March 2007
Looking to buy a Zafira Design on a 56 plate and notice that some Network Q dealers have adverts on autotrader at very keen prices (£14,500) for low mileage vehicles. The only downside is that they are about 200 + miles from me.
Do all Vauxhall Dealers have access to the same Network Q stock? Just wondering if I could go to my local Network Q dealer and try to get the same vehicle via him for the same money as I see it advertised on autotrader for ?
And while I'm here does anyone have experience on buying from
1. first4vauxhall www.first4vauxhall.co.uk/ ?
2. Silverdale Car and Commercials www.nearlynewvehiclesdirect.co.uk/default.aspx ?
Thanks. Read more
Question, Does rust matter anymore when buying new and which are the safest buys in the corrosion stakes?
My own take on this is that for lots of people it doesn`t matter, they have never owned a car with severe rust and there is the opinion that modern engine management systems will be the end of it eventually.
What if you lived through the 60s though, with a parents new Vauxhall Victor 101?
later my Saturday `task` was to work on the rust, I can remember it had a third of the outer sills disintegrated to nothing and the inner wings being perforated into holes all along the top.
With welding and sheets of fibreglass and resin it eventually made it to seven years old and into the scrapyard.
But more importantly, for most of its life it was an embarrassment to be seen in due to rust.
Fast forward to 1976, A Fiat 126 bought new was Ziebarted and yet within a year was not only rusting in all the seams, but rust was radiating out from the plugged holes that the rustproofing had gone in through.
Forward to 10 years ago, 1997 and a friend buys a Polo as a `safe buy` thinking its got to be better than a Peugot for rust.......
It sits on her drive today scabbed with rust and with inside out corrosion in the door bottoms.
Forward a few more years,
Another friend buys a Merc and shortly after looks at rust bubbling in the rear wings with amazement.
Who would have thought that a modern Fiat would be a safer bet?
Forward..2 years ago
My colleague, a bright young female graduate asking me to look at rust on her car. Turns out its a Ka and on its flank a small stone chip has scabbed out under the metallic paint to the size of a 10p piece. How do you tell her that any other car in the car park would not show rust if it got a similar chip and was not touched up?
In Conclusion,
Perhaps rust only matters if you have experienced it and suffered as a result? and most modern young drivers will never have.
But how do you predict the future for buying as rustproof a car as possible, when a Volkswagen and Mercedes Benz can rust faster than a Peugot and Fiat in the modern era?
Lets narrow it down a bit to where it really matters, an old boy buying his last new ( retirement) car for under £8,000.
The Picanto, Matiz, panda, C1, punto, polo,Ka, et al............
Which is rust free at 10 years and which scabbed with rust? How can we predict it other than giving them all a little tap with an ice pick in a not too obvious location and spraying with salt water to test for galvanizing....
Now why can`t consumer/ car mag testing do useful things like that?
Regards
Read more
The Audi 80 is superb with regards to the bodywork quality. I have seen an example that has been used in all weathers and covered over 250k and bodywork wise is superb. Ford in the past have been a mixed bag. Recent Fords are better than older ones. The first Ford vehicle that had correctly zinc treated panels was the Mondeo in 1993. The Focus is in 1998 was also zinc coated, these cars can still rust but are better than other blue oval examples.
The KA can suffer major rust and is based on Fiesta 1989 build quality, I have seen a 1996 example written off due to rust.
My wife has developed a chronic sciatica problem overnight and even through it is on the mend she has been told she will have impared mobility in her left leg for a long time so changing gear in her current car will be impossible.
She has a Mazda 6 manual at the moment, is struggling to get in and can't press the clutch.
We need an urgent change of car to get an automatic which she can drive.
Any suggestions of a reliable medium sized car which would be suitable.
I will take her car and she will get something else but because we haven't planned a swap we only have a budget upto 12K.
Don't care if it is new or second hand but must be reasonably roomy. Fuel & insurance costs aren't a problem.
I know this is an open topic but I need to move fairly fast as she is going demented with boredom as she literally can't walk more than 50 metres
I suspect a second hand car will be more sensible as you seem to have to make new automatics a special order.
Thanks Read more
She woke up one morning and was unable to walk -
specialist has said there is long term damage in one leg
so this will need spinal surgery to correct.
Ah, my sister had something like that - couldn't put her right heel to the floor. Keyhole surgey in Frenchay and four weeks rest sorted it. Hope your wife gets better.
