February 2009
I got a renewal reminder for the Pride today (stop laughing, it's eighty quid fully comp), and thought I'd look around.
The supermarket that sounds like a Scilly isles town gave a quote, but on reading the small print put an excess of twenty five quid less than it's value. If I changed the value, the excess followed it. Sorry, it's worth much more than that to me. Read more
I have an 03 focus 1.6ghia, the problem is the ABS light does not come on at key on 2, then comes on intermittently, all fuses check OK, NO fault codes showing, works fine once PCB board cleaned, BUT! only lasts for a couple of days (2 at most), has anyone had similar problems/symptoms, would appreciate any comments or advice.
Here's hoping? Read more
Guys n gals, please help! I recently bought an 04 1.9dci 100bhp Traffic and I have performance probs. The vehicle starts fine but takes an age to rev to 2200rpm. The rev limiter kicks in at 3500rpm so my operating window is so small. I've had the van on a diagnostics machine which reports no ECU problems. The turbo was also shown to be operating properly, so now I'm perplexed as to what to look for next. Once the van hits 2200rpm it starts to pull but below that its useless and pulling out on traffic can be scary. There is nothing under 2200rpm, even when not under load. Revving the engine in neutral still takes forever to reach 2200rpm. There is no telltale smoke or whining from the turbo. Any ideas? Thx Read more
On 24/01/09 we attended car supermarket, name removed to look at some cars. Upon deciding on a vehicle we sat down with a sales rep. It was made clear to the advisor we did not want the vehicle until March 09 when the new registration is issued. The dealer told us that there was no difference between a 58 and 09 but said we could order a 09 plate. We agreed to purchase the vehicle and collect in March. There are 52 of the same vehicle currently in stock.
Today at 0854am my mum received whilst scarping the ice from the car a text from the same sales advisor on her mobile phone arrived saying this is****** at car supermarket we need the money ASAP for the car. The sum outstanding was quoted in the text and is around £10,000. Given the current financial situation I do not think it was a wise idea sending money before collecting the car. None of the documentation states that payment must be made early and the text message sent seems to suggest there is some kind of cash flow problem. My mum spoke to the advisor and he stated he was ?under pressure from management?
I am concerned that if the money is paid early and car supermarketwere to go into administration my mum would have no protection. I wonder why car supermarket are so desperate for the money as the car is not due to be picked up until March. Nothing on the paperwork suggests early payment must be made, only on collection.
Any comments on this gratefully appreciated. At the moment just a £300 deposit has been put down
Read more
Isn't there a punitive new car showroom tax coming in on March 1st?
hi there, recently my car has had a bad misfire .. firstly i changed the plugs for some spare ones i had and that solved the problem for aprox 3 days and now the problem is back. The car isnt as responsive as it normally is either.
Wondering if anybody has any ideas of what else could be causing the misfire?
oh and as soon as the car is turned on the misfire is very noticeable.
Thanks in advance for any ideas!
-Adam Read more
What state were the plugs you took out in?
My 1999 Almera is starting to rust where the rear wheel arches meet the sills. it doesn't look too bad from the outside but I'm assuming its worse underneath as it was mentioned as an advisory on its last MOT.
Can anyone offer advice as to how much a repair (patching or replacement of the sills) is likely to cost, and how long such repairs might last - the car is in good shape mechanically (only done 60K) and has never needed repair in the time I've owned it. Read more
Thanks, I'll have a look.
Would apreciate any views on these two cars. Like the SX4 becasue it is high up - interested in the grip model. With the Mazda I like the saloon but would probably go for the more practical hatch. Are Suzukis as well made and as reliable as the Mazdas? Read more
HJ. Given the choice, which would you go for?
HELP!
A/C worked on and off for past 3 years, re-gassed and seemed to fix for a month. Local dealer...Newport Ford couldn't find leak but local A/C guy did in 5 mins on A/C radiator. No power to compressor or pressure switches even when re-gassed.
Fuses ok and Ford say needs new compressor at £700 but with no power on compressor don't believe them and they were the last ones under car in Feb 2006 when alternator fixed and they had to move compressor to get alterator out.
New A/C rad quoted at £220 fitted by local A/C guy but recommends wiring is checked first.
Fan on engine kicks in but not sure if A/C is on? Light is on on dash but no click / clunk to say compressor is on like it used to do.
Ford also refilled it Feb 2008 and added oil to air con system? Read more
I know you won't believe this in a buyers market, sales slowdown etc etc, Lady friend went to dealer to BUY a Mazda 6 delivery miles pre reg, no trade in. Treated by the sales staff like a leper, make a meek enquiry for a discount on sticker price with no trade, and was laughed out the place. She is now fed up and decided to keep her old car. An easy sale lost, unbelievable in this financial climate. Yes the car is still sitting on the car lot, but cause the way she was treated wouldn't take it if they gave her it for free. Manufacturers and dealers can't complain about sales while they continue to do this. Read more
I've related my poor experience of a previously loved SEAT dealer in another thread- suffice to say I won't be back there. Recent dealings with Lexus, Toyota and a couple of Volvo have been pretty good. Volvo in particular seem to hit that balance between helping you and leaving you to it- partly why we're spending a large sum with them.
Cheers,
Alex.
The grossly excessive exhaust back pressure, at first sporadic but latterly more or less constant, that has progressively rendered my car undriveable except in town has been caused not by the cat breaking up but the rear silencer box, its outlet filled with a wodge of blackened fibreglass and its swollen condition testifying to the pressures it has suffered. Trouble is, the car needs an MoT and no emission figures can be measured without the exhaust being fixed, 50 quid plus fitting at least. So if, as seems quite possible, running in that state has damaged or cooked the cat, that will be another hundred plus fitting more or less, plus any other bits and bobs it may need for the MoT.
Fortunately my garage man is an intelligent and sympathetic individual who understands my needs and doesn't see me as a cash cow. Even so I am beginning to look forward to a slightly embarrassing but newer and more comfortable jalopy I have been promised, but that has not yet materialised. Read more
The Escort is legal again having passed what will surely be its last MoT in my ownership. The exhaust back box it needed was a type fitted only for six months back in the mid-nineties, and it took a couple of days to get the right part. The jalopy needed a couple of small patches on the sill, one on the inside being noticed by the MoT tester. It also failed emissions first time around, but my man said he thought it just needed an Italian tune-up to get rid of all the gunge in the exhaust. Meanwhile he cleaned and fiddled with the idle control valve and inlet tract. I went down and got it just now. It feels a bit loose in the joints after all the newer cars I've driven over the last couple of months, and the new back box is noisier than the blocked old one, hardly surprisingly, but now it goes properly.
The MoT cost £56 I think. For the silencer - 50 quid more or less - and fitting, patches and welding, idle control valve fiddling, and having to juggle a truly filthy old Escort - it had sat in the main road in front of the house for six weeks without moving through all the cold weather - on and around his premises and back and forth to the MoT man for nearly a week, my Aussie garage man has charged me £174. Not bad for central London I would say (North Kensington actually, between David Cameron, some sort of police garage, a newly opened VAG indy and a bunch of Transit-wielding gipsies down a muddy lane).
When I said 'That's extremely reasonable', he looked a bit bashful but said 'Yes, it is.'
Pure gold.
Browse
Hi
I just picked one up for £150 T+T 1.3i. Goes like stink leaves corsa's and novas and a few fiesta's sitting. It's my second one in three years and I want another one. Superb little car and worth exploring more. Also very economic. By the way I am 50 and can still drive like a nutter when I want to, and the roads allow it.