January 2007
I have just seen an advert in today's DT in which I am invited to buy a SEAT Toledo with a spec including 18" alloys, Xenon lights, heated leather seats etc, for £17995. Now, this price includes a free Body Styling Kit 'worth' £2500. This is 1/7th of the total cost of the car! Can any bits of plastic and maybe flared wheel arches or whatever actually be worth £2500? Would you pay that much cash for them out of your own pocket?
I reminds me of footballers who 'earn' £100K per week; they don't - it is what they are paid - there is a difference!
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Had the chance to look at one of these latest Chinese offerings in Germany over Christmas early models have some serious safety problems but I am sure they will get it correct in the end.
www.autobild.de/test/neuwagen/artikel.php?artikel_...7 Read more
Well its 2007 and by summer, if press reports are correct the Chinese MG TF will be launched- it will be interesting to see if the Chinese can develop and manufacture an 'existing product' and at what price they will attempt to sell it at !
When did the description 4WD become 4x4, and why?
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L\'escargot. Read more
I vaguely remembered some 6x2 cars appearing in Formula 1 in the 70s. A quick Google confirmed that I wasn't imagining it:
www.f1nutter.co.uk/tech/6wheels.php
itms me again quick recap i own a pug 306 1.9 td meridian t plate with 106 on the clock, the dial with which you adjust the heat has gone, it just turns round and round, without adjusting the temparature, and although it is on mildly warm at the moment in these cold days it is too cold and in summer it just adds to the heat, how would i go about getting this prob fixed and could you give a projected cost on this job, it would be very much appreciated, it also has a/c as well if that makes any difference. thanking you in advance Read more
Sounds like the control is broke (basically the controls a wire)
Simply remove the front fascia and take a look) it sounds like the wire is no longer connect to the control
May I strongly suggest, If you have not done so already to buy a Haynes Manual for this car, I have had two DT's and the Haynes if very good.
Regards
h
hi i own a pug 306 1.9td meridian t plate with 106k on the clock, quite recently my front passenger side wheel has started making a clunking sound when moving off, i am a bit miffed as to what might be causing it i would appreciate any help, ps it only does it when you move off theres no clunking when i full lock the steering, i know i need to replace my brake discs in the next week or two could this be the cause? Read more
Mate, it will be the antiroll contorl arm bar (long plastic arm with two ball joints on each end, about 10" long from the antiroll bar to the suspension strut)
They are about £15 from GSF and very easy to change.
Regards
H
I'm currently looking around to get my yearly new (or new to me) car fix. I love the whole pallaver (?) of it - wake up middle of the night thinking: 'Yeah, how about one of them. ..2-3 years old, could stretch to that....let's check the write-ups, user reviews, long-term reviews residuals, ideal spec....' etc etc, - you've been there, you know what I mean.
Because of my in-the-sticks location, I do most buying by main dealer with manufacturers or approved used warranty & buy on the dog, sight unseen - slightly risky , but minimised as much as poss., given my buying context.
Anyway, that's the prologue- what question/query/irritation whatever, is this: Why do main dealers expect you to accept offers way less than book (be it CAP, Glass's , Parkers etc, you name it) for the trade-in? I always ask if when a deal is offered what they underwote my trade-in for (as most main dealers underwrite via 3rd parties) whether they've 'pre-sweetened' it & what the trade-in value was - they're either lying by saying 'Oooh, we couldn't get more than book minus 'X' ... it's a lumpy car you've got...' or they really can't get the value - either of which turns me away.( I always try to get the value for my car before discussing the value of theirs) Now, I'm not unreasonable or unsophisticated, variables like time of year, correct spec, provenance, value adjusted for mileage and so on I understand & appreciate.
Maybe though, they're being straightforward & are being 'let down' by their underwriters who perhaps imagine they're bidding for a car belonging to an eager shiny faced ingenue who's sitting transfixed & awe struck in the chrome & plate glass showroom, willing to accept any old trade-in offer to get the car of his dreams.
Anyway, thanks for listening, rant over!
