July 2009
Hi
I'm tall (6'6") and I've got three sons who are all tall (and growing). They are having difficulty folding into the rear seats of our current cars - particularly as I need one or other of front seats adjusted back to (or near to) its limit. We currently have two cars - a SAAB 95 and a Zafira. The problems are greater in the SAAB.
Can anyone suggest an alternative type of car we could consider getting as a replacement that has more space in the rear? Some constraints...
1) My wife won't consider a 'people carrier' (by which she means Galaxy type vehicles)
2) She also won't consider a 'chelsea tractor' (e.g. Range Rover)
3) We want three 'three point' seat belts in rear
Other than that, we'd consider pretty much anything.
Budget up to about £20K I guess - depends on what and where from. Unlikely to buy a new car unless there is a very good reason not to go second hand.
Thanks in advance for any suggestions etc. Read more
Hi All,
My Wifes Car, , 'Air Bag Fault' message intermittently appears on the center display screen. might stay off for days or be on for days so seems likely an intermittent connection somewhere.
i tried switching off the passenger airbag with the key in the hope to narrow it down, but it made no difference.
i'm comfortable with electrics and electronics but not over keen to mess with these 'monkeys'.
i suggested to her it was caused by hot air passing over the steering wheel when she talked on her hands free.
absolutely no sense of humour my misses - so now having just been discharged from A&E i thought i'd ask in here on H&S grounds lol!
Read more
The usual fault with earlier Peugeot's was the wiring under the seats for the seat belt pre-tensioners and airbags.
That's the first place I'd look - making sure the ignition had been turned off for at least an hour to allow the airbag system to discharge any remaining voltage.
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So based on what Falkirk Bairn says, can you try what Focus says and connect to an external screen? If it's the LCD of the laptop to blame the problem will not appear on the external monitor.
Ive just bought a Kangoo Venture dci 80.does anyone know where an alternative vin number location might be on this model,the plastic imprint on the drivers door frame has been damaged by water getting behind it. the vin is unreadable ,is the vin stamped into the chassis/ bulkhead, inner wing. etc can anyone help. regards tony. Read more
thankyou for your suggestions. I finally asked renault uk. a vin number is located on the front nearside of the dash.Its obscured by the black surround that covers the inside of the windscreen.Apparently its not stamped into the metal anywhere . not very secure and easily swapped to a different vehicle ? tony
When I bought my A3, I was offered and accepted ,what appeared at the time ,to be a very good service deal.
For £250 , the offer included two oil changes , a brake fluid change and an "inspection service". These had to be completed within 3 years or 36,000mles, whichever occurred first.
The car was on the longlife service option from new. This is the flexible service regime where the use to which the car is put determines, to some extent at least, when an oil change is due. Well, I've found out that nearly everyone on this option gets several hundred more miles than 18,000 between changes,. I also fould out that you cannot have a change done more than 500 miles before it's due and that the 36,000 mileage limit is rigidly enforced.
This means that it is unlikely than more than a few users will get the two oil changes within 36,000 miles. If you are a low mileage driver the default oil change interval is 2 years , so once again you will not get 2 changes.
Interestingly when I asked the cost of an oil change it was £150 and if done at the same time as the "inspection sevice", which is the prefered option by most, the total cost comes to .....£250.
So what I paid for was an upfront service with no discount...methinks that Audi are being more than a little disingenuous.
I'd be interested in anyone else's experience of this or similar offers. Read more
With the use of the correct oil and filters and following VW's servicing regime is
there any evidence of engine life problems?
No I dont think so. There is no history of engine/tubo failures on these cars provided the correct oil and service intervals are used.
I'm just curious here, swmbo's VW Eos bleeped its low pressure warning, and I discovered a nail in a front tyre. :-(
On examination the tyre tread depth blocks were only just clear of the tyres running surface, so it will be 2 new front tyres please.
Mileage is 22.5k I would have thought to have done better than this, would this be typical for the fronts of a fwd car with a diesel engine, driven normally ?
( For replacement Event Tyres are looking good on the price front )
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Just replaced the michelins that were on the front of the Mondeo with Kunhos. The Michelins did about 19k miles and still had 2.5mm left on
ETA I've got through a set of rears on a Caterham 7 in less than 1000 miles, but it was great fun
Hi, Please help. The oil light lit up yesterday for the first time since i had it. There was some oil in the boot which I have used, but is it ok?? My car is VW Passat Estate 2.0ltr tdi (07).
