September 2006
just heard on the news problem with cover on some policies with one well known company I will not name, however both my children with that company, I have checked they are ok, but they will not tell me any more. Suggest listen to next news
Richard Price Read more
For my sins I sometimes drive a minibus containing elderly passengers and last Sunday I was turning at a well-known roundabout in Gosforth when a fool pulled onto the mini roundabout in front of me requiring a complete emergency stop.
I indicated by use of the horn his stupidity and lack of knowledge of Highway code.
Some 200 yards later I was stopped by a another young fool in a Panda car who proceeded to berate me for using my horn.
As he must have seen the incident he took the option of berating me rather than pursuing the driver who had caused the incident.
Victim 1 Perpetrator 0
Additionally I pick up a passenger from opposite a well-known food store in Kingston Park.
As she is in a wheel chair it is easier to pick her up at a dropped kerb access.
The owner of a BMW (It would be ) persists on parking on the verges but also completely over the tarmac dropped kerb access from footpath through verge to road.
I have contacted Northumbria Police on no fewer than 7 occasions to try to see if this is legal.
Eventually I am advised that there is no offence being committed
Completely blocking access is not an offence!!!!
Victim 1 perpetrator 0
Finally I have been trying to obtain certain Freedom of information data for 6 months but despite recorded delivery letters to both the Chief Constable and the Chairman of Police authority all I have received is Acknowledgment from the very office about which I have complained.
SWMBO has finally decided that pursuing this will probably mean my Car and I are marked as troublemakers.
Northumbria Police SERVICE ????
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it has.
Can someone tell me where I can find out how much road tax is on a BMW 316. Read more
I visited this website - www.fordforum.com - for an insight into how US buyers of Fords view the company's current problems. I found it a bit depressing. They still seem firmly wedded to buying gas-guzzlers despite the clear indications that more fuel-efficient vehicles such as Japanese manufacturers supply are the way forward.
I think Ford should be ditching their current range in favour of importing (or locally manufacturing) versions of their Euro lineup. Fewer 20mpg machines and more 40 mpg ones. Read more
Having driven US versions of European cars, they make the mistake of putting in US style slush boxes and gutless engines. Unless they can sort out the tranmissions (make them more efficient) you need a big lump just to make the darn things go. My old 1.6FSI Touran had more grunt than the 2.5l hire care I had last time I was in the US!
Having said that, the American Hemi engine sounds wonderful, and is very quick, especially put in a Monaro!
Joe
I got the letter this morning; the lease company says the Vectra is being retired! For those that have read my woes, this will not be a sad parting. Well, thats not quite true, when it has been reliable it has been a good load carrier.
Anyway, I would like to get something more exiting, but my budget is limited. It so happens that the Ford Focus ST 2 costs an extra £30 per month on my scheme above my company allowance, including a contribution to ?car tax?. (It?s a car ownership scheme so we don?t actually pay car tax). The other car is a Mazda 6 2.3l sport which is £20 below budget and I would get that back.
My ideal car would be an Audi A3 convertible, but my scheme works best with cars above 2 litres (2001 cc plus) and save for the 3.2fsi, Audi have stopped doing cars above 2 litres, which is a real shame.
Has anyone got any experience with the ST or Mazda that they would like to share (reliability, MPG etc).
Thanks Zipppy
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Mazda6 2.3 Sport is a car that is not deserving of its title. Despite Sport name and 2.3 litre engine, it isn't particularly quick and the most Sporty thing about it is the ample room in the back for your Golf clubs.
Audi have not stopped doing engines above 2.0 in the A3 - they actually never did, really. Previous generation A3 the largest engine was the 225bhp version of the 1.8T in the S3. Now, with the new A3, it's available with a large engine for the first time in the form of the 3.2.
From your list I'd go for the Focus ST.
Ever since they came out I have loved the look of the Audi TT and have always dreamed of getting one, lack of a driving licence and the price tag was always off putting, but I'm trying to put that right
I'm in the army and due to start driver training in January, shortly after I am due promotion (at which point I'll be on about £20k, _after_ tax and outgoings for food and rent) so maybe there is a chance I could afford one
In January I'll be 24 and only 7 months off my 25th birthday (when my car insurance should drop?), but with no 'no claims' behind me, is the insurance gonna kill me even if I wait until I'm 25?
or maybe the maintenance will be the deal breaker, as I have heard the TT is not the most reliable of cars
in my favour is the fact that the car will be parked in an army camp surrounded by barb wire and men with guns 5 nights a week, would 3rd party insurance be an option or is that always a no-go? not much chance of it getting nicked
I have a pretty normal male mid 20s social life (drinking out with the lads and watchin footy) and no major outgoings or debt
any advice (including 'stop dreaming and go get a fiesta instead) is welcome :) Read more
6-10 year old merc 320 or above. Goes like stink and costs very little.....................but it ain't gone wrong yet.................Still, it's fun for now.
best regards....................MD
Hi,
noticed this evening that the battery light on the dash is staying on after the car is started, the light isnt very bright but definately on , could this be the alternator on its way out? or a knackered battery? any ideas please.
Duggie Read more
dj67blue. Never do that trick it can take out ECU, very expensive. Just measure the charging voltage if it is not greater that 13.75 the alternator, it's brushes or it's connection are faulty. Regards Peter
Hi All,
Would anyone be able to tell me what my car is worth:-
Its a Madagascan Blue Peugeot 307CC New shape on 05 Plate (August)
Full Service History.
Full Leather
Multi CD
Metalic Paint
9000 miles
My local dealer is only offering £12,000 ! - Am I being stiffed here - I was thinking it was worth about £15,000 - or am I being dillusional??
Any help greatly appreciated.
Tez.
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£15k would get you one of these retail, i.e., before haggling but after the dealer's profit margin, allowance for warranty, reconditioning costs, etc. (Some of these should be minimal).
I think £12k is a bit low - Glass's says £13k p/x for "average" condition and I would say that's reasonable.
Why does it say consult car handbook if the car is Euro IV spec on the Millers bottle, does it damage something on the Euro IV emissions system ?
(I was going to email Millers about this but their email link keeps bouncing back)
Has anyone used it in a Mondeo TDCi ? Read more
...Millers had said that only BMW EuroIV diesels were affected (for reasons concerning the catalyst)...
Glad to read that. I've used it in my Mondeo (which is Euro IV) for about 2 months, with good results (and for some reason the trip MPG thing has been more accurate since I started - now only 2.7 mpg optimistic as opposed to 4.3 before)
Having already started to grow nervous about the longevity of the injection system, I thought "Arrrrrgh!" until I read AS' post.
I have lost the Keypod for my Alarm/immobiliser for my 1992 626. It was a (supposed) factory fitted item as the pod had "Mazda Finish Line" on it. I have already been in touch with Mazda but according to them my car was not fitted with an alarm/immobiliser Anyone any idea how to get past this big problem ??
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anyone know where the control box for immobiliser is so i can bypass it??
they have never been the same since they stopped issuing saving stamps, the only good thing is that round my way they still have weekly collectors and a lot of people pay their motor insurance with them on the weekly blob