October 2008
does anyone have any ideas as to why the heater plugs keep burning out ? the last set only lasted 16months and the set before that only 6 months . All the heater plugs are ruined Read more
SNIP. Already posted in Technical Matters last week. No need for a duplicate thread on the same subject. Any replies here have been moved to the other thread. Read more
Hi.
I'm looking to buy either a Renault Clio Dynamique or a Fiat Punto Sporting (both with 1.2 engines and registered in 2001).
Besides the Punto being faster, which is the better car between the two and why?
Do they handle well?
Are they both reliable?
What's the build quality like in these cars?
If anybody can give an insight in to what these cars are like to own/drive, I would really appreciate it!
Thanks! Read more
I had a Punto HGT for a short while but couldn't live with the hard
suspension I'm not sure if Sportings are the same.
As far as I recall the suspension was the same (and yes, it was pretty hard) - the HGT did manage all-round disc brakes though.
I've been seriously considering one of the many Chevrolets/Daewoos you see advertised in the car supermarkets, as a replacement second car for the existing Daewoo Nubira at some stage. As a second car I'm not too bothered about driving dynamics, but have been most impressed by the price of these things -- £4000 for a car that is virtually guaranteed to have at least 9 or 10 years left in it etc etc.
Few questions:
1) Has anyone driven one of these? I'd be very disappointed if it were as bland and sloppy as the old Nubira, but as someone who is used to an aging Primera (a good handler in its day), how is the car generally?
2) Are they as reliable as Daewoos of old? Are there any serious issues to be aware of?
3) Why exactly are they so cheap? They seem to lose money far more quickly than a number of apparently very similar cars (old Kia Ceratos, Nissan Almeras, Mitsubishi Lancers etc). Given that they're not that bad looking, what gives here?
I know that people are going to say "buy a used Focus", but at this price I'd be looking at a 4 or 5 year old example with probably a few faults to contend with, so as a second car these, on the face of it, seem to make a lot of sense. Read more
I will also say that the Epica, which was on show, in black, in the showroom seemed like a very nice car indeed considering it's a Korean model. When these sink like a stone, I'll be even more tempted -- fit and finish seemed every bit as good as a Mondeo or Vectra.
I have had a Citroen Synergie (Petrol) for last 10 years which has to date been very reliable. It has just started stalling on idle, also when slowing down and starting. I have had my local garage look at this and the AA have had a look at it and both say the jets and injectors need cleaning which has apparently been done. But 1 or 2 journeys later the problem returns.
Is this a know problem for petrol Synergie's in old age ? What else can be done ? Is it something more serious e.g. electronic sensors and/or engine management ?
As it is dangerous to drive (loss of steering and brake effectiveness) can anyone recommend a mobile workshop ?
Read more
I have a customer looking for a front panel for a 2007 (57) Golf 1.9 TDi Match 105PS. I is fitted with a 'BXE' engine but I only have a listing for a panel for a 'BDK' or a 'BKD'.
Does anyone know if either of these will fit?
Cheers
Stuart Read more
I recently bought a used E320CDI, and when I received the V5 from Swansea, I noticed that they have not entered my house number in the address. The details are just listed as "Joe Bloggs, Any Road, My Town, AB1 2CD".
Now, my road has probably 300-odd houses on it, so full marks to the postie for getting it to me!!
But what happens with, shall we say, 'non-receipt' of parking ticket correspondence and the like? Could a Court enforce any sort of order with an incomplete address (which I may not have received)? Of course, I would always pay parking tickets, speeding tickets, etc. but I am just curious to know of the legal position if I didn't. Read more
Strange! Mine was a silver estate too! Close but not close enough. I live in
Esher.
Ha! I drive through Oxshot every morning down Copsem Lane onto the A3. And I see an identical E-class estate as mine with the same registration bar 1 letter!
A local garage that is also a Daihatsu dealer has taken on a Ford dealership and opened as such in the last couple of weeks, potentially handy because it is only a few miles away for us.
It seems to me that this is against current industry trends, and it is not as if there is a gap in the market because we now have 6 Ford dealers within a 20 mile radius. Read more
Just called in to the new dealership to take a look, the new Fiesta looks fine in the flesh.
Some drivers seem to be getting very ambivalent these days. On the one hand they complain about other drivers driving slowly, but on the other hand they're obsessed with driving economically themselves.
Make your minds up what you want! Read more
Perhaps, as competent drivers who can turn our hand to anything, we could organise a satirical BR mimsers' rally some summer weekend?
It would be important to choose a location already rich in the species, so that we could outmimse them and show the carphounds how it's really done. Two that spring to mind are St John's Wood and much of Surrey. The advantage of St John's Wood is that the mimsers there are rich and have nice cars. So bangernomicists could have a field day threatening their paint and offending their (admittedly very vague) gaze with filthy rusty cheapo jalopies like mine.
With a business partner we run an unusual vehicle : AN LPG converted 1996 LWB Nissan Patrol . Top of the range 4.2 auto with leather, working A/C , selectable 4 wd. Now, this vehicle has been abused aesthetically : surface scratches , a missing wheel arch guard, driver's door lock doesn't open from outside , worn boot carpet, intermittent passenger electric window etc .
But it's in gunmetal grey metallic, and on a rainy day looks almost macho . It never fails to start and has done a genuine 98000 miles from new with no towing . I owned it Ist from 1998 and then eventually sold it to him but continued using it so know it's history ..
The tax / insurance have just ran out , and we simply don't use it . It's time to let go of it , but apart from Ebay ( not good for sellers , only buyers ) , can anybody project a reasonable asking price and selling medium ? Maybe some travellers could use it .....
The LPG tank has taken the place of the 3rd row of seats that is still around. My partner has 3 kids and they prefer their 3 y.o Honda FR-V to move that brood around . Read more
The horsebox-towing brigade will give you around £800 for it - with a new ticket.
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Take the injectors out, and have them tested for opening pressure, spray patter, and leakage. A poor spray pattern in particular can ruin glow plugs in short time.