May 2008
Is this just a cheap vectra?
What percentage of it is likely to be vectra parts - 80%?
Thanks. Read more
Thought I would give a report on how I was getting on with the Octavia.
Had it just over 5 weeks and it has done nearly 5k so getting run in nicely. This includes two business trips to Broxburn and one pleasure trip to Antibes so a fair few motorway miles.
Car is slightly noisier than the Honda but not really noticable except at idle where nothing comes close to the Honda diesel. Comfortable seats with plenty of adjustment, not had anyone in the back for any significant time so no comment on that but looks as much space, if not more, than the Honda (but children have left so that is not really a concern to me).
Performance is adequate and it moved when you want it to, deceptive for 35bhp less than the Honda. Economy when it came was under 50mpg (50 on the trip) and now it is 60mpg+ on the trip and still improving. 600 on a tank not a problem.
Boot really is huge and swallowed everything we would have put in the Honda for the trip to France (and the Honda was an estate which we would load up to seat level). Performance and economy did not suffer that much with the load (still 55mpg loaded and with air con on most of the time).
Stereo is good although the CD changer is largely redundant (must get around to recording some MP3 CDs!) and son is here for the weekend so will try his IPOD out in the Aux socket.
No socket in the boot (Hatch) but cold box lead does reach through to the socket between the front seats.
Power is always on at the lighter socket (unlike the Honda) and it is in an inconvenient place for the PDA based sat nav. Invested in a brodit clip and mounting bracket and routed a wire across to the fusebox behind the trim so the PDA mount is only powered on when the ignition is on and means I don't use the screen mount any more - much easier to do than I expected especially with a little help from Briskoda - also makes the screen easier to see in the sun of the Cote D'Azur.
The big question - do I regret the change - No, the neighbours might (but he has a 2.0Tdi Passat so he cannot complain!) Read more
The car surprised me the other night, to carry my step ladder in the Honda I had to angle it across the load area, corner to corner and on its side (rear seat flat).
Put it in the Skoda (its a hatchback) the other evening and it fits front to back flat (again rear seat flat). This is a very big boot!
It is a 1.9 and the last tank was 59.2 mpg - brim to brim.
Hi All,
i hope some one can help, i have a ford maverick 2.0 xlt and the ABS light started to come on, i took it to be looked at and the garage says it might be the sensor failing, they reset it but the light came back on. since then the light has gone off but when i brake i get a kicking feeling from the brake pedel... the brakes are also not very good.
any ideas what this might be?
southy
strange typo referring to ladies' support wear removed ! Read more
Is yours a 2008 model? if not it will be different to the OP's vehicle so his solution won't help.
Hi,
Any views on fair price for labour (live in Middx just inside M25) to replace belt, tensioner and water pump.
Thanks Read more
Muuch cheaper to do it yourself. I have done several, about £18.00 for a belt and I have never had to change a tensioner and only one water pump.
Sorry if this question has been asked many times before but I need to decide very soon.
I had virtually settled on a Bravo 1.6 Multijet but am having second thoughts now. Considering the current price difference between petrol and diesel, I am now wondering whether I should consider a 1.4Tjet 120. Being that much cheaper to buy, I may be better off over a three/four year period going for the petrol. Any opinions on this would be gratefully recieved?
I live in a rural area, drive mostly on clear A roads and rarely in City centres. I drive from Cumbria to South London maybe 6 times a year and to Glasgow area about the same, mostly on motorways. Annual mileage is perhaps 12k to 14k on average.
I have done some sums but would like another opinion.
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Don't forget to factor in the value of each car at 3/4 years for a true cost.
At the end of the day if you can afford both, I'd go for whichever I preferred driving.
Turbo petrol > diesel for mixed driving, diesel > petrol for chomping the M-ways.
My 406 110 Hdi has developed a fault following a largish splash through a big puddle of water. This is the third time in as many years this has happened (different driver each time). After hitting the puddle, the car refuses to rev past 1000-1200 RPM, putting out lots of smoky unburnt fuel if you try.
