a shop or should I buy on spec (asked in a well known PC shop and the assistant pointed to the price label and said "it does all this"). Do I need street maps of USA if I'm never going to drive there. Are they as good as they say with hands free phones? If I have a satnav with speed camera capability will the gendarmes fine me? Is the ONE level OK or should I go for the latest version Read more
I bought a TomTom 510 a couple of weeks ago.
I'd previously been using a PDA with a seperate GPS receiver and the TomTom software running on it.
The 510 is very good, I've used it a couple of time and I've activated my free month trial of the TomTom traffic service which seems pretty good, although I've not come across any traffic that isn't usually there on my 25 mile commute anyway!
The handsfree feature is pretty snazzy as well, it links to your phone by Bluetooth, initially downloads all your contacts to the device and allows you to set up data connections for the traffic service.
The handsfree feature itself is very useful, just turn the TomTom on and it connects. The speaker volume was a bit low at first and I couldn't find a way of changing it, but I worked out it was set by the phone, not the TomTom. You can also write and receive texts on it, but I wouldn't recommend writing them as it's a bit dodgy to be tapping at a screen while you're driving (or while stationary, for that matter).
I've very briefly used a 500 and it was good as well, but the 510 has a few better features such as a faster processor, wider screen, light sensor to automatically adjust the brightness of the screen, updated maps, updated software, built in TomTom speed camera sites (free trial, the official updates you have to pay for) and a few other bits.
The 510 is actually a 710, but without the European maps, the 910 is different with spoken word instructions, picture viewers, a hard disk and ipod control. All stuff that I probably would never use!
Hope this was some help to you.
If you've any more questions, just ask!
Andy
Can anyone tell me if i will be better off if i trade my E30 320 auto for a E34 525 auto.
Is a 525 better on petrol than a 320, is the servicing costs the same? Read more
Forgot to add....the "newest" E30 you'll get your hands on will be a '91 on H or J plate (unless it's a cabrio, which continued for a few years after that). Where as the E34 range, introduced in '88 continued till '96, when the E39 was introduced.
I'd still go for a 525i SE or Sport (though the ride on the Sport is a little harsher, the interior, especially the seats are superb).
Shortly I am going to change the engine oil in my Polo 1.4 tdi pd and I have two similar questions regarding this job.
First I have an unopened 1litre bottle of the special 500.01 oil that was in the car boot when the car was bought new four years ago, will this oil still be useable if I mix it with some new oil when I do the change or would I be asking for trouble doing this.
Second, the nearest place I can buy Millers 500.01 oil is fifteen miles from my home and I was thinking of buying enough for next years oil change. This would save me a return journey next year and my opinion is the oil will still be ok to use in a years time, am I right or wrong on this.
Thanks
Read more
Yes I know its 505.01 I must have been dreaming when I typed the post thanks for pointing it out to me
All
After buying replacement wiper blades from a local motor factors (had to buy, as no time to go elsewhere) I'm still in shock at the price - £34 for the front two wipers. The bloke in the shop said they were a special fitting, but I'm struggling to see what's so special - they look the same as any other. I've got an R-reg Audi A3 T-Sport.
Have I been ripped off, or is this the going rate?
Cheers
Matt Read more
The rubber only cannot always be purchased. It can't, for example, on my car.
Hi
Having recently bought a new car I am surprised at the lack of customer aftercare in the industry. I think that most dealers are missing a trick here and I speak from the standpoint of a customer. Seems to me that in such a competitive market place making the most of existing customers would be vital.
I have an idea that I would like some feedback on from dealers that think customer aftercare is important, or not for that matter, just in case I am talking pants here, which would be the first time. I have had a few conversations with local dealerships that just don't see existing customers as a valuable part of the mix. They seem driven by getting new sales all the time which strikes me as mad having invested all that time and effort in getting someone to buy from your business in the first place.
It in simple terms the idea is an automated online solution to giving a great aftercare service to customers well I would say that wouldn't I ;)
Any thoughts greatly received.
John
Read more
That?s interesting I would have thought just the opposite. Top end ? money no object I will take ten ? and if they have it down the road make that twenty and I will pay double ;)
Lower end -How much and what can it do for me at that kind of money
I'm thinking about buying a Volvo V40 but it seems that some have factory fitted roof rails and some don't.
Anyone know which models DO have roof rails?
Thanks Read more
Thanks SjB
That explains a thing or two.
Hope this isn't a silly question - but how do I tell if I have a pollen filter? Its a 1.6 02 zafira club with aircon btw. Read more
Find a friend with hayfever. Drive to a big sunny just-mown
field. Throw friend out of car. They will sneeze. Bring them
into the car. If they stop sneezing once the engine is
running with fans on, you have a filter. If they keep
sneezing, then you don't Simple, really. :-)
Alex.
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Dr Alex Mears
MG BGT 1971
If you are in a hole stop digging...unless
you are a miner.
Funny, but I nearly write just that; having never suffered with hay fever before (just cat hair allergy) I have been sneezing my head off for the past two weeks I guess courtesy of surrounding rape fields. Until the rain came this weekend and dampened things down, the only sanctury was my V70. Heaven. Sneezing stopped each time within a couple of minutes of closing the door and starting the climate control to ingest fresh air.
I find the detailed list of prices most useful.