July 2006
I'll be going on holiday to sunny skegness on Saturday. Planning to drive M6, M61, M60, M62, M18, M180, A18, A16 etc.
Anything I should be looking out for? I reckon I'll be nearing Skegness at around Midnight on Saturday, so hopefully traffic will be light.
Any roadworks or diversions in place that may hold me up?
I think I'll be creating a new personal record for the most motorways driven on in a single journey. I'll also be on the M74 so that'll be 7 in total!
Coming back I'd like to go over the Humber bridge. Is this an easy diversion? How much is the toll (if any)?
Thanks in advance
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I know Halfords isn't a mecca for bargain hunters, but I've just bought a roof box and bars at 20% off in the sale and whilst browsing, a headrest DVD player (2x 8.5" screens) caught my eye.
I asked for discount and the manager knocked it down from £250 to £200 - got it to the till and it turns out they're already down to £200 so I got it for £170.
Decent bit of kit which should keep the kids quiet during the long stretch down to the Alps in a couple of weeks and I thought I'd let people know.
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Have you watched French TV? !
My 1998 1.5LXi Mazda 323 (petrol) is making a diesel rattle occasionally when I'm changing up through the gears. It's the same noise that it makes if I drive in too high a gear, such as going into 2nd before the car is at a sufficient speed.
What is this noise likely to indicate?
Many thanks in advance for your advice.... Read more
'Pinking' or 'pinging' is more high pitched,a tinkling sound.
I know what you mean, but this can under some circumstances sound like diesel rattle, and I tend to agree with someone later on who said it may be a faulty knock sensor...
have just bought a 2003 mercedes a210 evolution with 13k on the clock and have since heard that the gearboxes and clutches are prone to going at 50k..............................any truth in this ?
if so is it the whole a class range or just certain models or years ? Read more
Trochie, having just added an 02 plated diesel auto LWB 170 CDI to the family car pool - 38k - this posting has nullified any reason for a laxative!!
Any idea what speeds/revs it should change up, as it seems that (under lightish acceleration) it hangs on to first rather longer than I am comfortable with. Seems better in Winter mode. Could this be a harbinger of something more sinister? Oh, I hope not!! Any suggestions?
My recently purchased 51 plate 320d touring (30k with full BMWSH) has been dropping small quantities of what I believe is either diesel or oil on my drive. There is also a strong smell of diesel coming through air con when sitting at junction etc. Are these 2 issues likely to be linked? I saw an item on this website about a known issue on 320d of this age saying fuel pump and filters are likely to need changing)
The car was purchased from Lloyds Bank Car Select and came with full warranty. Have booked car in for check at the warranty firms chosen garage - but this is not a BMW garage. Do you think I am better going to a BMW garage to get the problem diagnosed in case this is the 'known issue' referred to above?
All input greatly appreciated Read more
good idea - thanks, will try that.
I have an 06 VW Golf 2.0 TDI. The handbook clearly states the Electrical Power Socket in the boot (and in the cabin) should be live with the ignition off and key removed. On my car this is not the case. Is there a simple way of reconnecting to obtain power at all times? Thanks
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You could try looking in the fuse section of the manual, or the fuse panel in the car and it's application table, some cars you can add another or change the position of a fuse to choose between the two settings, wasn't aware of this on VW though, like you say usually works all the time.
Can anyone tell me if a satnav can be traced ,my car was done on sunday night thankfully thats all i lost
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There is no incentive for the manufacturers to have them disabled remotely when you report a theft or have a decent tracing system,
because unlike a mobile phone the technology does not support it.
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TourVanMan TM < Ex RF >
I am a trader in Surrey and have noticed a trend lately for auction prices on cars and vans are on the increase
Just come back from a sale today at a certain site in wales and the Ex-AA VW transporters were making retail money and it seemed three or four dealers were buying them all up at top money! A grand to £1500 more than two weeks ago!
The same at other sites with Cars making close to retail and all the traders ive talked too saying how quite it is and how the good weather has seen a huge drop off in sales compared to last year.
The auction companies are being forced by the leasing companies to get better prices ,but both are benefit in the long run
What is going on out there?Are they being too gready and running the prices up because at more than one venue ,you could see no one was bidding until the last few bids and that defeats the object of an auction surely !
Anyone agree!!!
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If the price doesn't reach the reserve then unless it is miles below the auctioneer will normally take a provisional.
I'd still say prices are quite cheap at the moment over all and are likely to go up towards the end of the summer as everyone comes back from holiday but it probably depends on what sort of car you are looking for.
If it's an ex-lease disposal remember that most auctions track book prices quite closely and unless the car is tatty the vendor will rarely let it go for less the 90% of book price and prefer to put it back through. If we're talking part-x's or other sources then prices can vary a lot more and you might find a bargain but you are also more likely to come across a complete dog.
What car are you looking for?
Considering getting either Honda Jazz or nissan note.......your thoughts
Am leaning towards honda. thanks Read more
Depreciation - Nissans depreciate. They just do - look how cheap
Almera, Primera and Micra are for their classes. Hondas do not.
Despite being a four-year-old design you'd be hard pushed to find
a Jazz that's for sale for less than £6,000, and in
these fuel-conscious days I can't see a car as efficient as
the Jazz losing out too much.
Actually Nissan's depreciation isn't that bad. Brand new Nissan Almera 1.5 S costs £7,549. Brand new Honda Jazz 1.4 i- DSI SE, bought from broker outside dealer network costs £10,178. And it's slower, smaller and you get less equipment for your money. Factual depreciation of Jazz is a little bit higher than that of Almera - you should expect to loose about 5 grand in 4 years on Jazz, and 4 grand on Almera, but it's only because Jazz is waaaaaaaay overpriced to begin with...
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[Nissan 2.2 dCi are NOT Renault engines. Grrr...]
Do we have any experts who can comment on this ?
I have had comprehensive insurance with no-claims bonus protection since Noah was a boy. As I come to renew for 2006 / 2007 the insurance company ?Advisor? says that my policy for 2005 / 2006 does not have this feature.
I looked at my Certificate of Insurance for 2003 / 2004 and it reads, ?34 Protected No Claim Discount. If no more than2 claims arise during 5 consecutive year(s) of insurance, the No Claims discount will not be reduced.?
I looked at my Certificate of Insurance for 2005 / 2006 and it reads, ?33 Net Premium Policy. Section 9; A no claims discount does not apply to this type of insurance policy, however your entitlement to maximum discount in the future will not be affected (subject to no more than 2 fault claims occurring in 5 consecutive years.?
Does anyone understand this ? Do I have protection or not ?
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Maybe its because at 70 yrs. I'm a classic kind of driver.
I think that is likely to be the case. From what my parents have told me about getting insurance for the "more mature" drivers, things start turning nasty at around 70. It may be the case that your insurance company is continuing the policy until your first smash, at which point they will hike the premiums as a way of saying "go away".
BIG
Browse
Toll is £2.70 each way. Highways agency has an 0845 line and a free website with up to day roadworks info -
www.highways.gov.uk