March 2008
Although Jaguar/Land Rover were no longer British companies for a long time, but the recent acquisition made me wondering, with many others, why Britain can't run a successful automotive industry!
I think we can't just argue over cost perspective citing India/China because similar economy countries like Germany, USA, Czech Rep, Spain, France, Japan etc. can all successfully run their own automotive business.
So, what's been fundamentally wrong in Britain? Read more
I'm just about to place an order for a new company car, and have decided on the new C220 CDi Sport Estate, however, I notice Privacy glass is listed neither as an option, or standard. This is strange as the old model had this availability...
Anyone got any ideas why?
As an off shoot for anyone considering the new C-Class, having run a BMW 320d for the past 2.5 years (80,000 miles), and also owning a 330d Touring, the mercedes is far superior in its driving (very comfy ride without runflats), even if the BMW has it beaten on seat comfort and interior quality. This was based on a 5 day, 700mile test drive....
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Neil T
E90 BMW 320d M Sport, E91 330d SE Touring Read more
Well the OP had a 5-day 700 mile test, and is obviously happy!
Urgently needed:
LPG (Vauxhall or otherwise) authorised service centre in South Yorkshire.
Purchased the car from AMS of Grimbsy. They are the nearest but are too far to travel back to once more to have yet another running fault rectified.
All is fine on petrol.
LPG - juddering, loss of power, poor fuel consumption and it started badly kangarooing when running on LPG yesterday. Read more
Nelsta - many thanks for the link.
Yes, it worked out for me and with your help I have now found a much more reliable vehicle service provider in Pentagon (Vauxhall) of Derby. Car serviced this morning!
They are a much larger and more professional company than the people I procured the vehicle from originally. People that assured me that if I had any problems they would resolve but have not stayed true to their word.
They are also a lot cheaper at 76.37p (inc parts & vat) for a full LPG service that included a full engine diagnostics check.
They are not only cheaper but are too a lot easier to find and get to than AMS of Grimsby.
Their whole setup from the customer reception come waiting area, through to the workshops are very clean, well laid out, exceptionally modern and very well equiped.
The staff wanted to help - good to see.
When it came to paying, no surprises, no hidden extras - just a straight honest invoice.
Well, they say people will always find (vote with their feet) the best service provider that suits them and not the provider of the service.
I turn the key and if i hear CLICKING noise every time i turn the key it will not start will turn over but will not fire.If i keep turning key on and off until i hear no Clicking under dashboard it will start first time and drive Superb. Glow light doesn't come on either. Have changed both relay switches Near the ECU and had a low pressure pump about a year ago. I have no engine management light showing .I am at my witts end not knowing if my car will start today or not. Some days will start no problem other days it happens all the time.
Please help im desperate.I feel like smashing it up at the moment
Update........
Have you found the solution to your problem as i haven't and now they are saying i have a hairline fracture on the motherboard in the ECU and want £340 + vat to fix. Seems a bit much to me and when i had it diognostically tested 2 weeks ago it came back with NO faults or codes???????????????? does anybody know if this is possible
Read more
Glad to hear that you got it fixed.
Looks like Fool Parts failed yet again......
Wonder what MPG and VED this bad boy will have
www.topgear.com/content/news/stories/2720/?image
Carse Read more
>>Wonder what MPG and VED this bad boy will have<<
That's what makes a mockery of Darling's VED changes - anybody that can afford that won't worry about another couple of hundred quid a year.
Is it possible to programme a new key without paying citroen to do it? I have found instructions to (re-)programme keys, but it does't make it clear whether it works for new keys.
Thanks
Read more
Over the last month I have actively been looking for garages that sell their fuel cheaper than others. I have never done this before, as I never thought it?s been worthwhile to save a few pence. This got me thinking. (Too much spare time)
I always used the Jet garage about a mile from my house. But at present I have been using a Shell garage, which is about 3 miles from me as it is always about 2p cheaper for its fuel (diesel) Also every garage I drive by I am now looking at there price for there fuel. (Never bothered before)
What do other back roomers do?
Read more
If you are near a Shell station and they are competitive in your area in
my opinion you can't beat using them and paying with a Shell Citibank Mastercard -
this pays 3% cashback each month on Shell fuel purchased. You need to join the
Shell Drivers club and present both cards when paying.
The drivers club card earns you points (in addition to the cashback) which are
converted into Shell fuel vouchers issued quarterly IIRC. Using V-power doubles the points - but
not worth it unless you would use V-power anyway.
And me, Jacks, though the Shell garage on the way home from the station is consistantly below all the others, including the supermarkets, and I've found my car runs better on it than the s/m stuff as well (the standard diesel, not v-power...
I have been offered a friend's ex-company A4 Avant, Dec 04, 1.9 Diesel, manual, 90,000 miles. It's the Sport version with all the toys and leather interior - very smart car but they want £11k for it. From my research on the web this seems about £2k too much. Am I right? Read more
They're dearer than that on AutoTrader.
Find out when it's being auctioned and go and try to buy it. A friend of mine did this a couple of years and the car was at the price he wanted to pay 2nd bid and it went for a grand more (and that was on a much cheaper car).
Some little yob :evil:about two weeks ago walked over my year near mint W(2000) c200 c class. To impress his mates on our works cctv system
Its a four door saloon elegance in smoke gold. In almost perfect condition a few small rust pits on the front driver wheel arch.
The c200 now has bonnet light scratch, roof multiple small dents and two almost undetectable small dints in the boot lid.
The dent man said he couldn't repair the dent to the roof. but could make it 100% better than it is.
I have been told the repair under insurance will coast around £300-3700 estimate. I am sure the insurance company get a better deal on the repair and suspect it will require bonnet roof and boot repair. The roof will require cutting off and replacing which is a major repair although is light cosmetic.
They are suggesting it will be cheaper to write the car off than repair as if they get problems re cutting the roof and didn't look write post repair it would lead to prohibitive costs.
To be honest i can live with the cosmetic damage rather than write it off as i work as a district nurse so its possible further cosmetics may accrue in time due to the areas i work in and around on duty.
My main question is if they offer a buy back solution how much should i accept.
Market value before damage would set this car at £4700 bottom price. Its low mileage 64000
A full service history. I have recently replaced the maf. Full Mot and serviced as well as two new front tyers.
It drives like new. any thought welcome its an automatic with air con.
I don't want to get ripped off on the buy back price.
thanks cameronboy Read more
so even though i have lodged a claim and they have sent me for estimates etc i can still pull out thats food for thought.
A big bonus would be the Police getting an id from the cctv and trainer prints match that would be a result.
I'm considering a new Qashqai. Some motoring journalists suggest re-sale values will be poor. Some good. There aren't many used models about just yet and the pricing on those seems to suggest that values will hold up. Any thoughts or experience? Thanks. Read more
That is exactly what they are scott - you are doing nothing more than buying depreciation and paying a healthy interest rate for the privilige.
It was a tool to satisfy the "I want it NOW - at all costs" brigade and sums up today's economy in the UK.
The example people are set by the government is debt, debt, debt.
Mind you we are all going to be paying for it now that it has caught up with everyone in this so-called credit crunch.
Browse
We do have a few left!!
IIRC the mayor of Solihull proudly has a Range Rover as mayoral car. I wonder if the same is/was true for local council leaders in Caterham, Blackpool (TVR), Malvern (Morgan)... ? I suppose not, since Coventry's aldermen eschew the locally built LTi and Carbodies taxis... Can't somehow see Southampton's dignitaries emerging from a Transit to open the odd fete, either...
Sigh.