June 2006
Slightly perplexed to find my new Automatic Passat company car has just the standard auto gearbox as opposed to a DSG gearbox.
I'm not an expert here so could somebody explain to me the differences between a VW standard auto and a DSG box? Have driven both but couldn't tell any difference.
What am I missing out on or is it nothing to get concerned about?
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We hear so much, not least on this forum, about uslesss car sales staff, so let's hear it for the other side.
SWMBO and I had a happy morning today firstly trying an Octavia vRS (a possibly replacement in a few months if the B-class still fails to inspire affection) - Roy at Jacksons (Basingstoke) was an excellent salesman and gave us a good test run, knew his product and had the sense to tell us that there was a vRS 170 bhp diesel coming in September which might be worth waiting for. If I do go for a Skoda, Jackson will have the business: they did a far better quote than others I tried when considering an Octavia a few months ago and ended up with the German taxi.
Then Wood at Odiham was another very pleasant experience - for Stuart the sales manager too as he persuaded SWMBO to chop in her 2004 Civic for a new MINI.
Both garages are family-owned - I am sure this is significant. In fairness I should say that our experience of Marshall Honda and Greenoaks Mercedes, both in Reading, have so far been excellent, both for sales and service. Any deficiencies of the B-class are design faults and nothing to do with service or reliability.
Anyway I hope the above is helpful for anyone in this area thinking of a new car. Read more
The older (the ones that refused to cave in to VAG) Skoda dealers are excellent.
We've had therads on here about longest production runs and cars that lived on way past their obselescence.
How about cars that were axed prematurely by their makers and deserved a longer run.
My vote goes for the BMW Z3. Even now they look prettier than the Z4 and don't look dated. Read more
Not proper bricks them. Slick bricks.
But the 240 and 245... solid of course, but weren't they a bit senile to start with?
Perhaps that was just their drivers. Amazing how young some people are when overcome by senility.
Does anyone know of a source of Mercon V automatic transmission fluid .
I wish to do a fluid change in my Mazda6 - the fluid is becoming discoloured, and I understand it has a Ford automatic box that needs Mercon V spec fluid, not the usual Dexron.
Loads of places selling Dexron III, (which I assume I cannot use), but nowhere selling Mercon V.
I would need approx a 5litre can.
Does anyone know an online source of this fluid (my work schedule makes it difficult to get to the shops) so I can get a can delivered, or failing that a motor factors that will sell in this quantity.
I'm based South London/Surrey borders.
Thanks guys ! Read more
In the UK Mercon V fluid is recognised under the Ford Europe spec of: wss-m2c202-b, product name: E-M5, stock no.8000045, used in focus 1.6 autos, £8.50 a litre from your local Ford dealer. Alternatively £9.50 from halfords who sell their own brand which conforms to the wss-m2c202-b spec.
Sat morning on the M23 there was an accident around 05.00,(I hope no one was seriously hurt),but why at 06.00,with no vehicles remaining, were 2 lanes still shut, causing even at that time in the morning miles of tail backs.
Why do those who force their way into the only lane open, always at break neck speed,proceed past the scene of the accident so slowly, they almost cause another accident, and never go as fast again.
And why, worst of all did the accident not appear on any gantry until 100 yards beyond junct 8 of the M25, too late to take alternative routes.
I remember several years ago a major accident on the M40 near Birmingham occur on the way up from London, at 9am, it was still shut on the way back at 18.00, why, this from my limited experience would have been cleared up much quicker abroad. Read more
At around 06.40 all lanes were open, but, with quite slow moving traffic.
Why no advance warning on the gantry signs? Why no warning on the M25 before J8, so that drivers can turn off and go through Reigate?
Can you get a sensible answer from The Ministry of Transport ( or whatever it is called nowadays)?
on my 106 1.5 diesel (1997) the reverse lights have gone. I did the usual checks bulbs and fuses etc. Then I tried a new reverse light swith on top of the gear box and still no joy. Must be a wiring problem but i wondered if anybody else had the same problem before?
