April 2008
Followed a new one on the A64, yes from the rear it looks like a 5 series BMW.
So that makes it German and only is driven by bullet headed Prussians with duelling scars? As per the current TV ad.
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Why so dear? Read more
ive spent the last 20 odd years just driving because i feel like it. I'll drive to a village i haven't been to before because i want to and can do.
i dont really care how much petrol costs. i have a fairly reasonable income and the more petrol costs the less likely i am to buy another takeaway or a needless magazine.
i will never stop just using the car because petrol is expensive.
Is there anyone out there who understands Leyland Daf lorry engines? I have a '92 FA45, which has rapidly become difficult to start after lying idle for 2 or 3 days. It does not have a cold start facility. Is this indictative of a knackered engine (it has just started to use a little bit of oil), or is there a non return valve on the fuel system that is not working? Both batteries are in perfect condition.
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Does it have a Bosch injector pump?
If so, the valves in the lift pump, and the seals in the priming pump are prime candidates for allowing air in. To check, try pumping the primer vigourously for a while before trying to start.
ive got a 2003 passat saloon , every time i brake , pull away , go over a bump , or turn the dash creaks from the top in the middle , arrrrrrrrrrrrrrrgh ! its driving me mad i,m just waiting for it to happen all the time.
the dash is black on top and grey below , can the top half be unbolted from the bottom half and does any one know how to do it.
this is the last of a few problems ive had to deal with but deary me its small i know , but ooooh so frustrating.
cheers richie. Read more
My 2001 B5.5 Passat emitted not the slightest creak and I had it for 110,000 miles.
My new Hyundai Coupe is emitting some noise from the boot area but not too annoying- as yet.
Looking for a car that can take three children's car seats beside each other.
Not looking for a 7 seater, just something that can do the above and has a good sized boot. Don't want a very big car - just big boot and 3 kid's seats in back!
Other issue is that it will be 2nd hand and not too costly.
Which makes of car don't give (too many!) problems? Have been warned off Fiat (liked the size of the Multipla), Opel (have a Zafira that only gives trouble), Renault.
Which cars are reliable - particularly 2nd hand.
How much mileage should I be looking for (realistically?).
Any advice much appreciated!
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This thread in fact:-
www.honestjohn.co.uk/forum/post/index.htm?t=59425&...e
Hello All,
Too busy to spend much time on here lately however I have just had a Laguna III Dynamique DCi 150 hatch for a couple of days, a few observations, might be of interest:
Interior:
Not as classy as expected, quality of plastics etc, Initiale spec might be better, though well equipped. Driving position very good and all switches easy to hand, radio display looks the same as our 8 year old Clio except that it has a (Vauxhall ish) neutral illumination where as the Clio has a warm orange backlight that I prefer. Also the milometer / info screen etc is a small b/w LCD that appears to uneven when lit at night though looks fine in the day time. Boot = vast! This one had a double sunroof, not sure if it is standard though makes for a lovely light interior.
Exterior:
Laguna III looks growing on me, in fact from the front it looks very good. This one was on 205/60-16 wheel tyres, the wheels look too small in diameter, would surely look better on 17? wheels.
On the road:
Key card and starter button holds no advantages over a key for me, two things to do rather than one, electric handbrake works fine in use though is surely an unnecessary complication. Gearbox action very precise though 3rd and 4th ratios could be closer spaced, 4th and 5th could both be a little lower. At least the 6th ratio is useable and not an excessively long ratio like in the Avensis 2.2 180 which at around 35 mph / 1000 rpm is only any use ay 70mph and over. The engine is a very refined diesel that will trickle along at less than 1000 rpm in 3rd and 4th and pull cleanly and crisply to the limiter with a real kick at about 2000 rpm. It doesn?t pull from low revs as my Mondeo does, in fact it is rather like the Avensis in that it is responsive at very low revs though really needs best part of 2000 rpm to pull strongly where as the Mondeo pulls like a train from under 1500 rpm. The result is that in comparison it almost seems to bog down, almost like turbo lag, between gears if the revs drop below around 1900 rpm or if not enough revs are used pulling away, that being said it produces loads or torque from about 1900/2000 rpm and really is pretty quick. The Mondeo has kind of a non linear response between 2000 and 3000 rpm where the rate of acceleration grows out of proportion with the revs so you are pushed along on a wave of torque where the Laguna is much more linear, more revs equals more shove, more petrol like perhaps. The steering is almost over sensitive at low speeds and not quite as sharp as I would like at higher speeds, it doesn?t seem to sharpen up as you press on like the Mondeo though the ride is very good and the overall ride handling balance is fine. Brakes - excellent though squeak on initial application just like our Clio does sometimes, must be coincidence. Didn't measure economy.
Would I buy one?
The pre facelift Laguna II tourer was, rather is, a very handsome car though does not have a great reputation for reliability, the Laguna III is not quite as good looking though if it can achieve Clio and Megane reliability levels then a tourer would appeal. Perhaps after someone else has take the hit on depreciation.
Regards.
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Reckon RF and Aprilia will be back.
