July 2006
Last night I had the misfortune to suffer a gearbox failure on the M1 in the midlands.
Having waited 45 mins for the AA I was told it would need a recovery truck as the standard AA van could not tow me off.
It was stuck in gear and disengaging gear proved near impossible...
2 hours from the initial call the truck turns up (not an AA vehicle, but a third party garage), excellent i thought especially at 2am! With the car being stuck in gear the driver moved on to tell me it would cost an extra £105 + vat to get off the motorway as he would need to go "specialist". Thinking I was covered under my AA policy I queried this to be told I would only be covered for a basic recovery...
In the end he said he would take cash (£15) and use the skidplates, obviously going in his back pocket no questions asked.
Having rang the AA this morning I was told this is not standard practice.... But how many other drivers have been put in this situation? They did seem unbothered by my suggestion this took place, but they did say I wouldn't have been liable to pay any extras as I am covered by a roadside/relay/home start policy.
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I want to buy an Octavia 1.9 TDi DSG. I loved the refinement, build quality, handling, performance, 5 door versatility and dealer's attitude. But.......
Having told various of my intentions there still seems to be a huge issue with the brand. Yes I know the jokes are old, but working in an industry where image is important (Financial Advice) I have had comments from "You're buying a what?!" to "A poor man's VW" to "I've heard they're good but I wouldn't be seen dead in one".
So, two questions:
What IS the current image that driving a Skoda Octavia gives out?
How have existing Skoda drivers countered such comments?
Genuinely interested,
Woody Read more
I can recall the Channel 4 motoring programme "Driven" when they road tested the then new Fabia. They taped over the badge work and asked Joe public if they could work out who built it. They all liked the car but none guessed it was a Skoda.
Several years later of increased sales, improved reliability (JD Power) new models (Roomster) and the next Fabia just around the corner, not forgetting the proposed Yeti 4x4, Skoda are in good health and looking good for the future.
Would I buy one? Absolutely.
I've got a 1994 Vauxhall Astra 1.7DTL with a Bosch VE rotary pump, and for want of a better term it kangaroos. It does it as you accelerate, or as the engine becomes under load. This is not an uncommon problem on these models, but to try to cure it I've changed the injectors twice, fuel injector pipes, engine mountings, cleaned the EGR valve many times and blocked it off, cleaned the inlet manifold thoroughly, adjusted the fuel screw on the pump (½ turn max, and every subsequent adjustment has been within that ½ turn), used Millers fuel additive, checked and double checked pump timing with a dial gauge (0.8mm ± 0.1mm BTDC), and I still can't cure it. Some days it isn't too bad, others it's terrible, but it's always worse when the engine is under heavy load, and especially when it's cold. I always worry when it comes to MOT smoke test time too.
The compressions with checked about four years ago, and they were about 300psi on 1, 2 & 3, with No.4 slightly lower on about 280psi. I can't see this being enough to make a significant difference, and it always starts well from cold anyway.
I'm convinced it's to do with transfer pressure in the pump, but at 202,000 miles it's not really worth spending £400 to get the pump overhauled, especially if there's no guarantee it'll cure it. And in any case I'd de-coke the head at the same time if I did decide to have the pump done.
I'd be grateful for any suggestions other than scrap it..... Read more
What annoys me is that if it had been a customers car in the workshop I'd have probably binned it without even thinking about it, but because it was my own I was slightly more conscientious........
Hi there. I really hope someone can help me with my problem.
I own a 02 reg MG ZR+ which broke down the other week. The AA man who came out has said that it likely the head gasket has blown.
Can someone please give me an idea of how much this will cost to repair.
Also can anyone out there recommend any good garages in the Gillingham / Medway, Kent area who could do this type of work.
Thanks a lot in anticipation!! Read more
Think I would get the expansion tank sniffed at mot test centre before blaming HGF,
But what actually happened? all you said was it broke down-could be any number of reasons why
--
Steve
Is their opinion of it as 'awful' to be believed? It doesn't really accord with HJ's opinion.
