July 2006

tack

Hands up all those who would pay £30k and over for a Citroen?

.....thought not!



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local yokel

Maybe no big discounts in the new -sales market, but three years (and further) down the line it will be very different. You would expect the Germanic cars to have better residuals, based on past experience.

gasoil

Has anybody ever replaced the condenser on a 406 Hdi? My cars got a leak and would be keen to replace it myself. I take it the coolant radiadtor has to come out first? Read more

elekie&a/c doctor

As you do not know previous history of a/c system ,I would def suggest replace filter drier.Also check operation of cooling fan ,and probably a good idea to change cabin/pollen filter.(nearside scuttle area).

cottontop

Hi all,

Driving to Southampton airport from Stoke to go on holiday in a fortnight...Will be setting off at 4-5am but curious to know what the best route is...theres nothing "direct" as such , did anyone have any thoughts ?

Cheers
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wotspur

The route M5, A419 via Swindon is good.
Just a word of warning though, I believe that stretch of the M4 is where the speed cameras are prevalent and allow no leeway - is this still current as I'm going that way next week.

Silver Fox

I've had repeated blow-outs over the last 2 years (at 140 quid a time) and have just learned that the tyres being fitted have the wrong 'load index'. This results in cracking around the inside wall, a blow-out and a shredded tyre. I'm not a boy racer - I'm 37 yrs old with grey hair!!

The guy that I've been buying the tyres from ("well mate, you obviously keep hitting kerbs, or parking on building sites.") has said he only replicated what was on the car when I first brought it to him.

My question is: is it the job of the tyre dealer/fitter to ensure that the tyre fitted is one recommended by the manufacturer (both of the car and of the tyre)?

This has cost me about 1500 quid over the last 2 years. Read more

Grenache

And no-one has mentioned that if you had a serious accident and ensuing insurance claim, the insurance company may well refuse to pay out on the basis that you has the wrong tyre types. (in which case, I'll mention it).

My local tyre depot quoted me by phone a price for replacement tyres, (quoting me size & rating), but when I went there he discovered that the car had higher-rated tyres, he refused to fit the ones he had originally quoted. In the end, I chose the same as was already on the car, which was as per the manufacturer's recommendation.

ndbw

Have noticed during this hot spell that a lot of cars are driving with one or more windows open,I have told my wife never to open windows while the air/con is on as this will overload the unit as it tries to keep the temperture down,am I right in this my thoughts are based on an air/conned bungalow we rented once in Florida where the instructions were to not leave any doors to the outside oped as this would overload the system.Could these drivers be storing up trouble if as I suspect their air/con is on?.

ndbw Read more

Dave N

Blimey, what a load of faffing about.

I get in the car, whatever the temperature, turn the key, select drive, and drive off. And all that money the maufacturers have invested in the climate control systems works a treat. Ha, maybe they should link it to the windows and sunroof, and a little keypad to allow the driver to tell it how long the journey will be. That way, it could wind the windows up/down, open or close the sunroof as required, as well as working out where I'm going so it can set the temperature depending on destination. That way, if I'm going somewhere cold, it could lower the temperature so it's not such a shock when I get out. Maybe I could even tell it what clothes I'm wearing, so it can adjust the temperature accordingly.

Nsar

Hi, looking for cheapest way through tunnel in August (not ferry). If I google the above search term a load of sites come up, promising cheapest deals I've tried two and got the same price - do discounts actually exist and if so name names!
Cheers Read more

Armitage Shanks {p}

I don't cross the Cannel that often but if I wanted 'lunch in France' I'd travel on Sea France. I don't want to pay a shed load of money and then sit in my own car in a tunnel for half an hour! Not having any chilren and their tackle to transport, I tend to grit my teeth and fly with that Irish bloke's airline and get a deal on a hire car when I land. End of August - 2 adults Luton to Shannon, with the luggage check-in charge, £35 return. That wouldn't even buy me the fuel to get to Fishguard for the ferry and back from Bedford never mind the wear and tear on the car. One can get similar deals to France but I do appreciate that they arent going to work if you are a family of 4 or 5 and going camping or self-catering for 2 weeks!

David Horn

My dad wanted to put his Alpine CD player into his new Rover 75. We pulled out the old radio and saw it would need a harness adaptor, so we ordered one off the internet that also promised to provide stalk control support if the radio was ready for it. Sure enough, we checked the back of the radio and it had a jack plug for the remote control.

Anyway, lead arrived today and we went to fit it, only to discover that the fly lead for the stalk controls didn't fit. Our radio has a mini-jack plug; this is a block connector. Ring them up: "Oh yes, Sir, you'll need the interface box which is 47 pounds extra". It doesn't say this anywhere on the product page for this item, and I reckon I've been ripped off.

Surely they're misrepresenting the product if they say it'll work with Alpine radios that are stalk control ready, but in fact need their special adaptor box fitted as well. Read more

Pete M

Added to that, the UKP47 interface box will probably have about 5 pounds worth of components inside. Is there a separate remote that fits the radio directly? My Sony has a remote that is like a mini joystick that I glued onto the steering column surround. I can control most of the radio, tape and CD functions from it.

smokie

Are tyres much cheaper abroad, particularly Germany? I'm off to the Nurburgring next weekend and have at least 1 x 235/45 which is close to needing replacement. If they are significantly cheaper (like for like) in Germany then I may bring forward replacement of that and one other. Read more

Roly93

Last nights episode was revealing the dodgy car dealers who sell unsafe vehicles with fake MOTs, or masquerade as private sellers selling at the roadside.
This was a truly appauling picture of the trade, with one guy who was filmed trying to 'elliminate' the camera crew by driving at them with a breakdown truck.
I think this prog does a great job showcasing some of the undesirables in the trade community, and I can only hope that the breakdown guy gets charged with what looked to me like attempted murder. Read more

drbe

I saw Rogue Traders and I think I saw most of it the first time round.

Why are these programmes presented as though we are intellectually challenged 9 year olds? Why don't they present a programme for adults? Why does the 'expert' have to dress up in surgeons theatre gowns?

Having said that I agree with the aims of the programme, I wonder how long it will be before the trader with the wild pressure wash will be up to his old tricks?

The problem is that people have short memories, there will always be another mug along soon.

beart0y

1990 EFI . Loses power and will only respond when accellerator is pushed well down. Seems like lack of fuel but responds as mentioned. Full power still there.Replaced fuel filter, coil, ign switch. Swapped MAP & Throttle position sensors. No difference. Main relay ok. Do fuel pumps play up giving symptoms like this?
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