December 2007
Hi all.
My first post though I've been reading for a while.
I'm looking to replace my ageing but excellent 306 in the new year and would like some guidance as to what car to buy.
Nearly all of my driving is on the motorway, so something quiet and comfortable at 70mph is important. (I normally only do 60 as I'm never in a hurry and like to save the fuel costs)
I need to be able to put my bike in the back. (I cycle the last bit to avoid Bristol parking) It fits in the 306 with the rear seats down and the front wheel still in place. I could remove the front wheel if necessary, as I'll have to do if I go for a Fabia (vRS high on my list)
Reliability is important, though with so much motorway driving I never wear anything out. I don't mind paying for a good extra 2 year warranty (this is a car I'll expect to keep for 3 years, maybe more)
Fuel choice isn't important. I am leaning towards a Fabia or Octavia diesel, but a petrol car would be fine if it returns over 50mpg with my gentle driving.
Depreciation is a factor of course. My 306 cost £5k, it's worth almost nothing now but I've had it for 5 years. £1k/year is perfectly acceptable but I'm not interested in a £10k car that's going to lose £6k in 3 years and 60,000 more miles. If that's unavoidable then I'd be looking at just buying something for £5k again.
I'm not big on gadgets and toys, but I do need aircon. The other thing that the Fabia and Octavia often have is cruise control. That I would like.
My budget is £12k, though I'd rather spend £10k and although I'll almost certainly buy from a main dealer, I don't mind private if I can buy a warranty from the manufacturer. (Is this ever done...?)
No no's? Renault or Citroen and anything with a normal boot.
So there you go.
Cheers
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Hi,has anyone got any thoughts about running on cooking oil? I have been thinking about putting it in my 96 Rover 420 SLDI,but would value some comments first.Would it harm the diesel pump and the turbo or anything else,does anyone know?.I would only run upto 33%.How does the law stand on this now? Many Thanks Andrew...
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I do like my Diesels to be Turbocharged for that extra OOMPH!!!! Read more
Interesting and valid opinions all round.
Anyway for my contribution.
I used to use cooking oil in older cars eg pre-96 rover 1,8's, escorts, cavaliers, mondeos and have found the only problem being the viscosity during the winter months. Too thick and takes longer to start, little bit of missing here and there, and need to change the fuel filter more often.
I found thining it down with a bit of petrol/thinners etc helps and during the summer I have run cars on 100% veg oil, over a few thousand miles with no adverse effects.
I saw the post from Jon on his Focus, he has it running and is £300 lighter of wallet.
Anyone recommend an independent able to deal with Vauxhall electrical systems (alarm) in the Rugeley/Lichfiled/Cannock/Stafford area?
Don't particularly want to put profitable work into the dealer who screwed up the paperwork on a new car sale so badly they had to delay the pick up by a week (nearly two)! Read more
Hi all,
My 95 316se has recently been serviced fully and due to the cold snap, starts fine, no issues, but loses revs and periodically cuts out....Its an Auto gearbox....
When I stick it into Neutral it holds it revs obviously...Any ideas or advice? Thanks Read more
Hey,
I am getting the same problem from my 318si 1997 1.8L manual.....starts off fine then about 10 minutes into a trip it loses power and starts to slow then regains power and spurts along back to the speed you were going to before it "cut out" this happens at least twice or more in a row and is very worrying, especially if on a motorway
any help people?
Hi guys. I have a mate who has bought a low mileage motor home based on a Pug Boxer, but he suspects fitted with a 2.5L turbo diesel made by Fiat.
Any idea if this is correct, and if there are any know weaknesses. He has had new cambelt, and I suggested coolant change.
Thanks Read more
As was stated, it depends on the age. Some early motorhomes were fitted with the Citroen CX engine, an xcellent engine providing you don't get one with pourous block! You will know that from the history, it will have had several new head gaskets. If its the 2.5 from the XM, again, another good engine but they are very complicated and difficult to get spares for. If its only done a low mileage, could be OK but they become troublesome when they get older.
