February 2008
A little web searching has brought me here.
I'm no way a car expert, but when it's buying time I usually do a lot of searching for best deals.
I'm currently looking for a Micra 1.2 SE (or similar), 04, 05, 06 with low miles and want to buy at auction. I've found a few outlets that have a regular flow of the kind of car I want, but all require a fair bit of travel. To avoid a wasted journey I'm trying to find out what price this car is tending to go at - can anyone help? Anyone tell me what Glass's guide suggests? - used to be able to get hold of one - but not any longer.
Thanks for the help.
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Being an anonymous sort of cove, I'd like to remove the engine badge from the rear of the car. I once read that a combination of hairdryer (to soften the glue) and dental floss (to avoid scratches) worked.
Has anyone tried it, or a better idea? Read more
how anyone could think that carrying a supermarket
carrier bag constitutes advertising is beyond me.
Isn't that why the supermarkets go to the bother of getting their names printed on them?
Saw one of those westfield/lotus 7 type things smashed up last weekend. It was 100 yards on past a slow traffic light controlled curve that led onto the 30mph ring road, it had had leapt backwards up the pavement smashed sideways and gone backwards a further 30 yards scraping down the wall.
There it was crushed by the sideways impact and sitting fully on the pavement facing oncoming traffic.
It looked like it had been given full throttle on the curve, spun and then took off on hitting the kerb. There was a high wall behind the pavement and a pedestrian would have had nowhere to go if one had been present.
A guy about my age (old enough to know better) was standing next to it not making eye contact with passing traffic.
Point is, with traction control and front wheel drive making powerful cars safer from spins, should this type of car need advanced training like a big bike in order to be licensed to drive one?
I`m refering to powerful rear wheel drive where there is no traction control or where it can be switched off.
You can`t go straight from a 100cc bike to a 500cc even. Why should someone who has never driven rear wheel drive be let on the road in one of these?
Regards Read more
Make the driving test harder - taking into account for
example the psychology of driving and reading the road ahead
I agree Morris. Do the above and add some proper car control tuition, such as skid pan training. On driving lessons you dawdle about at 25mph, then after passing your test you have to teach yourself how to drive at higher speeds in a much wider variety of situations.
My driving instructor used to say that to me, "what I will teach you is how to pass the driving test, not necessarily how to drive."
This isn't just about people in Westfields or whatever. It's about all drivers in all
cars understanding just how complex driving really is.
Oilrag's description of the crash brings to mind when we had the sub-zero temps and icy roads before Xmas. We spent a night in the Cotswolds and on the way there on the A429 we saw a Focus on its side in a ditch. On the way home the next day, on a different road but within a few miles of the Focus, there was an Avensis (IIRC) on its roof at the side of the road, partly burnt out.
These were modern FWD cars with 'forgiving handling' about as far removed from a Caterham type thing as you can get.
Please, before you start I know.
It's not big, clever or safe, I understand the risks to myself and other road users but given the right conditions.....
Well today east of Leeds on those deserted sections of the M62, M18, M180 and the A15 to a lesser extent I had a go.
220 miles in an Altea 2.0 Tdi DSG (auto), fuel computer calculated 60.8 mpg average.
It's a journey I've done may times and rarely bettered 50mpg, I did not pootle behind the 55mph bunch but selected European registered trucks who seemed to travel at 60-65.
It was a relaxing trip with speed adjusted to match with the cruise control and at a distance and road position where I could be seen by the other driver.
I did feel like I should be in a Maestro with cap and driving gloves at times sitting with the HGVs but as I watched I realised that a lot of them seemed to be at it as well.
So based on my simple, unscientific, on the hoof test I got a fuel saving of 20%.
Given the same conditions as today I'd do it again for the economy, the relaxing nature of a slightly lower speed and less lane changing.
The only reason I tried it was thanks to the Mythbusters team in the US, their results are after the link.
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MythBusters_(season_5)#Drafting_For_Money Read more
Yawn.
On German motorways they do it in trains of 15 repmobiles all doing 130mph 20 feet apart in the rain. Now that's slipstreaming, but I really don't fancy it.
Argentina and Chile will host the 2009 Dakar Rally after this year's race was cancelled because of safety concerns.
news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/motorsport/world_rally/72...m
www.dakar.com/index_DAKus.html Read more
Sounds interesting. The African stages weren't exactly for wimps, but with some of what South America can throw into the kitty it should be a spectators dream. What a good idea.
I suspect that I need a valve re-shimmering.
However I just wanted to confirm this by explaining my problem.
My car starts but as I drive it stalls, especially on higher gears 3-5 and on high revs.
It started about a month ago and the problem has got worse, now the car stalls every 2 minutes on all gears and revs.
I have changed the air filters and the oil filter however the problem remains. The air filters where extremely dirty and a diesel expert has said that I may have some air problems.
Could someone help. as I don't want to take the car to a garage and spend more than it's worth.
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And the Year/Engine are?
As per the two sticky messages asking for this,
www.honestjohn.co.uk/forum/post/index.htm?t=55223
www.honestjohn.co.uk/forum/post/index.htm?t=59757
AND a further prompting for this information under the subject header when you composed your question that says "INCLUDE year of manufacture, car engine size and nature of problem; EXCLUDE make/model as this is automatically added at start of subject)"
Anyone out there know the location of lambda number 2 sensor? I assumed it was the one furthest from the engine but the sensor I have received through the post has shorter wiring length than expected.
Are the actual sensors (1 and 2) the same?
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Was that a new, genuine Suzuki, sensor? Japanese ECUs can tell the difference. [Which is how Honda get away with charging £300 for one....]
The post-cat sensor has virtually no effect on the fuelling - it's there to monitor the cat.
Hi,
I've recently purchased a Peugeot 106 Diesel (year of 1995). It has a Peugeot immobiliser fitted that is deactivated via a small button (similar to a watch battery) being pushed against a pad beside the ignition switch. Unfortunately I only have one of these buttons and would like to get another just in case the one I have is lost or damaged. I spoke to someone today about removing the device, but they thought it would be too difficult.
Has anyone had any experiences of such a Peugeot immobiliser?
Thanks
Paul
{ sarcasm mode on Let me put the year/engine in the subject header for you. After all said and done, I don't expect you to notice the 3 separate requests asking you to do this. sarcasm mode off } Read more
Thanks for the information. Funny thing is that the deactivator button is fitted to a peugeot key fob. I will have to get an auto electrician to look at it.
Does the MOT test check the spare tyre's tread? If so, was this the case a year ago. Read more
Thanks DD and Yorkie, very useful.
Is anyone else having trouble viewing the 'Hyundai Getz Servicing Costs' post? Every time I try to read it the post disappears after two seconds, leaving a page of Getz-related ads.
P. Read more
I see the post fine too. Sounds like some malware/Spybot on the PC bringing up adverts.
Browse
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Got what I wanted!
Todays auction prices
All one owner + SH
06 1.2 SE 10K £4250
06 1.2 SE 7K £4650
56 1.2 SPIRITA 10K OR LESS X 4 £4100 - 4200 I went for one of these.