July 2007
I'm sure like everywhere this forum has it's fair share of amazingly good drivers who have no need to improve and indeed probably have no interest in doing so.
For the rest of us who aren't deluded here's a great link containing some information you may well already know. Always worth a second read though I think.
drivinghandbook.co.uk/index.htm
Read more
hey all
ive been in the motor trade 16 yrs as a paint sprayer, ive done plenty of mechanical jobs in the body shop and my spare time
the thing is id like to get out of the painting game and maybe try mechanic or mot tester
whats involved getting some recognised qualifications at my age Read more
>>ive been in the motor trade 16 yrs as a paint sprayer
IMO your better off where you are,my brother is a sprayer and earns far more than any mechanics we know,and is more skilled now than fitters are....
As a result of getting an unexpected car (other thread), I'll have to sell one our current cars.
If it takes me a few weeks to sell the old cars, I'll have to get some insurance for the new one and old one, I'm guessing on the same policy? Can't really open a new insurance as the NCD is on the current car, if you see what I mean.
What's the best way to do this, is it a standard thing for insurers to do? I'm thinking it may take us up to a month to sort out - is this too long for an insurer to run two cars on one policy?
Hope this makes sense, would appreciate any advice
Lee
-- Biggedy biggedy bong Read more
I do the same with Direct Line, just paid £35 for 2 weeks temp cover on my 2nd private car, they will do it for up to a month at a time and for 4 times in that year or something like that.
I cliamed for a new windscreen when i first pikced up the car and had only insured it for 3 days, so its like for like cover.
Jon
Hi all,.
Had a bit of luck - I've won a Kia Cee'd for a year after doing their 3 day test drive. Quite looking forward to it, it was a nice car.
I'm now faced with a dilemma. To make it worth my while I should really get rid of either the C4 or the MX5 (and thus not have to pay for them for a year). We really like both cars, wouldn't part with either if it wasn't for this.
We pay the same monthly for each and have a year left on the C4 VT (55) and two years on the MX5 1.6 (04). The C4 is still in warranty for another year, the Mazda is more fun. The C4 is safer than the MX5 (can't help but notice the bare metal roof Meccano next to my head). If we kept both cars for a few years (which was the original plan), the MX5 is likely to hold its value better.
I'd appreciate anyone's ideas and opinions on this.
Oh, the other thing is I've not really sold any cars privately (well, that were worth much) so would it be worth my while approaching dealers with the cars? Would they offer me the guide price on the car, and I'm guessing not, how much less would I expect/be able to get away with.
I've a question on insurance that I'll put into another thread....
tia,
Lee
-- Biggedy biggedy bong Read more
Can give no real input re which car to get rid of but I too won a similar competition. When th Mitsubishi Colt was launched in 2004 I won one for a year. Great car but insurance was EXTREMELY difficult to get hold of. As I had "no insurable interest" in the car no company would touch me. There were 150 winners throughout the UK and many were "insured" online probably by not disclosing all the facts. It was so bad Mitsubishi's insurance underwriters were forced to insure anyone who could not get insurance but the premiims were a joke! I managed to get cover through a local broker and whilst not very cheap I got a good deal. As I said once the insurance was sorted I enjoyed my year with the Colt. I even got a brand new one after 6 mths due to my high mileage.
Be careful with insurance and enjoy!
Last night I was talking to a friend, who's a mechanic in Croydon over the phone. We started talking about old Nissan diesel engines (around 98/99) and he said to me to avoid one because they don't last as long as say VWs.
I used to think that almost all the diesel engines could easily achieve 200+k miles obviously if looked after well. What I'm keen to know is what one could do to increase the life span of a diesel engine and ensure as much trouble free motoring as possible?
Also are all diesel engines bound to easily achieve 200+k miles? I'm in particular interested in Japanese/Mazda diesels (323/626 cars), I'll might go to see a Mazda car on the weekend which has got just over 100k on the clock with full service history! Read more
MazMan, if you're still tuning in I've just filled the tank in my Mazda 323TD and I've clocked up 585 miles being a mix of motorway and urban driving (60/40). I calculate just under 49mpg.
The quaint, and very British, wooden frame may be missing. But the two split rear doors on the new Mini hark back to a classic of the 1960s.
This "grown-up" version of the car will be unveiled on Sunday and is aimed at young couples with families who like the excitement of the popular hatchback but need the flexibility of an estate.
tinyurl.com/34ew5c Read more
"The "Traveller" was the original estate version of the Mini without wood (with wood it was call the Countryman"
I'll be really nerdy now....Actually it depended on the badge - it was the Austin Mini Countryman (originally Austin Seven Countryman, complete with retro 1930s-style starter button on the floor) and Morris Mini Traveller.
Whenm we were married in 1974 I got SWMBO a 1965 Mini Traveller as a second car - it did her very well for a few years. The advantage of the original Morris version was that the grille had narrower slats so that water was less likely to get in and flood the engine than on the Austin version.
Seen more than one or two on the road now the lemmings have started buying in their droves. All I can observe is that Hyundai Sonata owners must be well pleased their cars have been copied by Merc. Marketing opportunity for bonnet badges, AMG Hyundai body kits etc . . . . . . .
What do you guys think? Read more
If one looks up www.cartoday.com and clicks on "driving impresions", there is quite a balanced review of the new C class. He drives the Avantgarde, which is basically the sport in the UK I think. This South African website has always been interesting.
We're considering (only considering) buying a house which has a road running past the bottom fence. At the edge of the road is a layby (which might at one time have been a bus stop) and at the moment there are two cars for sale on it. We're concerned that this practice might cause a nuisance. What is the law regarding selling cars from a public layby and can it be stopped without approaching the seller(s) directly?
--
L\'escargot. Read more
>>>>>Is security high on your agenda, L?escargot? Might some types see the rear of this house as an easy target, with a conveniently positioned lay-by as an added bonus?<<<<<
My thoughts also, and one of the reasons I always avoid selling my unwanted items from the door to strangers as my house is isolated.
Are main dealers any worse than the general public?
I say this because recently posts had pro or anti dealer 'feeling'. I have a two interconnected questions.
1. Why does many people hate dealers in their 'glass palaces'? the real question is why customers go to these 'glass palaces' anyway?
2. One thing I don't like is so called advertising. Simple things in life, like chosing toothpaste is a nightmare. - Go to your local supermarket now and read all the packets of toothpaste and they tell you little. If the machanics and the shareholder is not making money in the dealership business, who is? - could it be the sales staff, the manufacturer etc?
I go to my local indy, but then again I do have a P reg banger and my familiy has used this particular garage for over a decade.
-----------------------------------------------
Torque means nothing without RPM Read more
Torque means nothing without RPM
It does when you're tightening wheel nuts!
--
L\'escargot.
So there will be a Mk II Phaeton
www.autocar.co.uk/News/NewsArticle/Volkswagen-Phae.../ Read more
Well there is a test mule in the AutoExpress this week that might match up with this. Rear/front seem A8. But shortened into a coupe and wheels seem to be Bentley. Interesting. Fact it seems to be a combination of VAG parts then either Bentley, Audi or VW. Bentley as there are lots of vents at the front and the rear so could be hybrid and therefore a way for Bentley to have a lower emission vehicle.
Browse
I think the real point is though that they are mostly total carp and need to improve.