May 2008
Mixed messages from this BCA subsidiary. I'd seen it mentioned in the HJ Telegraph column, so, now our S-reg Peugeot 306 is off to pastures new, I thought I'd give it a go.
The helpline number was very helpful, but they wouldn't deal with me directly. I had to call my local BCA - in this case Blackbushe, Surrey. And there a bored and uninterested girl on a poor phone line gave me a totally different story from the SureSell folks, and really made me feel like not bothering. Fewer sales than SS had told me. Not even willing to discuss a reserve, because of the age of the car - so I might end up only getting £50 for it
Which is a problem, because I'd really like to avoid all the hassle and visitors of AutoTrader. Strikes me they only really want to deal with the trade.
Anyone else any experience of BCA/SureSell to share? What should I do now? Read more
Can anybody advise how to renew the bulbs on the speedo lights. Step by step instructions gratefullyb recieved due to having trouble getting a manual. If anyone has one lookig for a good home in York area please contact me. Thanks Read more
Some of the least obvious things can attract someone to a car. For example, I can remember having a Volvo where the heater could be at a different temperature for the passenger. That was good. Other cars have had good economy or handled well or depreciated more slowly. All of those things were good too. Some have proven more reliable or had comfortable seats or better loadspace. Very pleasing. Some were paid for by employers....excellent!
Overall, though, when it comes down to it, my favourite thing in a car is a sunroof. Whether or not you have the benefit of aircon or climate control or whatever it may be called this year by the marketing department, a sunroof is just such a pleasure. I have had full convertibles, which can be very nice, but can also cause other compromises in terms of loadspace or security. Sunroofs are the thing which transforms the most mundane of cars into a joyous thing to drive. Ultimately far more suited to the British climate than any other form of toplessness by virtue of being a source of light even when closed and on the dullest of days. Sunroofs give you a private little window to the sky which I really believe contributes to a feeling of well being. They can be opened or closed at any time depending on your instant circunstances and at moderate speeds they cause little or no intrusion.
Therefore, my vote for the thing I like most about my car is the sunroof. What is your favourite feature on your car? Read more
Well obviously there is the sunroof, but also the whole roof that folds away (it's an EOS). But more suprising, is the nearside mirror that folds down for reversing and back again. Rear visibility is not the best in a coupe.
Things I miss, are the automatic lights. I thought they were a gimmick until I had a car with them for some time. Never could get the wipers right, but the lights were great.
Slow depreciation and excellent economy are a given.
regards,
daren
Hello all. I fitted parking sensors to my Berling Enterprise van, all was ok for a month or two, now the reversing lights have packed up. The reversing lights provide the power feed for the parking sensors. Checked fuses, can't see anything amiss, any ideas would be most appreciated...many thanks...Rick Read more
Bulbs were ok, can't check voltage at the mo, as it's a double handed job, but i wouldn't expect any voltage to be present. Is there a reversing switch on the gearbox anybody??...thanks...Rick
news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/tyne/7409714.stm
This from timesonline should make anyone's blood boil. {alternate link substituted that doesn't offend the swearfilter - DD}
{ps, don't let this descend into a police bashing thread - the full FACTS haven't yet been disclosed. Remember also that a life was lost and therefore show respect to surviving family and friends - DD}
thread locked at the request of several BR's
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"Don't see the point of the thread. It should be locked."
Agree. Mods, get your keys out.
done
I am toying with removing the oil sump on my SAAB to ckeck for the oil sludge problem as I want to keep the car for some time. Its done 62K miles and been well serviced at SAABs.
Anyone done this job. How easy is it, and any pitfalls? Read more
Thanks for the contections. I was planning to use a flush through before dropping the sump. Might as well get the gunge out first and then check and clean the botton out.
Given how much this discussion this topic gets with SAAB people, I was hoping that someone had, 'had a go' at the sump.
Anyone?
Trying for a personal record without resorting to severe unsustainable driving techniques.
79.3mpg yesterday, cold start, then staying between 50 and 55mpg, over a 60 mile return trip with a semi warm start at the mid point.
