October 2007
I have an 05 plate Barchetta still under warranty so I am forced to deal with my local Fiat garage :-(.
The car regularly stalls at idle speed although the fault is intermittent, hence every time it goes to the garage they find no fault! I know it's not pilot-error as I can declutch at over 2000 revs and it will still happen. If I blip the throttle every time I declutch no problem occurs. Do you have any suggestions as to the cause?
Many many thanks in advance if you could advise me.
Kind regards,
Iwan.
s Read more
If your car breaks down on a 'No stopping' road and the police get a contractor to tow it away then does the contractor have any legal right to charge you for this (and storage).
After all, their contract is actually with the local police force and not the car owner. Read more
I need a bumper and grille for a Mk2 Mondeo. It's beyond mending and all I can find in scrappies is tat.
Anyone used these guys:
www.everycarpart.co.uk/ ?
They seem to do the lot painted for just over £100 but I can't find any evidence on the web of anyone who has used them and is happy with the service.
The specific bits: www.everycarpart.co.uk/mondeo-ford-mondeo-19972000...l
Their spray shop looks a bit agrigultural in the photo, will they be able to get a good match? Can anyone confirm that they do the job and the quality is ok?
Will it be possible to get a prefect colour match?
Anyone recommend anyone else who does the same thing and is known to be good?
TIA.
s Read more
atj201's post removed because it breached the site's terms of use. If you want to speak to one of us about it e-mail us at moderators@honestjohn.co.uk
I have bought a car presently on a SORN waiting for the new insurance cert to come which seems unlikely in the next week due to the postal strike I need to tax it but obviously can't and need to use it any ideas?. Read more
a bent trader could tax uninsured cars as long as he has a traders policy and believe me
the staff at the post office just glanced at it.
That seems absurd. Maybe goes some way to explaining how there are so many uninsured, but taxed, cars on the road.
Having sold my Defender prior to my extended backpacking holiday in sunny California, I am now looking for a car. During my 5 months of ownership, the 12 year old Defender was faultless,but totally unsuitable for all intended purposes, but I had an itch to own one since my teens and it proved a pain free experience.
My criteria is a hatch/estate, 35mpg , and a decent blend of performance, handling and comfort. HJ seems to rate the Type S, and on a recent auction report one went under the hammer for £3850. If I use the services of an auction buyer, plus the auction house fees, I would hope to secure a good example for circa £5k which is my maximum budget.
In a perfect world I would have a new model Legacy SportTourer, Forester or Impreza (any would do!!) but being realistic, these, even if I could find one at auction, are not going to be within budget.The old 2.0 Subaru engines do not have enough oomph, although they have proved incredibly reliable during my 10 years of ownership.
I have also considered a Mondeo 2.0 petrol, but the Honda has the edge on performance (and probably reliability)and I do not need a Mondeo sized vehicle, although my previous Legacy estates were of a similar size. For the next 10 days I am borrowing a lovely Lexus IS SportCross, but it is thirsty and has to be revved hard to perform...only its build quality stands out...performance is lacklustre and spares costly, and I bet I could'nt get one for £5k anyway!
Any feedback or alternative suggestions would be appreciated.
s
Read more
Be very careful who you choose to go buying on your behalf from an auction.
You might end up with a car that previously had its driver's door ripped off by a passing van or something.
Hi
Does HJ have a list of all his recommended cars? Or do I have to read each individual review (again!)
Merci buckets.
Alijazz Read more
talbot horizon
my Renault Megane 1.6 rt cooling system temperature soon gets to the halfway mark on the dial ( it never used to reach this level even on a hot summers day) and maintains this level only getting hotter when standing in traffic or eg pulling up hill or cools down when cruising downhill or when fan kicks in. also heater not noticeably working.
Any ideas on what may cause this.
there has been no loss of coolant.
s Read more
does the fan work? sticking thermostat,blocked rad, when was it last serviced?
Two months ago I ordered a BMW 118d SE via a broker, and had a signed contract back from the supplying dealer agreeing the specification and price. It was quite high additional specification. They phoned this week to tell me that BMW had removed some the options packs, that the specification had changed, and that it was going to cost me £2.5k aprox more, or they would refund my 10% deposit. The car already cost £20k even with a generous discount. Initially I was furious and said that I expected the car at the agreed price and specification. I?ve am now receiving my refund. I wanted the car, but after treatment like this I feel I?ve had a lucky escape!
I've checked the BMW website and they have changed the specification. The contract states the specification and agreed price, but has no other terms or conditions on the back. I ordered the car before the specification change. I would still quite like the car, but only at the price and specification that was agreed. Do you think I should pursue this, and if so what would be the best course of action? Or do you also think I've had a lucky escape.
