April 2008
I've been toying with the idea of buying a van for the business that will "double-up" as a family car for the weekend if necessary, (usually use SWMBO's 306, unless push-bikes need transporting).
The Merc. Vito fits the bill as it comes in a "Dualiner" format with a second row of removable seats and rear passenger sliding doors both sides. The latest models include a "Sport" version which includes some car-like luxuries which are, I'm sure, aimed at getting people like me to consider buying one. The benefits of this are a full recovery of VAT and personal tax BIK of only £3,000 PA, so much cheaper than a company car. It will also transport the bike to the occasional track-day.
Has anyone on here gone down this route?
I currently have my car as a private vehicle and charge my business for its use, but at only £0.40 per mile, (and only £0.25 per mile after 10,000 miles), it is not as good a deal as it once was. These rates have not been reviewed for a number of years (at least five AFAIK), but the fuel cost has of course gone through the roof. It is of course possible to charge the business more than this per mile, but then Mr Darling gets his hands on some of it.
Sounds like I'm from Yorkshire, but I'm not.....honest! Read more
I have broken the rear of my drivers side mirror but not the glass.
1] Will it pass MOT?
2] How can I replace it please? Is it straightforeward?
The mirror is manually adjustable.
It is a Y reg. Focus Estate. {year added to header. Believe it or not, it helps, that's why we request you include it there}
Thanks for any help or suggestions. Read more
From today's Telegraph. Apparently there's some sort of electronic device associated with air bags:
"The recorder, similar to an aeroplane's black box flight recorder, continuously records the car's performance on a 10 second loop and is predominently used by engineers to diagnose problems.
In the event of a crash, it freezes and stores the information at the point of impact, giving the car's speed, engine speed, the angle of the brake and accelerator pedals and what gear the car was in.
As it detects impact, it shuts off the fuel tanks, helping to prevent an explosion."
Full version:
www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2008...l Read more
"Seemed like a good idea to me, but where you get them from i don't know!"
Try
www.davisnet.com/drive/
JH
Autoexpress have published their test of a Saab v Subaru diesel estate test. http:/ /tinyurl.com/2f3dhd
Haven't read it in great detail but they put the Saab first (£4000 dearer basic on the road price and£10,000 dearer as tested -can that be correct?) as it is better finished inside and a bit more economical/faster altho the Subaru rides better, handles better, has more space, luggage room and doesn't catch your fingers in the handbrake. Neither car seemed to achieve anywhere their claimed mpg but suppose the testers average includes all the performance testing.
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What Car depends upon advertising.
In the early 1970s/late 1960s Car was very rightly rude about the handling of teh new Mark2 Zephyr/Zodiac on Goodyear "Gripless" And Firestone tyres. As a result the two tyre makers pulled all advertising.
What Car is FULL of advertising.
Two and Two makes Four.
EDIT
And What Car in its Car Reviews has the habit of saying against a car: ... "there are better cars in the class.." and then you look at their reviews of competitor cars...and nowt.
Personally I think their reveiws are totally subjective,, eg Honda Jazz is best supermini... at its price it should be twice as good as the competitors so on vfm it is carp.. Objective? Nope.
On paper, these cars look OK - not earth shatteringly fast but good enough. We may be looking at the possibility of getting such a car becasue nearly new they are such good value. I know I will probably get the advice of going for a 1.6, but I would like to ask if anybody has any expereience of the 1.4 and what they thought of it.
Thank you in advance! Read more
My brother has a 2004 Opel Astra (Design spec) - its fine under normal conditions but gets a bit breathless with four on board and the aircon on. Like the Zafira I'm driving at the moment, the engine has a subdued rumble like a quiet diesel, but pulls well at low revs and from low speeds.
There's nothing very exciting about, and nothing much wrong with it. Like the brother, you'd buy one rather than a Focus because you got a comparable spec at lower price.
hi im new to this site so bear with me ive just bought my wife a micra year 03 1200cc automatic the engine has only done 27000 miles. when i try to start car from cold its a pig to start it will start in the end but if i put my foot on the throttal pedal right to the floor it will start strait away ive had the car put on the big mashine as the engine light came on and it was reading codes ( PO340 ) which saying cam/crank sensers ive changed them both but still have the light on the light stayed out for a little while then came back on someone said it could be the timing chain but theres no nocks or bangs when car is started it is great and runs like a dream when warm or once started has anyone got any cluse i dont no much about cars please help kind regards jason
{year & engine details added to subject line - as per 3 ignored requests. Gonna start imposing fines for failure to do this soon} Read more
jason
There have been one or two timing chains faults on these... [That's per car.]
Take it back to where you bought it - that's why it was sold and it's a horrifyingly expensive job.
Gmac mentioned in a Discussion thread that replacing the standard wishbone bushes with Polybushes made a big difference, but I can't find them mentioned anywhere else in the BR. I've been told that the bushes at the front of my 52 S60 D5 (with standard 205/55x16 tyres) will need replacing soon and wonder if this is something I should consider - once I know what it all means of course. The car's done 72,000 miles on the original bushes.
Any (sensible!) advice welcome.
{year, etc added to subject header - once more} Read more
Whoever replaces the bushes or arms, make sure that they tighten the bolts with the car on the ground and with the prescribed fuel levels and weights in the car, otherwise the bushes wind-up as the car is lowered, as the middle metal bush is twisted inside the rubber outer bush it is bonded to. Most garages don't appear to realise this! In the past, I have even sneakily made factory-look labels on a laser printer which say the above and afixed them to the new arms before handing them over.
My brother has just had the Lower Wishbones replaced after an advisory at a recent MOT test. Genuine Ford parts were fitted and he was charged for this work, including VAT, £378.00.
This sounds rather a lot of money to me, but I'd be interested to hear what others believe this job should cost.
Many Thanks
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sounds very expensive to me i had the wishbones done on my mondeo V reg with a full service and MOT by SMS in Slough also had the front disks replaced with the pads and it came to £440 all in ive used this garage for the last 8 years and always good service they are not cheap cowboys
regards tony
Just wondered if anyone knew what was going on around Junct 23 /22 M6 southbound about 6.45 this evening? I was passed by an unmarked black Skoda Octavia estate at warp speed with the "behind grille" blues on. About three minutes later an unmarked grey Vectra hatch with wig wags on ( no blues ) also came howling past. Neither seemed interested in stopping anyone.
Just being nosey ! Read more
They found a shell station selling diesel for under £1 a litre
Hi Guys
I have had a 406 estate for the last 5 years. It has a HDI 90 engine which has done high mileage.
To date the engine has been totally reliable and apart from a new clutch, cam shaft pulley and fuel lift pump in the tank I have not needed to have any work done to it, just regular servicing
4 or 5 times over the last few weeks however, there has been a little falter in the drive whilst at steady speeds - it feels a bit like hitting a hidden flood in the road then picking up again.
It first started a couple of weeks ago when I was in a 50 zone and holding it steady on 50 it faltered for a second then picked up again.
It has done it a couple of times since but under the same circumstances. Holding at about 60/62 steady and there is a little falter then pick up. Tonight on the way home the same thing so I watched the counter carefully and the the revs never faltered. It doesn't feel like it cuts out then jump starts, its a smooth operation.
It has never happened (yet) during acceleration
I plan to change the air and fuel filters to see if that helps but if that fails , does anyone have any other ideas?
As its intermittent would a diagnostics check see the fault?
Any guidance would help
Cheers
Allan Read more
Change the air filter. I had this on my HDI a couple of years ago; new filter cured it instantly.
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Florist in the village has one - brand new to him last year, the body has flexed so much the windscreen has a large crack....