October 2006
I am looking for a used auto diesel estate for between £12-15k. Despite the usual BMW 3/5 series or Mercedes options ... does anyone have any ideas or experience? Any thoughts would be most welcome ... Read more
I am considering trading in my Legacy for another, but want one without silly wheels, hence am thinking along the lines of the Outback (16 inch). So, I rang my insurance broker, very big national organisation, listened to a long spiel and was given lots of options to choose from, press 1 for this, 2 for that etc., etc. Eventually I got through and asked what would be the additional cost. After a long wait the adviser said that their system did not recognise the Subaru Outback. When I described it she replied that it was obviously a Japanese import and subject to a whole new system. She gave me another number to ring where I would definitely get a quotation. I rang the number, chose the option for quotations for a change after 30 days and pressed the number. The automated reply said that they didn?t do quotes beyond 30 days (Well why ask me to press that number then ?, I thought, & rang again). After a long eventually I got the same answer, sorry, that car isn?t on their system, but they would get a broker to ring me next morning. Next day, no call.
So, I rang another company, and a very helpful young lady looked hard and long and then said sorry, its not on our system. When I described it as looking like a Legacy she looked again and said, ?Oh, we do have a Subaru Legacy Outback, but it?s a Japanese import. We will insure it if you fit a Tracker?. Now that, in effect, is a further expensive insurance premium add-on, initial fitting cost and annual payment. Total, £150.00 more that my original insurance, plus the costs of the Tracker.
Encouraged by this I rang the original broker and asked for a quotation to change to a Subaru Legacy Outback. ?Yes Sir, £42.00, but the company might not accept it because it is a Japanese import. We?ll consult them and let you know?.
I?m sure I am boring you. Any ideas ??
Read more
Equity Red Star have been around for years, they are a Lloyds syndicate. Although I admit that is is probably 15 years ago since I was insured with them, they were first class in dealing with one of my (few) accident claims....they even offered me more in settlement for the car than I'd paid for it a few months earlier! Took them a few days to settle. I can't vouch for their current performance however.
Hi
I'm planning to change the temperature gauge sender in my car (cavalier). The sender doesn't have any seal or o-ring so I'm guessing I'd need to apply some kind of sealent to the thread. Would standard plumbers PTFE tape be adequate for this or is there something else I should use?
Thanks
Read more
you do rely on the electrical connection between the sender and housing to complete the electrical circuit to earth.
Good point, I didn't think of that.
As suggested I fitted it dry. The threads were very tight anyway - had to keep the spanner on it all the way, the old one couldn't be turned at all with fingers, likewise when fitting the new one. No leaks so far.
Thanks for your help.
As child back in the mid 60s I used to admire an E Type Jaguar with the registration WOO 777 in the West Sussex area, it does not appear to be around my local area any more - has anyone seen it??
Richard Price Read more
Fascinating. My cars are all correct, and a car I sold 34 years ago is still registered.
My usual commute is 5 miles along rural roads - takes 7 to 10 minutes. Today I had to go to a meeting in York, from Leics, about 90-ish miles. Got up 7am, noticed fog so set off at 7.30 for meeting - coffee at 9.45, meeting start at 10am, so up to 2and a half hours for 90 miles. Drove carefully in fog, not too thick, no real need for foglights (many others thought no need for lights at all!). All went well until I got to A1/A64 (the old Bramham crossroads - remember when it had traffic lights!?) junction at about 9.10, thinking, with 12 miles to go on dual carriageway, that I might even have time for a bacon butty before meeting. The next 12 miles took me almost 2 hours - arrived in York at 11am, because of roadworks at west end of York by-pass. My 90 miles had therefore taken 3 hours 30 mins. This is not unusual - I have within the last few months had a 4 hour trip from Leeds (100 miles), a 4hour trip to Wirral (120 miles), we have also missed our last 3 booked crossings on Eurotunnel despite allowing 5 hours for the 200 miles to Folkestone.
How do those of you who have to do these trips on a regular basis for meetings with clients etc know what time to allow?
--
Phil Read more
Always nitpicking Phil!
Just spent the day at a BMW 'SuperSale' at BCA Bedford, to source a vehicle, for a customer.
I'm not a big fan of BMW's, but plenty of people are, over 200 'showroom prepared' models to choose, right accross the range, so spoilt for choice really.
