November 2006
Oh im in a dilema now . I drive a Mondeo 2003 tdci 115bhp . I have been offered a V70 on a 51 plate but its a 2.4 petrol the 130 bhp model and an automatic . I really like the look and drive of the Volvo but how worse off will i be financially . In recent times diesel is slightly more expensive that petrol plus diesel servicing is a lot shorter than the petrol .
I was thinking in the not to distant future to maybe do a lpg conversion on the Volvo . Guys what would you all do . My Mondeo has done 72,000 miles and allready feels like a bag of nails , the Volvo in question has done 80 odd thousand miles and feel so much tighter and solid . Come to think of it so does a 100,000 mile new shape Vectra ! Read more
I read recently that the beautiful Fulvia/Fulvietta concept that was exhibited at Geneva a few years back has been canned; excuse being the Barchetta chassis on which it was based doesn't meet modern legislation etc.
Are they insane? Do Lancia WANT to go bankrupt? It's the only model that anyone has enthused about for years, it was absolutely beautiful and there are people (me included) that would have bought one at the drop of a hat. There is no way that they "can't" make it, it's a "won't make".
If they want to be remembered as a company that used to make good cars, and then went bankrupt building people carriers and "luxury" saloons, then they're going the right way. I quite like the little Ypsilon I have to say, it's the most Lancia-ish Lancia there is. Read more
The concept was, IMHO, an achingly beautiful evolution of the old one.... I know people knock retro cars, but it's so gorgeous... I remember buying a magazine and just drooling.
Does anyone know if you can replace your standard arm rest on the rear seat of V70 with the intergrated child seat?
Either from a another V70 ( which had it as an option) or as buying the accesory? Read more
I think its possible ,or you could swap the seat back
there is one for sale on ebay in the states that someone removed so it probably bolts in place of the standard arm rest
ask the dealer about part no 9124813
This subject has been aired in the past in the Back Room when I pointed out that no one had ever been prosecuted for using these devices in their vehicles.
However, from December 8th, it's to become legal...:-)
See: www.pcpro.co.uk/news/98520/
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What\'s for you won\'t pass you by Read more
I've got a problem with my Belkin Tunecast II. In the car it works fine, but when I connect it to my laptop, music can only be heard clearly if I hold the Belkin unit. It's running off batteries. Any ideas anyone?mail@werehamhouse.co.uk
Many thanks,
CV
Those of you who have not seen the reliability index
www.reliabilityindex.co.uk/
Basically it is a system where every car is scored on its reliability, average mileage and age to breakdown, average cost of repair and average time to repair.
The car is then given a Reliability Index score and then the cars are ranked (top 10, top 100, worst 10 etc) Obviously this is good for manufacturers who apear at the top (free advertising) and bad for manufacturers that apear at the bottom (bad press)
Now what if the reliability index was a load of cobblers and doesn't bear any resemblence to how reliable the car is? I personally have been taking this site seriously in my choice of cars (I purcahse for our fleet)
I have discovered some glaring errors in the reliability index, which in my personal opinion discredit its accuracy. I will give you the information and let you decide.
The average score is 112, and lower is better, so a car os say 60 is very reliable whereas a car with a score of say 200 would be very unreliale.
Here is one example
1) Jaguar X-type
Reliability Index 67.04
Average Age 3.426111111
Average Mileage 36129.32667
Time off the Road 5.31799413
Average Repair Cost £521.09
2) Volkswagen Passat
Reliability Index 85.65
Average Age 4.088857323
Average Mileage 59494.9375
Time off the Road 2.075458258
Average Repair Cost £249.75
How can the X-type have a better reliability index figure then the Passat? The Passat
beats the X-type in EVERY SINGLE FIELD!
The Passat lasts longer till breakdown, has a MUCH higher average mileage to breakdown,
has a MUCH lower time off the road (less then half) The average repair cost is also LESS
THEN HALF.
So that places the Jaguar x-type at number 13 in the top 100, which is way above the passat. Read more
Nope :)
Going back to the Hyundai comment, I fully expect that in 2 years time they'll still be referring to the Hyundais as average age <5 years, at which point we'll definitively be able to put the thing to rest, as whatever the reasoning about there being cars outside the scope of the warranty these will never amount to more than a small fraction of the cars on their books.
