You must consider the crank sensor, located above the gear box at the back of head.

cheers

Been there twice this year, in August and again at the start of this month, just as the financial situation was becoming apparent. Read an Observer story online whilst I was there about panic buying of imported foodstuffs like olive oil, can't say I noticed it at all in the various supermarkets I visited though. Maybe different now, but can't see it being a huge problem, to be honest, the shops were all well stocked, and they produce a surprising amount of fruit and veg themselves, in geothermally-heated glasshouses.

Hired a car both times I was there - can be expensive, but I used comparison sites like Car Rentals and Kayak, and got a decent deal both times - the October trip saw the price fall to just 38 quid a day, and both hires were handled by Avis. Take care where you drive in your hired motor - your insurance won't cover you on roads specified as off-road (think these are prefixed with an F) unless you've hired a 4x4, and even then, no insurance cover is provided for any vehicle which is lost crossing water.

Booked cheapest category both times (3-door manual with no air con), and got a minor upgrade - 5-door Corsa first time, 5-door Subaru Justy the second, which had air con.

Corsa was standard mid-range spec, with the popular Icelandic option of heated seats! Justy was very well equipped, had a nice ride and didn't feel like a small car, but the three-cylinder, 1.0 engine (same as Aygo, 107 and C1, I believe) was rough under anything more than gentle acceleration, and felt quite gutless too. Gearbox was a bit naff also.

One thing to look out for - daylight running headlights are compulsory in Iceland, and not all cars are wired to automatically put the lights on with the ignition - drove half a day in the Justy before I realised this was the case!

Also, speeding is quite frowned upon by the police, and many of their cars appear to be fitted with some kind of forward-mounted radar, so that car on the horizon coming towards you might already be clocking you speeding before you see what it is!

Max speed limit anywhere is 90kph, although I believe there are plans to up this on the country's best road - the dual carriageway between the airport at Keflavik and Reykjavik itself (Reykjavik does have its own airport on the edge of the city, but it's for domestic flights usually - international flights land at Keflavik, some 30 miles or so from Reykjavik). This dual carriageway is still not finished along its entire length, though, and the signs and markings at contraflows is not quite up to UK standards, so be careful, especially in the dark!

The main roads around Reykjavik are generally broad boulevards of sorts, but in the old town centre, can be fairly narrow with speed bumps. Red light cameras also exist at major junctions on the broad boulevards, but I didn't see a single fixed speed camera, although warning signs are posted occasionally on the main Route 1 round the island.

Route 1 is largely single carriageway, but has overtaking lanes on gradients which can last for miles. The quality of roads is OK, but can be fairly undulating, but then, this is a geologically active country! I wouldn't say the road to Geysir and Gulfoss on the Golden Circle is unmetalled, but it does have short sections of compacted fine gravel, a bit like a country road here that's just been resurfaced. The road to Thingvellir is partially unmade, though.

I'd urge you to go beyond the main tourist route there, though, and don't be put off by the appearance from the road of towns like Selfoss and Vik - the truck stops and farm machinery showrooms soon peter out, and as you head along the south coast, you pass some spectacular waterfalls and volcanic landscapes. We headed east to Jokulsarlon, about 250 miles from Reykjavik, a glacial lagoon with floating icebergs which are carried out to sea under a suspension bridge. This was frozen for the Jag Vs Aston scene in the Bond flick, Die Another Day. You'll see some spectacular sights along the way too, such as the fingers of the glaciers coming out of mountains, and vast empty plains of black volcanic sand. Wee bit more caution advised on Route 1 here, as some bridges are single track with wooden or metal decks, and any remnants of snow, as there was a fortnight ago, can appear unexpectedly. There's a monument in the form of huge twisted girders to mark the eruption in the mid-90s of a volcano under the glacier nearby - the resultant glacial floods swept the bridge away and blocked the road for a long time.

Also keep an eye on fuel, petrol stations are few and far between in some areas. As mentioned, these can often be entirely automated, even during the day. You'll sometimes be asked to put in a max amount, just stick the highest you expect it to be, you shouldn't be charged for the whole amount if you put less in. Many petrol stations have cafes attached, which although not sophisticated, are cheapish and easy. Petrol was about 180 ISK a litre, diesel about 200.

As also mentioned, everyone pays for everything with cards - even a round in the pub. Doesn't take too much looking around to find pints (well, half litres!) for 600 ISK, about 3 quid at current rates. Check out a free paper called Grapevine, available in many pubs and shops - it's in English and has a section on what pubs are currently charging for beer!

As for cars you'll find there, it's a real curious mix - a legacy of the landscape and the American base which was still there until only a few years ago. Huge 4x4s, including giant Japanese and American models not really seen here, loads of modified examples with giant axles and tyres, a fair few old Yank Tanks, Buicks, Chevys, etc, mostly all getting on a bit. Best way to view this assortment is to hang about the main drag in Reykjavik on a Friday and Saturday night - it's just a long but narrow poky one-way street which changes names three times along its length, but the younger generation like to show off their metal at night, during what is referred to as the Runtur. This literally means something like Round Tour, and is a quaint modern equivalent of the American cruising scene of the 1950s! Nightlife is fairly raucous at weekends, and goes on till around 7am!

Standards of Icelandic driving are generally OK, but expect tailgating, and a few roadside warnings of the dangers of foolhardy driving take the form of actual wrecked cars from fatal accidents.

One last tip - buy some booze at the duty free when you arrive if you anticipate drinking outside of pubs and clubs at any point - the state-owned off licences keep short hours and expensive prices, and Keflavik is one of the few airports in the world with a duty free shop in arrivals - although the guards at customs will usually take a peek in your Duty Free bag to make sure you don't exceed the limits on the way out of baggage reclaim. Best beer for my money was called Viking!

Oh, and yes, the ladies, they are indeed fine!

Oh, another last tip - it's a very windy place, keep hold of your car door when opening it! I nearly lost mine in the car park of the Blue Lagoon, would have hated to have to explain that to the hire company!

Hi,
Thanks for the quick reply, thats what I thought it might be

Another vote for the Grand Scenic. It is a mark of the comfort of this car that last month we drove it 1000 miles from Hampshire to Northern Italy, driving in shifts, and stopping only for fuel / rest breaks. Not a numb body part or ache to report. Lovely, supple ride, low noise levels, and great seats. Classic Renault stuff.

Ours is the 1.9dCi which is refined, gutsy and frugal. Not a "lugger" like an old school diesel - gets stroppy if asked to pull from low revs in a high gear, but has excellent accelerator response, and is very smooth and quiet. Suits the car really well. Third seat row is for occasional / kids use only, but the flipside is a gigantic boot with the seats folded down. Loads of toys (all of which still work on our 3.5 yr old, 55,000 miler), and generally a top family car.

Later (2004-on) dCi's are much more reliable than the early ones, having had a couple of major design flaws addressed relating to the EGR valve and turbocharger oil feed.

As has been said above, not a drivers car, but thoroughly painless and pleasant all the same, and great comfy transport. A good car - would recommend to anyone.

Cheers
DP

Be a grand behind trade book at auction. Not that fussed about so many otehr things.

For my everyday snotter, it needs to be able to do about 50mpg.

For my fun car, it just has to be quick and good handling.

If there's anything I really don't like about them then Ill get shot of them.