May 2008
Three years ago I was thinking that I would, at about now, be replacing my old petrol Mondy with a TDCI version. BUT, in the past few years, I have read so many reports about expensive problems that I have been thoroughly dissuaded. And then again, other drivers seem to swear by 'em.
I've just returned from filling up with petrol down at the local Sainsbury's. The dithering lady in front was filling a small green can with what I assumed to be unleaded. She seemed to be spilling quite a bit down the side of the can and then when she'd filled it, she re-fuelled the car with, as far as I can recall, the same stuff. My only thought at the time was that she was filling the can for the lawn-mower - and it was going down as 'expenses'!
After paying, she drove away in the large Volvo estate and my wife said "hang on, wasn't that a diesel car - it was a D5 - what was she putting in the can?'.
Maybe we'd got the wrong end of the stick, but it's seeing something like that which puts me right off a s/h diesel. And all these diesels that develop problems in later life ......... how many of those are the result of an earlier mis-fueling? Read more
My car is due a P1 Service. The 3 year/60K warranty has now expired on it. Given the price differences in relation to using a Main Dealer or a normal garage for carrying out any maintenance work, is it still worth paying the extra, to keep with the main dealer?
Also, does it have any effect at all on the resale/trade in value of a vehicle, if you keep to a main dealer for the service record or to go with a local garage?
Finally, what is the main difference between a Nissan P1 and P2 Service?
Many Thanks. Read more
Full main dealer service history certainly affects the value of a car. But not by anything like as much as the additional cost of that history - unless perhaps you have some super-duper sports car.
My almera went in to get a new sump. The mechanic has removed and not replaced the engine covers that go just under the front of the engine bay (underneath the car).
This may be well-intentioned: they attach to the front crossmember, which has been prone to rust. Removing them has exposed the crossmember, which i can treat, and improved drainage through it as well I think.
But ... am I ok running car without these covers? Read more
Yes-they're mainly there to keep out snow in Scandinavian countries.
I'm a new member of this website after reading HJ's column in the Sat Telegraph and thought I would ask a question about Insurance.
I'm not sure whether to just go TPF&T due to my Polo being 10 years old and 107,000m, or remain Comprehensive. I feel that £222 for my renewal is a bit steep for Comp and can get TPF&T for £137. Not sure of pros and cons of this. I'm a bit worried that you get neglected when not Comp.
The car's showing it's age now too, so might the Insurer just right it off even after a small dent? Is there a somewhere I can check the current value just as a rough guide?
Many thanks for any comments and help for this old geezer.
Dougie Read more
"her solicitor claimed almost the full value of the car from the other insurers. Last year, the same thing happened again" "a car which has been written off twice"
While you can use a solicitor, there's no need. Very simple procedure that any lay person can do. The car has not been written off - she's received compensation for damage. A write off would be recorded on the insurers' database, and could mean an increased premium.
Cars are designed by lots of groups of people with each group fighting for a space to put their particular part. The next time you're complaining that it's difficult, for example, to change a headlight bulb just think where you would position the particular part that is making your life difficult. And you're not allowed to just delete that part! Read more
I had wondered while reading a previous thread on loves/dislikes, whether car focus group leaders would get such a well written series of points about the good and bad things in our cars anywhere else - over decades on this site of course!
We do seem to be led towards excessive safety - the whole width of cars now is the safety aspect, the huge weight increases and so on. Further, programmes like Top Gear focus on speed and cornering which drives the low profile tyres/hard suspension business. Would I buy a car with no side airbags/protection etc? Of course. Sensible - don't know. But I do know people drive their padded up Volvos to go hang-gliding.
I prefer the 1970s shapes [only] of many cars still being produced - 911, Mini, E-type [versus XJF], 1980s Escort [over the Focus], Saab 900, Audi 80 for starters.
