April 2009
Had my Tom Tom sat nav nicked and replaced it with a Binatone. I like the speed camera alert feature but can't figure out if I need to update this (suspect I have) so how do I do it? Read more
I've been doing my research (online, on foot & in magazines) to find out which new (nearly new) small cars have:
i) a sunroof option (opening - not just fixed glass)
ii) a boot that folds completely flat
After many many hours of looking I'm beginning to lose track but I think the options are:
-Hyundai i10 1.2 Style
-Vauxhall Corsas (but not sure which models - can't find simple list of options vs model)
- Fiat Grande Punto (I think - maybe Panda too?)
- Mini Clubman - but way too expensive!
- Older Honda Jazz - but rare, aging and expensive for age
I'm after an economical car (low tax, insurance, running costs) with good reliability and I'm leaning towards the Hyundai i10 but before I commit, I wondered if anyone here knows of any other newish small car that I've missed that has the sunroof & fold flat boot?
Cheers.
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Cheers Avant & Focus Driver - your views are much appreciated.
What are the advantages / disadvantages of them?
Thank you Read more
Our 2002 Mondeo TDCi and 2005 Focus TDCi both had DMF's. Our 2010 Kia Ceed CRDi has a soild flywheel.
The Kia can be a little rough when you are starting off compared to the Fords but normally you don't notice any difference....
The fuel consumption of my 2.0 HDI seams excessive. Best fule consumption I've acheived on a combined cycle (300 miles with aprox 60 non motorway) is about 47 mpg. Typically on the urban cycle it acheives around 42 mpg but more recently that has dropped to 36!
It did have a 2 week period last September when, despite being on the usual trips, it switched to 60 mpg and then dropped back to 42 again.
I'm always light footed, and never exceed the speed limits. The car has covered 94K but the fuel consumption was the same when I aquired it at 52K. The measurements have been take over individual fill-ups (larger error) and a few cummulative fill-ups but both give the same reading.
Has anyone any ideas why the fuel consumption is so high? Read more
I used to average 52-53 in my 2.0HDi Picasso. My current 2.0 dCi Qashqai is struggling to get to 40 however!
I've just bought an Rx 8 and have been told it needs regular oil top-ups. Does anyone know whether you can use other branded oil other than "Mazda" which isn't easy to find.
Thanks Read more
You say it's a 1.8 but I assume you've made a mistake as it's a 1.3 rotary engine in the RX-8.
These will use a lot of oil and you should use the Mazda approved stuff. It will be costly but you did buy a rotary engined car.
You do know that it cannot be used for short journeys easily. If you start it and stop it before it warms up it may need a trip to the dealer to drain the petrol from the engine. A rotary engine injects a lot of fuel at startup - a reason for the rotor tips not lasting forever.
Anyway I have edited the thread to say 1.3 instead of 1.8. Unless it's a Mazda MX-5 :-)
On Thursday morning the Speedo, Rev Counter, Fuel Gauge & Temp Gauges were all working OK.
Got back to the car Thursday evening to find none working at all. Other than that car working OK and everything else seemed to work.
Could this be just a lead or two come out or something else?
Many thanks Read more
Not sure if its the same common fault as with the Corsa - where the multiplug on the back of the speedo pod separates itself from the socket connector in the dashboard. A cable tie usually holds the socket back in place.
We are of to Ullapool (from Wigan) later this year and are looking for somewhere to stop over on the way - any recommendations in the Fort William area appreciated.
I'm also thinking about Glencoe, but my experience of it is limited to youth hostels, camping and the Clachaig - does anybody know how easy it is to find somewhere to eat in Glencoe of an evening ?
cheers Read more
oilrag
things change, things stay the same
the rib trips out of Elgol are a new development, but the other boat trips out of Elgol to Lockh Coruisk are still being run by the same bloke who took me out there on our school field trip in 197?
