September 2009
The Financial Ombudsman Service now publish a league table by company of the number of complaints they receive and the percentage resolved in favour of the consumer.
Insurance companies come in for some stick here, but it's interesting to see the relatively low percentages for some of the household names shown. An indication that some companies may actually try to treat their customers fairly when interpreting policy conditions?
www.ombudsman-complaints-data.org.uk/ Read more
Is it just me or is it that car manufacturers don't seem to offer the exact car that i want.Let me explain....
I would like a Citreon C5 with the hydroelastic suspension which means that it has to be the Exclusive model.I also wish it to be petrol and manual.They only do a 2.0 litre petrol automatic in Exclusive trim.Ie no manual gearbox for the model i want.
Next car i looked at was a Honda Accord.My requirements are that i want a soft suspension.The GT version is perfect looking with all the toys but only comes with 17" alloys and sport suspension(ie hard).They make the lower model with 16" wheels and standard suspension but non of the toys and body kit which i would like.
Next car i looked at is the Mazda 6.I think the Mazda looks awesome with the body kit on and boot spoiler but the only 2 models that have it is the Sport (2.5 litre engine..too big) or the Limited edition Tamura(this one comes with 18" alloys which will make the ride to hard.
What i am getting at is the range of models they have don't seem to suit my exact requirements.
I cannot see why they don't make a standard car(15-16" wheels,ordinary suspension etc) and then let you specify wether you want extra large alloys(always on the top models),Hard suspension(always on the sport models) and body kit if needed.
When i've asked about adding or subtracting from the spec they quote stupid prices.
If anyone can surgest a large car with soft suspension,quiet cabin,petrol,manual and looks good(ie body kit) then let me know.
The only one to come close is a Saab 93.
Thoughts? Read more
If you are expecting the legendary "magic carpet ride" from the latest C5 (Citroen, not Sinclair), I would test drive one first. I had a spin in a C6 a few weeks ago whilst in France and couldn't believe how firm the suspension was.
The low speed ride was, frankly, terrible and reminiscent of an Audi. Things improved at speed, but it was a very long way from the gliding sensation my rose tinted memory tells me was characteristic of hydropneumatic Citroens in days gone by.
The worst thing was, there was a switch to adjust the damper settings. The two settings were called "Normale" and "Sport" which I guess is French for "Hard" and "Teeth Jarring". Very sad, as I thought the reason you choose a Citroen is for the ride comfort and not for its ability to set record times around the Nurburgring.
I have problems with the EGR Valve on my VW Polo; On Ebay they salling a PLATE to cover the outlet were the EGR valve seats on the engine, the seller say is perfectely safe and the emision when you take it for the MOT will pass.
My question please is: will the engine be safe by blocking the outlet? will the car run properly? if any one out there has done this could you give me some advice before I block the Valve
sincerely
J Velasquez Read more
Found lurking in Discussion, but more suited to Tech Matters. Awaiting year and engine info. DD.
The Drapery in Northampton is a main street but is buses and taxis only for most of its length, it is however a tempting shortcut. Yesterday a couple of coppers and a PCSO working together with a Council CEO were stopping every car and motorbike that passed their "base" outside Debenhams. At least one car every three or four minutes.
Each appeared to be reminded of the offence and asked to produce his documents. Those in order were on their way in two or three minutes (though possibly with a fixed penalty notice). Those missing something or who failed the attitude test got a more thorough going over. In the ten minutes or so I was watching they'd got a yoof on an untaxed motorbike, an MPV for an obstructed number plate and a van with a dodgy tyre.
Seemed far better use of police time than all those standing in the sunshine at Sixfields for the footy.
Read more
Unfortunately, burglars and thieves etc don't walk around with a swag bag on their back, or wear a stripey jumper and mask. These people often flout the driving law (after all, someone who will break into your house, smash you over the head and steal your family jewels isn't going to be worried about puny driving regs)
You'd be surprised at how much in the way of intelligence, or even nickings, you can get by tackling these people in one way (i.e. motoring) rather than another. It is called "pushing at the envelope" and thieves and their lawyers have pushed at the envelope for far longer than police have.
Obviously, I am not saying that those stopped were thieves etc, but chances of running into one or two in such an excercise is quite high.
