October 2007
We're in the market for something around the 5k mark which is good to drive, reasonably cheap to run and has room in the back to take a dog crate. Obvious choice (to me) is a Focus estate- never driven one, but appeals because:
1. supposedly great drive (ie. better than equivalent Astra)
2. choice (again, seems to be better than Astras) - don't want to take too long waiting for the right vehicle
3. running costs, although lower than average mileage so don't need a diesel (but would be happy to have a TDCi)
4. highly recommended in the Car-by car breakdown
IIRC 1.6 is supposed to be the sweetest unit and performance would be adequate, but wouldn't say no to the 1.8 or 2.0; the extra fuel/insurance isn't a major issue. Must have air con.
Do the Zetecs have sportier suspension than the others, or is it just cosmetic?
I'm reasonably happy I've made the right choice (ok, it might be an idea to drive one first), but any advice would be appreciated. And feel free to suggest alternatives, although SWMBO, who will be driving it most, does have some irrational absolute no-nos including Skodas and Nissans; sorry.
s
John Read more
The replacement for what the UK knows as the Toyota Land Cruiser Amazon is being announced in October 2007 in Japan, Australia and the US, known as the 200 series.
When is this new model being announced in the UK?
s Read more
Having lived in Aus for a while I was amazed at the price of the Landcruiser.
Over here it's the thick end of 50k. Brand new on yer drive for well under AUD50k. Cobber. No wonder Aussies are so happy.
Cheers,
L
I cant quite believe it but my ratty old Corsa that was proving to be the nastiest px ever sold in just an hour and a half from going online on Autotrader.
Im just amazed to be honest. It had some rust that needed sorting on the bootlid and the gearbox was more notchy than is normal, no radio and the clock display didnt work, but the guy practically fell over himself to give me £800 for it for his 21 year old daughter.
Yes it did have a brand new MOT and 4 months tax, plus a working Cobra alarm, but it was no minter. He said he had been looking for two months for one as good as this which suggests there must be some real ugly ones out there.
Did I let it go too cheap? Im starting to wonder, it was just that a 94 L reg Corsa SRi isnt £800 of my money any day of the week and I thought at £825 I was being cheeky. Maybe not? Read more
Renault 100??
An 11 maybe...
Im looking to buy a diesel and have been attracted to the mondeo tdci and the peugeot 406 hdi (110) prices vary greatly but seems i could get hold of either of them (Y to a 51 plate ) but with quite high miles ranging from 80000 to 140000 for *aroun* £2,500 to £3,000
My question is are both these cars good and reliable *after* covering 100,000 miles ? Lots of ads say "nothing for a diesel" but i cant help feeling its a lot.
Whats my best bet and any advice would be appreciated.
Cheers Read more
Chap I know got a rover -not the new 75 shape but the one before- diesel and he has had nothing but praise for it. It cost peanuts and he has sofar had to put in a new battery and the odd tyre. He gets a comfy car with lots of room and decent performance too.
Having just returned from Canada, it was such a joy to drive over there doing some 1500 miles.
No Big Brother Cameras, Passing either side, Giving way to each other to merge, Just indicate to change lanes (No problem), Who cares about speed limits and Pedestrians having the right of way crossing a road on a green. Low injury/accident rates (ref. media reports)
Also the Blue Parking Permit issue: They have to pay the same as a normal driver and only have areas marked in car parks for Disabled Parking. (Which is adhered by, by leaving spaces empty for them.)
Complete opposite to the UK.
s Read more
Another Point I never once saw anyone in wet conditions use the rear fog lights
to blind whoever was behind.!!!!!!!!!
that's because North American cars do not have rear fog lights - it's not required. If you see a US model limo or left hooker here in the UK you'll see a little aftermarket fog light stuck on to comply. I remember once being on a freeway in Miami in torrential rain with appalling visibility and finding the normal rear lights very hard to see. For once I wanted rear fogs..
