August 2008
What do majority of people buy - metallic or standard paint?
Why do manufacturers charge £300-£600 for metallic paint option?
Is there any advantage for metallic paint (all I understand metallic paint looks shiny).
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We are toying with buying a camper van (to accommodate 2 adults) so that in early retirement we can cruise the highways and byways of Europe and maybe pop over to North Africa sometime. It would be based in SW France and stored in a ventilated barn and it would only be used for maybe a month or two a year and probably less.
Something LHD and diesel seems the obvious choice.
Buying is about a year or so away and would be at a time to get good deal - winter?
The size of capital outlay isn't too critical - I'm prepared to pay maybe £20,000 max but might prefer a bit less. The depreciation needs some thought though. If it was a car I'd be thinking to maybe buy at 3 - 4 years old but have no idea with a van. The classic VWs aren't cheap but don't suffer depreciation - or do they?
Any hints or tips about where and how to start looking? Read more
More info -thanks.
krs one - it will live in France but might spend a few days in SE London, especially if bought in UK - thanks for the £200 / day advice.
I saw a lovely 2006 Monaco something or other on the recommended website/forum classified section. It was the size of a bus (maybe bigger) and cost a mere £135,000. It had electric / hydraulic everything, air con, plasma TV, dishwasher etc. and was far better kitted out than my house. Who buys these things? The eventual buyer will probably spend £15,000 on a car to tow as well.
Something the size of the T4 / T5 is probably where I'm heading - but a separate WC/shower cubicle would be nice.
Time to go and take a look at a few now.
I have a Tino, the display has now started to show 'service required, vehicle service is now due'
how do i get rid of it? or can it only be removed by a garage? Read more
Turn radio off. press and hold INFO button and spin the volume control. you will then have 2 options on the screen, highlight the bottom one ( cant remember what it says) press enter. select SERVICE. Then select RESET and press enter. you can also alter the time to service on this screen, When you have completed the above press BACK several times to get back to the 1st screen. hope this helps.
Thanks! Been bugging me for two months since I bought the car. Worked a treat. I love you!
The morals police don't need to get upset, this is theoretical.
We are aware that many owners of performance petrol cars buy themselves aftermarket freer flowing exhausts, often with a straight thru piece of pipe where there should be a cat, and only fitting the cat for MOT tests.
I don't condone this, but it does go on, and i can understand why its being done.
Now in my ignorance i am assuming that the large cat like bulge in the downpipe of the exhaust system of a modern DPF equipped diesel car is in fact the DPF.
If its not tell me i'm a berk, everyone else does...;)
If thats not the case, and its a diesel cat, where is the dpf situated?
Whats to stop someone doing the same with their diesel exhaust and fitting a by pass pipe eliminating the DPF?
Would it in fact be beneficial to the overall running of the car.
I'm asking as posters constantly refer to modern diesels needing to be regularly driven long distances to keep the dashed thing clear, is this really the case?
Are there any other more reasonable preventative measures we can take to help prolong the life of these emission systems?
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when the aftermarket tuning lads find better ways to fool the ECU.
It would be a piece of cake for the VMs to add the differential pressure sensor to the security CAN network. [Yes; I know that's a tautology...]
Is there a reason why tax discs are different colours? I thought it might have something to do with spotting expired discs but not sure. Read more
Into cover with slightly dirty plastic front.
Then drive through a covert ANPR camera and get arrested !
Just want to know if this system is fit for high miliage if well maintained. I know it has to run on special oil but can it run on a normal grade in an emergency or must I always mke sure I have 505.01 in the car? Why does the oil have to be 505.01 and not any 5w 40 synthetic motor oil? I can get the oil at the dealer or Halfords but it is expensive. Luckily mine uses hardly any between services as it was run in following the hj guidelines and gets taken to the limiter once a week( once fully warmed) to blow all the crap out. Read more
If its the same as the Roomie if you look at the data sticker in the Manual or in the Spare wheel well, you'll see a load of codes, one of these codes relates to the DPF. The manual will help you de-code it.
Have seen a 2006 Avensis tourer t180 with 38k on the clock for £10795 and wondered if any thought this was a good buy. Haven't asked about Part ex value of my 2002 Mazda 6 estate at that dealer yet but was offered 3k at another supermarket and want to get rid of it due to rust issues.
{subject header made less vague.} Read more
We bought an 04 plate T4 1.8 hatch a few months ago, and are thoroughly delighted by it. Not the most exciting vehicle, but as has been said very well screwed together. Even with the petrol engine, it does about 36-38mpg on local journeys, 40+ on longer trips. We too looked at the Mazda 6, but actually preferred the look of the Avensis (perhaps we're strange...).
All round, a thoroughly splendid vehicle. Particularly attractive as the depreciation makes them rather good value.
Hope this helps & good luck finding your car,
Alex.
Apart from maybe filtering out sunlight, what is the point of privacy glass?
To me it makes a car look odd when the windscreen and side windows have normal glass and the rest of the car has dark windows. It must cost more too.
Its mostly people carriers and exec 4x4's that seem to have it fitted but those I've seen recently only had two people in them, a driver and front seat passenger who were clearly visible so no privacy for them!
If they were carrying kids in the back, why would they require 'privacy'?
Anyone? Read more
I rather fancy privacy glass which has a coloured reflective outer coating, like you can get with sunglasses. I've always wanted to be a bit of a flash git!
Some of you may remember back in May I reported 3 faulty window mechanisms in 18 months in my 04 Megane. Guess what. Last Friday, 15th August, open the FNS window and it refuses to then go back up. Off to Renault Main Dealer. 'Its the window regulator sir' I'm told. That's OK then. It was last replaced in April this year and as your invoice states 'All vehicle repairs and parts guaranteed 12 months' then it will be done FOC.
No such luck. Renault UK Customer Service (now there's a misnomer) stick their oar in and require from me a contributory payment. No threat was actually made but by implication I might not have got my car returned. I was also informed that the 12 month guarantee was only applicable if a contributory payment had been made.
I was in effect forced to pay over £30. I described it as blackmail.
Anyone want to buy an 04 Megane? Trouble is it will cost at least £600 per year just to have windows that operate.
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Three down, only one to go then.
currently run a bora 1.9pd 100hp. due to change in the next 6mths. will likely stick with vw diesel so what are the pros and cons of 1.9 v 2.0 . am i better to get the 1.9 and lightly chip it or get a 2.0. for the extra power or stick with the bog standard 1.9 and go slower ? jag. Read more
They clearly do vary don't they!
Mine will be a year old on Friday (i.e. a year since delivery) - only 21,000 miles but average 48 mpg (usually 52-53 on a long run), no engine problems (or any others) so far, touch wood, and front tyres still have 4 mm on them.
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and mine's solid blue...... Oh dear!