But the one thing that WAS apparent, out of the entry, all from the brand,directly, either their group stock, or leased/financed vehicles, was that more than 60 were repossessions!!!
Not only that, plenty had 2/3/4 PREVIOUS owners & incomplete histories.
A sure sign of the hard to keep up with, cost of running a premium motor - or maybe the difficulties, many people might be heading for, when £$£$£ gets a bit tight!
Anyway, here's, my Auction Report, from a few examples....
04 54 645Ci conv 48834 miles cost new £66305 today £33500
05 05 X3 2.0D 15662 '' '' '' £29190 '' £20300
03 03 525D ES SE Touring 63255 '' '' '' £28605 '' £10500
02 52 316i SE Auto 51909 '' '' '' £21945 '' £8300
03 03 MINI Cooper S 40689 '' '' '' £17280 '' £10000
04 04 X5 3.0 D Sport 24654 '' '' '' £39100 '' £22700
03 53 735i Sport 36295 '' '' '' £56825 '' £21800
04 04 530DSE (new) 63813 '' '' '' £34810 '' £15400
05 54 325 CiM Sport conv 13827 '' '' '' £32890 '' £21000
05 05 MINI Cooper 48505 '' '' '' £15365 '' £10900
Lots more, of course, but at least you get an idea - many had LOADS toys, too!!
VB
{amended column spacing for better clarity - DD} Read more
As Massey, mentions about sold or just provisionals - this is one of the attractions to a 'Special' sale, the auction company will have done their bit in advertising/promoting the sale, more so than a normal auction, making sure that it's targeted buyers will be there.
& it will also have the representative from the fleet company on the rostrum, making INSTANT decisions & more often than not the hammer is dropped there n then.
I don't think there will be many re-runs from yesterday!
VB
The ignition switch of my 1995 Corsa is becoming increasingly difficult to turn. Is there a suitable lubricant I can use on it? Read more
I had this problem with a vectra barrell , I took the barrell out cleaned it and lubricated the workings using a silicon grease and a little graphol oil.This happened during the summer and have had no problems since.
97 2.0se model.
how do i cange the tie/track rod ends?
is it a fairly simple job or should i let the mechanic do it Read more
Let a mechanic do it. If you have to ask here for guidance, I'm pretty sure that you will not have the experience to tackle this work. Steering jobs are absolutely safety critical.
The tracking will have to be reset when the tie rod ends have been changed anyway, which requires special equipment.
659.
Hi,I don't know if anyone can help me out? The temperature gauge on my Rover 96 400 Turbo Diesel has suddenly started to go haywire,sometimes it doesn't work,sometimes it registers normal,it NEVER goes above where it should be so it isn't getting too hot.I have earthed the gauge out and it goes right up,I have put a bulb and wire on the sender on the thermostat housing and the bulb just glimmers.I was told that there may be a resistor or something that controls the gauge????? Does anyone have have any idea where the fault may lie,I don't like having a inaccurate temp gauge.Many Thanks Andrew...
--
I do like my Diesels to be Turbocharged for that extra OOMPH!!!! Read more
Hi Andrew,
Thanks for your info about the Rover. Hope you have fixed the gauge.
Regards, Ian
As the thread title suggests, this is a cautionary tale.
I have just been consulted by a client who has been trying to sell his Jag XK8 in autotrader, with no joy. He was contacted by a local garage who held themselves out as specialising in selling luxury/high performance cars on behalf of sellers, for a commission.
He decided to go with them, left them the car (and V5) signed a contract and left them to get on with it.
To cut a long story short, he has just learned that the car was sold a month ago (notification from DVLA). The garage have been telling him that it is being test driven/independantly inspected etc.
Yesterday they gave him a cheque which he special cleared. It bounced.
Research has revealed that the director of the company which operates the garage has form for this, and the trading standards are all over him.
My client faces an uphill battle to get any opf his money back. Looked at with hindight, the victim cannot believe that he has been so trusting.
If any backroomers are approached by any outfit like this, be very careful indeed.
I could mention where that garage is, but suspect that this will offend the naming and shaming rules. Read more
I suppose the only consoloation is that in time, this guy will rip off the wrong guy and get a damn good hiding with a baseball bat.
Browse
E46 330d Touring - the drive of your life.......