March 2009
My dads rear panal above the wheel arch has started to rot through in the last couple of weeks, there is lots and lots of paint bubbles now and it won't be long before it gets really bad.
The rest of the car is solid, its very reliable and although old it would be a shame to get rid of it.
My question is what can we do? How much is a professional repair likely to cost (in terms of hours really as labour varies from one city to the next). Is there any bodges and will this be an MOT issue?
Its just directly above the wheel arch on the offside, its a Fiesta MK4 R Reg Read more
I cannot reverse my YARIS on cold mornings, without rolling forward first. As I live in a terraced house on a hill, this is proving a difficulty- especially if my neighbour parks too close in front- has anyone else had problems reversing when the engine is very cold? Read more
Sold to a lovely couple who have just left a cash deposit. A mixed bag of emotions, but on the whole, despite the clutch debacle, I will miss the car. Advertised at £4950 (top dollar) and settled on £4700 which I'm happy with considering the cambelt is due in 9000 miles.
Anyway, had a final drive in her today (before they came to look), taking her 320 miles to Telford and back, and the lovely, loping gait on the motorway, the supple, well damped ride, and that truly brilliant Renault dCi engine are going to be sorely missed. Smooth, quiet, refined, and despite press on driving, returned 46 mpg on the trip. Will also miss the toys and gadgets, the comfort, and the airy, light interior. Won't miss the rattles and squeaks, the cost of servicing and repair, and that slight, niggling doubt you always have after a car completely lets you down for the first time.
So, we're off looking for a Golf TDI for as close to 4 grand as we can find.
Cheers
DP
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Hi all,
Sorry, I was out the door at 8:30 this morning and the upshot is we bought the Golf. Nice, straight, genuine car from a nice, straight, genuine seller. Some marks and minor scratches, but generally in lovely condition. Drives nicely too, plus its had its cambelt, plus a recent alternator pulley and front discs and pads. Doesn't need anything doing to it, and not found anything else prodding and poking (and driving) this afternoon.
It's a 2003 model year, so comes with the Climatronic, ESP and the more heavily bolstered seats which are supremely comfy. After the Renault, the ride is rubbish, and the engine gruff, but the performance and grunt from little more than tickover is absolutely spectacular. It also feels very taut and squeak free.
I'm giving it a proper shakedown tomorrow taking it up to the folks in Oxford, but first impressions are very positive. Will post a proper review when we've put some miles on it. I'm also keen for our friendly VW tech to get it up on the ramps and pull it to bits in his own inimitable way.
Thanks all!
DP
Wow. Isn't AT a minefield these days?
I'm in the market for a new car, well, new to me. As indicated in another post, I'm really after a TDCi Mondeo, but have been looking at some more left-field cars too.
One that was quite appealing was the Rover 75. I've always fancied one of the diesel Tourer models. They run for about 2K for a 01/02 plate. Nice car, from what I understand.
Yesterday, my eye happened to fall on an 05 plate, for just over 2K. Advertised as FSH, low miles- generally too good to be true. The ad had a PHOTO of a hand-written note that advised potentials to contact the seller via an email address. Which I duly did, I'm a sucker for these kinds of things.
Below is the 'seller's' reply, mildly anonymised:
========================================================
Hi Gary and sorry for the late reply,
I am emailing you regarding the 2005 Rover 75 Touring 2.0 CDTi that I have for sale.
Please take some time to read this email carefully, because I want you to understand how this transaction works.
The car is in perfect condition, with 64,000 miles, non-smoker, never been involved in any crash.The car is located in Plymouth. The full service history is available and the MOT expires in Nov 2009. The price that I am asking for this car is GBP 2200.
I have recently relocated with my job to Augsburg / Germany and I need a car here very fast. I've already found one to buy but first I have to sell the Rover.
A few days ago a person told me that he is very interested in purchasing and I had to fly back to UK to close the deal. Since I trusted his word, I came to Plymouth the next day, but when I arrived I called him and he didn't answer the phone anymore. The problem is not about the money that I spent for the plane tickets.. but I lost 2 working days for nothing. Time is very precious for me as I am involved in some major events of my career right now. I am a serious person and this person disappointed me.
I just want to make sure that you are seriously interested in buying this car before we meet and I will fly to UK only if I have an assurance of your intentions. Of course it will be no problem if you decide not to buy the car. But I want to be sure that you will be there to meet me and handle the deal in a civilised manner.
The best way you can prove your serious intentions is to have 2200 GBP transferred into your name via WesternUnion. All you have to do is find a Western Union office in your town and go there with your best friend or your wife. He/she will have to send the money into your name, with Plymouth as location. When the transfer is done you will send me a photo/scan of the receipt from W.U. as proof of payment.
This way I will be sure that you will actually come and I will fly to meet you within the next couple of days. You will test-drive the car and if you decide to buy it we will go together at a Western Union in Plymouth, you will pick up your money, then we will take care of all the paperwork.
As you can see I am not asking you to send any money in advance to me. You will be the receiver of the money and only you will be able to pick up the funds from WesternUnion, only in Plymouth/UK .
I believe our business proposal is reasonable for both of us.
If you are still interested in going further with the deal let me know.
Cheers
(english-sounding ladies name)
P.S.
Here are some pictures of the car . Just click on the weblinks below :
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xs137.xs.to/xs137/09111/3622.jpg
xs537.xs.to/xs537/09111/4117.jpg
xs537.xs.to/xs537/09111/5987.jpg
xs137.xs.to/xs137/09112/9396.jpg
xs137.xs.to/xs137/09112/7145.jpg
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I wish I could say I resisted the temptation not to reply, but...