The oil I used was Total Quartz 5000 15w40.
Please let me know if this is ok to use. I now think it is wrong. SHould I get it changed?
THanks Read more
Well its had a full service, the original pollen filter was still in, all clogged up. Garage flushed the oil and replaced with 5w40 with the '505.1 suitable for VW and audi' notification on the bottle. Hopefully will be ok cheers guys. Not managed to get any of that cheap oil yet, will hopefully pick some up.
According to an article in the DT you can pay more even if the claim is not UR fault!
Telegraph:
* Had a car accident, genuinely believed it wasn't your fault and therefore thought that your insurance company would not punish you financially? Then think again.
It seems that some providers increase prices for innocent victims almost as much as they do for drivers who are guilty.
"Admiral is the worst offender for upping its prices, regardless of blame," says Auto Express.
In response, Admiral claims: "If you have been in an accident, regardless of fault, you're more likely to be in another one. That means you are a higher risk, and so we have to charge more." I have written to Admiral asking for evidence to back up this assertion. Read more
Admiral have made a mess of their data file and renewal letters so any figure for what was paid last year is wrong.
I have had a rush of sense come over me hence the title. I was driving past a Hyundai garage last Friday when I decided to pull in and have a quick glance at the above. Well, what a pleasurable experience. Knowledgeable helpful staff, straight to the point and no messing. Thought it might be a good route to rid myself of the Rusting Merc' and to get some years of trouble free motoring too. I haven't had a drive yet, but first glances impress as does the spec' list. Furthermore there is no chance of a test in an Auto'. I know it is early days for this car, but has anybody driven an Auto' yet?
The cost. £11.2k - 2k scrappage - £1100.00 = 8.1k. I think that this includes delivery etc. Is that a good price? You can't haggle further as they are running flat out and everything is sold........Views please. Oh! by the way the only auto petrol is a 1.4 Comfort.
Best regards............MD Read more
DaveC...
Been away from the computer for a few days...many thanks for your response to my auto 'box queries...most helpful in the decision making process.
i have a very odd problem with my car....for the past couple of days, when i turn the key to start the car - NOTHING happens.
sometimes (maybe the 3rd or 10th time) the starter turns, and the car starts straight away (it doesnt hesitate to start, the starter doesnt have to run for any longer than usual)
When this happened, i rolled it down the hill in second gear with the clutch down, with the key ignition turned on (2nd position), and tried to bump start it. That didnt work either!!! i was very suprised at this, if the battery or started was at fault - then bump starting should definitely work??
I had to call the breakdown man, because the car just wouldnt start. He came out, and tested the battery - which was fine, he told me to push and tried to bump start it as well, and it wouldnt work. He said it was the immobiliser?? and that there isnt anything more he could do.
before he left he tried turning the key one last time, and it started!!!!!
since then iv brought the car home, and its been working - intermittently. somtimes the key turn work,s sometimes not
what on earth?? can anyone shed any light? thanks Read more
continued....
and to make matters worse, the parking sensors suddenly stopped working now. they were fine last night.... today - no beeps or anything at all. no noise coming watsoever. why would they just stop working suddenly?
iv only had the car for two weeks... i thought bmw's were known for reliability!! my brother has one, but its like a christmas tree, new light comes on everyday?!
Browse
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The Mondeo is one of very few cars where I can set the driver's seat where I want it, hop out and climb in behind it without the use of tools or surgical appliances. (I'm about the OP's height, BTW.) But I still doubt if that makes it a true five-seater. That's because a car can only be so wide to be manageable, and today's have width eaten up by door bars and side airbags in the name of crash safety. That width comes out of the space for the third rear passenger.
So the crucial advantage, as A900SS and others have said, of MPVs is that the second row can be staggered so that the three occupants aren't all competing for the same shoulder- and elbow-room. This situation is exactly what MPVs were designed for, but if Mrs OP really won't countenance one then - if I deduce correctly that she's the member of the family who takes up least space - perhaps she ought to be the one to sit in the middle.
};---)
MPVs with three staggerable seats (that I can think of):