September 2007
I have just changed my alternator on my car but now the fan belt is now
squeaking does it need tightening or letting out ?
s Read more
Thinking of changing our trusty wheelchair accessible T4 Caravelle for the newer T5 model.
Does anyone have any experiences of the new model? The car by car breakdown suggests that they are not as bulletproof as first thought.
Also quite like the look of the new despatch any thoughts.
Thanks,
Mark
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My earlier company used several of them as fleet car [van]. Drivers told me that they were usually very reliable. Their alternate vehicle was Ford Transit. And they said VWs were far better than Ford's. In fact, I took ride on both and VW scores much higher on journey comfort :)
anyone know if i can get a cat B car re-registered after it`s repaired ?, damage is so slight (offside rear quarter) two repair garages have questioned as to why it was given a cat B, with so little damage, also i have the full log book, and service history Read more
hello all, i to have purchased a category b write off in the past a 54 plate vauxhall astra a similar story to your own. very minor front offside damage but was bought from salvage auction although displayed as cat c, until i took it for vic check after doing repairs, was informed about cat b status but again had no real problems registering just an educated idiot working at local dvla office that couldnt understand the concept of write off categorys, was registered and taxed that day. so goes to show the system doesnt work as its meant to. thank pink fluffy dice for grey areas.am still using car a year later . at less than half of top book value.
I haven't been driving our car for a bit, so didn't know that the 'service needed' light has been lighting up on and off for 10 days or so. I don't know where my husband has put the manual.
Do any of you Volvo drivers know whether it's a non-urgent 'good idea to get a service soonish' (it was MOT'd 6 weeks ago, and had a pre-holiday small service in May), or more important? I was planning to drive 200/300 miles tomorrow - presumably that shouldn't be a problem?
Thanks
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On our v70 it comes on when you start and flashes then goes off after 5 mins or so. Then on again next start.
You dont say how old it is.
On ours you reset by holding in the tripmeter button, turning the ignition to the first position then release the tripmeter button when it starts to flash.
well something liket hat anyway. I'll look it up later.
You should know when the last service was done and therefore how much of an issue it is - Check the warranty terms to see how far over you can go without volvo having a strop about maintaining the service history.
Because of the price of the C class Mercedes in expensive Dublin ( much dearer than in UK because of tax on new cars), I feel it is almost better to buy a 200 E Class Mercedes or a 520 D 5 series BMW. They even sugested in an Irish magazine, that for very little more Irish drivers could well go for the least powerful 200 E . I know one would get much greater room and more comfortable ride and still get good residuals, if the engine isn't too large. No one likes too much tax!! The BMW 5 series looks nice and modern with it's latest improvements. Apparently they have now improved the troublesome I-Drive.
I would be extremely grateful if anyone can give me any hints or information on the subject between these two luxury cars. I have proof that Mercedes have now fixed their problems and I have also seen that BMW have fixed their problems with the 5 series. I have read that although very economical, the base 520 D BMW needs to be reved hard pulling away from traffic lights etc ( gearing may be too high)?I would definitely go for automatic with Mercedes.
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Cattleman I forgot to sat the Merc' estate was 'T' reg.
MD
Carrying on from the scotland thread and loopy drivers,can anyone explain to me why people would drive to an area of outstanding beauty ,have a picnic wrap their rubbish in a supermarket carrier bag and then throw it out of the car window?
I just cannot get my head round the fact they can actually do this. Read more
>I just cannot get my head round the fact they can actually do this
I wonder if it's 'solidarity' with the litter pickers i.e. keep them in a job.
By the way I think they do a great job, just wish there were twice as many of them.
I am looking for a car to tow my caravan this is going to be a second car used mainly for holidays and running about.I want a diesel estate with a budjet of 2k,i have looked on autotrader and seen quite a few peugeot 406 estate and was going to go for one of these,but then a friend recommended looking at a Volvo V40,i can buy one for simular money which would make the best car regarding reliability,cost of running,insurance,street cred,etc?
ta Andrew. Read more
"PSA vehicles, Peugeot/Citroen, usually have low noseweight limits because of their typically French, ie soft, suspension which spoils what would otherwise be good towcars."
Not sure that applies to the hydraulic Cits - Xantia, C5 etc.
Our Xantia 110 HDi has just clocked up 95k and a month towing faultlessly on the continent as it has done for the last 4 or 5 summers (except when the exhaust back box fell off a couple of years ago) and has a max noseweight of 85kg other Cits are similar (XM estate is 110kg) see
www.clicreports.co.uk/
(go to kerbweights in left column and select car)
406 estate is 80kg noseweight.
V40 noseweight is not given but V70 and S70 is 75kg and on a towbar fitting site Witter quote a noseweight of 75kg for the V40. Most vans seem to have a recommended noseweight of about 70 kg, but may be higher - I think it is recommended that noseweight should be between 4% and 7% of the van's kerbweight.
Xantia HDi is an excellent towcar by the way!
--
Phil
I see that a Weymouth butcher has been forced to remove sausages in the shape of the Olympic logo from his butchers shop window display.
Does that now mean that a certain German car manufacturer will not be allowed to use the same logo on the front of their cars, or will the ban be just for English businessmen with Germans being exempt? Read more
You mean he got his sausages to look like this..?
tinyurl.com/ysfpvu
:-)
I appear to be experiencing what looks like blue exhaust smoke for a very short while after starting up the engine and when its cold. From what I've observed so far (for the very short time I've owned the vehicle) it seems to disappear after around a minute. The smoke is by no means excessive, but it is causing me a little worry. I have just brought the vehicle and treating it to a diet of good quality fuel and "redex" fuel system cleaner. Is there anything I can do. I've just had an oil change new filter done. Vehicle is a Vauhxall Movano van with a 2.8 TDI engine, done 138K.
I see you can get these "smoke reducing" liquids from Halfords and other motor places, that you put in with the engine oil. How do they work exactly and are they effective in reducing blue/black smoke in your experience?? They also claim to improve compression
Thanks, Dan
Vehicle details included in subject line and second post merged into first - PU Read more
Sounds like valve stem seals-oil trickles down the valve stems whilst engine is stationary-ignore.Redex will come out as smoke as well.As to "snake oils"-a fool and his money are soon parted.
I drove up from Ashford this morning, Everything was running smoothly. All was well with the world... Then i hit the m25 heading down to the dartford tunnel.
In the distance i could see brake lights and cars veering out of the way of.....A NUMPTY REVERSING UP THE INSIDE LANE BECAUSE HE`D MISSED THE JUNCTION FOR THE A2!
Some people are just blind to the dangers of motorway driving.
Shouting not edited I think I would have as well ! - PU Read more
I nearly ran into some idiot reversing thro' a tunnel(with a bend in it )on the Periphique.
did you overtighten it though so the alternater bearings wil be shot in a month and the alternator man says no its fixer error ;-0