June 2007
I've recently bought an Audi 80 TDI and I am noticing a clutch judder on take up in first gear.
This mainly happens first thing in the morning and once the clutch has been used a few times it settles down, although the take up is very sharp, with no comfort zone.
The car has covered 120K and is on its original clutch. (K Reg).
I can just about live with the problem, but would welcome any advice. Read more
After a failed attempt 18 months ago to buy a new Almera from a broker for my wife at about £6,500 I gave up and my wife kept her 99 Fiesta.
Now living in the South East with so much traffic and poor driving by so many people on the road I would prefer my wife and daughter to be in something a little bigger and safer.
At the weekend I saw a car supermarket advertising 2005 / 05 Almera's for £4,999. In reality they have ones with 11k miles on 05 plates in met silver for £5,299 (& about £200 inc tax / admin etc). This seems exceptional value for what should be a reliable safer car with Aircon/ ABS / CD etc.
Am I missing something? I realise a Focus would give a better drive and look nicer, that is clear, but as my wife does only 3,000 miles a year, driving pleasure takes a back seat against value and safety. Also the most savage depreciation has passed and it is likely only to lose 100's £ per year rather than 000's. If I can get £1,500 for the Fiesta (only 30k miles and well equiped) then the cost to change is less than £4k
Have the last Almera's been proving to be reliable?
Am I misguided and failing to take into account something blindingly obvious? Read more
My wife and I collected car yesterday.
The car itself is a bit Japanese (I know that is because it is!) in that the interior plastics are not as high spec as you might expect even on an old generation Focus or similar. Heavy grooving on the dash top and completely smooth and plain on the doors round the switches, Very basic push switches too. Looks a bit cheap in places but made up for with good seats, well trimmed and a high spec. ABS, EBD, Emergency Brake assist, Air Con, CD, E/W 4* NCAP etc.
The last bit was brought home to us as we witnessed a crash on the M25 whilst driving up to collect it. A 4x4 towing a caravan swerved for some reason, went from lane 1 to the central reservation, smashed off that and then flipped completely onto it's side car and caravan blocking 2 lanes. I have no idea how he didn't wipe out anyone else as it was pretty busy and both car and caravan went across the whole motorway. Made us focus our minds on how quickly something dramatic like that could happen.
Frankly for what it cost it is a bargain and I wonder if anyone else will clear the supermarket out of stock whilst they are still available so cheap. They have had 5 available for a couple of weeks now and maybe there are only a few people like me who see the advantages.
They look pretty good in Silver too.
Whilst I was researching I found another supermarket offering a 55 plate example with 7k miles for £5,499. Outrageously cheap I think. Wife didn't like the dark metalic grey through so the Silver 05 plate was settled on.
I reckon we won't need to replace the car for a number of years and with the lion's share of the depreciation already taken care of we should be on for cheap comfortable motoring for a few years.
Interestingly the insurance group was the same as for the 1.25 Fiesta and the cost to change was just £30, presumeably to take into account the higher value of the car.
Happy bunnies here.
People who dislike 4x4s aren't looking at the full picture. Their high price and high running cost must be good for employment and the economy in general.
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L\'escargot. Read more
I'm struggling to find anything "new" in this thread's perspective on 4x4s.
I'm in the market looking for a car (new or 1-yr old max)
I've short listed following three [all with 5 doors]
Mitsubishi Colt 1.1 (HJ doesn't recommend 1.3)
Hyundai Getz 1.1 or 1.4 GSI
Suzuki Swift 1.3 GL (no AC but otherwise very good equipments)
This week I'll be taking test drive in all of them.
Read lots of reviews on the internet (but none of my friends/family own any of these). No car is perfect - but found that above three are within my budget £7500 max and should serve no purpose.
I do Motorways only on weekends (but again if I change job I may need to go motorway everyday).
Estimated mileage 6k/year. Looking for great reliability and low running cost.
I'll be the only driver and since my wife just started learning she'd do after few months.
Recently in this forum there has been a long thread on Colt where everyone praised the car. Swift also got high recommendations from every where. It seems to be a very popular yet not so common car.
My current car is a Hyundai Accent (which is fairly good other than niggling faults - ABS, ECU, E/W etc.) Still considering Getz for 5-yr warranty (though probably if I buy 1-yr old car will sell after 2 years).
This is the first time I'm going to buy a new (or nearly new) car. Should I consider Jamjar/drivethedeal price as baseline for bargaining?
If I buy a 1-yr old model, what should be best price for each model?
Thanx
Read more
Another surprising fact is that my insurance
quote for Swift 1.3 is coming as £100 more than that of 1.4 Jazz! Is
Swift more prone to be nicked?
