August 2007
Prompted by Bobby G's reply to a post of mine in the thread "insurance, how to get big enough courtesy car":-
Yes, my Vectra-C has gone to the scrapyard in the sky after having an argument with a VW Passat.
Before Pic:-
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After Pics:-
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I should point out that I parked it on the grass bank to get it off the carriageway, rather than being shunted there during the accident. I should also mention that everyone involved walked away from the crash with no serious injuries. No idea if the airbags went off in the Passat - they didn't go off in the Vectra. Mind you I was only going about 5 to 10 mph when I drove into the side of the Passat that was travelling considerably faster.
Bought 2nd hand at 6 months old with 9,500 miles on the clock, and prior to the accident she had given me 3 years trouble free motoring, along with never missing a beat in the 27,500 miles we had together.
I would say RIP (Rust In Peace) dear Vectra. You copped it so early in your short life (not helped of course by me pulling out into the path of the above mentioned Passat). You were only 3½ years old, and only had 37,000 miles on the clock. But alas, I fear you'll be re-incarnated as the insurance company have classed you as a cat D write off. That is despite valuing your pre-accident value at just over £6600, and prematurely stopping the repair estimate when it reached £5300, and suggesting that at least another £1000 damage could potentially be found if they had started any repairs. The bodyshop reckoned you were a Cat B write off, but obviously the insurance assessor knows better.
Out of the handful of cars I've owned over the past 20 years, you were the most reliable and comfy car I've ever had. Should you ever rise again from the scrapyard, may you serve your new master with the same reliability and comfort that you had served me.
Now if you've read down this far, you may be asking what my replacement car is? Well, sorry to disappoint you folks, but it's yet another Vauxhall Vectra.
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www.just-auto.com/article.aspx?ID=91229
Review of dual-clutch transmission.
"We see a future where manual transmission may even be legislated against. That could create an environment where you need automated manual transmissions,"
(£495 for a fuller report) Read more
>>Like the original Lotus Elan, gearchange like a light switch, click-click, fabulous. <<
Having driven both the MX5 and the Elan, above, I can say that I found the gearchange to be identical in feel and sound in both vehicles. I am convinced that the MX5 has a tape player linked to the gearlever, with a recording of the Elan gearchange which cuts in when needed!
From a Police interview on BBC News 24 at about 10:25pm.
It was stated that the M40 will remain closed, in the Warwick area, until Mon afternoon.
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If it had been one of our loved ones instead of - it seems -
a Hell's Angel would we be so unconcerned?
GroovyMucker, who said anything suggesting or implying unconcern or lack of concern?
It's just, why should concern result in a 30 hour road closure? There is no rational connection.
Good evening to you all. For the last 2 months or so, the orange 'water in fuel' warning light on my 1994 306 1.9TD has been flashing intermittently. Sometimes it stays on for several minutes, sometimes 2 or 3 seconds or it will go several days without it coming on at all. I've drained the fuel filter- to no avail and yesterday I changed the fuel filter- again to no avail.
The car starts fine and performance is still good, as is the fuel economy, which leads me to believe that it's likely to be a simple electrical fault. As the car is 13 years old and with 203k on the clock, I'm not worried in any way, but i just wonder if any other proud 306TD owners have experienced the same problem?
Martin Read more
My 405 TD does this from time to time. I ignore it, though I do change the filter on time.
Hi guys,
I have recently decided to bring my old Peugeot 205 XS back to life after roughly 2 or 3 years of sitting around collecting dust (amonst other bits of green bits!!).
I know for a little while before it was parked up, it seemed to pass a very small amount of oil into the water and also a little bit of oil into the spark plugs on the 2nd and 3rd bore. I'm fairly certain that the head gasket will need changing but there are a few questions I have before I attempt this
1: Is there a chance that after a while the head may have warped slightly ( I have heard rumours this "may" happen). The engine (last time it was run) still goes like a rocket!!
