December 2006
The driver of the Ford Focus heading Northbound around junction 27 on the M1 who had a large sat nav system (Navman sized?) half way between the rear view mirror and the base of the windscreen. They didn't appear to have worked out that the unit had a "nightview" setting yet, either....
On an up side, having been tailgated coming off the M5 onto the M42 by a large non artic curtain sided lorry, I was pleased to see him being pulled by a (presumably unmarked) traffic car at the next junction having, I guess, tried the same trick with him!
Tim{P} Read more
I have been checking out these two models, the 2003 Rio and similar age Almera look to offer value for money. I know both are 'grey porrige' and not a drivers car but if they last five to ten years then it's good for me. They are probably rubbish to drive compared to a Focus, or even the old shape Astra?
Does anyone have recent experience of these models - I have heard the 1.5 Almera can be a bit noisy but has good equipment. Some tales of broken timing chains needing a £1k fix which seems to cancel out the obvious advantage over a timing belt design. Also they might be prone to brake calipers seizing, especially the rear ones (rear discs?).
I remember some earlier Kias were based on Mazda engines but elsewhere it is mentioned that the Magentis uses Mitsubishi mechanics - either is good news.
Overall they seem good value and simple enough to maintain long term rather than risk a diesel and complicated breakdowns.
Ta. Read more
Good range and prices of pattern replacement parts for the Almera - so a cheaper car to maintain in the very long run.
Change oil twice as often as the 9000 mile service interval and the timing chain will not give problems. Dirty oil kills timing chains and 9000/1year is too long IMHO.
I took my car for it's MOT today at a non-VW independant garage and it failed again (see last year) because the front brake disks were 'excessively pitted' (the rears were OK). I decided to have them replaced but I have kept the old discs. On inspection both discs have got corrosion on the inside only, on about 50% of the usable disc. The outsides of the disks are OK.
Bearing in mind that the discs have about 75% usable area do they warrent a fail?
If they are a fail can I draw any conclusions about the quality of the VW discs.
The car is 5 years old and has done 37k. Read more
SWMBO's 106 gets pitted disks due to short journeys/wet roads/being garaged when wet and brakes cold.
Before MOTs I do an Italian tune up and go to the top of the nearest hill and go down quickly braking most of the time. Twice.
This cleans the disks of any surplus rust and heats the rust so it tends to blacken and be less obvious.
Does it work?
Original disks lasted 5 years.
Halfords replacements (treated as above) have lasted 8 years so far..
madf
Has anyone changed the rad on a late 405 ( Jan 95 ) . According to Haynes to remove the bottom hose with a bayonet type connector you have to remove the body front panel assembly to get at it. Looks like a real pain in the backside ( Unbelievable)
I hope this is not the case.
Thanks Read more
On my late 1994 (1995 model year) 405 GTX 2-litre petrol, I found it easiest to remove the radiator with the bottom hose still attached, having disconnected the hose at the water pump end. Similarly, the new radiator was lowered into position with the bottom hose already attached to it.
A friend has recommended the Micro Fuzion GPS speed detector. Has anyone else got any better suggestions for a similar unit at around £100. (I understand that this model has free updates for life) Read more
If it's well built and can build on the improved reliability of later MK2's, then hard to see where they can go wrong...
www.motorpasion.com/2006/08/10-renault-laguna-2007
I suspect those wheels might make the ride a bit choppy though. Read more
"rusting wiring loom issues "
Seems like they just don't learn.
I'll wait another 10 years for them to sort it before considering a Renault then..
madf
Hi All,
I went to look at a 3.0 Z4 - 2nd hand. The guy wouldn't let me test drive it as my insurance is 3rd party cover only - he said if I made a deposite he'd add me to his cover for a day. I can see where he's coming from as it's a fast car, but is this normal? And as I'm about to sell my 4 year old Golf GTI is this the norm when people come to see it? I remember when we went to buy my mate's car (a 10 year old VR6) the bloke was pretty free and easy about letting us drive it although obviously it was only worht 10% of the BMW's value.
Read more
If you allow someone to drive your car without insurance, you have committed, and can be convicted of an offence - it is up to you to ensure they actually have it.
One to think about.
Mark
I am have problems with the starting of my ford focus tdci 2003 diesel, i am going to sell the car in the new year but do not want to sell it to anyone if it is not perfect working order.
The promblem started a few months ago when the car got hard to start when the car was warm (maybe took two times to get it started) now the problem is getting worse when cold as well, it also makes a very loud rough noise. not good!!! can some help also have had the starter check out by a mechine as well Read more
do those glow plugs work? is there power to the plugs? as mentioned do check the primer pump the seals do get weak and fuel can leak back to the tank, these are just a few basics to check let's know how you get on. good luck.
Hello,
as the above, does anyone have any ideas what this could be and how serious it is??
many thanks Read more
just like my new astra then a real pain in the bottom !! a simple gauge would be much easier.
Manchester Airport have now introduced charges for picking up passengers (it was announced a while ago).
news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/manchester/6176279.stm
Hypothetically does anyone think picking up passengers in the drop off zone would cause any problems? Providing they were waiting at the kerb, so no hanging around in the car Read more
Its no conincidence that several of the airports mentioned above (Bournemouth, Southampton and East Midlands especially) are predominantly served by low cost airlines who are well-known for their reluctance to pay landing charges.
When Mr. O'Leary and Co. are paying rock bottom rates per passenger, the airport has to recover the cost somehow - hence drop off/pick up/higher car park charges.
So if you don't agree with Mr. O'Leary's "pay as you go" policies, opt for a full-service airline flying from a full service airport when you can. You may be surprised to find that, as often as not, the full cost of your round trip is no higher, but the experience can be a lot more pleasant.
And for those of you who don't agree, simply fly Ryanair/EasyJet/BMI Baby etc., stump up for whatever extras you want/need/can't avoid, grin, and bear it! :-)
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Didn't realise you were a believer Ashok.
Of course a translation of the Quran is not the real thing, just a representation. That's why Arabic speakers are uniquely qualified to understand the world's only serious text. Rather unfair to the rest of us.
The M.M. Pickthall translation is generally accepted as decent in English.