September 2008
Hello, I need some advice - I'm looking for a replacement for my until recently trusty '90 309 GRDTurbo, and have up to £5k to spend.
I have been looking, and liking, 02-04ish SEAT Leon's and Skoda Octavia's 110 TDis, and considering a Focus TDCI, but just when I think I have found something, I get cold feet with regards to the various problems that might befall my potential purchase. Namely dodgy ECUs on the VAG 110 diesels, Octavia gearboxes that are 'fragile' and the dreaded dual mass flywheel issues that seem to afflict many newer diesels.
Can anyone shed any light on the chances and/or frequency of any of these problems? Does anyone have any decent alternatives to my short shortlist?
I am looking to avoid the French stuff, as their reliability has appeared to be pretty poor in recent years.
Tks. Read more
With the price of scrap metal being at an all time high I was just wondering what they really do with it? Do our new Mondeos, Citroens, BMW's come from the metal of a scrapped Mk2 golf or an old peugeot 205? With so many new vehicle manufactured daily how many have been manufactured from recycled metal?
Cheers Read more
As a student I used to retain all my empty beer cans, I had planned to melt them all down and build a Dyson Sphere.
My 5 year old Mazda MPV 2.0 diesel has just sailed through its MOT and I'm wondering whether to keep it for a bit longer or buy something else. It's done just shy of 25k (no commuting and very little stop/start driving in heavy traffic), does everything I ask of it and has been extremely reliable and well built (no problems so far & no bits fallen off - touch wood) but I know there have been some reported problems with turbo failures so would now be a good time to look for something else before bigger bills start coming in? TBH although something a little smaller would probably suffice now, I'd probably be looking for something similar - or just possibly a large estate. Reliability and low running costs are key for me with issues like handling and outright performance secondary. I'm not a frustrated rally driver with a large family and a tight budget :)
When it comes to other factors in my original choice of car, the sliding rear doors and versatility offered by having 5 removeable seats were at the top of the list and I also liked the combination of electric sunroof and separate front/rear air-con but I realise some compromise on such things may be required.
I guess my budget would be between £10-£12k on top of what I could get for my current car and I'd be intending to buy something 6 months to a year old.
My initial instinct is to avoid anything French but I'm no car expert so has anyone got any suggestions?
Cheers!!
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Sorry for the late reply but I've not been able to access the site for over a week as it kept causing IE7 to crash...
Anyway, my trusty MPV sailed through the MOT with not so much as an advisory... phew!!!
I'll be making enquiries about the best option for the next service shortly and let you know what's recommended re the cambelt and what the cost is going to be.
Hi Folks, finding it difficult selecting a new car on a limited budget and Wife expecting twins. Cheap-cars-onle are offering pre-reg 58 plate Mazda 6 2.0 diesel S model for £11995 + paint (£375 solid/met/mica). It's a pity it doesn't have a few more toys but the next model up is adds about £1600 to the price!!! It the Mazda 6 and this price any good? Read more
I'd avoid the 2.0d mazda engine unless youre doing alot of miles on the motorway
They are known for DPF problems
do i buy a sports car, with an ungreen engine, not to bothered about the planet its very versitile and has survived a lot long than us. do i go for a sports bike that i have always wanted. The car would be, this is the problem what? A bike is easy 600 sports Honda or Kwak. The other option is my dream classic a Honda S800 convertable.
made make/model non specific Read more
Aged 40.....
How about a Rover 75, maybe with a nice caravan to match!
I drive a 2000 206 GLX Automatic, however it has developed a weird but intermitten problem, when I hit the brakes to slow down and stop at lights of in traffice the car stalls, it appears to be a fuel problem but the garage assure me they have checked and there is not a problem, this issue happens for about an hour and is then fine, I am so confused any ideas?? Read more
the stalling appears to have stopped at the moment, however, I have noticed that as I am slowing down the rev counter is flicking between towards the bottom of the counter 2-800 revs
...do me a favour.
Keep your distance. Read more
I believe that if you own an 1980s Quattro you now have to buy the third party LED light strings off Ebay and fix them to the front of your car so that at night everyone will think you're in an R8...
1972 VW camper offside front calliper brake keeps locking and gets very hot. I have stripped down the brake and find that the two pistons are free but won't move independently, i.e. you cannot seperate them to insert the brake pads and if you push one piston in the other moves and vice-versa. The result is that operating the foot brake applies pressure to the disc which isn't released when the foot brake is taken off. Can not understand what's happening and any help welcome.
Many thanks
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Thanks for the replies - old brake flexi hose - this has got to be the problem so two new flexi hoses are on order.
Thanks
hi there i was wondering if you could help me out my exhaust started blowing about 2 months ago but i dint get it sorted straight away and after awhile it lost alot of power and the anti pollution light came on and esp light and when the esp light came on thats when it lost its power.however i fixed the exhaust and when i 1st started it up the anti pollution light didnt come on so i thought problem solved.when i opened her up the anti pollution light came on and then when i got to 90mph the esp light came on and lost all the power again when i turn her off for 5mins approx and start back up the esp light goes away till i hit 90mph again and the anti pollution light is on constant.any advice would be appreciated.
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I know Volvo drivers are stereotyped, as are some of there cars, but I've got an 03 S60 and I'm made up with it. The car is solid, I believe looks nic, the interior (leather) is really comfortable although could do with a taj more leg room in the back. It's reliable, a little thirsty I admit, and if you need some acceleration it's definitley there when you push the peddle. Turning circle is probably the biggest moan but other than that it's great. I've had a lot of different models over the last 25 years but I have to say Volvo does deliver. Read more
Leg room is a little poor but then the real comfort is extended to the
S80 range for space.
Yep, I love my S80. All those plus points of the S60 and you get acres of room in the back and a bigger boot too. Only real downsides is a dowdy image and increased thirst from the extra weight.
The good news about the D5 is that Volvo consistently underrate them. The old 163bhp D5 actually knocks out around 176bhp and the newer 185bhp D5 really produces a healthy 198bhp!!
Get them tuned up and you can get 200...220bhp or more out of them - genuine T5 levels of performance with less revs and less fuel!!
Fantastic engines and wrapped inside a fine car too.
Let's keep the secret to ourselves, eh? ;)
A nice Volvo S60 D5, good old lump.