July 2009
what is the best and cheapest way to get leather interior for a ford fiesta mk 7?
any websites tht i should look at. Read more
Thinking of p/x my Ford Mondeo Titanium for a C-MAX is there anyone on the forum who could recommend a model and whether petrol or diesel any advise would be most appreciated Read more
I've run a 2L TDCi on a 54 plate from new for 76000 miles now.
Technical points:
It was the first car on the same platform as the current Focus - not the earlier Mk1
Most of the petrol engines carried over though. As is 1.8L diesel.
1.6 & 2L diesels from the Peugeot-Citroen Partnership - the 2L is not really related to the unit in the old Mondeo. Think the fuel system is from Siemens-VDO (now part of Continental).
Personal experience - I've had two significant problems attributable to the car- thermostat failure at 2k, and crankshaft position sensor at 65k
Common problems are EGR valve (especially older models (pre-55) but that seems to largely sorted now. Some complaints about fuel economy, some complaints about DMF clutch failure - again perhaps relating to cars used in town a lot.
Good points:
Performance from engine - 2000rpm on motorways in 6th and effortless A-road overtaking
Handling/ride compromise is good, ride is towards firm
Economy - Can consistently get over 50mpg (brim to brim, computer says 55-60) on quite a long commute on A-roads and motorways. Does drop off significantly if you do a lot of urban work, or find yourself always "running late".
Driving position & controls - comfortable, sensible, nice big buttons and high mounted stereo so you're not squinting towards the footwell to change the station
Take the seats out and it's a van. Excellent for bicycles too.
Would dispute earlier point about tyres. I've just had a Michelin Primacy HP taken off after more than 30000 miles, entirely on the front of the car. Back tyres have tended to be magnetic, but earlier Contis lasted 23k front and 42k rear.
There's at least 3 Focus and C-Max related websites where you can share experiences and ask for help.
Bad Points:
Road/tyre noise seems a bit higher than some other cars
Zetec seats stain easily with water
Few rattles and squeaks - head unit/dash, scuttle panel
Dealers have struggled a bit
Very bland looking - although facelift helped a bit
Wiper blades are monstrously expensive from dealers and not widely available from Halfords. Shop around (ebay).
Overall:
Generally happy with mine but have found it a difficult car to get passionate about - an Alfa it ain't. My general recommendation is to get a 1.6 petrol (cheap, widely available) if it's going to live the urban liife, 2L diesel if you want a motorway cruiser, and a 1.6 diesel may be the best compromise choice.
just a quick question. i changed the rear brake pads on my audi using the wind back tool, i done the o/s first, piston winds in right hand down. now go to the n/s using the left hand wind tool, piston wont wind in. should it wind in left hand down? because it wont , but it turns right hand down but just spins and wont go in. is the calliper siezed? Read more
The piston has to be pushed inwards and turned clockwise at the same time. The correct tool does this.
If there is no pressure on the piston, the conical nut inside will not lock to the sleeve and the piston cannot be screwed back.
659.
I recently looked at Carfolio and saw that the XK platform is a little wider in track and a little longer in wheelbase than the recently-departed X-type and thought that Jag could make a really credible 3-series rival based on the XK. Add to this the XK's superb handling AND its light alloy construction and - hey presto - 3-series rival becomes 3-series ANNIHILATOR! Or would it just turn out to be a flop? I must confess that, while I disliked the way that Jag were still trying stylistically to pretend that it was 1962/1968, I dislike the style of the new cars just as much - they're just too bland! Too featureless, not classy enough, not practical enough, generally Jag gone right off the boil styling-wise. Still, Jag is far from beyond redemption. XJ40 showed the way in the 80s - can't we do something like that now, long, low, sleek yet with nicely blockish forms? I really would love to support Jag but the new F01 BMW 7 and the renderings I've seen of F10 5-series and F30 3-series based on current practice at Munich show that Jag is going to have a fight on its hands as BMWs become classy and handsome once more - and Johnny Coldcaller and his family are going to buy yet another 320D Touring, leaving Jag losing out on valuable business for want of a suitable competitor. Anyone got any thoughts on this front? Read more
Generally Johnny Coldcaller doesn't care about the rear wheel drive, thats why he goes off in the snow so often.
What he cares about is the badge on the bonnet, as his wife just cares about the designer label on her clothes.
My Mk6 Golf is a lovely pearl black paint job (did I mention I have a Golf Mk6?)
I want it to shine like a Sergeant Majors bulled up boots on parade day, and repel any 'orrible shower'.
Any recommendations? Of course, I have polished a car before, but do certain polishes suit certain colours?