That`s better than the 78mpg of a few months back on a return trip of 120 miles to the East coast.
Went to France last week ( drivng for speed and not economy) and covered 800+ miles at just under an indicated 80MPH and obtained 61.6mpg.
The Multijet engine in the Mk2b van is nicely loosened up at 20,000 and is getting better all the time on fuel consumption.
Because of its lighter weight though I suspect the HDI engined Citroen C1 could beat it.
Regards
Read more
I guess that petrol engine must be really something special and as for gas.. are
you tempted to go for it on yours. Is it possible?
We've had the merc about 6 years now, its a E320 coupe, which is as you would assume 3.2 litre 24 valve. Its done 72k now, and yes it is in lovely condition...But, since having the problems with the wiring loom and ecu repaired, i don't have quite that unshakeable faith in the car that i used to.
I don't think with the age of the car and the fragility of this design that i could seriously benefit from gassing the old girl (blimey hope someone doesn't edit and quote that, i'll be in chokey).
I really like the car, and its so unique, and a true pleasure to own and drive, i really don't know what to do.
I almost bought a 3 litre flat six legacy the weekend before the budget, so i'm very pleased i didn't do that, i may still have one, but cheaper next year probably, and that would be worth gassing, and apparently subaru's go well on gas.
You know what its like though, i would feel dreadful selling the merc, especially with the certainty that any subsequent owner would not treat her so well.
(purely out of interest, my indy bought and resold my low mileage diesel 124 saloon, he knows how fussy i am, well he sold it to a very caring chap, who happened to overtake my son in his car transporter,, 'keep it in the family',, who reported to me that it was gleaming and looked well, this in winter, i was very pleased, that was a truly good car)
The C1/aygo/107 petrol engine really is a cracker, amazing low speed torque for such a tiny and frugal lump, but like many i still prefer diesels, or at least old fashioned diesels.
Just read an article in popular UK motor magazine where it says if a dealer sells a pre reg car and it is under a certain age then they the dealer retains the log book for upto 6 months ,why is that surely if you have paid for a vehicle then you should have the log book what happens if you have to produce it for any reason,is it a quaint UK law or is it to do with the dealer and vat/tax.Just curious. Read more
Thanks
Can any one help ?
poor builders van I bought 3 years ago it has factory alarm fitted which kept going off and annoying everyone near my house including me so as a short term measure i cut the wire to the alarm horn it still whent off continually but was now silent, however it seems to be flattening the battery I bought a new one last winter cost £70.00 and it was fine for a bit, but I think that is now ruined as I have to remove battery leads every night to aviod constant alarm going off indicators flashing constantly etc.and discharging the battery every night?
if there is some way of disabling the alarm completely then it should not go off continually and thus flatten battery overnight. Once it is started in the morning it will be o.k. to start all day but overnight it go flat and will not turn over fast enough to fire up without a jump start in the morning I am resigned to purchasing another battery but I have got to resolve this discharging issue first any advice gratefully and desperately sought and appriciated
Thanks guys
{subject header changed to make less vague} Read more
Had the guy round friday did a test and iformed me that there is no drain and reason it wont start in morning is following 1/ 2 glow plugs not working I took these out about a month ago and they were getting cherry red when operated but he said they were not efficient enough electrical resistance or something 2/ starter motor polling? and thus drawing way to much power from the battery under starting conditions which seems to make sense as once it is started in morning it will start o.k. all day. solution is new set of heater plugs and replacement starter he did however point out straight away that the dash board battery light is very dim when ignition is turned on will carrying out above repairs rectify this ?