Hi,
Just noticed a load rattle when the wifes car is started from cold. The sound is comming from inside the silencer box (Sounds like the baffles have rattled loose)
Car is still under 3 year warantee. Do you think that is wear and tear or warantee claim. Car done 20K
WIll get it booked in anyway to see if they accept the claim. (Wife said there was a big pot hole she hit and after that the noice started occuring)
Cheers
Jlo Read more
>>Well after a trip to the dealer it was found that the heat sheid was bent and tapping against the exhaust! £17 quid lighter saw a replacment shield and 10 mins >>to fit it.
Pleased it was not as bad as you thought. But why bent? and why fit a new shield? could they not just clip the un-bent one back in place? Mine was refitted by Quick fit for free in five minutes.
--
rustbucket (the original)
Hi,
Recently bought a 1998 espace RT-X everything great apart from;
Odometer(?) resets randomly (usually while driving) so I don't know the actual mileage and the trip computer dosn't appear to work properly (I can only reset the mileometer and not get any other info).
I also get a problem where the light behind the radio station bit goes off occasionly, although I guess this could be a short somewhere.
Anyone have any ideas? Is this a garage job or something to maybe do with fuses and the like.
Any and all help appreciated,
Nathan Read more
Central locking is fine. Did notice also yesterday that the radio display seems to randomly flick between different displays although the station doesn't change. Could the whole thing be a computer fault?
The eclipse is taking place as I type - should go blood red in next hour or so.
On topic, (just) 'cos I'm looking through the mini binoculars, from the car, looking to see the Lunar Buggy, disappear!!
VB Read more
thanks
ok , a nice and easy question?
with the modern fuels we have nowedays , i have problems starting a couple of m/bikes , that have stood over winter , with there origional fuel in the tanks
so obviously the tank (or shelf) life is not what it used to be.
is the a product guarentee on petrol ?
we know there is on food,canned beer, dog food etc,
what about petrol? Read more
It is. My chainsaw has started after sitting for two years. The two-stroke oil isn't supposed to last long either, but the thing runs normally after long periods at rest. If the oil was no good it would seize.
Recently took my 2003 Ibiza 1.2 to my local trusted mechanic to look it over because it was pulling all over the place and wandering about. Gives it a quick look over a says its the back wishbone bushes that are gone, but he can't do them because you need all kind of fancy things to do them because they're not metal but plastic and they sit in an aluminium frame.
So I book it nto the local SEAT dealer I bought it from last summer,as its still got an approved used warranty only for them to say that the bushes are 'within tolerances' but more seriously the front subframe is bent and that I must have smacked a kerb.
I'll admit i bumped very lightly into the kerb the other week when it was snowing, but its put a slight chip into the alloy, nothing more so I seriously doubt that bent the subframe unless its made of cheese, and it was wandering before that anyway.
My question is- what can be done with a bent subframe? Do I need a new one or can it be mended somehow?
It also makes me doubt how thorough the checks on SEATS approved used scheme is Read more
Bending the subframe would require a substantial impact - I would also expect the suspension arm to be bent.
Rectification depends on the degree of bending. A small amount may be repairable by pulling on a jig - more substantial would require replacement.
I would be inclined not to trust the dealer at this stage and take the vehicle to a good independent bodyshop, or at least somewhere with a good 4-wheel aligner (Jim Beam, Sun, etc) and get some figures on your alignment. Might cost £50-100, but then you have something to go on.
To buy new and keep 15yrs, mileage then would be about 150,000
Body durabillity important, are any *galvanised* and without cambelts, with a Diesel engine?
speed and power not important.
Any comments on corrosion on the Transit or Ducato?
Regards Read more
Thanks Simon
I have a 99 T reg vectra Di. Low pressure turbo model. my question is ... when accelerating under load say in 2nd or 3rd gear, i can hear the turbo spin but it makes a ticking noise like an exhaust blowing. Any ideas anyone or have you had similar problems?.
trouble is, it doesnt happen when idling or at stand still
please help... Read more
Blowing exhaust manifold/turbo gaskets maybe, get a mate to rev it
up and see if you can spot any puffs of black
smoke or exhaust smells under the bonnet. Check the operating
lever to the turbo isn't seized
Also a good tip is to get a little sliver of paper and hold it near the manifold gaskets of any other exhaust/turbo union, as this will show tiny leaks with the engine at tickover.
Browse
I've just picked up my Vectra Design from a large Network Q dealer in Northampton. It is very pleasing. I would not have parted with the Astra unless I'd got a good deal, which I believe I have. It is a nine month old Vectra 1.8 petrol, with Sat-Nav etc, for just below £10,000. Car seems immaculate and runs beautifully. The service I got was first-rate, unlike that of my insurance company who take ages to send anything out, blame the Royal Mail, and after all that I discovered that they had used another firm for their posting.