August 2007
Not the greatest car in the world but I do miss my Citroen BX 16V.Quick for its day(and still, 0-60 7.5s 140 mph), great handling, economical , spacious , very different compared with all other hot hatches around, tons of extras , comfortable. Probably one of the last great Citroens.Owned in the days before blanket speed camera coverage!
The Ford Puma I owned a few years back was a huge let down.Never felt quick , didn't like to be revved. Driving position too high , cramped cabin, local Ford dealer (chiselling g#t).Was glad to get rid. Read more
Prices on these have recovered quite a bit in the last 18 months, basically the price has remained static, so if you bought a £28k V10 diesel in early 2006, you could sell it for the same price now.
I rather fancy a W12 6.0 (not LWB) with the massaging seats, etc. These are currently about £28k for an 04 plate (which is still £10k less than the Audi A8 6.0).
I'd like to pay half of that. Any ideas how long I'll be waiting?
And surely a handcrafted (nice factory: forums.vwvortex.com/zerothread?id=1837641) Phaeton with high-quality interior trim will look/run better at 6 years than say a 3-series (same price?) at 3 years.
Bad idea? Read more
Whenever I see people building high end luxury or sports cars I can't help thinking how tragic it is that they'll probably never own one or even get to drive one.
On the subject of the Phaeton at 16 grand!! (cheapest on autotrader) for a V6 I can't help thinking what tremendous value they look. 25 grand for the cheapest V10 Diesel and similar for a newer 3.0V6 diesel from a franchised dealer also seem like good prices. If I was looking for a fat-man cruiser I'd take one over an A8.
Drove a new TDCi 140 manual saloon today (only 20 miles or so).
It was a TitX with standard suspension but optional larger alloys.
Impressions were: VERY quiet and refined. Almost zero road / wind noise. Felt very planted on the road and absorbed bumps without crashing or shuddering.
Steering feels too light initially and could do with a bit more feel but is very accurate. Almost no body roll and very neutral handling, with that nice Mondeo trait of feeling sharper the faster you go.
Initial in-gear throttle response was much softer than my Passat 130 Sport (there was none of the VAG PD-engine thump in the back) but it picked up smoothly and strongly, and the speedo climbed pretty damn quick .... long-travel throttle pedal too.
Overall, refinement and handling are excellent, even on badly-made B-roads.
Looks like my next company car choice is made ...
Read more
The speedo in the mondeo actually is a bit of a joke it reads to
160mph and the increments are very close together.
Why, the 2.0 TDCi will do 130-135, the 2.5T perhaps 145, that would be an indicated 150, 160 is about right.
I recently changed the rocker cover gasket on my 1998 fiesta...1.3 Endura e type.
A few days later I noticed it was leaking again!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!1
Am I missing something here? The gasket is the cork type and as far as I can see can only be fitted the one way.
I was careful to torque the bolts down correctly and cleaned the seating area thoroughly.
I have a new gasket bought to fit but would l;ike to know what I am doing wrong to cause the leak?
Any help appreciated! Read more
You might find that the holes that the securing bolts fit through have pulled down through overtightening, (as said, distorted cover). Just tap the hole area back level with the rest of the sealing surface. Bit of Wellseal, job done !
I think I now know the reason for the way some people drive...:-)
tinyurl.com/34xaot
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
What\'s for you won\'t pass you by Read more
Yes Aprilia. I remember sympathising with him too. No damage done.
It may be me, and apols if you've already discussed this, but in the last couple of weeks in particular, I've seen a surprising number of cars using what I assume are illegal number plates - silver letters/numbers on a black background. All the cars are well younger than 1973 vintage(!) and are UK numbers.
Yesterday, whilst stuck for far too long on Leicester inner ring road, I saw at least half a dozen.
They have been a mixed bunch - a few yoofs in their Corsas and Saxos, but also older people in very young Mercs, BMWs et al. Also tended to be silver or black paint to match the plates.
Do they think that cameras etc won't pick them up, I wonder?!
I can understand why they fit them from an asthetic point of view, but you would think that they are making themselves stand out a tad too much.
Oh, silly me, we don't have traffic police to have a quiet word, do we.
Read more
<<<<<<<< >>>>>>
You would be surprised. Before they were made mandatory I attended a nighttime demo at an ex WWII drome/now racing circuit put on by 3M's
Parked vehicles with reflective plates stood out far earlier when approaching at speed far earlier than the black and whites. As a safety aid they were superior.
dvd
hi,
Just follwoing on from the thread from the V12 engines.
I have always driven 4 cylinder car, and occasioanly had the chance to drive a few v6's.
I assumed differestn engines will have different characteristics?
Can anyone tell me what each one would be like to drive, overtake, sound etc?
Interested in comments on all engines
3 cylinders
4 cylinders
5 cylinder
6 cylinder
8 cylinders
12 cylinders
why are most of the cars on the road 4 cylinders?
would it be possible to have say a 1.8 petrol v12?
would be awesome in a mondeo!! Read more
And for a real oddity at the other end of the scale, listen and watch a single cylinder semi-diesel Fieldmarshall tractor. At idling speed, about 60 rpm, it heaves up and down with a deep grunt like a steam engine, sending smoke rings out of an enormous exhaust pipe.
I need to change the spark plugs on a 2003 VW Polo 1.4 16v. I have taken a look at the engine but cannot see how the four plug-top coils are held in place. Do they just pull off the plugs (after disconnecting the electical connector) or is there some kind of locking mechanism holding them in place? Read more
Nobody knows then?
whats the difference between synth and semi synth oils...thanks Read more
The small octane difference: how does that contribute to sludging? It still seems to me that it is a function of the lubricant, and possibly fuel quality.
Incident yesterday where a guy was sitting on a single yellow line in his car and a warden asked him to move. He advised the warden that he was doing nothing illegal, as the line was not a solid yellow line as it was worn away with various breaks along it. He was then told that he was illegal as there was a small sign saying no stopping at any time or words to that affect. Anyway the guy was not for moving and the warden was processing the ticket when the passenger returned to the vehicle and they left.
I am interested to know who was in the right.
This happened in Glasgow city centre.
Read more
See:
www.parking-appeals.gov.uk/RegAndLeg/parkingRegu.a...p
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
What\'s for you won\'t pass you by
Browse
So far the best car I've owned was the Ford Ka, simply for it's reliability in it's three years of ownership before wanted to change to a 03 reg Ford Fiesta.......
worst thing i've owned electrical problems with engine management light coming on when it wanted to
The steering would start shaking at around 70 mph
Had a big thirst for coolant as well as fuel!!!
Enough said about that.
--
Its not what you drive, its how you drive it! :-)