May 2009
Just seen watchdog on bbc 1 there was a bit about people who has sent there licence to DVLA for a change of details when its been returned its either had class of vehicle removed or its out of date.Just been and checked mine on the front it say's 4a (VALID FROM) 08-11-07 4b(VALID TO) 07-11-11. I will be 40 when it expires, i moved house and changed address in november 07.On the rear of the licence it has from 16-01-1989 this is when i passed my test and expires 11-09-41 my birthday is on the 12th when im 70 im now confused the front of licence say's one thing and the rear say's another Read more
Last week I asked my local Ford dealer what the cost of another remote key would be. They said £180 - £200. So I bought a genuine remote with key brand new for £42 inc delivery off the net. My local locksmith cut the key for £9.99 I followed the instructions that came with the remote and it works perfectly. I expect Ford would say ah but we would have recoded all keys or you were given false information.
My nephew noticed both rear light bulbs on his Citroen van had stopped working, he told the main dealer he thought he must have an electrical fault. When he went to collect the van he was told it just needed two new bulbs so that will be £300!( he said he thought it had a fault only because both bulbs blew at the same time. No history of bulbs blowing but his comment justified checking electrics for said cost).
My niece took her mini in to have a fault fixed under warranty. The fault was fixed (cooling fan) no problem but she was given a bill for £140 (may have been £180 not sure). This was because the dealer changed the brake fluid! He said it would normally be changed about now so we thought we,d change it.
My brotherinlaw had an immaculate Vauxhall Omega 2.2 (think mileage was about 44,000) The main dealer spent 4-5 hours working on the car then said a new fuel pump will cost you £2000 + another 4-5 hours labour at £110 an hour or we will give you £300 for the car (book just over£2000) so he let them have the car. They said it was the 3rd such case (other 2 were Vectras) this week. Read more
Going back to the thread title
Whilst running the used car side of a franchised *** dealership some years ago we sold a car and put it the workshop for its 40 point check, as usual (99%of the time) we were advised'DISCS AND PADS NEED REPLACING'. You couldn't argue the case because they are safety related issues.They were duely fitted and the 40 point check was completed
For some reason the deal fell 'out of bed'.
A couple of months later the car was sold again and apart from a five mile demonstration,it moved the 30yrds to the workshop.
The second invoice also charged for DISCS AND PADS..
Now I'm a work colleague whose income depends on how much they charge me etc.
How fair do you think they will be with you?
Paul
Im currently weighing up whether to buy a Jan 08 Vectra estate petrol 1.8i vvt 5 speed gearbox, 16,000 miles on the clock. Its in fantastic condition and selling for £7,995 from a reputable used car dealership.
Im no car expert, and one thing I really need to consider is fuel economy and consumption. I wouldnt be going long distances on a regular basis. Whats attracted me to the car is the fact its a great price for a very young car, and the fact that my Wife and I plan to start a family in the near future and will need the extra room. We currently drive a Punto.
Some advice please folks. Read more
I know its not exactly the same but we havea 2004 1.8 LS estate, with the non VVT engine. It can do about 38mpg on a long trip (not the 42 that the trip computer says...) and this is usually loaded with 3 people and a weekend/short breaks worth of luggage. However, hills do dent this - best I have got on the Kent to Devon trip along the A303 is about 36. In normal pootling around use - which we do try and avoid in the car - it can get down to about 32-33.
Despite all of the niggles, we like it as a car and for long trips it is great. Considerably more space in the back seat than the hatch.
We've got a Jaguar XF 3.0d twin turbo on trial at the moment. All I can say is wow! This car is absolutely amazing. I'm a huge fan of the BMW 530d and they make a great patrol car. However, the Jag absolutely blows the BMW away.
I've never driven a diesel car that has the poise, acceleration or stability of this car. The interior is superb and feels very well put to together. The BMWs divide opinion on my unit, but there's not a person who isn't in love with this car. It's also got great presence on the motorway. I wish I could buy one at the price they've been offered to the Police, because I'd have one tomorrow.
(And the trial one is fitted with a digital TV, which is great when I'm parked eating my doughnuts!)
