August 2006
Any owners out there? Which is the better buy & why?
Wouldn't mind one as a plaything...
Cheers, grafen Read more
I drive a 16 mile commute each morning into work through heavy traffic, takes between 45 minutes and one hour depending on if school term time congestion a problem. Considering changing to a modest automatic to take away some of the strain. There seems to be a lot of Astra (old shape) automatics available 2003/4 with the 1.6 8 valve engine. I suspect this may be a bit slow coupled with 4 speed auto transmission as it is rated around 75 to 80 hp with a medium size body to lug around. Although not the 16 valve 'Ecowreck' it may be an interference type if the cambelt goes?
An alternative is the Nissan Almera of same vintage with 1.8 chain cam engine. Although worse image and rather 'thin' bodywork it has a durable reputation. Reading the comments on another post about 100,00 mile Civic perhaps this is the way to go. Although tempted by diesel for relaxed driving style and economy the petrol auto is preferred option.
Has anyone else experienced the Astra auto?
Thanks Read more
Yes I think they are. Looking recently with a mate who qualifies for Motability the deals available on Vauxhalls were very competitive especially the Astra. You could even get the 3 door Coupe in a the poshest trim for about the same as a Renault Clio/Honda Jazz.
I would imagine that maybe 50% of mid and smaller size autos are motability originally?
Hi
I am looking to buy the VW Fox second hand. I am especially interested in the 1 litre engine.
Would anyone in the know be able to anticipate when these cars are going to crop up on the market second hand, and the price to expect to pay for them.
Many thanks in advance as always!
Gregory Read more
Thanks everyone for your replies...most helpful.
The reason a friend wants to buy it is because it looks nice and it is a VW.
I did inform her of the reliability issues, and as she has never had a car, I warned her it is not a nice thing when they break. Most stressful thing in my life anyway, as the hassle is annoying. No two ways about it...of course all cars break, but there are two types of break. 1. wear and tear...maybe high mileage, and 2. breaking at low mileage.
Anyway, as long as I stress this and safety when driving, that is all I can do.
I recommended the Yaris to her anyway, as they are much better in my opinion.
But the problem of being young: we love good looking things, and this can difform our views of the heart of the item.
Well, end of my rambling.
But I do enjoy driving, just take it a little seriously sometimes.
Greg
Is it just me or has anyone else noticed that our roads are getting cluttered in the verges with water bottles half full of yellow coloured liquids? (yes i know whats in them)
Also driving back through norfolk this week an awful lot of abandoned shoes scattered in the roads (mainly trainers) i can understand the occasional shoe from a child that has thrown it out of a moving car but surely not the amount i saw ?does anybody live in norfolk/anglia that can give a scientific explanation? like maypole dancing perhaps? Read more
tollaty.
hi, i got an 04 astra 1.6 petrol burning up /using oil. is this fault covered under the warranty?
vauxhal say it will cost me £85 for diagnostics check!
is this right!
i'm not happy!
thanks
jamie
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By comparison my new shape 1.6 Zafira has used ½ litre of oil in the first 12,000 miles including the running in period.
tinyurl.com/ez8rx - fetched £2,100 last night. OK so it has only 27k miles, SH, and is in close to new condition, but that much for an 11 year old car?
Does the panel agree? Read more
>>6 figure mileometer on these.>>
Amazing.
1,027,000 miler and still worth four figures...:-)
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What\'s for you won\'t pass you by
To steal the BBC's headline.
The thought had never crossed my mind before as to where the UN and other organizations source their vehicles from, but I found this interesting to read: news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/4777293.stm Read more
Nice bit of PR for Toyota Gibraltar but there are several companies, including British and Danish, involved in supplying the UN and specialist relief agencies. The Gibraltar business may have good stocks at times but is by no means the cheapest or offering the range of some of the others. Early delivery does mean you get just what is in stock and that is always white and may not have desirable essentials such as locking diffs and long range tanks.
Armoured Toyota Landcruiser from Jankel will cost an agency about £61,000 or £3000 more for the turbo motor. Bomb detector sensors another £5000, anti-explosive exhaust a bargain at £95; escape hatch £1000, underfloor fire extinguishing £1000 and the uprated brakes to stop your 3.3 tonne Landcruiser are £3000. Tinted windows are free. Unfortunately, it won't meet EU emissions standards so keep it for the villa in Lebanon.
The UN approves a number of Chinese vehicles now for its use but they don't seem to be appearing much on the newsreels and there are very sound reasons of reliability and build why Toyotas are the favoured transport of the relief agencies.
Hi
I was wondering what the figures were for in terms of UK road deaths and global road deaths per year.
I once heard that more people had died in road traffic accidents over the years since cars were invented, than in every world war. Are there any statistics to prove or disprove this?
Thanks in advance.
Gregory Read more
"I seem to remember that as a condition to EU entry, all roads have ten years to meet a certain standard. "
Shame it's not a condition to stay in the EU, otherwise either our roads would have to be improved or we would get kicked out... :-)
Does anyone know if it's possible to retro fit the auto hold function on a manual Passat estate? It's listed as a £35 option so it can't be that involved! There's a button near the gearstick but just wondering whether it's one of those things that could be done or else something that would need to be added when the car's built. Read more
The one I took out on a test drive had it on and it saved reaching for the button on the dash whenever there was a slight incline. Didn't actually try it on more demanding inclines but can see what you're saying and how it could take some 'force' to get it to release!! Picking up an estate tomorrow (manual, without auto hold as far as I know) so will reserve judgement on whether it's a gimmick or not when I've got used to not having a standard handbrake lever!! Knowing VW, though, what's a £35 option at build on a new vehicle will end up something silly like £200 at a dealers as a retro job!!
I have a 2004 Nissan Tino 2.2 DCI which is covered by a Nissan warranty. It has done 25K miles and until now has been trouble free.I start the car after a week of non use and after driving 2 miles it loses power with a max speed of 35mph. This happens intermittantly for two days then I get a EMU warning saying there is a problem. I take the car to the local dealer who has serviced it twice and he says the airfilter was dirty , despite it having been changed on the services. It is replaced and the car is fine covering a 100 mile high speed round trip, much to my surprise. Then the fault reoccurs a day or so later . Back to the dealer who then tells me, that from the diagnostics it is a fuel pump problem and warns me that it may befuel contamination and if so, it is not covered by the warranty. Somewhat shocked I ask at what cost . The reply was "not too bad, only about £800" I ask him if he is living in the real world!! He tell me that the pump has to sent to a specialist who will determine if it is fuel contamination or a manufacturing fault and on that result will determine whether it is covered by warranty or not. Is this the likely cause of the problem and is the dealer correct as I had assumed that the pump would have just been replaced as a matter of course.
I would be interested in views, as I am sceptical as to his diagnosis
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I think the dealer suspects 'misfuelling' - i.e. accidentally putting some petrol in. Unfortunately it can severly damage the Diesel injection system (pump and injectors etc).
Browse
You'll get more for your money with a Westfield, including heavier depreciation! Caterhams have all the historical baggage and a large number of polishers. Dynamically, neither are as developed as a Sylva Striker for £10k, or what about a Sylva Fury? Don't forget, BEC is good ;-)