March 2007
I'm considering a Focus 1400LX as a replacement for the wife's Fiesta. It's a 54 plate, 16000m with a sticker price of £3600. I know all the arguments that the 1.6-1.8 are much better, but this seems a good price. It would only be used in the local area. My question is, are they to be avoided at all costs or are they perfectly acceptable for a second, family car. Read more
That'll teach them. They either need to write the ticket sureptitiously round the corner and then do a sprint forwards when the driver isn't looking, or else fire them from a distance with darts and rubber suckers. Read more
Apparently cigarette litter (fag ends mostly) accounts for over 40% of the TOTAL litter dropped in our wonderful land!!!
Fag ends don't "just disappear" as if by magic, they are a real pain in the backside and apart from dog muck, littering is one thing that really gets my back-up.
I live on a pedestrian route to a small urban railway station and almost daily there is an empty packet of fags (always same brand) and drinks can/bottle on the pavement outside my house, (I haven't managed to catch the culprit yet.)
Hello All,
My heater blower has always played up on my 1997 A4, sometimes blows and sometimes doesn't (makes some wierd noises too !) so it's about time to look into changing it. Would like to do it myself but I heard it is a dash out job. Has anyone attempted this and if so could you tell me how,
all the best
Benno
P.S
car does have climate/aircon and is the 2.4 V6 (engine code AGA) Read more
many thanks for the reply Screwloose
just got my reminder for insurance today ,norwich union want 139 pounds to cover me for the next 12 months i paid 120 last year , are they having a laugh or does it sound about right? ive got 4 years no claims i thought it was suppose to go down every year if you didnt claim owt? Read more
Surely they do rely on a certain inertia to reclaim the new customer offer money. This is why they are all happy to beat your renewal quote. When I last renewed mine, my company wanted a lot more, but when I rang, and spoke to someone with some authority they instantly matched the best quote.
Remember Maggie's advice - shop around . It does pay.
I also made a fuss because it took them ages to send a certificate to the dealer supplying my new car, which earned me £30 as a sweetener.
Due to the rear screen washer feed pipe dis-connecting , the 6-CD changer connector got wet & corroded. After cleaning up (WD40 etc), it doesn't power up. I can't trace the fuse according to the manual to check it. Anybody know which one it is in the 'fuse-box'. Is there an internal fuse in the changer itself? The audio unit just tells me there's no CD's. It lies!
Graham. Read more
Hi Graham,
Like most things electrical, the motherboard generally has an on board fuse that no one knows about. Unscrew the case and have a look in the general area of the power supply leads and its my bet theres a little glass fuse sitting there thats blown. Many Microwave ovens end up in skips that only need a 50p fuse replacing because no one knows its there.
I assume you've also checked that the unit has power when the ignition is swiched on?
--
These are the views of Robin the Technician with 35 years in the trade. I fix, therefore I am...
Hello,
The wife has been caught speeding by the local "Safety Camera Partnership". She was doing 36mph in a 30 zone.
The standard penalty is £60 fine and 3pts.
Does anyone know about the "Driving Awarenes" alternative? Is it true that you can offer to take one of these (or are they randomly offered??) in lieu of the 3pts aspect?
The wife has not received anything indicating this is an option in her letter.
This is her first offence by the way.
Thanks if anyone has any info/experience! Read more
Having recently travelled from Edinburgh to London in a small car I was really scared at the way drivers enter motorways. They think they have right of way"they do not" It is not always possible to move over and in anycase it's they that should be slowing down. Regarding speed cameras vers Lieu of points. Maybe it's a good idea but it is also up to the government to ensure that roads are properly designated. Most of the signs I see are either old and dirty,hidden, or just not there. After all how is it possible to drive within the limits of the law. When the law is just out to make money out of us.
unnecessary quoting of post being replied to removed. DD
Does anyone know anthing about these
"beasts"
www.carzone.ie/usedcars/index.cfm?fuseaction=car&c...9
Read more
Where would I start looking for one ? Not looking for a project although I don't mind maintenance, but I want something I can just get in and drive.
I've always fancied one, a recent topic reminded me of one, and at least I won't have to worry about BBD nicking it to sell drugs from like he does with the Merc. 8< Snip - some non motoring comments removed - DD Read more
Assembled, yes. Actually the ugly but practical large boot for the Light 15 was a Slough design. Nothing to be proud of in my opinion.
There seems to be a lot of talk at the moment in various threads about the good and bad points of Pirelli P6000 tyres, culminating in somebody calling the P6000 'a tired old design'.
I admit I have an axe to grind here - I have them on the Prelude, I've bought Pirellis on and off for decades and they seem a good combination of grip, resistance to wear and reasonable price.
But the comment above got me thinking. Every time I venture into a tyre fitter's these days I spot new rubber that seems to have treads that are more and more assymetric and complicated looking, while tyres for racing (four wheels and two) seem to have treads that are more and more simple in appearance - often just a few plain grooves.
I guess what I'm saying is, these days are tyres seen to some extent as fashion accessories?
BTW, my elderly neighbour is trying (maybe successfully...) to sell me his ancient but low mileage Renault 4 van, fitted with original pattern Michelin Xs! Read more
Can I make an effort to re-direct the thread a bit?
What I meant originally was 'is there a fashion element in
tyre tread patterns'? That is, do some people pick tyres because
they have the latest assymetric, complicated looking tread pattern, rather than
a pattern (for example, the p6000) that seems perfectly capable of
doing the job but has been around for a few years?.
I know this is an impossibility but, personally, if I still
had my Rover P6 3500 I would be quite happy to
run it on original Dunlop SP Sports (which I believe are
now re-available) or Avon Turbospeeds because they worked well, rather than
something with this this year's tread pattern just because it is
the latest thing.
Not bothered what the tread pattern looks like, its the overall performance of the tyre im interested in.
Hi just after a fellow traders view on what would sell best out of a Auto or Manuel Lexus is 200, Just fancy one myself for a few months and not sure what they sell like and if the manuel or auto is harder to sell???
Ive just eventually got rid of a 1999 Merc CLK that had a manuel box, took a while to shift, didnt want to make the same mistake with the next run about for me.
Or just to stick to an E46 shape BMW 3 series as i can sell them all day long :)
thx for any info you could share,
regards , Mike Read more
>>Hi just after a fellow traders view on what would sell best out of a Auto or Manuel Lexus is 200
Why would he want a Spanish Lexus?
He should take some spelling lessons, I think.
Browse
Fine car, great chassis, very sweet and free revving engine, needs more power hence gruffer though more punchy 2.0 (and to a lesser extent 1.8) is perhaps better than 1.4 and 1.6 though ideal for the kind of use you suggest.
Just seems much, much to cheap so somewhat suspicious.