November 2006
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
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.
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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.
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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
The Kia Motors advert started consistently crashing IE7 this morning. (All ok when Nissan advert was displayed). Investigation showed I was running version 7 of Flash as an extension to IE7 and removing that and then installing latest version (9) cured all problems. May save some people some time.
You may like to move to Computer IHQ after this has been seen by a few people.
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pmh (was peter)
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flagged up as essential/critical security advice issued a few weeks ago by adobe-flash
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see www.adobe.com/support/security/bulletins/apsb06-11...l
Critical vulnerabilities have been identified in Flash Player 8.0.24.0 and earlier versions that could allow an attacker who successfully exploits these vulnerabilities to take control of the affected system. ...
and
www.microsoft.com/technet/security/bulletin/ms06-0...x
Vulnerabilities in Macromedia Flash Player from Adobe Could Allow Remote Code Execution (923789)
I've just come back from Gran Canaria where I read an article on their driving licence law chage 1st July 2006. Gran Canaria use the Euro but are not in the EU and they have decided that all licences will be issued with 12 points on them and they are removed for any traffic offenses until you either hit Zero and you are banned ( normal totting up rules ) OR if you have 6 removed for one offense then you are banned for 6 months. This is already up and running, what's that all about then ?? Regards Peter Read more
the following table may give you an idea
regard speeding!!
www.spainvia.com/speedtables06.htm
Seems a lot more lenient than our system. If I read the table correctly, in a 31.25 MPH (50KPH) limit area you can do up to 50MPH (80 KPH) without losing any points but with a 120 Euro fine (£85).
It seems that the UK has an overly harsh system which is well enforced too, whereas in Spain they have a sensible, perhaps over lenient system which is probably little enforced. I have seen things happen in Spain on the roads in front of traffic police which in the police in the UK would have wet their pants about, but that was just ignored apart from a simple hand gesture by the police.
I think if we were somewhere in between in this country it would be okay.
In fact I'm surprised that the heaveir fine and no-points system isn't taken up as a real 'cash-cow' by the existing powers that be.
Not sure if the mods will indulge this and it may not be work safe, but it is actually a news report on Denmarks measures to get motorists to obey speed limits.
www.speedbandits.dk/
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Did you not see this thread:
www.honestjohn.co.uk/forum/post/index.htm?v=e&t=46...8
{Continue discussion there please - DD}
Hi All
I recently purchased a 1999 Hyundai Coupe 2.0cc
Car is great apart from sometimes it can be difficult to get into 1st gear (whiile stationary).Out of about 40 minutes driving (into town and back), it happens about twice.Most of the time it slots into first without any problems.
The car has just had a new clutch , could this have something to do with it?
Any suggestions what might be happening here
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Incorectly adjusted clutch cable?
C'mon Vauxhall.. Why no engine coolant temperature gauge?
Why no mention of this omission in your roadtest, HJ? Surely (IMO) a critical instrument?
I would not consider a Corsa purely for this reason. Read more
Many thanks for info. Grande Punto now on my roadtest list for potential purchases.
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Torque means nothing without RPM
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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.