July 2008
Last weekend I conducted a search on the Mercedes Approved site. In the up to one year old E280Cdi category there were dozens of matches, and the prices certainly reflected the effect of reduced demand with lots of good spec models under 5k miles at around, or even under, £25k.
Mercedes have ?updated? their search interface this week (in the usual way of progress it?s fussier, clumsier and less easy to use than the one it replaced but that?s another matter.) Where has all the stock gone? Using the same criteria today it returned precisely two matches. I wondered if they?ve been alarmed at the damage to the brand which might be caused by such an obvious statement of declining car values.
Would they have implemented a disposal programme to palm cars to the traditional chosen few in order that the unaware may continue to enjoy the opportunity to pay top dollar for these rare and highly sought after motor cars?
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Like most people who have bought a new (only once), nearly new, or quite new car I revelled in its spiffy performance when I got it. Over time however you notice its performance atrophying and gradually it becomes less and less fun to drive until after a few years you can't wait to be rid of it.
I've noticed this with several cars over the years and I'm sure part of this experience is simple psychology but I'm sure that a significant proportion of this is a real and provable loss of performance too.
My question is, particularly as a bit of a "car noob", why does it happen and is there anything I can do about it?
I'm aware that to a certain extent things wear out, and as they wear you are going to lose some performance. However most engines these days will do 100,000 miles easily so I wouldn't expect to lose a lot of performance by the time I had done 30,000.
I'm also aware there are items like the exhaust that gradually clog up or are worn down and this could be a source of performance going down. If this is the source of the problem, is it worth replacing these kind of items and how much difference is it likely to make?
Any enlightenment greatly welcomed!
Darkheart
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I'd love to have seen those cars in action, they were the fantasy racers of my childhood, F1 just wasn't in the same league at the time :-)
Nearest I got was watching the Group B rally cars on the RAC in the 80s ... absolutely flipping terrifying, especially the 205T16
Good Morning All, I'm after some advice on a new car. Due to changes in personal circumstances I need a car with space for 2 adults, 4 children aged between 3 and 9, and a dog.
Current cars are an L reg petrol Escort and an M reg Peugeot 306 diesel - plan is to replace the Escort and keep the Peugeot, as I have a long commute for work, and having just one car may be difficult as I'm often away from home and local public transport varies between unreliable and non-existent
Total budget will be £2500 plus whatever we can get for the Escort (not much I suspect, short MOT, below average condition).
So - any recommendations? We're after something reliable and cheap to run, and having had the Peugeot something that's good to drive. I've nothing in mind at the moment - open to suggestions. Read more
The Ulysse is a Citroen/Peugeot badge-engineered car, so you'll find lots of bits in scrapyards and pattern parts in motor factors. Probably not a bad choice, and if you get 18 months out of it then you'll have done well. £450 is probably rock-bottom for that model with any decent length of MoT, so no depreciation to worry about!
Hi,
Is it possible to remove the Drivers Side airbag module in the seat?
I need to weld the joint of the seat cause it has broken apart. I've undone the upholstery to gain access to the module and the part that needs to be welded.
Or perhaps it's safe to weld the seat with the airbag in place. I'd just afraid it might deploy.
Any advice welcomed.
Thank you.
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If the system is disarmed and the sidebag completely disconnected, then you should be OK unless you're welding right on top of it.
As usual when working around airbags; always allow room for the bag to deploy without personal injury and be aware of the disorientating effects of the bang.
Don't leave the seat resting on the bag as it can throw the seat into the air. If you have to rest it that side down; support the seat high enough to allow the bag to deploy harmlessly downwards.
Just taken delivery of my new Mazda 6 and I am generally delighted with it apart from two niggles.
1. The controls for the mirrors are not illuminated. I hope someone on the forum can you check whether this is a feature, or is it something wrong with my car.
2. The set up of the car is very UK specific with no way of changing it as far as I can see. The trip computer shows MPG, which I know is traditional in the UK, but isn't that helpful. I would love to be able to see miles per litre...I know how much a litre of fuel costs. I also think if there was a way of adjusting these settings I might be able to turn of the daytime lights mentioned elsewhere. Read more
My mirror controls are not lit either so I don't think that there is anything wrong with your car. For me this Mazda is an upgrade from an original Mazda 6 which did not even have illuminated power window switches. I cannot help with the trip computer and I think we are stuck with the lights as I believe they become mandatory from 2011/12 in the EU.
Hi,
Whilst the front passenger side headlight was removed (for an unrelated problem) I noticed there was an electric switch/sensor just next to where the radiator top hose is.
I was wondering what this electric part is and why the metal strut it is screwed into would have oil on it?
Any help is much appreciated!
Mark Read more
Its the 2000-2002 old body style fiesta, so it must be the crash sensor.
Thanks for your help, I now know not to go messing!
Cheers
Mark
After collecting the car from Manchester Airport I discovered a problem with the central locking. We use Premier parking regularly and have never had a problem with them.
The car locks OK but the passenger door locks does not unlock and has to be opened manually. There is a suitable whirring noise on the passendger side but nothing happens.
I feel it is more than a coincidence that it happenned after somebody else drove the car but I could be wrong!
How do I set about finding the cause of the problem? I would take the door panel off but it has an airbag but I really don't want it to go to a BMW dealer for the second time this month!
Meldrew Read more
My E46 used to do this - was it parked near some transmission towers (Radar etc) ?
Maybe worth trying the other keys with it - can't remember whether there was a re-programming regime in manual.
Looking to swap my unchild friendly car to a family car the toyota avensis 2.2d4 hatchback, on a 06/56 etc..
Does this car have any problems?
Is this diesel engine a cam belt or chain?
They seem to be a good car lot's of taxi drivers buy them around here and they go for economy & reliability!
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bump
hi i am having probs with my 2003 focus st170. there are no warning lights on and the engine sounds normal but the car can't get past 5000 revs it has only just started doing this it gets very jumpy around 4750 and then at 500 it sounds anbd behaves like it has hit the rev limiter any would be greatly appreciated.
thanks alot Read more
I currently have a very similar problem with my '03 2.0 Zetec (see thread for "Ford Focus 03 2.0 Zetec Power Loss" - 18th July). The car's going in again to the garage on Monday 11th August for further investigation. I'll let you know the outcome.
My daughter is a driving instructor (cars). A house move has given her an opportunity to look at an alternative job. An interview she has shortly has asked her to do a short presentation and the brief is ?To a fleet manager of a transport company to persuade them that a road safety initiative would save them money and lives?
As her experience is mostly cars she needs some appropriate input relevant to larger vehicles.
What are your biggest safety concerns? And do you have solutions!
Many thanks.
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She has been offered the job!
Thanks to all for their input. The replies caused her to do a lot of useful research.
She says I make a very good admin assistant.
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£6 a mile depreciation makes the fuel look cheap though :-)