Regular as clockwork Wh*tCar release new WD figures, which then don't tally with what is displayed on the Reliability Index website. Bit of a farce really.
It's the sort of site that gives the proper surveys (JD Power etc) a bad name.
As we didn't think my wifes old and battered Fiesta would get through its MOT next year we have replaced both cars in one swoop using Joe Dowd again. I've now got a 53 reg Xsara SX HDi 110 and my wife has an R reg Escort Chicane that came through one of Joes contacts.
Am really impressed by the Xsara. Got lots of toys (Climate, CD changer, auto lights and windscreens) and is a really good drive, yet very comfortable and has only done 30,000 miles. Certainly think it is a vastly underrated and ignored car, especially as compared to my friends same age Golf TDi, the Citroen has less interior rattles. Certainly think is the best car yet I have bought through Joe.
The Escort is immaculate inside and out. Only one small mark on the rear bumper. Drives extremely well and is perfect for what she needs.
Best of all though, the cars were both extremely good bargains and exactly as Joe described. Read more
Presumably you mean Joe Dowd. Although i have no plans to use him in the near future it's always good hear a glowing compliment of someone in the trade.
Last night SWMBO was dropping a friend off in her Yaris.
When friend tried to unlock the seatbelt it would not release resulting in friend having an undignified scramble to climb out of the locked belt .
I've tried spraying into the clasp with WD40 to get it to release without success.
SWMBO went to the local garage (Citroen but used to be Toyota) and they are talking £50 + for a new clasp plus fitting and having to break the clasp to release.
Anybody had this problem or any bright ideas as to how to release it before I shell out for a replacement.
Read more
Why not visit a proper Toyota garage and see what they say?
They're supposed to have good customer service so you might get the fix for free.
>>
Especially as it is obviously safety related and is simple, cheap and easy to fix.
Any customer service guy would soon get it sorted.
I want to surprise a friend by buying a car for him. The car will be a nearly used purchase. It must feature durability, reliability, good performance and economy. I was thus thinking of a turbo diesal 5 door Vectra or perhaps a Mazda 6 or Avensis? any suggestions would be appreciated. Likely to buy ex hire car from nearly new auction.
Thanks Read more
I think you are mad.
Cars are quite personal things and what is comfortable to one person is not to another. some small features can either delight or irritate.
If someone gave me a car but it wasnt what I wanted I would not be overjoyed.
Perhaps take them along to a car supermarket or something, but presenting them with a car blind isnt a good idea. imho ymmv
Hi,
Any ST170 owners will probably be used to the usual noises:
- CAT heatshield
- Suspension squeak
- Inlet manifold knocking
Recently I've been getting one I haven't heard before. Its a real pain as I can't replicate it. I only ever hear it when crawling through traffic jams at 1-10 MPH. Sounds like a loud rubbing noise in the front, and probably left of the car.
Seems to stop when I go faster, and does not immediately happen when I set off in the morning, hence it being hard to replicate.
Current suggestions are: Sticking brake calliper & worn driveshaft bearing.
Any more suggestions greatly appreciated, I hate taking things to a garage without some idea of what might be wrong. It's still under warranty for a few months thankfully..........
Cheers,
Chris Read more
There was, I thought, a rich irony in the Traffic Cops programme last night.
The single mother was nicked for driving without insurance - and possibly road tax - and possibly driving licence in her clapped out Fiesta and was fined £200. She probably hasn't got tuppence to call her own.
The guy in the expensive Mercedes who was found to have - I think - nine sticks of cannabis under the drivers seat, got away scot free. The police - possibly CPS - couldn't show whether the drugs were his, or belonged to the car's owner.
Other than that, it was the usual mix of driving without lights, not having the seat belt fastened etc.
One cop didn't have any tickets to issue to offenders and one didn't have his breathalyser machine. Not a very good demonstration of police efficiency on TV! Read more
I didn't ask - you volunteered it - I'm being pedantic but you said it and I still don't see how it is
safe for anyone else to assume that you know more about drugs thany anyone else here - no doubt your psychic powers are strong
Rule by the majority is rule by the herd
Laws are only ever made to protect/ control a minority so there's little interest in saying what the majority would/wouldn't do
Rant over
Cut if you must
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Nice to be acknowledged, thanks :-)