Each time the car was limped home at sub 1000 revs, and whatever was the problem, some electrical unit I suspect, it would dry it after a day or two at most. No water got into the air intake as the air filter was dry, so nothing to do with this. It ticked over fine each time, so i would start it and let it heat up for a while until it eventually dried out whatever was shorting. It seemed like all the injectors were being triggered instead of just the one so you would get a lot of vaporised diesel out of the exhaust if you tried to rev. Anyway, after the last time, it dried out after a day, but this time I have a permanent loss of torque and power overall and particularly in the lower revs.
The 110 has plenty of urgency normally, but now it seems like a 90 or even like there is no Turbo.
A Peugeot Service manager drove it and said the turbo was definitely kicking in, but did not think that the power was down, but I know it is also the fuel economy is down significantly in city driving, from about 43 MPG to 36. Long journeys with constant speed still produce 49 MPG plus.
Could the wetting and possible shorting of some sensor or control signals have caused a permanent change in the way the the common rail fire each injector? Its obviously delivering fuel, more than before, yet I have really low power in the lower revs. Overtaking is now a memory!! Tried the disconnect battery thing to reset ECU, all this got me was an "ENGINE IMMOBILISER FAULT", a tow trip to the garage and a 100 euros to reset. and its still the same.
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hi on my 306 the hand brake does not appear to be affective on a hill i have had front brakes replaced and the hand brake was tightened up but it has come loose being a novice i would appreciate any help and suggestions is this just simply a case of replacing the rear brakes or something more? Read more
If it has rear drum brakes, then the self adjusting mechanism probably needs rebuilding - this is not really a job for a novice, but any competent garage should be able to do it. Don't be fobbed off with 'we've adjusted the handbrake cables' though - that won't work. As you have already found out!
Could anybody advise me as to what is the criteria for obtaining trade plates, and the costs involved. I want to start part time trading, buying at probably BCA in Manchester and driving the vehicle over to Northern Ireland.
Any help would be most appreciated....Rick Read more
Many thanks guys for the info. I have bought at BCA in the past, but it was an older car...i guess by the comment about not getting a good deal at BCA is that prices paid are much the same as what the cars are worth in the advertisements in various publications.
If that be the case, any info as where to look for the best deals would once again be appreciated...Rick
More of a question then a problem (yet), does anyone know if these cars have 1 rear fog light or 2? Its booked in for an MOT tomorrow and whilst testing last night the girlfriend claims she "thought" it had 2 then the left hand one went out. However she is not a reliable source.
On inspection there is a bulb present and there is no visual difference between that and the drivers side fitting. Fuse operates both lights and changing the bulb has no effect which has led me to believe maybe it only has one. Anyone know for sure? Thanks Read more
Ah fantastic, must admit I didn't think it had one, last time I use SWMBO as assistant. Cheers.
I've just come across Kew Gardens' new "tree walk" thingy, and that sounds interesting. What's my best bet for getting there from Cambridge?
I'm sure not driving through the middle of London, so I could either go all the way around the M25 and in somewhere (and then where the heck do I park) or take public transport of some sort, with the minimum of changes.
Any suggestions as to the least hassley way of Cambridge to Kew Gardens? Be doing this on a weekend (not a Bank Holiday one though). Read more
If you want a feast for the eyes, get into London by train, pick up the North London Line at Highbury & Islington and trundle all the way around to Kew Gardens:
tinyurl.com/6owy3m
It takes you past the back gardens of the world and his wife. From Cambridge, I wouldn't bother with the car. I used to use it for rugby days at Twickenham and Old Deer Park.
I am thinking about buying 2 of these.
The daihatsu sirion's, despite being brilliant are just not big enough for the new displays our client needs.
If these are 90% vectra and the price is right, i may purchase 2.
Will update in the coming months - if anyone knows any more, please update.