June 2007
I've just seen the first official pics of the new Laguna. Is it just me, or does it look like the current model with a particularly bland and ill-fitting front lifted from a Hyundai Sonata (or worse)? So much for Renaults style-lead design philosophy! Bring back the Avantime! Read more
I've bought two units, second-hand. To fit them, do I unscrew the plastic covers under the bumpers whereupon all will become obvious? Read more
Fortunately I just want to remove the original cracked ones and put in new ones! Thanks for the info....
I'm currently driving a courtesy car - Golf GT, 56 reg, diesel automatic. I'm trying to find out how much bhp it has.
I was looking on the interweb and some reports seemed to suggest it has 168bhp and others were saying 140bhp.
The VW site doesn't help. Anyone know where I can get a definitive answer? Read more
The Mk V badges
I hadn't realised.......doh
Whilst looking at a house today, I found I was counting the space for cars rather than paying attention to the size of the kitchen.
As I was doing so, I got to thinking about my dream ten car garage, and what I would put in it - my wife accused me of not paying attention to the estate agent!
The cars I would have are..
1) My 1982 Porsche 928S - fully restored to showroom condition
2) A late Porsche 928GTS - as a daily run around
3) My Discovery TD5 - its not perfect, but I like to call it home!
4) A Ferrari 355 Spider - great looking car, but I'll need suncream for my bald head!
5) A Mclaren F1 - perfect for the school run
6) A Matra Rancho - in orange, to match the Corgi model I had one Christmas as a boy
7) A Toyota Celica GT4 Carlos Sainz - the last shape with the pop up lights
8) An Austin Clifton Heavy Twelve Four - anyone remeber Gumdrop?
9) A Lotus Esprit - in white, with full submarine kit, a-la 007
10) Left spare...
10 is tricky. I'd love a Mk1 Golf GTi, or a Landrover Defender, or even a Suzuki SJ410. Perhaps I'd leave a space to have room to buy a car as the mood takes me.
But what about other backroomers....what are your top ten cars?
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Colin-E Read more
Lud, yup that's the one - the streamlined one with the fin.
Hi all, first all some thanks
The first time I consulted this board on this car was in a panic in 2003. I received some excellent advice back then on how to fix a battered pulley keyway on the crankshaft caused by failing crankshaft pulley. I had visions of scrapping the engine at 87,000 miles when I posted. I was given some advice that the keyway could be repaired by rebuilding it with metal epoxy and Loctiting a new pulley on. I glad to report that this advice was excellent and (knock on wood) we have now done 40,000 miles on that repair with no trouble.
Anyhow- to today's challenge, I want to change the brake servo as the brake pedal sinks slowly to the floor with the engine running and I have heard in a few places this is a likely cause (I've redone all of the brakes and checked most other things). I'll do a few more checks this weekend (it's off the road 'til I'm sure it is OK) but I'd love to hear from someone that has changed a brake servo on a 406 diesel. The Haynes manual gives it its most difficult rating due to lack of access, but I'd love to get some first hand experience.
Thanks
Canuck Read more
It could be the rubber seal in the servo, or the check valve. What you describe is exactly the same as on my 1998 306 diesel.
My wife has just phoned me, the rear electric window of her 04 plate Skoda Fabia has broken and has fallen into the door. Help. Any ideas. She is en-route to the dealer. Any thoughts.
No need to shout, can we try to help this guy, deleted the replies so far -( PU -mod.)
Read more
Excellent, thank you very much. I have sent Skoda uk an e-mail a request that they get it fixed as a good will gesture, as the car is only 2 months out of warranty..
I was amazed when in London in the past few years that anyone could consider these an improvement on routemasters with their difficulty in negotiating London Streets/junction and length. Today in the Evening Standard it reports that the powers that be (ie Mr Livingstone et al) have decided to increase the number of these 60 foot monsters despite the latest casualty figures: More than 5 accidents per year PER bendy bus - 75% more than other buses - 170% more collisions with cyclists - 115% more pedestrian injuries. Two people killed in the last six months alone. Doesn't mention if any cars are damaged but I suspect they are.
Basically one driver is driving two buses with three doors, so apart from the risk to other road users, far dodging is triple that on other buses.
Someone somewhere must be getting an incentive to order more of these!
Who elects these people? Read more
air conditioned as well arent they
I went on one from Victoria to Park Lane on a warmish afternoon back in May and it certainly didn't feel air-conditioned in the back bit (which seemed to be about the only part of the bus without seats reserved for one sort of user or another). I was practically melting by the time I got off. Made me wonder whether the engine cooling system was up to the job, frankly. Oh, and seeing the front bit of the bus move about relative to where I was sitting was very un-normal.
Seeing as the back bit has the engine one assumes it has all sorts of anti-jackknifing devices fitted in the coupling bit, yes?
I see that Kia are launching the Kia Ceed Estate, looks like a fine all-round family barge, the sort I may buy at a couple of years old to replace the current Octavia. I read a journo review somewhere and they were hard-pressed to split the difference between the hatch version and the Focus/Megane etc, so it must be pretty good. Anyone bought one or driven one? Read more
Yes Citroen's are cheaper than Peugeots for which I am very grateful. However they are
not 'cheap' compared with Peugeots with regard to quality.
My point exactly.
Citroen are no worse than Peugeot (indeed, as you point out, they're probably better in many respects at the moment). But then neither are Skoda inferior to VW, and likewise -- and this is the key point -- neither are (the newer) Kias in any way inferior to most Far-Eastern brands.
It's all about perception.
My girlfriend took her car for a main dealer service yesterday. As the staff were processing her details to let her have a courtesy car, she presented her old paper driving licence and was told, "Ah, sorry there is a £6 admin charge if you do not have a photocard licence."
When she queried it she was told that, "its because there is some information on a photocard licence that is not on a paper licence."
Has anyone else been charged in similar circumstances? I've never heard of it before.
Six quid is an insignificant amount, but in terms of the principle of it it struck me as strange. All I can think of is a card licence has a photo on it, or is it the barcode?
The garage does car and van hire too so I presume they take this £6 off people hiring vehicles too. Is this a common practice, or are they just extracting that little bit extra from (some of) their customers? Read more
I guess that the garage wants sight of the 'paper' part as that is the one which has a record of points and convictions. The photocard proves who you are = photo ID but doesn't tell them anything about your driving history
(Driving in France)
The rear number plate on my car has the usual small blue GB band on the left hand side, but the front one has nothing at all.
Having noticed that all other cars with these have them on the rear AND front, I'm wondering if I'm required to stick one on the front plate too.
After all, cars without these newer plates are allowed to have one of the older type big stickers on the back only. Read more
Number plates are generally made up in pairs, anyway, which I suppose is why you tend you get two GB plates or two plain ones. I'd guess one of Brill's has been replaced at some stage.
Browse
The actual official photos are far worse than those spy shots!