March 2008
There may have been discussions on this before, but I can't find them.
With the growing differential between petrol and diesel, is there any trusted formula that can decide which fuel (and running costs) will be cheaper in the long run? In my area, it is currently 8p a litre in favour of petrol. I was beginning to think about changing from petrol to diesel, but would like more hard information to make a decision. At 4p difference, I was up for it, but at 8p (and rising?) I'm not so sure.
I've nothing against diesel power, as my wife has a 2-year old 1.4 TDI Polo, which I think is the mutts. Personally, I would prefer a 1.9 TDI from the VAG stable, as my current motor is an 2001 Octavia 2.0l. Read more
Hi,
I am really confused, I have found a good deal on a Mini Cooper S (2002 £7995) and I thought it had private plates. When I asked if these were included in the sale the dealer explained that the car has Irish plates and had been imported at some point.
My mum works at a BMW dealership and they have advised not to touch the car as it is imported? It has Northern Irish plates so this is UK isn't it?
They can't seem to explain why I shouldn't buy an Irish import, though it is orginally from a BMW dealer. Are they just in huff cause I'm not buying the Mini one they offered me and missing out on commision?
Is a car on Northern Irish Plates a major issue?
Many thanks in advance for any advice. Read more
"""Can anyone explain why??) and the critical date of registration: a Dec 31st "2008 57" is worth hundreds more than a Jan 1st "2008 57". """
Because the 31st Dec 2008 would be a 58 reg and not a 57 reg so instantly worth more
I have water getting into my rear hatch, and don't know where it's coming from. The spare wheel well was half full of water. Has anyone had this problem. Thanks
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Thankyou to you and everyone who replied. I siliconed the rear light cluster and the leak is gone. Much appreciated
I had a discussion with a friend and was talking about potentially selling my Mazda MX5 (1998 MK 2), which is great fun but thinking about getting a bigger car. I had an engine replacement last August after engine failure and although it's running great now I said I thought I wouldn't get what it was worth because it has had an engine change. He stated he wouldn't mention it, which I think isn't fair for an unsuspecting buyer.
If I was to trade it in at a dealer (who would give me a low price anyway) would you mention it? I'd feel too guilty if I sold it privately without mentiong it to someone. Does anyone have any views?? It's all theoretical at the moment, as I say I haven't decided to sell yet anway.
Matt Read more
The only "common" failing that an engine swap would be economical for is a failing on the first year or so's MK1's where the crankshaft nose fails (short nose crank failure). This would appear to be a shared failure of design and maintainance. where an incorrectly torqued front crank bolt lets the main timing pulley hammer on the woodruff key and wear the slot cut in the crank.
If I got an HPI check I'd compare the Reg and VIN, but doubt I would be able to find the engine number.
My rover 620ti recently blew its mid section of exhaust, and near at near enough the same time, my engine will not go above 2800rpm in any gear including idle. It basically cuts out to below the threshhold before it started to drop off in revs. Does the fact my exhaust have a hole in it affect teh engines rpm range, as in is there any type of sensors that link into exhaust emmissions to the engine management system? I would like some advice, before i take it into a garage for a hefty bill. Could it be the fuel filter, if so where is it located?
Regards.
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lou
I'm probably invoking the Curse of Murray Walker here; but petrol filters rarely suddenly clog in the UK - the fuel is too clean. Unlike ships; no black, bacterial, goo.
The filter should be on the bulkhead, driver's side. Little round, black, metal, thing. [Unless it's not the original type.] Follow the hose back from the fuel rail.
Combined with known exhaust problems; a car that won't rev always makes me think cat blockage.
Since, it's launch I've seen just two, the second one was a diesel in brown and looked really rubbish.
Is the car not selling? I have a sneaking suspicion that it isnt, at all.
Problems:
i) It's not very practical
ii) Too expensive
iii) that rear door-safety concern on UK roads.
iv) It looks like a toy, and with optional privacy glass it looks like a pocket hearse.
v) Unlike the Mini, men don't seem to like it as much as women
vi) A lot of women would probably prefer a soft-roader.
vii) Who actually wants one?
The only positive I can think of is the good emissions. But is that enough?
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But don't worry about it;
Worry ? On the contrary, it would be fruitless to worry about it. Negative sort of emotion.
No, there are many more positive things to be felt. It would seem that those who have bought them are pleased. It would also seem that BMW should be proud of their sales. Add in the amusement value to some others and you have an "everybody happy" situation. ;-)
P.S. as for the question "Why ?" Could the answer be 42 ?