Hello
The speedo on my 406 sometimes decides to die on me for several minutes (usually at the beginning of a journey) and then flicks back into life from zero to the correct speed. From reading posts it seems it will be the speed sensor on the gearbox, some small part behind the glove compartment or the clocks themselves. As I found a clock cluster at the breakers the other day i thought Id try it first.
Q. - Do I need to disconnect the battery when I pull the connectors out of the old clock section and plug them back in the new one?
I prefer not to do this if possible as I dont have the radio code and will then have to take the radio out (to get serial no.) and pay for the code.
Q. - Or can I take the fuse out relating to the clock cluster wires?(or does the same fuse knock the radio out anyway!)
Many thanks for any advice you can give!
{2 questions merged, seeing as they're related}
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It is quite straightforward to change the speed sensor, if a bit fiddly, but you do need to put the car on ramps. !0mm or 11mm bolt head iiif I remember?
I changed this on mine to no avail and it turned out to be the "box of tricks" in the glove compartment. I understand, as you have implied, that this is peculiar to certain models.
Hi
I am very tempted to swap my 350z for an Elise or vx220 Turbo as fancy something a bit more extreme - my car is a 350z GT Coupe with 18" Rays Alloys
Its great but I have the opportunity of running a small car day to day for work so can afford to get something a little more 'mad' potentially.
The question is.....would you say an Elise/VX220 would tick the boxes or are they a bit over-rated?
The standard one seems a bit slow at 5.8 seconds to 60 - the same as the 350z, which seems a bit pointless.
However the 111s is 5.1 to 60 which sounds more like it!
Also, is it worth considering the VX220 Turbo?
Any feedback welcomed as to whether I am doing the right thing!
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shoespy what an exelent holiday ive never taken my car that far but what a trip you had i bet it was fabbo ive only ever been to wales from london and that was a challenge but a good one anyhoo get a westfield isa a good trip
Hi, i've got a 320D X Reg, i noticed that the AC/FAN is not working all the time, it's START/STOP every 2-3 min. Even if i would set up the lowest speed, it's the same thing, this shouldn't work all the time? Sorry for my bad english. Thank you in advance. Regards Read more
This is caused by the final stage or hedgehog resistor:
www.bmwland.co.uk/talker/viewtopic.php?t=37654
I took delivery of a new Toyota Aygo Platinum at the end of April 2008. When the driver's door is closed and the engine is on, there is a awful vibrating noice that comes from the top of the driver's window. This noise continues when the car is being driven too. The noise is a bit like a droning noise and suffice to say, I'm not pleased about it. I know it's not a feature of all Aygo cars as the Aygo that I test drove did not make that noise. Has anyone experienced the same problem with their Aygo? Read more
Mine's a five door.
Mpg - official combined on petrol is 62 mpg (hollow laugh). From reading about beforehand I was expecting perhaps mid to high forties to start, rising to perhaps low fifties after 10k miles.
In actuality, measured brim to brim I've had between 54 and 58 from day one. My driving is mostly commuting, and I've used the aircon a fair bit. With only just 1000 miles on the clock I've been very pleased so far.
It's also pleasant to fill up for £30 instead of £90 (my old car) and get the same miles from a tank as I used to. Insurance is £200 less a year for me, and road tax of course will be a mere £20 when it needs doing next April instead of the rather eye watering £440 it would have been, so on the financial front it's a winner.
Build quality does seem better than I thought it would be, once you accept the market segment it's in, and I'm sure they'll sort both my rattle and your drone!
And you have to admit it's a hoot to drive!
Recently I've observed that some motorcyclists zoom past me [filtering lanes] with their right indicators constantly flashing.
[1] Have anyone of you noticed similar incident?
[2] What does it mean?
[3] Is it part of highway code?
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Cue smug pug whose bike I think has cancelling indicators??
Mine have self-cancelling indicators, too. You just put your hand back on the handlebars!
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Funnily enough the FIAT/GM developed Diesels (JTD range) rarely ever get a mention in the technical forums in terms of problems. They're used in a wide range of cars, too.