May 2008
Hi All, Been looking at this site for a while now and taking in information but only just signed up to post to the forums.
I'm looking for a Good diesel to do a 80 miles (40 each way) commute to work each day, Never had a diesel before so no idea what's good to go for, Not fussy on brand, want resonable motorway performance,Reliability and to sit comfortably at 70-80mph must have Aircon. Anyone got any good experinces and can recommend any cars in particular. ??
Is there a massive difference in economy for a small, medium, large diesel, so say fiesta, focus, mondeo? looking at official figures does not seem to be a lot in it?
Any help / advise appriciated
Cheers
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Do any countries have bilateral agreements with the UK in respect of motoring offences? A poster on another forum is suggesting that Australian authorities will pursue a UK national (in the UK) who has been caught speeding if he does not pay the fine in Australia. Read more
I am not aware of any bilateral agreements with the UK for traffic offences except, possibly, Ireland. There are agreements between Austria, Switzerland and Germany though, as some of my colleagues here have found to their cost!
If, however, you are in a rental car in any country and get caught by a speed/ traffic light/ tailgating camera or get a parking ticket, the rental car company will pay the resulting fine on your behalf and then bill you via your credit card, irrelevant of your nationality.
BBC Reports:-
news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/tayside_and_central/7388340.stm
Procurator Fiscal Office could not produce calibration test on laser gun!
I assume all the other drivers caught that day should get off as well? Read more
And since time in memorial
snip
Of course there are a breed of people that never make professional errors.
Q.E.D.
Has anyone any idea what happened to the retro rides database?
I found it a very useful reference tool. I've tried the Rochford tyres site, but it doesn't seem to hold the PCD data. Any suggestions anyone? Read more
so how do I get bold on here then?
By saying something outrageous?
I'm referring to the feathered variety. Sorry.
I clean the cars once a week if possible;I have recently been bombarded with bird pooh almost daily for the past two weeks.
I can't afford the time and money to clean the cars everyday, so can anyone give some tips as to how best to remove the mess.
I know if left long enough it will eat into the paintwork, so any advice would be much appreciated. Read more
Keep a detailing spray such as Meguiars Quick Detailer in the boot along with a microfibre drying towel.
Squirt the offending material with spray, then simply wipe.
Hi i have a mr2 turbo which is running really flat, the boost guage is not going above 0.4 bar and am reliably told it should run at 0.7 and over.
Also the waste gate diaphragm seems to push not pull -is this normal? and the diaphragm has 2 vac pipes going to it-1 to the hks boost controler and the other to goodness knows where-can anyone please help as i want to fix it before i sell it.
many thanks jim
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Have you looked at the IMOC website?, lot of experts there.
Hi,
I'm in the market for a nearly new (1 yr old) Focus, Megane, Astra, size car.
I haven't been to an auction in AGES and was wondering how the prices at auction for these types of car compare to the large car supermarkets.
Any advice/thoughts most welcome.
Thanks
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Go to a supermarket like Motorpoint guranteed price spec , colour etc no premium based on price through the ring etc. Also you'll have some consumer protection if the car is a pup
Some of you may remember that I posted a link to a survey about the proposed congestion charge for Cambridge recently.
The results of that exercise (and others) have now been published, and the link is below.
There's a lot of information there, but in essence it seems to say that most people in Cambridge do want something to be done about congestion in the town (surprise) and we now have to actually decide if a charge is the way to do it. It seems likely that it will be implemented I think.
As I read it there is a HUGE amount of money available from the Government for transport improvements in the town/locality which we can bid for - but we can ONLY bid if we introduce a charge.
tinyurl.com/5mn47j
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The leader of Manchester City Council perpformed a huge u-turn yesterday by agreeing to a referendum when previously he had been dead against one.
The reason is that he knows that he needs a two thirds majority of the 10 Gtr Manchester councils to proceed with this daft plan. Three have said no with a fourth about to have a referendum (which would kill it stone dead) so he is hoping a referendum will negate the effect of the councils who say are saying no and turn the need for two thirds majority into a simple majority through a referendum - but it is the nuclear option
It looks pretty bleak for them right now
Hi
I can hear a lot of water running around in my car when I'm driving. It sounds as if a large amount of water is rushing from the front of the car to the back and vice versa depending on whether i'm reversing / going forward/ going up or down a hill.
Is this normal? If not, what could it be?
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The bottoms of doors can also fill with rainwater, so check their drain holes too.
Hi everyone
The girlfriend is in the market for a new car, and has taken a shine to the new shape Mercedes A Class. Having looked around for some second hand examples, we have our eye on a A150 (1.4cc) Avantgarde, and just wondered what others opinions were on the this model?
We will be using the car for mainly driving in London, and so we wil be getting the 7 speed auto box, but we will occasionally use the car for trips to relations up North, and airport runs, and one of the concerns I have is whether the 1.4 engine is capapble of comfortably cruising at motorway speeds?
Also are there any options we should be looking for, or are desirable to have?
Anyway I would be very grateful for any views of the A150, and if it is a good all rounder.....before anyone suggests a diesel model, as we won't be doing that many miles in it, the extra cost of a diesel would not be financially viable.
Thanks for any replies. Read more
Thanks for all the advice guys.
I was planning on avoiding the Mercedes dealer network, and was going to find a local Merc specialist to do any work required.
Most of the comments seem very positive, living in London I rarely go any B road blasts, so I am not too concerned about those issues.
Glad to hear nothing too negative so far, the only real negative was about the Mk1 so thats OK.
Thanks once again for all your views, and would love to hear from anyone else.


Just thougth I would update this, I finally choose a car.
2001 / Y Bora tdi , 57K FSH, I ownder from new £3000.
Seemed like a good enought deal... happy with it..