Hi Diana,
That sounds ok to me..I really like the car, and there's a Western Union very near here. Do I use your email address or is there some other way to get them money to you?
Please advise.
regards
Gary
:)
will keep you all posted!
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Latest scan I sent to her after the totally black square and the Western Union
Money Transfer .gif I downloaded and adulterated to look like a bust fax machine is
a map of Nigeria with "YOU ARE HERE" in a large font and an arrow
pointing to dead centre.
I once told one of these scammers to pretend that his name was Wayne Kerr, and to stand up in a bar and tell everyone his name very loudly.
My air conditioning and blower work on the ignition, but as soon as I start the engine neither work. Any ideas? How easy is it for an amateur to fix? Read more
I bought a bottle of windscreen washer dilutant recently and was intrigued to see that one of its features as advertised on the label was 'Citrus Scented'. I thought nothing about it but now that I have started to use it there is a definite (and quite pleasant) lemon aroma that permeates the interior of the car after each squirt of the windscreen washer. Could somebody please explain to me how the aroma of a scented jet of water directed onto the exterior surface of the windscreen gets itself into the cabin?
{made non make/model specific as could apply to any car, not just a Mondeo} Read more
?
I find the best, and cheapest, "windscreen washer dilutant" comes straight out of the cold tap.
It must be said though that it is the lovely soft stuff from the "Elan Valley".
I use it to dilute LIDl's screen wash.
Hi guys just wondered if anyone can help i posted on this forum a long while back about a ford fiesta i had got on finance which was coming up with the eac fail message . i put it into the garage twice for them to fix it and it has been ok since september but it has now done it over again. I want to reject the car as it is no good but everytime they take it in they say there is nothing wrong with it. They have now had it for a week and they are still saying its ok but i know it isnt. I dont want to risk my children's lives and my own anymore with this car and want the garage to take it back but they are refusing what can i do??? what would happen if i just dumped it on there forecourt has anyone any advice for me please i have only had the car for 10 months and it has been in three times now ????
thanks Read more
has anyone any ideas ???
It's been nearly a week with my new Focus CC3 and so far, so good.
Everything works, which is always a good start, and I like most of the toys such as auto wipers and lights.
Heated seats must be the best of the gadgets new to me, closely followed by cruise control.
The car drives much like an ordinary Focus - very well - although some uneven road surfaces provoke what I'm fairly sure is mild scuttle shake, but since my scuttle has never previously been shaken, I can't be certain.
Brakes are an improvement on my old Focus, and the two-litre diesel is quieter and has more go than the 1.8 I had in the last car.
The extra weight of the roof makes the car feel better balanced and even with that weight it's doing 40mpg.
Not bad with zilch miles on the clock - it should use a bit less fuel as the engine wears in.
Does the roof leak?
Short answer is: No.
Longer answer is I've washed it, hosed it (lightly), it's been rained on heavily while standing and less so while moving. It's even been driven in sleet and light snow.
It's been up and down several times and always seals perfectly.
If it was going to leak, I think it would have done so by now.
The car has the thickest handbook I've ever seen, and it includes instructions on how to change all bulbs - inside and out.
Well done to Ford for accepting bulb changing is a task the owner should be able to carry out himself.
Disappointments? None really, although the extra few inches in length mean the car is not quite so handy as my old one.
Not sure I need six forward speeds, but the gear lever falls to hand a treat, so the extra change is not too much of a chore.
Tiny bit of wind noise from the window seals with the top up, but in all other respects the folding roof really does give you the best of both worlds.
Provided the car remains reliable, I think me and the CC3 are going to get along just fine.
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I hope to be able to hear some real larks ascending.
It seems a shame to spoil nature's soundtrack with one of my own.
Surprising what you do hear with the top down, even on the smelly old motorway.
For example, the engine note of the Volvo pantechnicon is quite different to that of its competitors.
The other thing I like about roof down motoring is visibility, particularly to the rear and over your right shoulder.
Even with the roof up. the pillarless design makes joining roundabouts a lot easier.
Hi guys, I was directed to Honest John by a good friend in trying to find the answer to the following MOT questions, I'd really appreciate any help:
1. Considering that 6% of all MOTs fail due to emissions exceeding permissable levels, can anybody tell me what they've paid in the past to correct their emissions failure? I know it's kind of a broad one, but I'm trying to ascertain some basic/average cost for motorists who fail their MOT on this point
and, 2. The biggest reason for MOT failures last year was defined as 'lighting' by VOSA, with 19% of all MOTs, or 2 million of all first time failures down to this, again, broad reason. I know this can range from a couple of quid for replacement to the headlights having to be realigned etc, but if you've failed on this in the past, how much did it cost you?
I got the info from here: www.dft.gov.uk/pgr/statistics/datatablespublicatio...f, and spoke to VOSA themselves to get some of the stats for some research I'm doing, if you could help me out with some vague answers to my vague questions (apologies...!), I'd really appreciate it.
Thanks, Rich Read more
My 1300 HCS Escort failed the gas test...Changed the plugs and filter, took it back to check before doing other MOT work and it was OK. Did the other jobs, went for a re-test and the emissions were up again ! A handy Corsa waiting for a test came to the rescue...naughty. It's gone to Escort Valhalla now.
Ted
Browse
Yes, two years old now - last off the line. Looks like the weak point and cause of HGF was or is the water pump impeller, and I now remember reading about that before buying the car, but I guess I just went into denial as I really wanted the car. Anyone happen to know if the Mk 3 V6's are improved in any way, asks he hopefully?
>>Sorry for the thread hi-jack Rattle!
Agreed.