August 2007
Just had a week on Jersey and hired a Fusion 1.4 diesel. It looks like you can get one for about 8.5k and I have to say it seems a very practical car. Loads of room in the boot and for a 1.4 diesel reasonable performance. The interior was very functional and the switchgear simple to use. The driving position is higher than a normal saloon which I quite liked. Read more
Well largely so anyway.
Calais - Lille - Belgian border: Autoroutes, well surfaced, not too much traffic.
Belgium Mons - Charlerois - Namur - Ardennes: Auoroutes, well surfaced, very little traffic
Belgian main roads: some rubbish surfaces but generally very smooth, very little traffic
Belgian minor roads: mixed bag, very little traffic
Luxembourg: didn't travel extensively but what I did experience was very good surfaces and very little traffic.
Everywhere: no over-regulation of traffic, no over-signing, no cameras; motorists treated like responsible adults.
Iffy surfaces vs BMW M Sport suspension aside, the driving was a joy. I think I'll be back for a second helping come half-term. Read more
You go to a show with classic cars and one of them is a 1990 XR3i cabriolet!
Of more interest was a 1965 Anglia. The car had been owned by the same couple for almost 40 years, then the owner died and his wife became too ill to drive and it was sold to the present owner.
Mileage was 46,500 and they had every piece of paper ever issued for the car, including the sales order which makes interesting reading in comparison to car costs now - I have recalculated costs to today's prices.
The car was a basic spec, not a 'deluxe'. On the road price was £547 (£7,311), but this included some interesting options. Cabin heater £14 (£187) and two wing mirrors supplied and fitted £12 (£160!). Reg plates were £2 (£26) and a years road tax £15 (£200), purchase tax was £3 (£39).
The car had had just one major piece of work which was the replacement of the front wings. Unfortunately the paint colour couldn't be matched accurately due to colour fade of the original car, but the owner is intending on getting the car resprayed at some point in the original grey paint.
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I remember being in the car with my sister at the grand old age of 37, when this topic came up..
my response was, "When you've been driving for longer, than you weren't allowed to." at that time it was 17/20, now it's 17/25 oh my word.
Can anyone recommend a servicing and repair specialist for my '03 MX5 1.8i in the Swindon or Newbury areas please?
Kind Regards
Hugh Read more
It's not quite swindon or newbury, but I used to take ours to Rotechniks nr reading.
A superb independant mazda specialist who'd i'd recommend.
www.myrx8.co.uk/
Is it me or has anyone else experienced soft brakes on a 407?
I have a 55 plated 2L diesel - super car! At normal town speeds the brakes feel fine, except for a little excessive pedal travel in my opinion.
The issue starts when braking heavily from 70 plus mph - the pedal travels a long way down, feels soft, and the amount of pedal effort does not seem to equate to the stopping rate: not a flash from the ABS light (if there is one), not a rumble or any sort or pedal feeling telling me the ABS is operating - and not a squeal from the tyres.
I guess either the ABS is not needed or not working - how can I tell which?
It is not a reassuring feeling when the idiot in front has braked quickly and I am travelling towards him at a rate of knots with half the brake travel gone and the feeling that I'm stamping on a caulliflower - and still no dramatic retardation!
Or is it me?
Kind Regards
Hugh
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Nice Mr. Peugeot at Marshalls Newbury has thoroughly tested the barakes for me and confirms that they are just like any other 2.0 HDi 407. However, he has bled them (not a trivial task on the 407 apparently).
The brakes do now feel a little tighter but to be honest, most reviews of the 407 comment on the brakes and describe them as adequate but no more. One site I read said they lacked 'power'. I say they lack confidence!
Would my P warranty be invalidated if I tried different brake pads? I'm thinking of the 'Green Stuff' pads. Any thoughts guys?
Kind Regards
Hugh
I have just received a new catalogue, which appears to have taken over from "Innovations". Not naming it a s I am going to pretty scathing! The latest magnetic manifestations include the usual fuel line magnets but these work in a new way."- - The activated hydrogen and oxygen molecules bombard the combustion chamber, cleaning the injector nozzles and removing carbon and varnish build up"
The next device is alleged to assist with Masculine Difficulties. "Magnetotherapy is widely believed to encourage blood flow and increase oxygen supply. The 3600 gauss magnets help to increase the supply of sexual hormones" You carry this thing in your pocket for a few hours a day and might get lucky!