Is there any quick way of scotch locking wires to get the reverse lights back or is it an auto electrition job?
Cheers Read more
On the 2nd May 2003, we had a settlement figure for our car finance. We had remortgaged and wanted to pay it off. When the money came through, phoned the company up to check the settlement figure still stood, was told yes, so paid it by debit card over the phone. A couple of months later received a letter saying that we owed a payment from 6th May therefore the settlement figure was void and we owed a further £2400.We sent a letter stating that we had checked the figure was still correct (it was available for 10 days, we paid on the 7th) and basically refused to pay.We received no acknowledgement of this letter from the company therefore thought the matter over.
Three weeks ago we received a statement from them showing our payment of £6375.90 and an outstanding balance of £2400.We have never had a statement before this. Last week we received a letter informing us that our account was £126 in arrears.What they have craftily done is used the £6375.90 as advanced monthly payments, as it is 3yrs worth.
As the settlement figure was given to us before the May 6payment was due we had cancelled the DD as we knew we were paying it off. Can anyone help as regards to where we stand with this?
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Sorted. Sent a letter to the company concerned last week and have received a reply today to confirm that payments are now complete. What a weight off my mind. Thanks to the above for the advice on here, much appreciated.
Hi all,
I've got a quick (hopefully!) query about NCB and claiming for glass replacement. I had to have a rear side window replaced and payed the £60 excess as set out in my policy. I have 4 years NCB protected, and in the policy booklet it states that claims for glass replacement will not effect the NCB. However, I'm a bit uncertain as to if this is in regard to previous NCB (which is protected anyway) or the current years NCB that I would hope to gain. So basically, when my insurance renewal is up will I only have the 4 years NCB thats already protected, or will I be able to claim 5? I'm sure insurance policy are only there to confuse us!
Thanks for any replies in advance,
Andy. Read more
But would this need to be declared at the next insurance
renewal? And would a glass claim increase the premium (ignoring NCD)
Am thinking that although it doesn't affect the NCD that it
could count as a claim and therefore have a quite negative
effect on the cost of the policy. Is this right/likely?
Lee -- There\'s no place like 127.0.0.1
Yes. I made a windscreen claim in 2002 and when getting renewal quotes a couple of years later was asked if I'd made any claims. Guardian Insurance would give me a quote at all (they weren't offering quotes to anyone without three years free of claims, at that time).
Hi there, ive recently bought a 1996 306 1.9 DTurbo. On starting the car in a morning,it just turns over and over and over without fireing up. Priming the fuel system using the priming bulb and then starting the car, it fires up first attempt. If i leave the car for a couple of hours and try to start it, it turns over a few times then starts up. Leave it for any longer and i need to prime the fuel system again.
My guess is that ive got a slight air leak, not knowing a great deal, has anyone heard of anything like it before, and where could the leak be getting in.
Also does anyone know where the TDC sensor is as my tacho doesnt work and i'm lead to believe its the TDC sensor
Thanks
Gavin Read more
had this with the a4 recently aswell again caused by leak off pipes being past there best. tdc sensor is on the back of the engine block on the passenger side as you look into engine bay, probably find sensor is covered in crap and after a good clean will work, if not then there bout £15 from eurocarparts
chri
news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/wales/south_west/5110270.stm
Good Grief...! Read more
>>I was just explaining that it didn't occur on UK roads so I didn't have lots of people chiming in about how many health and safety and motoring laws he broke.
My point was you dont know this does not occur on our roads,As a ps *I was not having a pop at you*Only that some drivers would be daft enough to do it.daft and dangerous things happen all the time through driver ignorance
--
Steve
Browse
Have you any firm evidence to back this statement up? I have not heard or read anything that says the DSG has inherent problems. It's been around for three or four years now so if there were significant issues they would have surfaced. I'm an owner of a DSG A3 and am not aware of any issues with it.
Never driven an auto diesel - closest is an Audi A4 Multitronic which seemed to perform as well as the DSG, but it didn't have paddles so manual changes were difficult to perform.
If you are considering DSG ensure you get the paddles too.