October 2007
Does anyone have experience of the VW 115 hp petrol engine fitted to some octavias,fabias and superbs? I would like to know the mph/1000rpm please.
My old passat 1.8 is deafening me at 3500 revs equating to 70mph
Thanks for any replies.
s Read more
Some of you may have read about our MINI probs in technical matters and the distinct lack of reliability and dealer problems.
Once they have eventually replaced the headgasket (or not) we will definately be trading the car in - or maybe sold private if there are no faults..
What to replace it with though? Its her car and she wants something as fun/cheeky/stylish (her words!) which rules out the usual ford/vx/Pug etc with a budget of around £5-7K - preferably no older than 4 years although for the right suggestion may stretch that. Any profit is going into my MGF/TF fund for a weekend runabout...
My initial suggestions are: Alfa 147 (my preference), buy the MG and have one car less to run, VW Beetle (dont like it), Fiat Grande Punto and thats where I am stuck!
Any more??
Thanks in Advance Read more
Fiat 500 - there was a test on Fifth Gear - they reckon its the new MINI.
That's becoming more & more like a back-handed compliment, judging by the growing BR concensus - I wouldn't pay the fashion-victim price for the Gucci go-kart again (done that, got the t-shirt).
I went for a walk on Sunday evening and saw some new people had moved in in the next road. What caught my eye was that both their cars has these hanging signs in their back windows. One was 'Mum's Taxi' and the other 'Dad's Taxi'. Both had a 'Baby on Board' sign as well. It got me to thinking 'Why do these people block their windows with these stupid signs?'. I cannot imagine that other people alter their driving in response to these signs. In fact the only reason I can think of is that these signs make the driver think they do not have to obey the rules of the road, e.g. on the school run. Any other ideas? Read more
Better still a sign that says "Mother-In-Law onboard" That way people will sympathise with your slow driving.
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VW Bora (51) 2.0 SE
VW Touran (54) 1.9 TDI
i have a 1995 316i coupe and on start up and for a while after the car idles at slightly above 1000rpm, it drops and down then goes back up to around that level - self reving. the car has done 151k, do you think the erratic idling could be down to the high mileage the cars done or maybe it could be the MAF.
any other suggestions?
s Read more
Really appreciate both advice and thank you.
will get a new cvv tomorrow, if no joy then i know a mobile mechanic with diagnostic equipment and he will be called.
Hi All, I've been reading the site for a while and now I need some advice!
I start a new job next month and for the first time in nine years I won't have a company car. I've got around £7000 to spend and I'm looking for a diesel estate, I hope to change it in a year or so once I've worked out how the finances are going.
So far I'm thinking of:
Audi A4 Avant - I've seen some with high mileage (130,000 / 03 plate), does anyone know if they go on much futher?
Mazda 6 - I've currently got an 07 plate and it's okay
Saab - 9-5
Volvo - either V40 or V70
Also, I've been to cargiant and some of the cars there look interesting - does anyone have experience or buying from them?
Any thoughts would be appreciated!
Thanks, Matt Read more
Can I ask the same question but at £3-4000?
My excellent 2005 Golf Estate has just been written off in an accident and I want to replace it with something similar sized but cheap.
I thought of Astra, Focua, Octavia all as diesel estates. Don't care about image but want reasonable reliability.
Any suggestions? Would an older TD4 Freelander as an alternative be completely insane?
Any other ideas welcome!
Here we go mods - you'll love this thread!
www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/s/1018446_dea...s
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Just want to point out that the MOT is about to check number plate legality, including:
- the obvious size/type of characters
- symbols on the left can only be legal country flags
- name and postcode of number plate maker needs to be included
Came into force on Monday I Think
Hi all,
just 2 days ago I went to a fast fit type place - {edit by DD} and let them full service and MOT my C3.
Last weekend I saw that my left front light isn't working.I told the mechanic to fix that, what he did.
Then I got the car back (it was raining on that day) and a day later I recognized that in that this light is no full with condensed water!. I called them up and they all (3 mechanics) said that it was like that before but just before I gave the car to them I checked that light and there was no water! The light is working but the water is over half the light now.
So what shall I do now? Shall I look for legal advise?
I called the customer service and they didn't care about this problem.
s Read more
I don't see how they can have it both ways. You asked them to fix a light. Either it was already full of water, in which case returning it to you still full of water was not fixing it. Or it was empty when you handed it over, but has since filled because the job was not done properly.
Just bought a 2nd hand Megane. When braking gently to a halt I can hear and feel a pulsing on the brake pedal just for the last second or so until car stops.
No problem with braking function and it doesn't happen on hard braking, just a bit irritating, anyone got any ideas?!
Thanks!!
s Read more
I have a 1999 Clio mk.2 that does exactly the same thing. Traced to a broken tooth on the wheel sensor reluctor ring. Also, check that the the ring isn't cracked or loose on the wheel hub, as this can sometimes be a problem. Don't worry too much though - mine's been doing this for years without any adverse effect on braking performance or safety.
I have a Ford Mondeo diesel for sale. Have already placed an advert on this fabulous website. Apart from pistonheads.co.uk is there any other websites where one can advertise for free. I thought i will give them a try first before advertising in autotrader
Thanks in advance Read more
IMO Auto Trader successes depend on where you live.
I used to swear by them when I lived in the midlands as I had several successes, but I have never sold a car though them down in Cornwall, despite trying several times.
I have used Ad Trader and Admart with success.
I have also used e bay successfully twice.
In the days before e bay I also managed to sell a Morris Oxford via one of those free ads site that set up, possibly Findit.co.uk though I can't remember. I also did my own website for it and got some enquiries through that.
I have never sold a vehicle by word of mouth, but did buy my Discovery that way
Stuart Milne visits Toyota's HQ to drive the Hilux that took Top Gear to the North Pole,
tinyurl.com/33x6wl
What I like from the article is,
Shockingly, it's almost road legal. With numberplates and a tax disc, all which would be required to get it through its MOT would be tyres free from studs and the dark tints removed from the front side windows ? important to avoid snow glare...... Read more
>>moved the front axle and suspension forward 40mm to allow the front doors to open.
Didn't they open before then? ;-) maybe Clarksons "Duke of Hazzard" style driving included leaping in through the side windows!.
Billy
Browse
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I'm seriously considering a diesel when I next change my car, but why did manufacturers have to ruin the crusing ability of their petrol cars in this way? I loved my mk11 Astra as a motorway car.