Finally, there is a £40 magnetic disc on which you stand a botle of wine and age it by 10 years in 30 minutes. Truly, magnets are all things to all men!
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I realise they work on water, although even that is regarded as snake oil in some quarters (we have an electronic descaler in our house) - I'm talking about their fitment to gas lines. Quite common commercially, and not a trival cost, either...
As this is my first turbo diesel i want to try and keep the turbo healthy. The horror stories of death by turbo failure are not a nice thought therefore i'm looking for advice.
My turbo seems to "spool" up from around 1.6krpm with max torque delivered between 2k and 2.5krpm with max power delivered at 3.6krpm. After 3k miles i find i mainly drive between 1.8 and 2.4k rpm with the occasional burst up to max power. Can i assume that driving within this range my turbo is constantly in use; if so should i be concerned about this if i am to keep the turbo in good shape for years to come?
I'm finding it odd adjusting to the diesel way of life. At this stage there no way i could give up 180bhp and 400nm of torque but i cant help feeling i'm thrashing my car sometimes because of its low down power as i like to treat my cars gently/well so they last a long time. Should i be worried?
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Thanks for that reply, OldSkoOL. You and I are on the same wavelength....perhaps the same generation...ahem. Do let me know if and when you are willing to part company with your Auris.
Slightly moist outside, dusk too,,,,,,,176mph on a motorbike? Not for me thanks, gives me the heebie jeebies.
www.liveleak.com/view?i=531_1188170101
Made non-clickable in accordance with site policy. - PU Read more
and here's the conclusion of my R1 owning colleague:
'That?s in miles, I think. Don?t know what the bike is, but to accelerate like that it must be modified (turbo or something). It may be an old GSXR1000 K1/K2. It went from 130 to 170 in a flick, normally the last few mph take a bit of effort? It would be red-lining at that speed, the revs are appropriate?'
Possibly looking at changing my Megane 225 for something more economical to run and insure/tax as I am likely to be increasing monthly mileage quite a lot from about 200 to around 700 miles a month just commuting.
I always owned the 225 on the basis of lowish mileage and mainly a 'fun' car.
If I look at economy figures from manufactureres what tend be the most accurate as to what I am likely to achieve?
I would like to get around 55mpg if possible - currently get about 26mpg!
Driving will likely be on A roads with 60-70mph limits but in rush hour so sometimes queues. Obviously considered diesel but several people have suggested a reasonable petrol may be just as cheap to run as the car may be cheaper to buy.
Possibly spent to £13000 but less if possible. One other thing. I have also seen the likes of the Focus 1.6TDCi has two versions of the same engine. How would I know which it was?
Andrew Read more
Thank you to everyone who has replied here.
Some very helpful comments, links and feedback. Also to see the actual cost saving that I would (wouldn't) make in fuel is helpful as it gives me a more realistic idea of the point of the exercise.
Although if I did change I would intend to save on insurance, tax and other running costs where possible.
I suspect what I will do is keep the car until I have done a few months of the extended travel and then see just how much more it is costing me to run the vehicle. apart from anything it seems to eat tyres - but that is probably driving style. lol
Andrew
while reversing my car with a trailer on, the clutch got a bit hot, and whilst reving the engine the stereo went pop. I had been listeng to Radio 5, (Medium wave or AM). Result was just noise, as if the radio wasn't tuned in.
It turned out that the stereo, tape player and CD are all fine except the Medium wave. The noise is simple crackle, i.e there is no change in pitch as if its picking up electrical intereference.
Any suggestions on reasons and cure for this strange fault?
Steve Read more
Didn't the Americans broadcast in stereo on AM, I had a friend in school who understood it !
Self Edit. You don't need friends anymore !
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/AM_stereo
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It's not so much the speed, it's the fact that they often drive about 2 car lengths apart at 100mph that worries me more...and personally, I've found the BMW drivers the most aggressive.
Most of the germans do seem to know what they are doing on the motorway, but they just don't seem to be able to get the hang of safe following distances.