The hunt continues...
cheers
woodbines
ps sorry if there are some grammatical or spilling erras, it's late & I've had a couple. Read more
I love the whole pallaver (?) of it... ... you've been there, you know what I mean.
Its funny you should say that. I love cars but I hate buying them!
Fantasizing about them is a daily pastime. Choosing which make/ model to buy is entertaining. But then trying to find one that is the right price/ spec./ mileage/ colour is a nightmare to me. I end up spending so long deliberating that I think, "well that one is not quite right, I'll wait a week and see what else comes up for sale".
I once went 4 months without a car because I couldnt find what I wanted (at the time I could get lifts to work, and I was also a bit skint).
Also I've never traded in a car. In the past I've sold private to try to get the best price, and then bought private or from a backstreet, non-flashy dealer...
;o)
Hi knowledgeable people. I have to choose a new lease car soon. I am able to lease most cars up to a monthly allowance limit. Need to have a large (ish) estate car or a large saloon/hatchback.
The Chrysler 300C is too expensive in both lease cost and taxation but it did get my attention!
Narrowed the choice down to the following estate cars:
1. Loaded Honda Accord 2.2TDI Ex with all the toys. Looks great but I have had one of these for the past 3 years and feel a bit bored. It has been a very good reliable car with only a few faults.
2. VW Passat Sport 2.0 TDI (140) with just the standard fittings, (no extras). Had a VW before, (Sharan) and it was a PoS so I am worried that I might get the same again. Do not like the electric handbrake!
3. Toyota Avensis 2.2D (180) with all the standard bits. Had a Toyota Camry before and was very happy with it, (very reliable).
4. Peugeot 407SW 2.2D (170) sport with all the standard bits. Worried about the reliability of this vehicle but it does look good.
5. Saab Linear Sport 1.9TDI (150) with all the standard bits. Worried about the reliability of this vehicle but it does have some image that the others lack.
6. Ford Mondeo Titanium X 2.2TDI with all the standard bits. Worried that this is about to be replaced with a new model.
All the above are in order of current choice. What do you people think? Any other suggestions?
Q.
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The Mondeo's great fun to drive and quite reliable but like you say the new Mondeo's due for release this year. It's quite boring to look at too. If I had to choose from your list I'd go for the Accord
As the subject states...just sitting here thing about it?
Can you put a private plate on a Q reg car or bike? I think not, but not sure...will called the DVLA if I get time tomorrow.......
Thanks
H Read more
No Q plates are assigned by DVLA for vehicles like kits, that make identification of the majority of the vehicle difficult. And from DVLA:
Will Q registration marks become available for sale?
The Agency has decided that it will not be releasing Q registration marks for sale. It has emerged that the costs involved in providing sale and transfer facilities would be greater than any return, given the limited number of vehicles that would be eligible to participate. Additionally, the recent review of registration inspection procedures indicated very strong support for retaining the existing policy on Q marks, for consumer protection reasons.
Lucky to be having three holidays this summer;
Drive the missus and twins to her home town in Czech Republic by way of a leisurely week's drive, for the second year running via Switzerland as we enjoyed it so much last year. After a few days with family at our Czech destination, I will take the train alone to Prague and fly home leaving the missus, the twins, a laptop with webcam, and (yikes) the V70 behind at her parent's house.
A month after returning from Prague, I'll fly back out, take the train to collect wife, babies, and car, attend a family wedding, and then we'll have a week's leisurely drive home via friends near Brussels.
In between these two holidays however I will take part in a Boy's Biking Holiday to France; it's this holiday that I'd appreciate some help with, please.
This time, for the first time (there have been two great group biking holidays before), none of us will have wives or girlfriends as pillions which (a) makes it possible to more easily rack up the miles, and (b) makes it easier to take tents for camping, so we will, for fun. We'll be riding in June so hopefully decent weather (In any case NOTHING can be as wet as when we rode to the Scottish Highlands, and we still enjoyed that!) and camp sites won't need booking.
