June 2006
Right, well, I've finally been forced off the road due to fuel prices, road tax, and insurance so I'm planning to sell the car.
This year's lowest insurance quote is still circa ~1500 pounds, plus 200 pounds tax and fuel. I reckon that if I'm going to spending nearly 2500 pounds a year it's easier to hire a car as and when I need it and use a removals company to get my stuff to and from uni.
So, I'm going to stick it in Autotrader. It's a Citroen Xsara 1.9TD "West Coast" coupe, 90k, vomit yellow aka Gold, immaculate condition, full service history etc. I can't even find it listed in Glass's so any suggestions as to how much I should put it in for would be appreciated. Read more
I passed one of these the other day, you know the layby caffs, often sporting a confederate flag for some reason. It had a large notice, stating "under new management" which somehow amused me.
We seem to have lot of these in East Anglia, but not so sure I've noticed them much elsewhere.
Set me wondering, are any BRs regular users of these establishments? Do they need permission to set up shop in the layby? How much are they charged to park there?
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IanS
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yumyums (on the main road up to Uni) has saved me many a morning.
Their bacon butties are second to none!
How safe is to buy cars from private seller when the car is not bought out right and still under Credit / HP?
Just worrying that if after buying the car from the seller, and then the seller decided not to keep up with the payment. The finance company may come and reclaim the car.
Or is it best to avoid them? If most people buying cars which is under 3 yrs old, we all face with this problem. what do we do?
Any thoughts on this? Read more
With his permission,phone the credit company,quote his agreement number,ask for a
settlement figure;you then pay that to the credit company and deduct
that sum from whatever you agreed to pay for the car.
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Good call !!
Freiends car, 2 years old (so warranty still available when back in UK).
It has developed an infrequent habit (2-3 times per week) of opening all windows after having been locked and left standing. (In the same location). Normally identified by the fact that the alarm goes off, although how long the windows have been open is not known. I would guess that it is a volumetric alarm that is wind turbulence triggered.
Is this a feature to keep the car cool, an intefering remote (unlikely given the lack of proximity of other vehicles) or just a random problem? Any advice or similar history pse?
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pmh (was peter)
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Screwloose
I had discounted this as a likely cause as the location is in the middle of a circulade, (a historic fortified french village). I suppose that an enthusiastic french ham could be to blame, but no large arrays in evidence. ( I fully understand your ref to ferrite beads, but thanks for reply).
p
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pmh (was peter)
funny noise coming from drivers side front wheel. stopped to investigate and found a continuous crack - 125mm diameter to each spoke of the wheel.
Anyone have any ideas what could have caused this - and where can I buy one wheel?
1992 Corrado VR6 with BBS alloys
thanks Read more
The going rate for x-ray analysis using real-time is about £150 per hour (+VAT) at somewhere like X-Tek or TRW Conekt.
Nice, shiney, new alloys is the only real option.
Second hand ones may have an unquantifiable history.
I know this has been done before but it's always a good bit of fun.
What would your vote be for? Only choose one and give reasons.
Mine is the Honda Civic. The styling is so cool and it's likely to be reliable. Read more
3 year old Volkswagen Phaeton 3.2 V6 petrol.
£20k for a minimal mileage VW approved car from a main dealer.
WHAT VALUE!
Drove a new Golf today for a while and used its cruise control for quite a way on the A12.
Whilst driving though I was thinking i've absolutly no idea how it works so could someone explain in great detail cruise controls innermost workings? Read more
I did'nt realise my car had cruise control,just been out to have
a look-could not find any switches, anyone got an idea?
1962 Austin A60 Cambridge.
My Son has a 2000 reg 306 Hdi D turbo. Last year he heard a hissing sound from the interior vents when he turned the A/C on. Now he would like to use it and the compressor does not kick in. Lack of gas I guess. Is there a common weak point in this system? I have heard of rusty pipes, which ones and are they easy to replace? or could it be a dash out job to replace the evaporator, there was no oily smell, so maybe the leak is outside the cabin. He aims to sell the car soon so wants to get it working if possible. Ideally we would like to replace whatever is necessary ourselves and then get it professionally regassed, or should it be totally left to the professionals? Any idea of cost?
Many thanks.
John Read more
To expand on my earlier post, my total cost was much less than Fullchat's. When I found my aircon was not working (a year ago) I had it regassed (£40) in case it just needed a top-up, and a check for the appearance of tracer dye (none found). I had another look when I got the car home - the suspect pipes are easy to see with the front wheels on ramps - and spotted the leak beside one of the clips.
So I compared prices from the 3 nearest Pug dealers, bought my own pipe, took the car to the aircon specialist, who fitted it and regassed the system. Total cost: original £40, pipe £46.37, fit and regas £50; all-in inc.VAT about £160.
Car was just 6 years old when the pipe failed.
This is probably a daft question, but can somebody explain why some cars have terrible brake sqeal whilst others don't. My hitherto faultless 2003 C5 is starting to develop a really annoying squeal on normal smooth braking from about 10 mph to rest, especially in hot weather. There's plenty of wear left on the pads and discs so the dealer's not prepared to do anything, even under guarantee. Comments...
Cheers Bill Read more
Its most likely that the noise is coming from the rear brakes, not the fronts. Your pads will be glazed over. Suggest you get some Lucas pads from GSF car parts and pop 'em in. Problem will be fixed. Citroen's standard pads are very hard and glaze over after about 15,000 miles.
Trev
Quick Question -
Airbag warning light doesn?t go out on start-up, - it stays on all the time... is this is M.O.T failure??
Thanks
Ste
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1983 (A) Vauxhall Astra 1.3L
1993 (K) Vauxhall Cavalier 2.0i GLS
1999 (T) Renault Laguna 1.6
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Screwlose -
hi Thanks for your reply - we have already had one quote to fix it £300 wich i think is extorsionate - however we will look into getting it sorted - but its just as you say the light stays on all the time -
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1983 (A) Vauxhall Astra 1.3L
1993 (K) Vauxhall Cavalier 2.0i GLS
1999 (T) Renault Laguna 1.6
Browse
No claims IS useful to have - at 22, with NCB, I am getting quotes to insure a 2002 530i Sport at about £990. Which given my age is very reasonable.
DOn't forget that if its YOUR car and its in your mothers name unless the insurer has specifically said thats ok you might find they won't be all that impressed when you claim - the risk is based on the assumption its your mothers car and you drive it occasionally, if this isnt the case...