October 2007
My mother-in-law has just taken delivery of a new Kia Sedona. I've had a short drive in in it - its a 2.9 Tdiesel auto.
First impressions - well built, with better quality internal fittings and trim than the Trajet my wife has. Solid feeling body, with eveything working as it should and better than anticipated. Electric sliding doors are very convenient. Dashboard seems to be reasonably well laid out, although climate control buttons are too numerous, with the least used bottons as big s the ones that are used frequently.
Driving - wow - quick off the mark for anything, diesel, auto or both. Remarkably smooth and quiet inside although I think it s lot noisier outside. A shot drive revealed it to be reasonably adept over potholes and speed bumps - again better than the Trajet.
Value - well if you insist on buying brand new I think its pretty, good. She has the top of the range with electric drivers seat, leather, heated seats, cruise etc. The only disapointment is lack of radio controls on the wheel. Confortable seats as well. I just got in and drove. £22,000 OTR approx.
Compared to the alternatives (Citroen/Pug, Galaxy, Espace & Voyager, it is better value, has better warranty - that you are unlikely to need - and looks quite good as well - quite sharp and appers to be shorter than its predecessor. That makes refreshing change.
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There now seems to be a trend for manufacturers to produce cars which are virtually identical appearance-wise - only in various degrees of size. As an example, the Volvo S40/S60/S80 would appear to have been produced by sticking the plans through a photocopier set on 40/60/80% - maybe that's why they're called that!
Is maintaining 'corporate identity' stifling creativity within a manufacturer's styling team? Read more
Don't forget the Audi 100 coupe and the Aston Martin DBS (1970's).
Well, you have to squint and see them from a distance in poor light.
Just returned from home in Germany and the brother in law has just bought a brand new Civic in black nice looking car ,in the logbook it states it is a Honda Rover Civic,is there something we are not been told about Rover. Read more
Sorry, misunderstood the first post.
As AE says, maybe German computer systems suffer from RIRO sometimes too.
Just read this week's Honest John column in the Telegraph: tinyurl.com/33urse
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My wife's 2002 Jaguar X-type went for a service and MoT recently. All was in good order, but an advisory notice was issued to tell us the "rear number plate might fail the next MoT". How can this be?
D.B., Norwich
# Number plates delaminate. Once the numbers start to become obscured, it's an MoT failure.
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Just wanted to point out another reason the advisory might have been issued is due to new MOT regulations for registration plates which came in force 1st October 2007.
Source: tinyurl.com/yrh6nv (Auto Express: MoT clampdown on reg plates)
QUOTE: "Plates fitted to models registered after 1 September 2001 that arent embossed with the name and postcode of the supplier and BS AU145d British Standard symbol will result in an automatic failure. The move is designed to make it easy for testers to spot non-road-legal show plates, as these dont have a BS symbol."
Also press release at VOSA tinyurl.com/2qlzdy (with additional PDF document link from that page for other complying issues for plates.)
I know 2 people who've failed on their plates this month due to no postcode or no British Standard symbol on the plates, even though the plates came with their cars, brand new are unaltered from the dealer's, on Year 2002 models.
And from what I can tell having looked around a bit on my travels, alot of people are gonna fall foul of these MOT regulations come the busiest testing times. I reckon it's a good idea to check your plates before you go, cause it can be a right hassle with retests / paying again ect.
PS:- I searched forums and saw that Dwight Van Driver mentioned the new regulations a few weeks ago, but he didn't seem to state what's needed to comply with them. Read more
Road Vehicles (Display of Registration Marks) Regs 2001
Schedule 1 :-
VEHICLES REGISTERED AND NEW REGISTRATION PLATES FITTED ON OR AFTER 1ST
SEPTEMBER 2001 (MANDATORY SPECIFICATION)
1. The plate must be made of retroreflecting material which, as regards its construction, colour and
other qualities, complies with the requirements of?
(a) the British Standard specification for retroreflecting number plates published on 15 January
1998 under number BS AU 145d(a), or
(b) any other relevant standard or specification recognised for use in an EEA State and which, when
in use, offers a performance equivalent to that offered by a plate complying with the British
Standard specification,
and which, in either case, IS MARKED WITH THE NUMBER (or such other information as is necessary to permit
identification)OF THAT STANDARD OR SPECIFICATION..
The British Standard also requires that a number plate must be marked with the following information: -
The British Standard Number (currently BS AU 145d)
The name, trade mark, or other means of identification of the manufacturer or componentsupplier. (The company who actually make the number plate.)
The name and postcode of the supplying outlet.
(The 'supplying outlet' is taken to mean a company whose business consists wholly or partly of selling number plates.)
A non-reflective border and the Euro-symbol with the national identification letters are optional additions.
There shall be no other markings or material contained on the number plate
.Further information about the British Standards requirements can be obtained at www.bsi-global.com.
(Snap Martin?)
dvd
There was a slightly daft feature in the Observer today offering tips on how to be off-grid ie make it hard to be tracked by CCTV, credit card usage, mobile phone usage etc and it made the claim that fitting infrared bulbs in place of normal number plate bulbs was legal but would defeat ANPR which uses infrared and would therefore be foxed by infrared light flooding the reg plate.