2: With the engine having wet liners is it a complete pain to do?
and lastly (although i know this wont be the last question I post) 3: What other peugeot models use the TU3 engine that my XS runs as i may just try and source a good engine from somewhere?
Thanks in advance to any one that can help
Cheers
Slight tweak to subject line to reflect problem - PU Read more
Hi Kingpin, your right it is the twin choke carbed version, absolutely cracking car. I didn't realise that the diesels used the same bottom end?? Would it be safe to assume that its just the block thats the same and not the pistons or crank, if it was it may well be worth rebuilding one with a view to dropping it straight in. If this is the case then it certainly means there is far more choice out there. I have been hunting around fro either another XS or AXGT that I can tear apart for parts but it doesnt seem like anyone wants to give them up for a cheap price (cant say as Im blame them really).
I was once informed that these engines did have wet liners and to avoid breaking them when removing the head you should twist the head rather then just lifting it straight off, I dont suppose your good self or anyone could confirm that for me. As cash is really tight I'm gonna do most of the work myself (gulp!!).
Many thanks
Pug-boi
Have been thinking of buying one of these,the layout of two leaning front wheels which can be locked vertically when stopped so that the machine can not fall over either when stopped or parked I find attractive,does anyone out there have any experience of these?,your comments would be welcome.
ndbw Read more
bump ... any progress ? I'm curious to know what the verdict was.
In the main I am happy with my Y Reg Astra Auto but I'm miffed that it let me down at the start of a holiday run recently which meant that it had to get a piggyback to my local garage, who diagnosed a faulty EGR valve. This valve was replaced when I bought the car last July and I am very disappointed at the need to replace it again so soon. Can someone advise if annual replacement is par for the course?
Furthermore, I was surprised that I couldn't start the engine again after waiting by the roadside for a while. Is this normal?
Tweaked to show age in subject line - PU Read more
Oh for the days of SU carbs and distributors!
You'd only be back on here with a blocked jet or a misfire that you couldn't cure!
My better half is bored with our 240-260 bhp MKV Golf GTi DSG and says she fancies something RWD and that's actually quick (think she's jealous of the RS4) and therefore I've been looking at trade ins of the Golf plus a couple of grand.
The only options I can think of for 15-19K are E39 M5 or E46 M3. Which would you choose and can you think of any other options. The car in question must be reasonably practical, fast (ie more than the Golf which is lackluster at best despite it's handling prowess) and not too old or unreliable.
I only see the two BMW's as options- which would you pick and why? Read more
I didn't accuse you of being vain. If you read it, I called it a 'vanity plate' which seems like a totally different thing to me, not relating to you at all.
As for forgetting, not likely she just emailed me a link to a load of Caymans she likes the look of.
Had the Nissan Note for about a year now with no drama or fuss.
Until we have a few days of sunshine recently. Pull down sunvisor and push it against windscreen and it gradually starts "coming away" from the windscreen within a few minutes and "hanging" directly down from the rail. Resulting in spending half the journey punching the sunvisor back against the windscreen so that I can see more of the road.
It has been OK up until recently, at least I think it has - not much sunshine this year to warrant the use of the visor, LOL!
Is there a simple fix for this or is it a warranty job? Could try the sticky tape on the rail routine but I am hoping for a more elegant solution before I literally punch the visor through the windscreen one day.
Thanks in advance for any thoughts or ideas.
Regards,
Steve
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Thanks Aprilia.
I'll contact the dealer {now correctly spelt - DD} for a warranty job.
Steve
Just heard on radio that the m40 is closed due to a shooting.
motorcyclist shot on the road? Read more
Its being dealt with as a murder - thread locked.
Browse
Lud,
You are correct, another auto. Same engine and gearbox as before though (2.2 petrol and tiptronic box).
Not sure about the new version being more sprightly. This one is loaded with more toys and therefore I imagine heavier. Leather, sat nav, climate. However, I have noticed there is less autobox lag between changes and the engine being slightly more responsive. Mind you, after driving around in a Ford KA hire car for 2 weeks, anything would feel faster.