Wipeout I've hidden your near identical post in the other 118d thread - it deserves to be in the standalone posting that you created 9 minutes later, merely to avoid duplicated replies
PU Read more
After looking at another BMW owners forum I found out I wasn't the only one who had his order changed. If you've order a 1-series recently with option/service packs you had better check with your dealer!
Below is an apparent bulletin to BMW dealers.
I think it is quite disgraceful that a manufacture can take deposit for near two months and then just up the price by nearly £2.5k.
I had a drive in a Golf GTI DSG last week and it was far more fun. Just not sure on Ken and the Congestion Charge, which was why I was interested in the 118d.
If manufactures treat there customers like this, and are so short sited then consumers like me will vote with there feet. I was also next year thinking of buying a BMW 5 series touring, but with this episode I think not. So that is two car sales the have potentially lost.
I would have also thought the dealers would be upset to have lost the sales as well.
********** Bulletin *****************
1 Series Package Change ? Urgent action required
With reference to the dealer letter entitled ?The 1 Series ? Supported Option Packages? published this morning, please see the following information to determine what action should be taken.
Please note that these changes may affect many of your 1 Series orders and action must be taken immediately.
This bulletin only applies to 1 Series orders that have a package (s) specified against them.
Current 1 Series Packages
Pre-week 40 Post-week 40
Dynamic package (Z8E) Increase to package price
Comfort package (Z8K) Changes to package content, increase to price and change of option code
Audio package (Z8H) No longer available
Luxury package (Z8I / L) No longer available
Media package ? Business (Z8F) No longer available
Media package ? Professional (Z8G) No longer available
Visibility package (Z8J) No longer available
Pre-week 40 production 1 Series orders
The 1 Series supported option packages will no longer be available after 30th September 2007. Any car that is built on or before production week 39 with any package will receive that package at the current prices. No action is required.
Post-week 40 production 1 Series orders
Any 1 Series order built on or after production week 40 may require action. Please see the flowchart on the following page as a guide and ensure that you have amended your orders if necessary by close of play on Friday 21st September. Failure to make these changes will result in the Sales Office removing all packs from any post week 40 orders.
1 Series Service Inclusive
In addition to the changes made to the option packages, we would also like to confirm that the supported Service Inclusive package (ordered through SPOA) will no longer be available after 30th September.
If your 1 Series has a chassis number and you order your Service Inclusive package through SPOA on or before 30th September, you will be charged £190.00.
If your 1 Series does not have a chassis number on or before 30th September, you will not be able to place your order in SPOA. You will be able to order the Service Inclusive package at a later date, but the price will revert to the normal charge of £635.00 for 4 cylinder models or £745.00 for 6 cylinder models.
Im getting closer to buying myself a car that is for my own enjoyment, about a month to go before I have the money I need.
What I want is diesel ( suit my stedate driving style best plus no fiddling with additives ) and I want an auto.
My budget is around £8-900 roughly. Id prefer a saloon but an estate will do.
I also dont want a shed, so its likely that whatever I buy is going to be 80's or even late 70's possibly rather than a worn out 90's model plus I prefer the simplicity of earlier cars.
I have a few ideas in mind but wondering what the BR would suggest?
My starting point is the Merc 250 D, late 80's. Read more
I like old cars and I dont care about safety especially. Its a car for pleasure, not to transport my nearest and dearest. Modern cars do zero for me and now that im 27 and single, im damn well gonna enjoy myself a little without some woman telling me I cant have old cars because they have the wrong image :-)
My budget is £800-900, not £9000.
The XM bay isnt especially big as its a fairly 'cab forward' design and the engine bay is quite shallow. Equates to the huge interior though and some fantastic seats.
I Have a Citroen Xantia W reg. Suddenly today, rear suspension wouldn't go up. Drove to work anyway, like on a pogo stick! Then brakes started playing up. Put foot on pedal, nothing would happen, pressed harder, suddenly they 'bit'. Nearly chucked me through the windscreen ! (and ruined my mascara).
So...... checked the HML level, that's fine. Played with suspension on driveway, will go right up, and right down, but not in between.
Do I lay under it and aim WD40 in the general direction of in front of the spare wheel? Or any better ideas?
Moved into a standalone thread for a number of reasons
previous lengthy volume is here dating from 2002 ! - PU
www.honestjohn.co.uk/forum/post/index.htm?t=6724 Read more
What about the track rod end? I had one of these go on a Xantia and it took me ages to find it - becuase I always put the suspension on high and this masked the play! To check the TRE try and rock the wheel at 3 o'clock / 9 o'clock with it at normal height on the ground - any play felt here is bound to be the TRE. Also if you changed a drop link what did you fit - there seem to be plenty of cheap pattern parts around that knock out of the box. I would only consider fitting Lemforder ones these days - either from Citroen or GSF.
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RichardW
Is it illogical? It must be Citroen....
Browse
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So if the owner refuses to pay the contractors can't recover their costs through the courts and all they can do is keep hold of the car?