I was driving my wife?s 06 Zafira 2.2 design this weekend and on two occasions I nearly had an accident.
Once at a roundabout where I didn?t see a Toyota Previa (I know its huge) and once where as I was turning at a junction a pedestrian crossed the road in front of me
I gave him and me a bit of a scare as he was invisible behind the blind spot which is the very thick A pillar. My other car a Toyota Sera which I have recently purchased has incredible visibility due to its virtually panoramic glass roof, I guess I?m getting too used to the sera and forgetting about the Zafiras blind spot when jumping between the two. Does anybody know if there is any kind of aftermarket device, modification or tips that could help me. I have experienced a wide range of cars over 25 years of driving but have never come across this problem as bad as this before. I am severely having to alter my driving style to be safe in this car as I am constantly looking out for things that may or may not be there.
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Glad it's not just me.
I?ve been driving the wifes Zafira a bit more often recently and have noticed the most dangerous part of any journey with the car is returning home.
I live in small residential road with a sharply curving right hand bend with cars quite often parked on the bend
So as I drive around the bend I try to look through the a pillar/side window, but can?t because of the thick pillar, so, to see if anything is coming I physically have to move and look through the windscreen sideways , otherwise I would be driving blind. In comparison my 18 year old Sera has excellent visability and the same bit of road is never a problem.
I just wanted to share my own experience with the v-power diesel which I've been using on/off for last 3 weeks. I filled up the car with v-power diesel (fuel tank was almost empty). Drove the car and after few miles I could feel the smoothness and a bit of extra power in particular when driving in 3rd/4th gear. Then I filed it up with the normal shell diesel and the car felt really rough and loud. Drove it until the tank was empty and filled it up last night again with the v-power diesel and this morning I could feel the same smoothness, bit of extra power and the quieter engine.
As far as getting a bit better mpg is concerned I haven't really experienced it but I'm quite happy with the mpg my mazda is returning.
So I think I'll stick to v-power diesel for now. Just would like to know what others think of it and if anyone prefers v-power diesel over bp ultimate or vice versa? Read more
Well actually my local Shell garage doesn't sell it!
Which is a shame because Shell Drivers Club have sent me vouchers that give me
extra points (money back) if I use V-power.
Shell had a National Launch of VPower Diesel - but you may as well have missed it - their website missed it - it was 3/4 mths out of date last November. I have not looked in the last few weeks but in Feb it was stil out of date - there was a PDF File in county order with some of the V-power sites - £14Bn profit and they cannot generate a website that promotes their Premium Product?
What would ity take? A Post code query that would give you the nearest site - could be run up in a matter of hours - Shell probably have a committee of 20 Highly paid execs looking into it!
I have inherited an immaculate 1996 Polo 1.4CL with 18000 miles. The engine bay is almost like new, car drives beautifully, and has always been garaged. I don't think the cambelt has been changed. Should I get it done ASAP? Engine is AEX
{year added to subject line - DD} Read more
I would replace it,
I've just been quoted £130 incl. VAT to fit a cambelt to a 1997 golf MK3 - with 77k on the clock -
it is far better and for piece of mind to have a new belt to avoid costly failure.
Contact Nationwide Car Centres
So whats your pet hates and what do you love about your visit to your dealer ?? Read more
In praise of an Audi dealer.
Girl on parts desk (on first floor of swanky showroom) at Stockport Audi went to endless lengths for me to find some poxy bits for a 12 year old car, and also to tell me what other VAG cars had been made with the same obscure but rather expensive part so I could find a second hand one.
Browse
See
www.honestjohn.co.uk/forum/post/index.htm?t=61518&...f
or
www.honestjohn.co.uk/forum/post/index.htm?t=61440&...f
Both very recent discussions. My personal view is that both petrol and diesel can be the right choice, depends on circumstances and personal choice.
Shouldn't be too difficult to work out expected real-world mpg from these forums, for example 41 for an Accord Tourer Diesel, or 50 for a VAG 2.0. Put that with your expected mileage, fuel costs and purchase costs and work out whether it's worth it for you. Easily done in 5 mins with a spreadsheet, and if you really want to check, a 30 second phone call to a garage will give you comparative servicing and consumables costs.
In my opinion, diesel probably makes sense if you drive more than 20k a year, but that's a massively rought figure that could easily be argued either way. Careful not to compare apples and pears tho - test drive anything you're considering, most diesels are a lot real world faster than they look on paper.
G