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I've said this before, but the interior on my BMW530d was like new when it went back after 3 years and 150,000km. The cup holders spring out from the dashboard and the only way you could conceivably break one is to sit on it.
A colleague has a Lexus IS250 which he decided on after years of BMW 3 Series, basically because he wanted a change. I actually found the interior very disappointing and more reminiscent of a 90s Toyota rather than a modern premium priced car. The steering wheel looks like it came off a Corolla, the screen on the navigation system has the resolution of a Commodore C64 and there is lots of Amstrad style silver plastic around.
To be honest I preferred the interior of the old IS200. It was chaotic but original, right down to the remote control for the navigation system rather than the touch screen on the present one. A sort of forerunner to the BMW i-Drive system.
I bought a Voyager 2004 2.4litre petrol and its cutting out and hunting from time to time, normally after decelaration. It was perfect according to the old owner. All I did was change the battery. I noticed a silver button under the battery - is this a fuel cut out
that could have triggered a fault?
Adrian
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Hi
No that is a battery temp sensor. There is a flash for idle fluctuations suggest you go to the dealer and have this checked.
Ok, Mr X, we all know your views on certain motoring aspects, speeding, APNR, Police, and other such controversial topics...
But how about MrX the Motoring Enthusiast, rather than Mr Cross?
Like what do you drive, what sort of motoring do you enjoy, what rocks your boat (or car)?
(This is a genuine attempt to see what sort of motoring he likes... whilst I don't always agree with him, I thought that there might be a motoring enthusiast side to him that we hadn't seen. Just for the record I didn't intend it as a knocking thread.)
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Ok, can we move on from this witching hunt please.
Mr X does not wish to disclose the answers to the questions posted in this thread. That is his right if he so wishes.
I think I know the answer to what car he drives, it took me all but a few seconds using the forum search. I'm very surprised jbif didn't find or disclose it. No, jbif, I'm not laying down a challenge for you to post it elsewhere - nor anyone else either for that matter.
Like Marmite, you'll probably either like or hate Mr X.
If you find his posts slightly controversial or erring toward trolling, then simply ignore them. It's really quite straight forward. But please spare a moment to think of us poor moderators who don't have the luxury of ignoring them ;o)
Thank you - DD.
Before you place an order for your Aston Martin One-77, their new supercar that costs over a million pounds. there's something you ought to know.
It has a quartic (i.e. squared-off circle) steering wheel - like what early Austin Allegros had! Read more
Mike,
apparently they got it wrong with the quartic wheel and the SD1 is how it should have been. The SD1 wheel was so successful no one noticed it wasn't round. I certainly never heard any comments at the time. I read that the other day in James Ruppert's "The British Car Industry, Our Part in it's Downfall" as recommended by HJ and which I finally got round to reading.
As for the One 77 I'm waiting for the diesel version with a decent bit of torque :-)
JH
So Fiat Group wants to take a 20% stake in Chrysler and they want to buy Vauhall/Opel off GM. To raise the money to do this, they want to sell Fiat Auto (and Alfa Romeo, presumably). So who will buy Fiat Auto? My guess is still Peugeot!! Read more
Alanovich, they still will. People tend to hang on to their prejudices until an avalanche of contrary evidence can no longer be ignored. Then they quietly drop the subject and look for another to pontificate on. I'm probably as guilty as most.
I know there've been many threads about TG on here, but there was an article by a female motoring journalist in the DT on Saturday which considered whether or not TG needs a female presenter. This was discounted on the grounds that the programme already has Clarkson who "drives like a girl".
Then this morning I remembered the programme title "The car's the star" and began to wonder what a really good car programme would include, starting again from scratch.
For me, there would be some decent, detailed coverage of cars within the financial reach of most of the population. This doesn't rule out coverage of the exotic.
Starting from scratch rules out any existing car presenter. So who would people like to see?
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ah well, you can go far with a very pretty non driving passenger. Hang on. How many interpretations of that are there? I think I'm about to find out!
JH
Can you talk and drive?
www.dft.gov.uk/drivingchallenge/
Description of test:
www.theregister.co.uk/2009/05/04/dot_think/
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All I get is "please turn up your volume" then nothing.
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That was absolutely outrageous - drivers have lost their jobs over these DVLA errors.