I would try a few different insurance co's. I can't see it should be that much different.
Hi there,
My ageing (!) Clio which I must say is usually fine but for a few things needing doing all at once this year, recently died on me at the petrol pump (after I'd filled up, naturally!).
Called the RAC and he jiggled a wire attached to the starter motor (under the bonnet) and it then started no problem.
Since then it's done this to me a few more times and I've been able to start it myself by jiggling the same wire.
My question is do I need to have a whole new starter motor or might it just be a loose connection of this wire which is causing the problem? If so, is this a simple, cheap thing to fix?
And whichever it is, does anyone have any idea of fair costs for fixing the problem?
I may be upgrading the car soon so am wondering whether it's worthwhile fixing the problem or for how long I can go on jiggling the wire before it gives up the ghost completely?!?
Thanks in advance for any tips. Read more
if its a spade connector nip it up with a pair of pliers
the connector will look like this
i6.photobucket.com/albums/y246/smartiesx3/spade.jpg
nip it with these
i6.photobucket.com/albums/y246/smartiesx3/22203374...g
ok :-)
hi, when fitting a new sump gasket it says in the haynes manual to use thick grease to hold it in place (thick grease?) will LM grease do the trick, also can i do the same for the timing cover gasket or no need? i was also thinking of using the car jack and a block of wood to hold the sump in place whilst i try to bolt it together( one pair of hands doesnt quite seem enough other wise?) thanks Read more
cos they will leak more than the swear filter would allow otherwise ;-)
Following instructions elsewhere on this forum I bought into this system over the new year and tested it for the first time last week on first trip of the year to France. Stuck to windscreen in front of the rear view mirror and it worked brilliantly. The stories that you can drive up to the barrier at 50 mph are not true - it did open automatically but I was in second gear and it only opened when I got to within 10m.
A very useful device. When you get yours ask for two or three - I gave one as a Xmas present to my ageing father who still visits France regularly. Bills go to my credit card - he gets toll free motoring in France.
Allez salut maintenant! Read more
It is only in Italy using the Italian machines that operate at speed-they're sensible-they put the pick-up at the beginning of the lane and the bar at the end-well apart-also they sell their senders to all types of vehicle-not just cars.
I've been driving nearly 30 years and have never once seen a biker tailgating a lorry, until today. On the M4, a bike about a metre from the back end of an artic, couldn't believe me eyes!! Have I led a sheltered life and missed seeing all the bikers doing this or was this a rarity?
Is it widespread? A suicidal riding riding practice surely?? Read more
Perhaps the biker is trying to intimidate the artic driver into going faster!!!
My Mother is about to sell her Rover 75 CDT Club, it has 117k on the clock, and is an 02 reg in Moonlight (Light pastel green). She asked me today to find out how much it is worth. After a scout around on Autotrader I reckon she could put it up for £3995 and take £3500 for a quick sale. I think she is going to offer it to a relative for the 3.5k first, does this sound like a fair price or have we over/under valued it? Read more
Sorry tanvir, I misread your post and the last post was incorrectly aimed at you.
Am I one of the last subframe/underbody rinsers? Of road salt, that is...
Was looking with a friend at cars a few years old today and piles of dirt and corrosion scabs on the subframes of some cars.
I have a habit from years ago, of washing the salt of underneath very frequently in winter. On one of my recent cars I brushed waterproof grease onto the subframes. (Not worth bothering is it :)
But reflecting on it, is it worth it anymore? can modern cars make it to 10/12 years or so with no attention at all underneath?
Are modern ( cheapish) cars now just an appliance and washing salt off and worrying about subframe corrosion, relegated to the memories of old uncle John in the 1960s and his Ford Anglia?
Regards
Read more
Although most car bodies' seem fairly rust resistant, from the OP's title the 'subframe' is a different kettle of rust. Almost, without exception, I notice car suspension compoents & fixing points on the car underside have thick rust - the exception being brand new cars & Japanses imports - amazing to see 10 year old vans looking pristine, with the merest dull metallic patina gracing their naughty bits.
It would gnaw at my soul, as much as a leaking roof rotting my rafters would, to think I'd got a rusty underside. I do hesitate, slightly, applying a full power jetwash & fret that I might have pushed 'carcinogenic' salty slush into panel gaps or nicely greased joints & bushings, but overall, would feel like someone who'd bathed & dressed in clean clothes without washing their feet & dangly bits otherwise.
Browse
Dear Richard,
Many thanks for your pragmatic response.
I've arranged to have a replacement fitted next week. I love the car and I'm sure the investment will be worthwhile.
Cheers,
Steve