August 2008
My Laguna had its 54000 mile service recently at a local independant garage. They said the idle speed was too low and adjusted the screw on the throttle body housing. When I collected the car the idle speed would not drop below 2000rpm so I took it back and they ran a diagnostic. I was then told the ECU had developed a fault and could not be repaired. I now face a hefty bill from a Renault dealer for the repair as the garage who did the service say the fault is a coincidence and not caused by anything they did, but I'm not so sure. Should this screw have been adjusted as I believe it is factory set and surely the ECU controls the idle speed? Could this adjustment have caused an ECU fault? Anyone had a similar problem? Appreciate any help. Cheers! Read more
Went to a car supermarket today. Not sure if I am allowed to name them.
SWMBO wants a diesel Corolla and found in an Autotrader search that this supermarket had one at about the right price.
We went there, she test drove and we were ready to talk about buying.
This is the strange bit. They would not give a trade in for her old car or a price to change.
Instead the salesman produced a form headed "Customer Proposal".
It had the windscreen price of the new car and he asked her to fill in "what you think your car is worth" , sign the form agreeing a deal and pay a deposit.
He said "dont worry, if we do not offer you the trade in price that you have put down the deal is off".
How does this work? seems a very strange way to sell cars.
When we told the salesman that we were not happy to do business like that, we had to put up with another 10 mins of fairly high pressure salesmanship before they would return her licence.
Who has gone through this out there?
Does it work? Read more
Quite obviously the aim is to pay as little as possible.
They think up price X and don't disclose. You come up with price Y. If Y>X, then they disclose X-10% and negotiate. If X>Y, accept without question.
Sharp practice. They wouldn't get my money that's for sure.
Scenario - Imagine you have won a competition in a reputable car related publication. The no alternative prize is as follows.
You can choose any car ever made past or present. It will be supplied to you in either new or as new showroom condition. It will be yours to keep for five years. There will be no charge for the car and you will simply hand it back after five years.
The catch is that you must use it as your daily driver exclusively for that five years. It must therefore fit with your real lifestyle. You will be responsible for its upkeep, fuel, insurance, tax, servicing, repairs and other running costs during that period.
What would you choose and why ? Remember, one car only, to be used daily.
I think, though I will almost certainly change my mind several times, that mine might be a current BMW 535d Touring with all the toys.
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Common badge as it might be but a sierra cosworth (sapphire)
practical for every day use and ferrying around family,not to bad on wallet
for mpg and plenty of rear end tail when family not on board.
Does anyone own a Toyota Auris SR who can answer my question? I notice that it has lowered sports suspension. My concern here is about going over speed bumps and the like. Does anyone drive an SR who can tell me whether they have experienced any problems like this or not. Thanks! Read more
Look at HJ's road test of the SR180. He says it glides over speed bumps etc. and is a sort of comfortable diesel hot hatch, not as pin-sharp as some of its competitors but perfectly all right, rapid, economical and more civilised than the sector leaders favoured by young hotshoe hacks.
Hello I was wondering if anyone can help me please....I own a 2000 3.0 v6 24v espace,
I have just purchased a second hand cassette deck and surround which is genuine renault and fits into the glove box. I was wondering if anyone had any idea where the wiring loom is located for this (as top spec model I assuming there is one there allready?) I know the radio is under the drivers seat.
Any help would be really appreciated.
Thank You. Read more
Thanks for the advice, I found out today they also supply two different connection leads to both the tape deck and the head unit (either 6 or 12 pin) I now have the task of trying to buy somewhere a 12 pin lead...Regards steve.
Anyone understand HJ's point in today's 'paper? Does he mean capping at less than the current prices the total cost [which is £1.45 per litre], or the actual cost of the diesel fuel pre taxes [£0.73]?
Either way, is the PM is legally able to cap the sale price? Further, why would the producers sell the stuff at a loss - given that they must pay the market rate for the cost of oil? The major fuel sellers only make on pennies per litre. The large profits they do make are surely needed [IMHO] for the massive investments in new oil fields [deeper and more costly to extract]. And no I'm not in the business! Am I wrong?
One answer might be to cap the tax take as a proportion of the new fuel sale price. HMG is taking much more in fuel tax this year than last.
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I'm already looking forward to seeing the winner at 31/12 of the oil price predicting thread which started around May 08.
Plenty of motoring connections - did you see that rain and crashing, a deserved and momentous win in atrocious road conditions - can;t believe they were mixing it with traffic at times.
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perhaps now she will get the BBC sportswoman of the year award
last time she was up for , it went to Zara Phillips and the gormless BBC interveiwer kept asking Nicole silly questions (Miss your frt wls going round!)which showed two things
No knowledge of cyclesport
Plus the BBC trait to ignore it
though when the medals tally comes in the BBC wont be able to ignore it.
Why are so many folk paranoid about a cyclist on a road, afterall roadtax funds only A roads and motorways the rest of the roads funded out of council tax.
As for expense i did see a bike at an event in Cumbria two years ago that costs just over £9K to put together and the owner would pay a tax if he had to .
My local MB main dealer has had a 54 reg September 2004 C220 cdi saloon Elegance Auto in the showroom for at least three weeks marked at £11995 ( £13995 crossed out ) . Popped in to get more spec , and it had done 27 k miles from new, is in deep blue metallic with plastic looking leather interior .
It looks very clean all over , comes with a 12 month warantee
I suggested £10 k to the salesman, no PX / Finance , and although he scoffed initially, he didn't dismiss it out of hand. We'd agreed I'll email my quote and he'll ' have a word ' .
I know about the new model before anyone pipps up... my question is - at £10 k will it be too much still in this climate for a 4 year old car ?
They are not smart at that dealership , cars shift slowly , when you text their mobile info line with a specific inquiry and follow the web link that appears , you just get binary codes . They have £90k 08 plate CL 500 coupes getting wet in the yard and the aforementioned £12k C series takes pride of place in a corner of the showroom..
plenty of suits milling around.. Read more
have got the printed spec and it's an Avantgarde
If it's got the Sport pack - many have, with lowered suspension and 17" wheels - take it on your favourite bumpy road and make sure you can live with ride! Clearing speed humps can be a problem too.
hi quick question
i currently have a 02 plate golf gt tdi 130 can anyone tell me if porsche boxter wheels will fit on my car?
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It can be done by using hubcentric adaptors (a precission made spacer) from H&R or another quality make not cheap and nasty off an auction site
Those of you who read the Subaru MD comments - 2008 new models inc Diesel Saloon New Forester nw Impreza WRX Sti but we have more to come....
Anyone care to speculate on what these may include ?
or better still comment on what Subaru Uk should be doing this year?
Already known Impreza Diesel, Forester Diesel new body/style Legacy for 2009 + a 7 seater version code name EXIGA you can see this on Subaru Japan
Here is are acouple of suggestions, please feel free to add more
Delete the Tribeca range,
Delete the saloon legacy
or just have the leagcy in saloon and the estate as Outback - as Subaru have done in USA
Launch all petrol models with lpg conversion in the dealer price on road, the 220 co2 has killed sales in UK only 187 vehicles sold in July.
Anyone want the BAJA version pickup Outback
any other suggestions?
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Agreed the Justy is another clone of a Suzuki , so why bother with the premium for IM?
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Thanks Screwloose, appreciate your input. I will definitely be taking action against the garage. Let you know what happens.