February 2007
Hi there. Am looking to spend 9-10k on a new supermini. I want a vehicle of quality - something that is reliable, fun to drive, etc. I'm thinking of buying a Diesel. I've basically narrowed it down to two cars: VW Polo and the Peugeot 207. I'm keen on the latter but have heard nightmare stories about French cars. Bad mechanics, unrealiable, etc. Any suggestions? Read more
Hi everyone, I lurk here a lot but don't usually post, but here goes...
A couple of weeks ago I was driving down the M4 to Cardiff. I went with the flow of traffic, at seventy, past some roadwords with one of those average speed cameras. At the end of the roadworks there was a national speed limit sign, which surprised me because there hadn't been any signs telling me to slow to fifty, which is normally the case. But I am concerned that I have been done. No problem, I'll take the rap...
The problem is, is that I'm driving my mum's car, which is registered and insured in her name, with me as second driver. No problem, we all cry, the letter will go to her flat! Well yes it will, but she is abroad for three months, hence the reason I have her car. No problem, just get the keys and check her flat! Well yes, but the friend she's left the keys with has gone AWOL and I cannot get in touch with her, despite repeated attempts.
I've also just been burgled and they got my car keys, so I now cannot drive home as the car is awaiting new locks. *sigh*. It never rains but it pours, eh?
So this is a very long way of asking - is there any way I can check if a fine has been issued without admitting guilt? Can I pop to the nearest police station and ask them to check, or am I just asking for a whole world of trouble? I can just see this spiralling out of control, and I end up getting arrested/ cauding serious trouble for my mum.
Thanks in advance for any advice... Read more
This mini has been custom-fitted out (not by us, we bought it that way) and as a result has a pair of luuuuuuvvverly leather seats...that are much bigger than usual mini seats and reduce the teeny amount of space still further.
Even with all of that though - the heater that won't turn off, the awful headlights and the truly bizarre automatic gearbox - I can totally see why people love them. I'd never driven one before three weeks ago, and though it is like driving a roller skate, it is hiliarious fun.
Am currently investigating extension seat runners
Been considering one of these latest offerings from Mazda.But a price tag of £21000 for basicly what is an mx5 we're almost in Z4 territory.And the dealers won't budge on price.I suspect that Mazda regard the soft top as their heritage and realise that the coupe may become too popular.Hence they keep the prod numbers down and prices high.It's got leather ,2.0 litre engine climate, heated seats and all the usual lsd ,dsc etc-but is it worth it? Read more
Had another look at one last week, when we took Mrs V's Montana, in, 'cos the engine manage light came on (didn't charge for resetting & diagnosing possible sensr needing replacement, so thanks Norton Way Mazda).
Agree the price ticket isn't what I'd like to spend, for the solid roof, benefit. Plus the spec level is way down, compared to what hers has, which had list price of £18995, when she bought it.
Mazda are currently offering a free hard top, on standard model, too - so maybe people are prepared to pay the premium & it's upset clothtop sales.
We'll not be ordering, just yet!!
VB
Hi All,
A while ago I was asking for advice on a cheap small car for my fiancee - in the end she bought a '99 Matiz. Loves the car, but she complains that it lurches in low gears when crawling in traffic - and the problem goes away after the first 15 or 20 mins of her journey. It only happens when the car's been stood for a long period, e.g. overnight or left in the parking bay all day at work. Would this be because the oil in the gearbox takes time to warm up and this is the consequence? Does anyone know of any fixes for this - is this something to worry about?
Many thanks
Pootle Read more
I've called Daewoo (sorry, Chevrolet) and the guy suggested checking
the HT leads - I know where the leads are and they're all in correctly,
By checking, I would imagine he means checking the resistances of each lead with a multimeter; not the physical appearance and whether or not they're connected properly.
I've got a '53 reg 1500 Almera.
Can anyone tell me what the solenoid or motor looking thingy in the cam cover does, next to the oil filler with an electric plug connection?
Just curious, there ain't no Haynes available yet. Read more
Screwloose
That Implies it's a V.V.T. I never knew that. Thanks
Hi, I've been directed to Honest John from another forum as I'm trying to find someone in Southport who can fix my car and do a good job for reasonable money.
To cut a long story short, I have a Nissan Primera worth at best £2000 which needs new tyres, brake discs and brake pads all round plus an O/S CV Boot. Nissan want silly money to fit them as do most national companies. I'm not a Southport local so don't know who is good or bad so can someone please recommend a small, friendly and cheap place to fix my faithful old car? Someone that could supply the brakes & CV Boot as well as fit them would be good, the tyres I can get from blackcircles.co.uk no problem..
All help gratefully received.
Fastlass
Read more
Are we talking about the same dealer Robbie? Arnold Clark
Honda is on the A6 in Stockport, near the college.
Lookers are all on St Mary's Way (and don't sell on
Honda, at least in Stockport anyway).
Obviously not. The town is Southport.
Or is pretending to be dead a means to avoid a speeding conviction?
tinyurl.com/3cmfb9
A sad tale of desperation that deserves our sympathy ? Or just funny. You decide. Read more
Slightly political but then road useage is. Reading about the petition with now over a million signatures, how will this revolt affect how people vote next time they have the chance?
Yes, road charging is just one issue, but it affects so many people and if the charges are as predicted, it will hit a huge majority of people very hard, esp those of use who run small businesses and cannot go to our customers homes on the bus!
What opinions does the BR have on how much weight a political party that doesnt support road charging will gain? Are we going to see some serious back-peddling in order not to loose votes?
I havent met many people in my daily life who intend to take the road charging lying down and Im wondering if this will cause a big political shift - is motoring THE issue now in politics? Read more
Well said, Baskerville - it'd take more than a few clear motorways (assuming they could even deliver what they promised) to persuade me to sign a pact with that particular devil.
hi, does any one know of a good site for finding ford parts numbers poss with diagrams but i dont mean ones where you have to register or leave a phone number or fill in forms...much appreciated Read more
thanks for the info
I understand that the purpose of this proposal is to raise money from people who use busy roads at busy times - am I right? I would be a little happier about this if more of the money we already pay was spent on the roads or the transport infrastructrue. Is the purpose of the charge-
a. To price people off the roads
b. To raise money to fund a realistic value-for-money connected public transport system?
c. To be diverted into other doomed and money losing projects like the CSA, the Criminal Proceeds Recover Office which to date has cost more to run than it has collected.
d. Some other hidden agenda of which we shall never hear?
Read more
Minor typo - my car would not take 54 people to Glasgow - I meant 4. As an extra I have found that I could fly one way to Hong Kong for about the GNER return fare, Peterborough to Glasgow. Bearing in mind that the train carries about the same number of people as a 747, more if the train is full, and that the aircraft costs $80 million to buy , way less than a train, it still make the train look like an expensive option within UK
Browse
I've just realised that there is a Suzuki Swift diesel - which is in your price range