December 2008
Took the other half to work at 08 15 this morning, drove right across Blackpool. No evidence of gritting at all, zero. Local radio reporting numerous shunts on M55 and local roads.
Roads were basically a skating ring, what is happening with local councils.
Lack of funds or just dont read weather reports. Read more
No sign of gritters here in Oxford but a nice sheen of ice on the roads. Watched a car driven by a young woman nearly plough straight into a row of houses after she went round a shallow corner way above the speed limit and almost lost control. Fortunately the car just missed the edge of the pavement.
I was browsing my local Honda dealer's site last night and noticed that they are offering 0% on the new Jazz already. Interesting times we live in. Read more
The 09 Jazz sold here is made in Japan currently. The Swindon plant will manufacture from late 2009, if they go ahead. Judging by the Civic record - I'd buy before the Swindon factory start any production.
I'm another with a Ford Ka and dodgy heater! I've read a few posts and the heater valve under the bonnet seems to be a common issue. However, I think my girlfriend's Ka has a slightly different problem in that it doesn't blow at all (neither hot or cold). This is the same for whatever position the dial is in. Is this more likely to be the switch? Where is it located, and is it easy enough to replace?
The only fault finding I have done so far it check the fuse, which is ok.
Thanks in advance,
Chris Read more
Ok, the rule of this thread is:
Recommend one - and only one - book on motoring that you think others might enjoy for Christmas. It need not be in print.
It's a bit like the "what do you listen to in the car" threads that come round every so often, but as I don't listen to music but do read a lot I thought it would make a change.
Here's the first. I mentioned this one here in 2003 (thank you in advance to those who check every utterance and breath by posters to see if they stay consistent and then abrasively advise they shouldn't have even got up this morning) but it still stands.
I recommend Geoffrey Owen's book "Turning back the Clock: The Life and Times of a Motor Trader". It's an easy quick read, funny in parts, and talks about motor trading as it used to be done, so has some historical interest too.
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following a particular long running thread on this site i was gonna write a screenplay for a film called 'Dude, where's my mitsuibushi colt CZC' :-)
The good lady is looking to change the Xsara TD that has served us well for 18mths. About £4k to spend trade, private or auction.
Wishes...
5dr hatch
ABS
Aircon
2 airbags min
Quickclear screen
Outside temp gauge
Remote stereo stalk
CD player
Split fold rear seats
Not sure about petrol or diesel.
Focus seems the obvious choice after the Mondeo III Ghia I bought earlier this year turned out to be so good. Any thoughts appreciated.
David Read more
Not a top memory, just the same as you, - a forum search!
p
The car is a Rover 214 16V of 1995 vintage. A new battery was fitted 10 months ago. It was soon after left standing for about 4 months but was started and run for 5 minutes every month or so. Then it entered daily use and was fine for about 3 months. A few weeks ago, the starter hardly turned - diagnosed to a slack drive belt and fixed, but only after an interim period of about 3 weeks when the car was started with a booster pack. Then all was OK. Now the started barely turns and it followed by a rapid clicking. battery was then measured at 11.9 volts. I started the car again with the booster pack, switched on everything (lights etc) and the voltage was 13.5V. The starter motor is "lazy" in that it has always struggled to turn initially but then soon picks up. I've concluded the following:
a) The alternator + drive belt are fine
b) The starter motor is lazy at first, but otherwise fine
c) The battery is dying but is only 10 months old. A reading of 11.9V is indicative of a battery in a fair state of discharge. Do any of you agree with my diagnosis, before I trundle back to Halfords for yet another new battery? Just had one last thought, what should the standby current drain be with the car locked? I'm guessing a few mA. I could check there is no overnight current drain taking place.
many thanks
Peter Read more
Problem fiixed. Took the battery back to Halfords, they tested it and said it was duff. Walked away with a new replacement and now all is fine. Thanks for your help. Obviously newish batteries can fail.
A 57 could be 1 September or 28 February - as this is 6 months I expect there to be a difference. In my case 6 months is 8-9,000 miles. Read more
Maybe my statement was too much of a generalisation ref the 2008 v 2009 reg.
On a budget new car like the Aygo a Dec 2008/08 or a Jan 2009/08 reg will only make a difference of £150 (looking at 07/57 v 08/57 in glass,s).
Obviously on the bigger more expensive stuff then the difference may be critical to doing a deal now rather then January.
Hope this clarify's
Hi,
I've bought a Rover 200 as a run around but it's not kicking out hot air through the heaters. If the car is stood still the temp gauge goes up as normal, doesn't over heat but only a small amount of heat comes out of the heaters. If you start driving then the gauge goes down to nothing and cold air comes through the heaters. Any ideas? Read more
My suggestion is to replace the thermostat.
Looking back through some records the other day we realised that its never been as cheap to buy a used or new car.
Yout typical 2 year old car (Avensis in this case) has dropped about £3000 since March,
simlair price drops on Corolla and about £2000 ish for a Yaris, Landcrusiers are off the scale.
The intersting thing is though the older cars have not dropped as much so any PX wont have taken as much of a pasting.
Not looked at other makes but more than likely the same story.
As for new cars these have never been as cheap to buy, we found a 1992 Ford price list and the base model Fiesta was £6500 fast forward 16 years and you can have a new Aygo for about the same..... the average wage has probably doubled in the same time period.
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At the moment I do not believe any manufacturer can mass produce cars at a price people are preparred to pay. Why pay £20k for a new car, when it be worth less than £10k a year later ?
I think there will need to be considerable deflation in wages (already happening in raw materials, energy etc.) before auto manufacturing becomes viable again
MVP
Browse
I was hoping to hear after the recent M40 biker murder convictions whether any useful evidence had been gathered during the 24hrs+ the motorway was closed.