(No, I won't be taking a hot spoon to it) Read more
I neither have the time or inclination to polish cars. Even washing stretches my endurance.
Think the dried on white stuff afterwards around badges, mirrors, black plastic etc. is so disappointing. Never affected trade in values in my experience.
Now my BMW bike is a different matter, I like getting that shiny at least once a year.
As for brands of polish- I've several in the garage and all the results look the same. Autoglym resin polish fell to hand last time.
My BIL does recommend MER for his Midas to shine up a faded gel coat.
Driving to Alsace in September. Thought I would try Norfolk lines Dover/Dunkerque. Anyone used them? Also looking for a reasonably priced hotel for an overnight stop - must be clean and quiet within 50 miles Dunkerque Read more
We used NL earlier this year when we went to Italy. Good service. A bit slow at Dunkerque coming back though.
Hi,
I'm looking to pick up a second car for the family. It will mainly be driven by me and my two daughters. One is 21 and passed her test at 17 1/2 - she has had one claim on the insurance for an accident. The other is 17 in September and will need a car to learn to drive in. Obviously I don't want to pay over the odds on insurance - and am looking 4-5 years old second hand, so I'm not looking for anything extravagant. But I am 6'7 and want a car I can be comfortable driving.
Not really decided on budget yet, so any thoughts on what sort of thing I could get for £5000 and £10000.
Many thanks
Read more
When the first of my daughters wanted to learn to drive, I switched from a company car (no learners or young drivers allowed) to the cash option and bought a Mk1 Focus 1.6 Zetec petrol. This has survived two female learners, everyone enjoys driving it (nippy and with go-cart handling), is economical - easily 40+mpg, and still going strong now with 105,000 miles on the clock. It's hard to fault and really makes me wonder why so many people have a downer on Ford.
This good old Rover 25 again.
My son bought it around four weeks ago; by and large a good car it turns out to be, no thanks to the ******** of a dealer.
However...theres an annoying but occasional rattle which seems to be coming from underneath the car whilst driving. I reckoned at first that it was the exhaust, but my son took it to a fast fit centre and was assured that the exhaust was fine (it must be if they didnt insist on replacing the entire system), and that there appeared to be some issue associated with a sloppy gearstick, which the mechanic said was uncharacteristic of Rovers. The car changes gear just fine, there havent been any instances of it jumping out of gear, but the stick is very slack whilst engaged. I know its almost impossible to accurately diagnose these things without actually listening to them, but could the rattle possibly be related to something being awry with the gear mechanism? And if so, is it worth investigating, or given that the gears seem to be working fine should we leave well alone unless the problem escalates?
Ta in advance. Read more
Very late update again....the rattling got much worse, so bad that I was forced to get my own hands dirty and stick my head under the bonnet. Lo and behold it turned out to be the heat shield over the manifold at the front of the engine, something which I'd discounted at first....
Please help we have been experiencing problems with our automatic petrol 3.3 Chysler Grand Voyager and are up againt the wall after running out of solutions. When you put in the key in the ignition the information centre lights come on and the car starts but none of the displays within the priemium instrument cluster work and the car dies after a few seconds the alarm light flashes and whilst on holiday this week it stayed on for 3 days. Normally if you go back to the car the next morning it will start but this time it was out of action for 3 days and we had to be towed home from the Isle of Wight by 5 different tow trucks the next morning she started first time. this problem has been ongoing over the past couple of years and we are at a loss of what to do. The main dealer said they couldn't dianose a fault then charged me £100 for the privilage they told me to take it back whilst fault is occurring but obviously cannot as it will not start if fault is occurring and then said well if the car isn't running they wouldn't be able to put it on the diagnostic machine anyway. we had a new switch for the gearbox fitted last year and thought the problem had been solved but it has restarted and is getting more frequent. many people have suggested the problem could be the immobilser but were told we could not by-pass it. Please does anyone have any suggestions you help will be greatly recieved many thanks. Read more
sorry there are some poor dealers out there. Do a search on here I have covered this issue and there is some things you should check that I have posted. Have a look.
I like to take notice of older cars to see which makes go on and on but still look tidy. I wonder which cars are best for long term ownership, I guess it will be the usual suspects like BMW or Volvo, you see loads of older ones of these but rarely see an old Mondeo or Citroen Bx, lots of VW's of old around but few Cavaliers. Read more
20 yers ago, cars in scrapyards had rusted out doors and sills.
Although there are some rusters, it looks more like neglect or cost to fix..
Lots of Xantias: good bodies but I assume clapped out suspension pumps and spheres make repair uneconomic...
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If you are going for leather seats, you really need seat heaters too. A leather seat on a frosty winter's morn is not a pleasant experience!