March 2008
.. on British motoring scenario?
This is what I think:
With rising cost of fuel + more penalty for larger cars + high cost of living + not that bright economy will result in people buying smaller & smaller cars.
What do you think about multi-car families? Will their number grow or shrink?
I think this is a reason why car manufacturers are now concentrating so much on growing economies of far east. Western European auto market probably has reached its plateau.
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So I'm driving along a dual carriageway last night with all the wind and rain when I get a strong smell of smoke in my nostrils, turns out it's a car travelling slowly (approx 30 mph) about a hundred metres ahead. The cars behind it are pulling out to overtake and when I get closer I realise it is because they can't physically see past this car.....
I've been driving for 20 years and I've NEVER seen anything like the thick, black smoke billowing out of the back of this car! It was just a huge, massive great pall blocking out all visibility and churning out of this car at an unbelievable rate, despite the high winds (superlatives fail me at describing this). You've seen a car completely alight by vandals etc on telly? The smoke was that bad!
I didn't get the car make, (too busy trying to see the road) though it was an 03 year. I'm 80% sure this smoke was coming out of the exhaust, though again I was concentrating on the road. I was very surprised I didn't see any flames. The driver showed no sign of stopping though obviously was experiencing engine problems (due to their slow progress) and was last seen turning onto an even busier dual carriageway (maybe I should have called the police?)
So, what was wrong with the car?
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Thanks for the replies, sorry about the delay in replying.
tbh, the smell was a bit 'clutch-like', you know that kind of burnt, asbestos-like smell?
Maybe a combination of, say 50/50 petrol:diesel may smell like that? It certainly wasn't the distinctive 'behind a bus up a hill' diesel smell, nor the 'I spilt oil on my exhaust manifold' smell we all know and love.....!
The huge volume of thick, black stuff churning out reminded me of tyres on fire.
Thanks again for the replies, I'll try and see if I can see anything similar on a tv programme. If it'd been daylight I could have took a vid on my phone.
Hi, i dont know if you can help but someone suggested you may be able to. I have an AA car warranty on a second hand car (its a Mondeo) i brought from a sales court last year. Yesterday the spring on the drivers side went. I took it to the correct AA garage and they confirmed it was the driver side spring that required replacing. They explained that they need to also replace the passenger side spring. As asked i rang the warranty team before agreeing to work. They are willing to pay for one spring but i will have to pay for the other (parts and labour). I feel this is unfair as due to one spring going the car would be unsafe until both are fixed. They said the only way around it is if i sign to say i will not have the passenger side done and therefore i save the money!
Help! Thank you, Sarah
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Its quite legal to have just the broken spring changed.
Its better practice to change both though, so a matched pair of equal age (and wear) are fitted.
Turn this on its head maybe, and ask the warranty/repairing garage to sign a sheet stating they are fully confident in the repair, so that they will be responsible for any eventuality if the spring (either 1) causes any problems?
What are the speed sensitive wipers on a Hyundai capable of?
The owners manual does not refer to them.
If I set the intermittent wipers at the fastest setting when driving, they will slow to a fast intermittent wipe when I stop.
Is that all I can expect or will the intermittent wipe automatically speed up with car speed. Not noticed anything on my commute.
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SWMBO had a taxi pull out on her and the front end of my newly acquired fabia swiftly disappeared as she went into the side of it head on. Third party has admitted liability.
Waiting for garage to get in touch with my insurance company to confirm damage, from sounds of it should like a write off.
My question is they said if this is the case I will receive an offer equivalent to market value before accident - can I dispute this if I am not happy with it? Worh digging up valuation figures from websites/adverts and do they normally give you px price or trade price etc?
Thanks for any help! Read more
Go for a Panda diesel. one of the few well built super minis which are diesel...in fact I think Fiat sell more diesels as a percentage than petrols against their competition.
Having just finished uploading my recent holiday snaps to Shutterfly, I wondered how much it would cost to buy my rented vehicle. Looking at various dealer websites in California, I could purchase a pre owned 2008 registered 5.7L V8 Hemi quad cab for $27k plus sales tax of 7.75%. With gas currently costing the equivalent of £1.70 per gallon, average consumption of 11/13 mpg doesn't sound too bad.
I accept that it is socially irresponsible, but now I understand why trucks in the US are getting ever larger. At that price, it would almost be a crime not to drive one! As a previous poster said ''the golden age of motoring is coming to an end'', so thank you very much, I'll be selfish and have some of it whilst it lasts.....and I bet quite a few of you would join me! My only concession would be to walk anywhere less than 2 miles travelling.
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Much as I loved my rented Dodge Ram, I could only justify it when circumstances dictate. I am in the fortunate position of being able to spend the month of February skiing different resorts in the Lake Tahoe area. Being able to accommodate 4 friends, with all our toys in the back, and set off in a blizzard over mountain passes ( you pray for blizzards and feet of powder) in a monster truck is wonderful. As a means to an end it is an adventure in itself.
Anywhere else, and any other time, it is awful and embarassing to drive!
For everyday transport, (excluding driving several hours in storms with 5 people) my friends Outback 2.5 is simply perfect, either here or in the US.
The blower does not blow any hot air even the temperature of climate control is set to 'highest'. The cooling system is fine. I plug into the computer it says 'fresh air blower' related fault code. What does this mean? Read more
Fresh air blower is likely to be the heater blower fan motor faulty.Check the fuses first.
Hi, I got a Laguna 1.9 DCI estate on Y reg, it was stood for about 6 months and the battery went flat. I replaced the battery and the car does not start? It turns over fine but does not fire. I put in some more diesel but still no joy. Is there sort of glow plugs or spart plugs that can get damp in? Also with the key card how do you push start it?
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Being towed to start a car is entirely different to someone push starting a car though.
Hi all,
I'm thinking of car replacement and wondering what features I should look for.
Looking over several posts, it would appear that timing belts and CR diesels are a risk, but what about hydraulic tappets / cam followers ?
I understand that these are now pretty well universal, apart from perhaps the 1.2 Honda engine and old designs such as the Ford Ka. Of course without them there are the additional services costs of having clearances measured and new shims fitted.
Am I correct ? perhaps others can shed some light .................. Read more
I was interested to note that the new vvt Vauxhall petrol engines, and some diesel engines, list valve clearance check and adjustment in the service schedule. It's hardly frequent - apparently my 1.8vvt will need this at 100,000 miles or 10 years. I was a bit surprised, as most vehicles have moved to hydraulic lifters. I wondered if the adoption of variable valve timing was a factor in this - could the hydraulic lifters cause problems as the cam timing changes in operation?
JS
My car was working fine and then it would not start.
Called th AA, checked glow plugs etc
then said starter was faulty
got the starter motor changed but when to start it again after comming from the garage and i have the same problems
when i turn the ignition on all lights come on but there is a slight humming noise
any help would be much appreciated.
thanks Read more
Don't overlook the possibility of a faulty battery or a bad battery terminal connexion. Are either of the terminals fizzing under load or getting hot?
Browse
Blimey,if 'global warming' means I can't:
- Drive a car
- Heat my house
- Eat any meat
- Use any electrical appliance
- Have a holiday
- Buy anything that was made more than 4 miles from my home
Then bring on the global burn - I'll be glad to be gone!