Thank for your advice
well, I've gone and done it . pressed the button and ' won ' an E Bay auction for a 2008 US Pick up truck, based in the Mid West, in the States
This was achieved at $33000 , and I have the following questions ;
a) The seller has confirmed they owe money on the vehicle . I guess it's a substantial portion of the sales price , if not all . They say they want the buyer to pay for it , take it away, he will then square off with the bank and the ' title ' will be forwarded from the bank in 3 weeks to him, then onto to me back in Blighty. My plan is to fly there , inspect, hand over the dough and drive it to the docks in Jersey. I am naturally reticent to part with any money let alone this much without good title . Any ideas what to do here ? he can't pay off the loan without the buyer's dough. I haven't got 3 weeks to kill out there. I don't know the vendor and he could do other things with the cash .
b) Shipping it - any clues who's the main companies ?
c) duties - this will be a business vehicle - so VAT will hopefully be reclaimable. What about the duty - is it 10% for a pick up, like a car ?
d) Will leaving it there for 6 months lead to any savings ?
e) Vehicle ( Ford ) carries a warranty till 2008 - I am giving up on it , but is there a way of claiming in the event of failures / breakdowns ?
thanks Read more
>.pressed the button and ' won ' an E Bay auction for a 2008 US Pick up truck..
To be honest - You're nuts.
Have you thought about why you 'won' the auction and Elmer from Wyandotte County didn't bid higher?
How much are you saving over list price (minus sales tax) for a used F250 of doubtful provenance, with no guarantee and no comeback if the thing is a lemon?
>They say they want the buyer to pay for it , take it away, he will then square off with the bank
>and the ' title ' will be forwarded from the bank in 3 weeks to him, then onto to me back in
>Blighty.
Firstly, what's to stop him reporting it stolen once he's got your cash and you're halfway across the pond?
Secondly, you will not be able to export it without the Title document in your name. It is illegal to export a vehicle from the US without clear title and US customs will want to see the Title.
Lastly, if he does "square off with the bank", the Title will be in his name not yours. You'll need to get it xferred again.
>My plan is to fly there , inspect, hand over the dough and drive it to the docks in Jersey.
Do you know how much hassle it will be to get short term insurance in the US for a vehicle that you do not have title to, your residential address is Motel 6 and you don't have a US drivers license or ID? Or weren't you going to bother with insurance?
>I am naturally reticent to part with any money let alone this much without good title . Any ideas
>what to do here ?
Either have the Title assigned to you in person at the nearest finance Co. office (arranged in advance) or get a lawyer to handle the transaction.
ie. Both of you go to a lawyer and hand over your $33k and the seller's $4k (if he has it). The lawyer then draws up a contract for the sale and you leave the truck and keys with him. He then handles paying off the finance, having the Title transferred into your name and Fedex's the Title to you so you can arrange shipping.
The shipping Co. then collects the truck from the lawyer and ships it to UK.
>Shipping it - any clues who's the main companies ?
Take look here: www.honestjohn.co.uk/forum/post/index.htm?t=4318&m...e
or a colleague's website here: www.import-car.info/
>duties - this will be a business vehicle..
Check with HMRC or whatever they call themselves today. An F250 might be classified as a commercial vehicle which may have different regs.
>Will leaving it there for 6 months lead to any savings ?
Possibly. When I imported my vehicle the UK registration office only checked the date on the title document. I'd owned it for 3 years so there was no problem. The guy in front of me in the queue wasn't so lucky. It sounded like he'd only owned the vehicle for about 6 months and they suspected that he was a dealer trying to evade duty. They wanted his passport and hotel receipts to confirm his story.
>Vehicle ( Ford ) carries a warranty till 2008..
If it's a 2008 model it will probably have a 3 year "bumper to bumper" US warranty but you should check with Ford to see what, if anything, they will honour in the UK.
I'd have no qualms about buying from an established dealer in the US, but you're asking for trouble here.
Kevin...
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Last November, I tried to sell my car via BCA?s SureSell service. I rang the national free phone number for SureSell and the person who dealt with my call was very helpful, but she then put me through to my nearest BCA auction, where the staff were clearly unenthusiastic about dealing with a private seller. After another phone call it became clear that, at my nearest BCA auction, the SureSell sales were fully booked for weeks ahead anyway.
I eventually took my car to an auction that is not part of a chain. The car sold first time out and I was taken aback by just how easy it was to sell a car using that method.
If you?ve got an old car to sell, I?d recommend using an auction, but not BCA. Like ifithelps, I can?t see the difference between the SureSell service and the service that just about any motor auction will be able to offer to any private seller.