I was just thinking today after hearing about the latest tax increase on fuel and also the fact that Nottingham council will be taxing you to park your car at work (from 2014) and a colleague who has the opportunity to talk to a lot of councils on their road maintenance plans for the future tells me that most UK councils are in the early stages of planning for a congestion charge - that soon it is going to become incredibly expensive to even own a car. If for instance you want to drive from Sheffield to Leeds (picked as an example) and both had congestion charges you will have to pay 2 congestion charges plus parking plus huge taxes on your fuel etc etc
When do BRers reckon it will end or will we be priced of the road in the name of the environment. within th enext 5-10 years. Read more
Thanks to the current climate of contented apathy (some call it the nanny state), people aren't capable enough of self-induced thought to protest en masse. They'll just put up and shut up, and keep electing the same hypocrites. Apathy is a politician's dream (as long as they're in power) - they can do what they want and half the British public still wouldn't know who they were, let alone what policies they've introduced as law.
The few who openly object often resort to extreme politics, at which point they're either branded communists or fascists, and discredited even thought many of their ideas deserve credence. Meanwhile we have a leader we haven't elected, many of the rights we once took for granted are disappearing before our eyes, we're entering a European treaty which amounts to a constitution with no referendum, and the majority seem oblivious. Democracy at work!
So basically, if the British public stays so politically ignorant, the politicians will never stop fleecing us.
Why don't cars have those bouncy seats like buses and trucks?
Or do some of them?
I think I'd like one (just for me --not the passenger)
s Read more
>>>If so, where can I send my subscription to?<<<
To the Foreign Office, please, marked for my attention.
My 2003 Ka has just failed its MOT!,,,,, not the normal leek problem... but play.
I have had a good look and pulled the boot off, and looked at what the problem is..
there is play in the drivers side "lolly pop" joint... the patd that joins to the track rod..
I cant understand why you cant get a new lolly pop and the nylon bush that it sits in. I can see that this is the only worn part.... can they changed as the rack is lots of money.
Darren
s Read more
Also it is not so straightforward,the rotational torque of the trackrod has to be set to spec.,you really have to know what you are doing,it is the steering.
Need a runabout car for the other half. 1.0 to 1.3 litre, petrol, five doors and be fairly nippy around town. Probably do less than 6k a year mainly around suburbia with very occassional motorway trips. Have full no claims so insurance less of an issue than say for a younger driver. Looking at Corsa, Clio, Micra, Polo, Swift in no particular order. Does anyone have good/bad experience of these cars in this price bracket or have I missed any obvious choices off the list Read more
I agree with jase above.
In addition, if things do go wrong, Japanese cars are usually easy to work on due to design. Contrast that with some Peugeot Citroen designs... (wiring junctions where water gets in etc).
An elderly 10 years old Japanese car well maintained is unwanted/unloved/cheap and lots of car for your money.. and easy to drive...
madf
I am after some advice on changing a double din Ford Puma Radio/CD to a standard sized one.
One of SWMBO work colleagues had her car broken into and the Ford one stolen
As there is a market for these, she has decided that a non-Ford one would be better.
Having replaced many radios, I have been volunteered to fit the new one.
I have never worked with any of the newer Fords and won't have the chance to see it before doing it.
The replacement facia has been sourced and I guess that some adapter cables will be required.
Is it just a case of fitting the cage supplied with the new radio or are there any more things I need to consider?
Thanks
Ian Read more
Thanks bell boy
Browse
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The TDDi engine is basically the TDCi without the common rail injection.
It uses direct injection, and a conventional rotary pump, albeit quite a sophisticated one (drive-by-wire throttle and full ECU control). It's no fireball at 90PS, and not as refined as the TDCi, but it's reliable and economical, and pulls well for what it is.
Ford have actually only ever made one 1800 turbodiesel engine which has evolved and got better with each step forward in diesel technology. But the latest 1.8 TDCi can trace its roots right back to a 1800 diesel Sierra engine from the late 80's.
Cheers
DP
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04 Grand Scenic 1.9 dCi Dynamique
00 Mondeo 1.8TD LX