April 2007
Came through Madrid yesterday via the recently-opened M30 ring road tunnel. The current inner ring road, which was a 2x3-lane motorway, is being put underground as a 2x6-lane tunnel. The south-west quadrant, over six kilometres long, is now open.
Perhaps Madrid should have got the Olympics. Read more
I saw this the other night on FiveUS. Looks like Fiat are having trouble getting delivery drivers, they have to pay more!
www.youtube.com/watch?v=yCpSWCVIOKA
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VW Bora (51) 2.0 SE
VW Touran (54) 1.9 TDI Read more
at least its a step up from advertising shampoo.....like he needs the money!
I have a MK V Golf with 'climatic' semi-automatic Aircon and at this time of the year, often become paranoid as to whether it is working at its most efficient. I have read that one can expect the system to lose gas at up to at least 10% per annum which means that after 2.5 years use, mine could be down by at least 25%?
Does anyone have any figures as to what the face level air vent temperatures should be for a fully efficient system? I have placed a quality mercury bulb thermometer about 2" into the the central face level vents and run the aircon at 1500rpm with all the air directed through these vents and on 'recirculation' and have obtained a minimum temperature of 4ºC - this with an outside temperature of about 18ºC.
I was wondering whether this value was typical and in the right range for a system in good working order?
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Bring back R12.
Thanks for all advice on previous post about stylish reliable comfortable estate under £20k. Setting up test drives of several options - including the Skoda Octavia, I think I can finally see myself getting over the badge thing.
Am now having a wobble about whether buying new is throwing money away. Before I take the plunge I want to consider what I could get second-hand for less money (say around £15k) that will still fit my needs: accomodate two adults and two young children in comfort with plenty of space for family luggage etc, but not a serious load-lugger and not too big. Diesel automatic. Something thats enjoyable to drive and I can feel proud of. And will last 5-years stress-free.
Suggestions? And do you think used is a better way to go than new? Read more
Yes, but go and have a test drive from a dealer - the lower-powered ones could be sluggish and not nearly as good to drive as an Octavia TDI.
My Mazda 6 is going to be a write off after an own fault accident.
What value should I pursue ? - the trade-in price, or the forecourt price of a replacement ?
The tax disc is just a few days old - can I remove it when I go and collect personal possessions from the car ?
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Exactly. You should get enough, but do your homework. When my MkIII Golf was written off in 2001 the insurers offered me £6K. However I looked around and on several VW dealership websites, found identical cars, in mileage, model and registration year for £7k.
I haggled with the insurer and we agreed on £6.5k, but only once I had faxed through proof of the cars on offer. Their point was that I should expect to haggle with the dealer on price, and therefore they would not offer the full £7K
Look around for similar vehicles from reputable dealers (not private sale) and print off the ads from the internet, including full details and price. Use this as your bargaining tool.
Charles
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VW Bora (51) 2.0 SE
VW Touran (54) 1.9 TDI
Just thought I'd share with you the news that we won our case against the git who claimed we had reversed into him in a car park - when he had driven into us then driven off but having taken our number.
First I told his insurers to sue us and they went away, then a firm of solicitors tried to get us to cough and I told them to sue us and they did and it got to court today and the judge found completely in our favour.
His insurers will no doubt meet the costs of his lawyers but I'd like to be there when he tries to renew his insurance next time.
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99% of all Lawyers give the rest a bad name
Hi folks,
I am looking at the possible purchase of a 147 GTA (3.2 V6), and was just wondering if anybody has any hints or tips, or anybody who has one who has any advice regarding running costs etc?
Thanks in advance Read more
I'm here!
I have the 156 SW, but as said, it's the same engine.
I can only really echo what PR has said. It's a fantastic car though, and one which you'll find yourself taking a last look back at every time you walk away from it.
Go in with your eyes open, make it it's a good example and has been well looked after, and you're getting yourself a hell of a car.
Hi.
I,ve an 04 plate 2.0 legacy and it has a problem on cold start . It always starts and idles fine if a little higher than most cars I,ve had at about 1300 rpm . -problem is when you start to low speed manouvre it. Without touching the throttle depressing the clutch causes the revs to surge to 2000 and this makes it awkward to drive in and out of the garage etc.
Two separate main dealers have had the car and tell me there is nothing wrong with it which I find astounding.
Two questions please : Any ideas what might be wrong? Where do I stand with the warranty( due to expire in July) when I say there is a fault and they say there is not?
The fault has been witnessed by friends and not in my imagination.
Any help welcome with this annoying glitch. The car is fine otherwise
Willyb
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Thanks for your reply. Because the engine revs car stationary on idle, are 1300 the car can be moved without any throttle action. Lifting the clutch causes the car to move as normal. it's on depressing it again to select say first from reverse that the revs increase to 2000ish. This continues every time the clutch is depressed for a minute or two and then it behaves normally. Symptoms have been the same summer or winter. Hope these details help a bit further.
Hi Everyone
I have a strange problem with my car. The coolant disappears about one litre goes. Sometimes it was going after a month and other times after two days. So eventually i discovered that when the car is idling for about 3 hours, the one litre disappears. this is strange because during idling the rev/min never goes above 950 and relatively less heat is generated.
The last time the cooling system had a problem was two years ago. the coolant was leaking from a gasket under the fuel
injection system. This also started giving me timing problems with slow running of the car. engine had lost power at slow speeds and would often stall. and the coolant level had fallen a lot so the hot air was not working inside the car. however the engine was not overheating. so they opened up the top part, replaced the gasket and seal and its been great since then.
I don't know much about cooling systems but there could be an electronic pump to circulate the coolant or a mechanical pump to circulate the coolant. if this circulation is not happening properly (while idling) coolant can reach boiling point. maybe
i need to replace the thermostat?
any ideas would be helpful.... Read more
Worth a head gasket test, but the inlet manifolds are very prone to leaking at the end nearest the gearbox & they tend to slowly suck the water in the engine & vaporises it so unless its bad you don't see where the water goes. A pressure test should find it. Try replacing the radiator cap oops sorry expansion bottle cap they are modified and when they loose pressure on this model it makes them boil up prematurly.
Regards
im the proud owner of a stag
with an unusuall transplant for u guys over there
it has a leyland P 76 engine ( big aussie leyland built in the 70s ) similar to rover, but 4.4 litre,
Toyota celica 5 speed,
jaguar diff head.
nissan axles
Great conversion
2100 rpm at 100kms /hour
Just thought u might be interested
Cheers from TV
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If theP76 is a bored/stroked Rover ally engine, then it will
be lighter than the original Stag which had iron block and
ally heads. The front suspension should have been reworked.
Mine has the Stag engine but a ZF 4 speed auto
to replace the BW35 3 speed box, this brings the revs
down to 2600 from around 3800 at 70mph, also much smoother.
Absolutely, I put the Rov V8 engine in an MG Roadster (not MGB), years ago and found that this engine is lighter even than the 1.8 B-series engine fitted as standard.
Browse
Quite, could you honestly see this level of road improvement being done in London for the 2012 Olympics!