Is a road test carried out in a city, at an average of about 10 mph, a fair test anyway? Given that it was the 1.6 HDI, it was probably still tight but it should have more than enough power for a car of that size, even allowing for the fact that it is much bigger than a 206. A Xantia with only 90 bhp was OK. Read more
For what that 207 Top Gear test car cost you could
easily get a bigger Focus or a Golf, Both much better
cars.
And you could get a C4 too.
So I've lost patience with the Picasso. Too many return trips to the dealer for too many faults and too many bits of plastic breaking off that can't be replaced. I do still like the feeling of space inside, I find it very comfortable to drive, the kids have lots of room in the back and I do make use of the boot space - folding and/or removing the seats far more often than I ever thought I would. I would hope to get £6500 or thereabouts for it. 03 reg 2.0 exclusive.
Before the Picasso I had a BMW 320 Touring Automatic that I really liked, and wouldn't mind one of those again. Nothing rattled, no bits fell off and somehow it 'felt' well made. I like the look of the Volvo V50 (in silver) too and am going to have a closer look at these tomorrow.
Any other thoughts from anyone? What about the Skoda octavia estate?
Other info:
I mainly do short runs of approx 5 miles a time, plus the odd 100 mile each way journey a couple of times a month.
Safety is important.
Quality feel is important, prestige brand isn't.
Fuel economy of 30mph + would be good.
I prefer an automatic
Room in the back for 2 pre-teen children
Will probably lease and spend approx £350 a month, perhaps a bit more for the right car. Or buy nearly new on a loan and make repayments of a similar amount. Indecisive? Moi? Read more
Surprising, isn't it, how often one neds to fold down the back seats. Although the children are grown-up now, I'd still never have a saloon again.
One thing to bear in mind is that on the Octavia (and I think) the V50 you have to remove the headrests before folding the backrest down - annoying. Audi A4 - no need to but the seats don't fold quite flat. Honda Accord Tourer and Mazda 6 estate - they fold down in one movement, which you could find useful.
If you go to look at the Mazda 6 also check out the Mazda 5 - an MPV rather than an estate and it has sliding rear doors.
Also Ford C-Max and S-Max, the latter being posssibly too expensive.
Hi all,
Just a question out of curioisty
How easy is it to get consumable parts for the rover 800
Im talking abouts parts like
brake pads
brake discs
brake flexi hoses
cv boots
wheel beraings etc
these are all potential failures at mot time
Are these parts available frm local motor factors? Read more
R40 you are always talking up Rover parts availability do you
have a connection with Xpart?
None whatsoever. I suffer only from an aversion to urban myths and scaremongering. Sadly a few people around here seem to thrive on nothing but ;)
If I were to buy a secondhand car from Europe through eBay, would I have to pay VAT etc?
Anyone done this?
Thanks Read more
tinyurl.com/agq54 {link to www.direct.gov.uk shortened as was screwing up the page width - DD}
Hi,
I was wanting to change my engine coolant today but theres a slight problem.
One of the jubilee clips clasping the hose on the raditor is really badly corroded...so bad that when I tried to unscrew it the thread jsut went all "Mushy".
Now how am I supposed to get this off. I have tried to pull of the hose but the clip is on so tightly that it just wont shift.
Any suggestions? Read more
Either, but the correct ones are naturally easier to fit.
over on autobild they are reviewing the 4x4 VW,who thinks of the names.
www.autobild.de/erlkoenige/neuheiten/artikel.php?a...2 Read more
>> Most VWs are named after types of wind.
Only the 'four-door Golfs', such as Bora, Vento etc.
Also the Scirocco (as mentioned above), Passat and Golf - German for Gulf(stream).
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Well the good news is that its not the company that I am employed with, but I know who you are refering to now. I have a lot of contacts in this industry, and a very good one at the place in question. Leave it with me.