October 2008

oldgit

To the 'old' MK V, it seems. I have been pricing up a new 1.4TSI 5dr hatchback to replace my nearly 4 year's old MKV 1.6FSI 'SE'.
There are only 3 models on offer i.e. 'S' 'SE' and 'GT'.
My biggest gripe so far is that a sunroof in no longer an optional extra on the 'S' or 'SE' only on the tarty, sporty 'GT'
However about £17.5k seems to be what I'll need to pay, which includes metallic paint, parking sensors and a steering wheel that will enable me to control my radio!!

It may be, arguably, a much better car but my goodness you have certainly got to fork out the money and this is for a car that is supposed to be cheaper to manufacture. Read more

daveyjp

You'll get 10% off the Audi (possibly more through a broker) - I bet VW won't be offering that of a Golf VI yet - so back to £17k.

Local Audi dealer is also offering a minimum £1,000 dealer contribution on all new cars too - £16k!

k9dan

Hi Folks,
I'm in the lucky position that I can do most of my own basic servicing, eg replaced both front discs and pads on the pandoo for £35!! not poor quality neither, discs were QH. I've been looking at code readers on Ebay, to look at any faults so the proverbial wool can't be pulled over the eyes with any future faults. I know by looking at the forum the "proper" gear runs to tens of thousands. I just need basic reading, to point me in the right direction, anything OTT would go to the respective local specialist. I fancy the ELM 327 which looks like an interface which plugs into a laptop and comes with various software, or an U581 which is a small handheld scanner which reads you off the codes. Anyone got any of these? are they worth having? which one is the best for basic use as I have described. Or should I not bother as they are a waste of money? Thoughts from the knowledgeable please. Read more

Andrew Moorey (Tune-Up)

MAC Tools do the bit of kit you need. EOBD code reader. Will read the fault codes and clear them with a narrative and 'P' codes only about £60, will fit in your pocket.
Dont be tempted by cheap, apparently professional kit on eBay. Its quite likely a Chinese copy and unless you can read Mandarin..............

funktifeyeno

Hi

I've got a problem with the heater on my Fiesta

the fan that blows through the air has stopped working, the cigarette lighter has stopped working as well

I've checked the fuses and they seem to be fine

The front left light is also not working, I've changed the bulb and agaim checked the fuse.

I've got a feeling that it's all related

Any ideas???

Thanks

Read more

charlesb


***** This thread is now closed, please CLICK HERE to go to Volume 2 *****


RCS900 Toyota Main Dealer Closed

This is a sign of the times, and I'm amazed that this franchise has closed in Slough.

I drove past Monday, business as usual.
Tuesday they were loading the cars onto a lorry.
Wednesday - completely empty, not a soul in sight, every car gone.

So, it's either the competition from Trade Sales, which seems, considering Citroen just opened a new showroom just down the road, or they cannot sell cars in the current financial climate.

Trade-Sales hasn't looked that busy either come to think of it... Read more

theterranaut

"Couple that with the fact that nobody is paying their bills, cash-flow is negligible and the banks aren't keen to lend to rocky businesses."

And the other part of it is that "Rocky businesses", in the banks eyes, include each other.

Tragic.

Saltrampen

8 years ago when I moved into my current house (on the edge of a housing estate)...Many people parked on the street and the small local hopper (18 seater?) buses use to come through the estate maybe carrying 2 to 3 people with no problem.

8 years on we get full size single (30+) decker buses with only 1 - 2 passengers struggling to get through past parked cars and the tight corners in the estate. On a couple of occasions
the driver has had to get people out of the house to either move their car or fold the mirrors in. The amount of street parking has actually not increased, but the introduction of humps mean the buses now pitch slightly left and right.

Of course anyone not an OAP or on benefit will pay the bus fare as it costs over £1 to go for just a mile away, so they take the car.

The bus company constantly complains it is struggling with costs...so my question is what ever happened to the small buses.. are they disappearing from other areas as well?


Read more

Saltrampen

Re Roads and inconsiderate parking - this is a residential area, it sort of gets used as a rat run and also because so many many people live here, the bus company feels obliged to go here.
The estate was built in the 1960s - 70's and some of the roads in the 1880's. Many houses are terraced or the were only allocated one space per house in parking areas.
The fire engine doesn't seem to have a problem. I suspect it maybe a couple of inches less wide than the bus.

Question is where are people meant to park? They probably could shave a couple of inches off the pavement but I guess it is too expensive.

Disability - strangely there is a large LDV mercedes van that takes disabled people
somewhere? everyday, it is operated by a private coach firm I guess on a charter, is a 12 seater and has a special lift at the back for wheelchairs. It is smaller than the buses.

My mate was a bus driver but gave up as he got fed up trying to take the huge single decker buses down cornwall's narrow harbour and town roads on roads packed with tourist traffic. (Ever visited St. Ives? you'll know what I mean).

telecaster

I am having trouble with a newly accquired Honda Civic.

As soon as the car warms up the revs fluctuate between 1000 and 3000 rpm.....this has got so bad that the car is undriveable as it stands.

I have cleaned the throttle body and checked the cable to no avail.

From internet research the finger seems to be pointing at the idle air control valve!!!!!

The car is new to me so I am not sure where it is on this model....only that it is near the throttle body/inlet manifold.

I had a similar problem on my daughters corsa and cleaning the EGR valve solved the problem.....not sure if this prob will be so simple.

I have the car on approval so if the fix is going to be expensive I will return car.

Any advice appreciated. Read more

Screwloose


Don't overlook an air leak or a coolant temp sensor problem?

barney100

I took my Clk 3.2 into the main dealers for a 'B' service yesterday and when I was driving it home I noticed the odometer was showing an extra 2000 miles! they only had the car a day so there is no way anyone spanked it up to Scotland and back. The dealer tells me this is impossible and I am sure they wish I would go away but I know for a fact that these phantom 2000 miles have appeared though I can't prove it. Anyone ever heard of this before? Read more

Simon

Has anything more come of this? What mileage does it show on the Service Sheet? If I was 100% sure that 2000 phantom miles had appeared on my odometer I would be kicking up a stink about it thats for sure.

OldSock

Might it not be better to introduce a separate forum devoted to "I Have a Question" posts - on the same 'level' as 'Discussion', 'Technical Matters', 'Classifieds' etc.

Maybe it's just me, but I find the current system somewhat awkward to navigate.

Just a thought... Read more

RT

Make and model don't have to be entered so can be left blank for non-model topics

Dwight Van Driver

I think it has been briefly mentioned that there are further requirements on the cards in relation to the test for motor cycles. These were supposed to be in now but delayed until next year in England because of shortage of off road areas to carry these tests out.

M Vehicle (Driving Licence)(Amendment) Regs (N.Ireland) 2008 - in force 24th November 2008:

tinyurl.com/6pm52h

outlines the requirements that I believe will be mirrored for E,W,S. Go to Pages 2 - Schedule 7A to view.

No doubt it will be interesting to see an emergency stop at min speed of 50kph......

dvd Read more

jc2

If they had made it 50kph+/-10%,there would have been no problem.

Mapmaker

10-year old cars with large engines seem to have gone up in price since the summer. Anybody else noticed that what might then have been £750 is now £1500? Is this a result of the rapidly dropping petrol prices?
Read more

dxp55

My 9yr old Barge has just passed it's MOT again so I am good for another year - I covered 3k miles last year so it is a luxury sitting on drive costing £300 insurance and £185 tax but petrol has come down so 22-26 isn't so bad now - I bought it two years ago on hope petrol wasn't going to hit 90p ltr-- Oh well!! - it is nice