July 2006
We had our first rain for about a fortnight about two hours ago - short and sweet but heavy whilst it lasted.
Nipped to Tesco about half-an-hour ago and was surprised at the numbr of cars with headlights and/or foglights blazing away. Ratio was about one in six over the two miles each way journey.
Yet visibility, despite an overcast sky, is probably miles and the air is as clean as you could wish.
Why do these morans use any excuse to have the halogen bulbs aglow?
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What\'s for you won\'t pass you by Read more
A friend has offered me a nice dark blue metallic Volvo S60 Turbo auto at a good price. I've driven it and its seems fine with agood turn of speed and refinement. It has 69300 miles with a full Volvo history. Whats the s60's reputation for 100k miles plus or should I buy something more ordinary. By the way its being left to me at £3800. Thanks Read more
I bought a 2002 S60 T5 approx 3 months ago. Have a search on google as there are a couple of good volvo forums around (albeit mostly American users.)
Things to watch out for on Volvos was the auto gearbox and the ETM (Electronic Throttle Module)
Not sure what specifically on the auto as I bought a manual, but the ETM's tend to start playing up at around 60,000 miles on Magnelli varieties. The later Bosch ETM seems to work fine, but I would imagine that the Magnelli one is on the one you are looking at.
Apart from that, check you can live with the dreadful turning circle.
I am extremely happy with mine and would reccomend an S60 to anyone.
Cheers,
I am contemplating selling my car onEbay
I have never sold on Ebay before so was hoping if people could fill me in with a few tips and hints first please.
I am intending to be selling for £6995, so primarily interested in safe/secure methods of taking payment, bidding, and viewing etc. with this large value at stake.
I would be intending to do a "Buy it Now" and see how that goes - There also the additonal "next best offer" I notice you can add.
Or is it best to do an auction with a reserve set very close to my desired selling price.
Do people generally view the car in person and then make a bid or is it just bid and then pay ?
Is it sensible to insisit on a deposit via PayPal of say £250 or £500 within 24hrs to secue the car.
Can I make this "non-refundable" to deter time-wasters, or will this deter anyone from buying ?
What is the most secure method of taking payment for the whole car ?
Obviously cash is best - but then forged money could be handed over ?
Are there any scams involved with Bankers Drafts - I know people say these "like cash" but how does one verify they are OK ?
With cheques even if they clear, I understand it is not unknown for the money to be debited back if something later is discovered to be dodgy.
Do people experience people who will bid and then when they win, will try to bargain down the price when they come to collectthe car , as I am sure they could try that on.
Would be very pleased if people could tell me their experiences, good or bad and pass on any words of wisdom, before I start !
I may just end up using autotrader, the old fashionned way ! Read more
gumtree is much better imho
1995 Estima 2.2 TD
I know these cars have a reputation for cooling problems and cracked heads.
I test drove one today for 20 miles at 70 mph as recommended on the Estima Owners Club website and there seemed to be no problems in the cooling system BUT when I opened the oil filler cap with the engine running, there was significant air pressure .
Everything else on the car seems to be fine
The engine is only recorded at 50k miles and the seller ( a large independant dealer states they all have pressure)
I would rather lose 10 good estimas than buy 1 which will give me big problems.
Has anyone any experience of this, or any advice please ?
Thanks in advance, I know there will be a quick response on this
:-)
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pressure would blow the filler cap off
How come - as two pistons go down, two go up, so the overall pressure should be the same.
I just got home from the first day of the inaugral two day Croydon Motor Show and it was a surprisingly enjoyable day.
Most of the the major manufacturers were present via local dealers with the notable exceptions of BMW, Mercedes and Skoda.
Commentary and driver interviews of the various cars in the parade ring (every 30 minutes, Estates, MPVs, Execs etc etc) were by Top Gear's James May who was very dry and witty and an all round good egg.
A trip around all the stands confirmed that the (absent) Skoda Octavia really is the best car for me (ordering a 2.0 TDI DSG on Monday).
Other observations:
1. The Seat Toledo looks like Quasimodo.
2. Chrysler make some brutal looking cars that will have the Chavs drooling and in an HP fuelled financial quagmire.
3. The Hyundai Sants Fe is the best looking 4X4 by far.
5. Daihatsu make cars for midgets.
4. The Nissan 350Z is the best looking non exotica car, full stop.
5. The Honda Civic is a corporate catastrophe.
6. The new Citroen Executive barge is hideous, beautiful and utter madness all rolled into one. "£37,000 OTR. What will it be worth in 3 years time?" "I haven't got that information sir".
7. VW Golfs have cheap and nasty interiors .
8. Saab interiors are worse.
9. There is no such thing as a good looking estate car.
10. All VW Tourag drivers are pimps or drug dealers, possibly both.
Well worth going along tomorrow if you can. £3 entry fee. Take your own food and drink though. £4.50 for a tiny hot dog and a warm bottle of water, I think not.
Great fun.
Woody Read more
Avant, apart from the chap down the road who owns one, I have never heard anybody refer to this car as anything but a toe-rag. Puerile humour of course, being a near-homophone that conveniently punctures the imagined hubris of the plutocratic users of such vehicles, but so obvious that I am surprised VW used in in the UK. It must have deterred at least a few image-conscious potential purchasers.
My neighbour and I have decided to have our air con systems re-gassed,and decided that if we book the 2 cars in together,we might get a small discount.
Does anyone know of a good engineer near to Wakefield?
Ken. Read more
The Lucas delaer in Batley is still there,but alas the one at Westgate End in Wakefield,ceased to exist many years ago.
Ken.
Looking to buy a used Volvo Xc90. Prices seem to be sky high. Are these cars really that good. Any of you guys have one or driven one. Would be interested to hear your views on why these cars are demanding so much money on the second hand market. Read more
Try and find one that cheap in the classifieds.
..just had a look on AutoTrader - several around £20K (although a few of the lower prices are 'wanted' ads).
Im thinking of upgrading my 1995 306 td which i love for a newer model. I have around £3-3.5k to play with.
Im tempted to get the HDI model of the same car because i really do like them. Its the obvious niggles (mainly electrics) thats making me think of other cars.
I was wondering whats a good buy these days for a diesel. Is it worth looking at japanese cars for reliablity? Read more
Basically agree with Xileno, but also try and see what age and condition of Skoda Fabia TDI you could get within your budget.
I have a 1996 214 and have constant rotational squeeling sound after about 15mins of driving. I have been told that it's commoan for the pads to stick and some copper grease spray should help. It doesn't seem to be effecting the braking and light braking actually reduces the noise. Anyone had any experience in this? Is it an easy job to get to the right areas to spray the grease? No exsperience in mechanics as you may have guessed, so give it to me simple!
Cheers all.
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Every time the pads are worn on our 214 they start to squeek, even when driving. Straight change of pads for 30 quid and its fixed for 20K or so.
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Any advice greatly appreciated. Read more
Cheers will make sure I grease the lock in the next few days.
Browse
Lights are on, accidents are reduced. Two facts but maybe not connected? What proof is there.
More speed cameras over all in UK, road deaths on the rise. Connected? Probably not, unless you are anti cameras!