I've no doubt that the manky school minibus we were in at the time deposited more than its fair share of detritus on the roads of Skye, but at least this time I wasn't staying in the manky, damp youth hostel at Uig
big rant ?
at the best of times, sightseeing drivers annoy me. It's a road. Drive the car. If you want to enjoy the scenery, get off the road and out of the car. This applies, in triplicate, to the power of n, to gentlemen of a certain age in Boxters and SLKs doing sub 40 speeds on roads with a 60 limit where I can quite easily acheive 60 in my 1.5 diesel estate - oh, why isn't there a mimser death ray ?
I've just had a prang :(
I can get a new unpainted bonnet in battleship grey for £90.
How much would it cost to get it resprayed metallic green by an independent paint shop?
Its either the respray route, or get a £50 one from the scrappy that is the wrong colour.
Thanks
Mike Read more
The quote was higher than I expected, as its a labour-only job.
Mike
Have just got off the floor from fainting, Requested a quote from BMW dealer for the installation of a towbar inc electrics, it was £1300.00. On top of that they have now told me that all E70 X5 models require a new larger cooling fan to be installed when towing. This fitted is another £700.00. Surely having factory ordered the car we should be told that a retrofit towbar is going to cost you £2000.00 and not just £600.00 if factory fitted.
Also no where in a bmw x5 manual does it say that the car requires additional extras ( engine part upgrades ) to be able to tow a caravan other than the obvious towbar.Surely this makes the standard car not fit for towing purposes., even though it states towing weights.
Any body else had a similar experience.........
I have suggested to BMW that i could get a third party towbar fitted for around £500.00, but was then told that i would void the warrenty if i had engine problems caused by overheating due to the excess load caused by towing. This is why they insist that a larger capacity fan is installed, but why then is the current fan not replaced as part of a product recall. I need some advice on where to go next !!!! Read more
I have fitted tow bars for years including electrics & I would certainly recommend you go with the genuine tow bar & especially the elctric kit.
If you fit non standard tow bar this gives the manufacture the get out clause they need should any thing go wrong.
I would certainly go by the advice for extra cooling, you can never have too much when towing.
My Jaguar tow bar & jag electrics kit cost me £500 but fitted them myself & then the service manager at the Jaguar dealer assured me if I had any electrical problems there would be no warranty just because I fitted them myself dispite being a qualified vehicle tech & sparky but they were going to charge £500 to fit & it only took me 2.5 hrs.
It was the last jag I bought & never went back to the that dealer for a service
I now have Freelander2 Auto & factory fit detachable bar & elecs was £350 fitted & extra large oil cooler for autobox is now standard.
I towed a twin axle 8m van through the Alps in Switzerland & down through the Ardech & back up over the Central Massiff no problems at all.
Vote with your feet & forget BMW. I hate the way BMW Audi Jaguar & Merc are so un helpfull & know how to bend the wallet.
The service I have recived from landrover from initial enquiry to purchase has been 2nd to none & a lot cheaper than Jag or BMW.
So what ever you do go by BMW's advice. From 07 onwards BMW have a new protocol on there can bus system & only BMW can tackle the electrics at present. Aftermarket electrics may cause you a huge issue.
My wife's car is a 1.25 Ghia Auto and the rear windscreen wiper has suddenly stopped working. I have checked fuse and earth are okay, and wiring connections appear sound. With the wiper stalk in the on position, manually 'helping' the wiper arm to move across screen shows a feeble attempt to return to the parked position, which suggests there is power. The washer pump operates okay too.
Before shelling out on a £40 ish replacement motor, any opinions as to whether there's something else I ought to be checking first? Any advice gratefully received. Read more
Thanks for the advice all. Established that motor itself was okay and bad earth definitely the problem but still wasn,t working other than intermittently.
Someone suggested to me that partially knocking out the tailgate pins and then back again might help. Tried this and cleaned off surface rust, a smear of copper grease and hey presto its all back to normal! Would never have thought of that myself.
If it reoccurs will definitely run the seperate wire to body earth, but am hoping this has now done the trick.
Cheers all!
Browse
I have the original Tomtom 1, the bulky version. It works fine and yesterday I updated the software and its got a few useful new features. My map version is 6.5 I think from early 2006. Tomtom are selling the UK map for £30 (reduced from £40). Would it be worthwhile now for me to upgrade the map, considering its 3 years old and the new map is on sale?