SjB worries me a little, I mentioned it to PU a while ago, when he last posted he was going to drive to the Czech Rep, leave car and family there, fly home and take his bike into Europe. Probably all is well and he is busy - like me lately - though it is a bit strange.
A car the V5 of which has gone astray recently, has been removed by the scrap man. How does one let the DVLA know? Read more
I've scrapped two cars and the neither dealer wanted the paperwork.I sent the V5's to the DVLA with a letter giving the details of the firm(in one case just the reg. number of the truck that carried it away).In both cases,the DVLA wrote back confirming disposal and thanking me.
Well my Kia Rio had its first service on Monday at a Kia garage. Once home found my hands were mucky from a dirty steering wheel, few black marks on the drivers side carpet and a loose oil pressure connector inside engine compartment. The inside of the car cleaned up OK and I have re-connected the connector but am thinking that it is a good job I looked under the bonnet to check. I'm going to contact the service dept. to see what they have to say about this.
{slight amendment to subject line} Read more
My Fiat dealer replaced my wiper arms, which were corroding under the paint but fitted the left on the right and vice versa. Meanwhile, Fiat were insisting that water entering a headlamp unit should be cured by drilling big holes in the headlamp unit (assuming the problem was condensation).
I kept cool. I switched the wiper blades myself and wrote a calm letter to the service manager about these issues. He did not feel threatened, his bosses were not involved and he replaced the headlamp unit, agreeing to fight it out with Fiat himself at a later date.
Result, I was happy, he was not too stressed and both myself and my daughter still use the same dealership.
Ordered a car cover for my Celica off the web - It was advertised as "Waterproof and Breathable".
The cover that has arrived is made of heavyweight (non-woven) PVC lined with a soft cotton down inner - abit like the material that an old PVC "sweaty" mac would have been made of years ago.
The box just says "waterproof" - no mention of breathable
My first thoughts are that the material just doesnt look breathable, and probably liable to lead to condensation which is prob worse than having no cover at all.
the brand of cover is "Streetwise" - this isnt the suppliers name BTW.
anyone any other information ? Or can recommend a decent make of cover that is definately breathable (and water-resistant/waterproof) ?
Thanks Read more
"PICA I have asample of the Moltex material - my major concern is that the fleece lining wil hold any moisture that manages to get under the cover - Have you felt underneath just after a rainstorm to see if there is any dampness ???"
Yes, I am very anal when it comes to the Stang it is a very much pampered car and the guys at Hamilton explained to me that the fabric would need about 3 good soakings of rain before it achieved its optimum waterproofing (something to do with the positioning of the micro breathing holes positions). This was indeed the case the first few soakings there was a little dampness on the car. Now the rain can come down very heavily and the fleece lining is completely dry. It is also completely dry after heavy dew.
The cover I had previous was a Covercraft and at first it was quite good but it was a much thinner material but in my opinion it fitted the car too well (Custom fit with little ears for the door mirrors) and this did allow moisture to penetrate after a heavy due/downpour. After about 18 months of use the fleece lining started to disintergrate and the outer material started to break down (especially around the seems for the aerial)
The Moltex one I know have now is much heavier and the fleece lining is more substantial. It also has 2 ties to secure it under the car. The cover this time goes over the door mirrors letting air circulate from the gap the mirrors create. I always wash the car before I put it away (it is a weekend toy done 5000 miles in 2 years) and I can leave it for many weeks then take the cover off and the paintwork is as clean and as unmarked as it was when the cover went on. I have even hosed bird poo off the cover and checked under it and it is completely dry. The car does not go out in the wet or on newly salted roads - I know this is sad but the car has to last me the rest of my days.
I have only had this cover for about 6 -7 months and I am unsure how long it will last but to me if feels like a much more substantial cover and there has been no marking at all on the paintwork. If it did mark any part of the paintwork I would have thrown it away. My only criticism is that the fit is a little tight around the back compared with the cusom fit cover which means it rides up a little after some strong winds. Overall I am very pleased with it.
The Hamilton guys were recommended to me by a guy who restores American classic cars and he also sells the covers himself as he rates them as the best he has seen for the money.
I would suggest you pay them a visit and handle the material and try it on your car for a fitting before you buy.
When i reach around 60 MPH and my steering wheel starts to wobble and shake. It seems slightly worse when i de-accelerate. It seems to have got worse when my wheel hit a kerb whilst driving. Could this be either my tracking or wheel balancing? I was going to take it to a garage tomorrow and get the tracking or balancing done but dont want to waste cash. I have checked both tyres for any wear and they are both fine. Anybody any ideas whats most likely to cause problem?
year & engine details found via a forum search. How many more times have we got to ask people to include this information within the subject header - 'points to the 2 sticky posts up above' Read more
I suffered from the very symtoms you describe - had the car tracked/wheels balanced - to no avail - then noticed a 'bulge' on one of the tyres. A new tyre cured the problem ie., remove road wheels, and check both inside and outside sidewalls.
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Already under discussion here :-
www.honestjohn.co.uk/forum/post/index.htm?f=2&t=61...4
(albeit in a less stereotypical way !)