Peter.N.
Does any back roomer know if any other engine will fit my 9-3 se LPT 2001 vintage? Engine replacement costs are astromonical so i was wondering if an ordinary 9-3 or 900 non turbo engine fit? Or indeed any vauxhall engine. Thanks Read more
My sister's car (Second hand 4 years old 80K full dealer history - out of warranty) decided to die about 6 weeks ago. it was recovered to a main dealer who quoted £2000 for replacement parts ie :Blown turbo, Intercooler etc.
Unfortunately she just brought a house and hadn't any cash so sold it ebay "advertised as for spares repair" with a full list of parts needed.
Chap buy's it for £2.5K off ebay - it was worth may be £5.5K in perfect condition. This week the guy phones here up and reports that after fitting all the new parts it doesn't start and that he took it to his local dealer who diagnosed it need one new injector (£233 including fitting although the dealer recomended all 4 new injectors at £500 incl fitting in total and said that the other dealership didn't know what they were talking about.
A) can he sue her ..I think not becasuse of auction and it was adverised as a none runner but more importantly
B) can she take the orginal dealer to the small claims for £3K as she could have just about afforded £500 and she ditched a decent car on the "expert view of a main dealer"
any views welcome
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What is this guys problem? He should
be well into 'profit'.
The guy's problem is he sounds like a total peasant. There are too many around like him sadly.
I don't know much about cars, so i thought i try you guys to see if any one can help. My first time on this forum.
I have no experience in buying cars or know about cars, i always had a company car. Now i need to buy my own. I'm looking for a diesel car, because i do around 30,000 miles a year. I'm not sure what to buy, new or nearly new, what make or model? Is diesel right for me or not? So many questions. I would say i need a 5dr Focus to Mondeo size since i have a family. Cheap to run & repair.
Can someone please point me in the wright direction.
Company cars I've had are Mondeo & focus. Read more
what part of the country are you in?
luton
As a London driver of many years , you grow accustomed to the number of foreign - registered cars on our roads. Now, French, Belgian, German , Italian & Spanish plates have always been prevalent here . In the past year , though, I have seen cars registered in the following countries ;
USA
Poland ( loads )
Qatar , Kuwait
Latvia, Lithuania
Romania & Bulgaria
Turkey
Lebanon
South Africa ( Cape Town labelled Discovery )
Eire
Russia
inter alia
My question is : what happens if they crash into you and it's their fault - how do you pursue them ? many of the Eastern Bloc cars are badly maintained & driven . These plates already offer immunity from parking tickets / speed cameras & the congestion charge . If my 80's diesel US pick up ( UK plated ) gets slapped with a huge road tax liability , what's stopping me from registering it say in Poland - it's already a left - hooker ?
Is something being done - or is it each to our own ? Read more
In addition, expats can register cars they bring with them without import tax, only if the've had them for more than a year before they enter the country and only once. And you need written permission from the minister for transport (for RHD vehicles). I've been down this route too and again with the "red tape and months of waiting" etc etc.
I'm sure everyone knows someone down the pub whose mate registers his car or his lorry or his fleet of trawlers legally and easily in some far off x-communist state to avoid millions in fines, duties, taxes etc but my genuine, first hand experience is different.
On my Mondeo, the central locking and alarm is having a moment of its own. The rear passenger door is permanently locked and the front doesn't lock at all. Opening the front passenger door activates the alarm. Also the nearside electric windows have stopped working, as has the passenger door mirror adjustment and defrosting. The Fuse is fine and I and local dealer cannot find the problem. Anyone had a similar problem ? Read more
Last update (hopefully). Got the car back this week with 3 new wiring looms and a new ECU to sort out the alarms. Interestingly, the garage (main dealer) now has another 4 with the same problems, so looks like it could be a common failure. Ford however are working on it and there was no quibble with them.
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If you are prepared to look at the Fabia vRS, try the estate with the 1.9TDi, much bigger boot, not much difference in performance - chip it if you want more.