Unanimous destination decision was the Millau Bridge which viamichelin.com confirms to be just under 600 miles from Boulogne avoiding motorways and via a direct route. We don't necessarily want a direct route though; we want a biking-enjoyable route that also takes in some places of interest. If time permits, but perhaps "pushing it" in light of my next comment, we may continue on to Montpellier as we'll be most of the way there come Millau.
Much though we love riding, we don't want to spend all day every day on the bikes and some leisurely lunches, relaxing dinners, and cold beers at the end of a day's riding would be good, as well as some sightseeing en-route. A few press-on days are fine. Bikes are my Hornet 600 on which I've already done a lot of touring so know I can ride all day without getting too achey, cruise comfortably at ninety if there are miles to make, and consume sweepies with abandon, a ZX7 used every day in lieu of a car so the owner won't baulk at anything, an SP2 (that has already been ridden all over Western Europe on a camping holiday before anyone says it can't tour!), and the touring warpship, a Blackbird with three piece drum kit on the back. (Guess who's carrying most of the gear?!)
We take a breakfast time Speedferries crossing from Dover, departing Boulogne homeward bound at tea time on our sixth day.
Route suggestions, please, especially from bikers in the Backroom who have ridden this approximate route before.
Many thanks! Read more
Reviving another thread I found when I was looking for something else, mainly because there are few better things to discuss than travelling in southern France.
Can't offer much (any) bike-specific advice, but I'll second the recommendation of the Gorges du Tarn. There are guided punt trips on the river, which is a good way to see wildlife and other sights you won't get from the road.
And if you're continuing south of Millau, I had one of the best dinners I've ever eaten at the Mas de Clergues at Octon, off the main road from Lodeve to Clermont l'Herault. (It has rooms too.) Nothing fancy, just tingly-fresh seafood starters, wood-grilled meat from local animals and wine from their own vines. The service was spot-on too, as was the little lounge where we did our best to converse on science, politics and philosophy with our fellow guests over coffee afterwards. That was in 2000 - before the bridge was built, and I'd love to go back to see it - but it still seems to be there. I hope it's still as good.
Bonne route!
Hi All.
just wondered which i should choose?
05 plat renault clio 182 sport spoiler pack (front lip and larger rear spoiler) 1 owner 22K miles fullRSH silver - £9750
giving me £14500 for my old car, paying off £10300 finance, leaves me with £5600 to borrow.
or
55 plate clio 182 sport with cup spoiler pack (see above) + (suspension pack, grey wheels + lower suspension) 1 owner 10K miles FullRSH silver - £10300
giving me £13750 for my old car paying off finance leaves me £6850 to borrow
for the wifes car. she does around 7K miles p.a. guess she dosent need suspension kit, so cheaper option better?
and 05 plate still got 1 year 3 months warranty. (both UK cars)
your choices please. Read more
A 182 Clio is a sporty car and IMO silver is not classed as a sporty colour, especially as perhaps 25% of all cars are just this colour. Whenever I have seen one on the road, they have been a 'colour'. This, perhaps, in part, because silver colours are so common and no longer stand out. I dont' recall seeing many silver Clios - think of the resale value / ease.
Browse
Think we got it just about right, when we bought Mrs V her Mx5, 3 & a bit years ago.
Mazda are/were experts in creating 'Special' Mx5 models, to maintain interest in the car, quite often without giving too much added value. They did one every 6 months or so since we bought, up 'till the current new model.
Although what she got, on the Montana, was a production run UK of only 250 red & 250 green, so somewhat less common, include pearlescent paint, hardtop, leather, wood kit, air con, heated seats, fog lights all 'saved ' around £2000, if you'd have purchased as add ons. This was at the list price of £18995. She did up spec it more, with chrome style bars, front grille, body coloured mudflaps & locking wheelnuts - in theory another £1500 ish.
With the deal we did, the fact that it was much less than this, it'll be worth maybe £1000 more than a standard car, depending on when it ever gets sold on, which would have made for substantial loss of the extra £$£$£ paid for extras!!
VB