This sounds pretty unlikely to be true and I would have thought it was illegal.
Anyone know for sure? Read more
The Road Vehicles (Display of Registration Marks) Regulations 2001
9 (5) The plate to be lit so that it is easily distinguishable from every part of a relevant area having a diagonal length -
(a) in the case of a plate displaying a mark having characters with a width of 44 millimetres, of 15 metres, and
(b) in any other case, of 18 metres.
11 (2) A registration plate must not be treated in any other way which renders the characters of the registration mark less easily distinguishable to the eye or which would prevent or impair the making of a true photographic image of the plate through the medium of camera and film or any other device.
Could therefore be illegal?
dvd
I recently checked the oil on this diesel car and thought it needed a top up as the level was just above the lower red mark an the stick. I must have put about half a pint in and now the oil high light occasionally comes on when cruising. It stays on for about 30 secs then goes and sometimes does the same a few miles later. Any one else had this? Read more
I would let some out again. It won't do it any good to be running whilst overfilled.
Ron
1995 C280 Elegance (for comfort)
1995 Corsa Swing (for daily commute)
2005 206CC Allure (for fun)
A friend has just brought a V reg 1.8T Sharan with 90k on the clock. I was checking it over for him and noticed that there was a thick layer of "mayonnaise" on top of the coolant in the expansion tank. However there was no sign of any under the oil filler cap, and the oil has not been changed that recently by the look of it.
First thought is a blown head gasket, but other than a tendancy to get hot a bit quick (it does not overheat) it drives fine. Any other ideas?
Also any maintenance tips for this motor? It has unknown service history for the last 2 years so I guess the cambelt and water pump is near the top of the list.
TIA
Joe
SLT Read more
If its of any consequence ,ive got a well used 1.8T with 205,000klms on the clock, and its still very perky . It has an LPG Conversion which helps to keep the costs down . It doesnt have the roof bars which i miss and could make use off . The only slight problem is the gas deposit tank is inside the boot at the back, so no loading washing machines etc in the rear door . I find the vehicle is so well designed and comfortable with no shortage of power.
Living in a sunny part of Portugal , the interior roofing fabric looses its grip and sags in places.
. I would like to know the trick in getting some fabric glue behind the material without cutting an access hole? Maybe a syringe with fabric glue,??
I would reccomend this type of vehicle as a versatile sporty family vehicle ,great in town and on long runs with excellent handling qualities on curvy mountain roads .
Glad you got that Mayonaise problem solved. (Was it Heinze 57?)
. I got worried when i lost coolant thinking the worst but there is a fairly complex plastcic Branch junction pipe somewhere near the thermostat with wires to it that had a distorted flange with age ,so it needed replaced.
Was just looking on autotrader for a possible cheap replacement for my corolla, and noticed that MkII primeras seem ludicrously cheap - the 96-99 version.
There were quite a lot of very nice condition, not outrageous mileaged cars with high spec for £1000 - 1500.
Any idea why ?
I had one for a while when they were new and they were an excellent car - quick, reliable, handled well, spacious, very high spec, excellent quality.
Why are they valued so low by the 2nd hand market compared to avensis/accords ?
Is it there are problems with them now they are getting older, or just as usual in this country a snob badge thing ?t
SLT including filing into the drop down classifications Read more
>>>BTW, I hope Mrs QM doesn't read this forum
Luckily she doesn't!
She is in what one might call "good condition for years and miles, with a full service history". However she was a sporting and good firm handler some years ago.
Don't you think Audi's A8 needs replacement...?
Recently facelifted (for the second time), it looks just like smaller A6. Everybody goes for the S-class these days. New 7-series due for next year, but what about new A8 ?
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Free enterprise is the basis of western democracy. Read more
Interior better than competitors ? You're joking... OK, better than the 7 Series, but S-Class ? Besides, nothing can match Merc's airmatic suspension, if you ask me. Air in A8 seems too firm, whereas in the 7 Series it's just not available.
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Free enterprise is the basis of western democracy.
Could anyone with the latest 1.8 engine tell me if the car is quiet at motorway speeds, what mpg does it deliver at motorway speeds and are there any reliability issues? thanks for all replies.
SLT Read more
I have the earlier Vectra C 1.8 with 122 BHP. At legal speeds on the motorway you can barely hear the engine - it's mainly road/wind noise that you hear. It's one of the quietest cars I've ever been in. My average fuel consumption is 36 MPG.
The 1.8 engine is great around town and cruising on the motorway. With such a big heavy car it does not accelerate quickly unless pushed hard but if your driving style is focused on getting there smoothly rather than sportily it's a good engine.
I imagine that the 1.8 VVTI with an extra 18 HP will accellerate a little more quickly but most variable valve engines like high revs so I doubt that there will be much more low end 'grunt'
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I'd like to know that too - a friend has a Sedona 2.9td which has developed a water leak in that area.