Since retiring, SWMBO seems to be addicted to a telly programme called 'come dine with me'.
Several strangers are pulled together to cook a meal on different evenings for each other and then mark each others efforts.
I keep getting glances of interviews in the back of moving taxis where seat belt wearing seems to be non-essential.
Enough evidence for a fixed penalty? Read more
and my (entirely subjective)
impression is that more of the participants wear seat belts now than when it started
in 2005.
Good point - some of CDWMs they show are fairly old repeats.
Now that it is getting dark earlier, watch out for motorbikes.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=AQS6DK7y1vg Read more
Going off at a slight tangent, in my opinion there should be roadside signs for the attention of motorcyclists saying "Think Car". They're certainly needed on the winding roads of the parts of Lincolnshire which some groups of motorcyclists treat as race tracks.
Some examples of my top of my head:-
Ford Escort these are sadly fast dissapearing off the roads
Mondeo MK1 - Again as above now quite rare.
Fiesta MK3 - Two years ago they seemed about the most common car on the road, I still see a lot of them much less than I used to, I reckon in 2-3 years time they will be very rare.
Citroen ZX - Never a fanastic seller but now very hard to find.
Fiat Uno - Very rare now
Skoda Felicia - Rust has killed most of them.
Nissan Almera MK1 - Rust is killing these fast, only a few very late examples seem to survive.
Nissan Primera MK1 - Mostly have now vanished
Renault 19 - I don't remember the last time I saw one of these, it was a very long time ago.
Any other examples? Read more
How many / few Granadas are there now.?
I have seen 1 in the last 6 months IIRC - the droopy eyed version - looked OK bodywise so what killed them of.
Got a lift in a K Reg Sierra the other day - he has it for nostalgia reasons - in the same family 17 years - it goes, not very fast and the smell of petrol is everywhere. The cambelt failed last year but luckily a couple of valves were the only casualties.
Here we go. The day that my 30 days "return for any reason" was up, I hit a problem. Hve bought a beautiful, 2 year old, very low mileage Jag 07 XJ 2.7 TDi. Test drove, but of course not over 70 with the sales rep in there. No long journeys until this last weekend. Now discovered that at speeds over 70 miles an hour the engine starts to make a noise like millions of butterfly wings (if you have had a moth fly past your ear, imagine that much louder). But worst thing, it seems to struggle to get to 80 and at any speed over 73mph the car vibrates all the way down the chassis. If you put your arm against the door at your side you can feel it - it's quite strong. Put your hand on the dash you can feel it.
Dealer says prior owner an elderly man who used for local trips... that at 6000 miles it is just a case that the car isn't run in yet. But it feels more like something is wrong to me. Why all the vibration? Any clever Jaguar or similar bods here, please?
We want to use this car to tour Germany. And we want to be able to get out of trouble on a BRitish motorway, and if you can't get over 70 without being shaken to pieces then neither of those is ever going to happen.
All suggestions, experience etc very gratefully received.
Ali Read more
Hello to all who made suggestions. Turned out to be wheel balancing. Had some nitrogen or something put in the tyres and it is ok. But it soon reverts. Either the car is very delicate or it might be something else.
Thanks to all who responded.
Ali
Guys,
can anyone recommend a good diesel specialist in Scotland/Strathclyse? Got a diesel Mondeo thats ailing.
thanks-
tt Read more
Pattersons Diesel. Cowdenbeath Fife - 01383 513057
This headline has turned up in several of the broadsheets this weekend. Several of the cycling groups are asking for this change in the law to be made as part of the governments National Cycling Plan and Active Transport Strategy.
OK - so in the majority of cases it is the fault of the driver and since cyclists are soft and squishy then they are almost always going to come off the worse. However, this kind of legislation is madness - it simply gives the idiot cyclist the benefit doubt in all cases even where they are 100% to blame for collision. It will mean that those who cycle at night without lights, jump red lights, or simply ride around like lunatics will be able to do so safe in the knowledge that should they hit anything or cause an accident then they will be 100% blameless for their actions.
{Typo in header corrected} Read more
>>Change the law so that if you do not insurance you cannot claim off anyone else. Make it apply to cyclist, motorist, any road user.
Including pedestrians?
Case fees only kick in for the fourth (and upwards) complaint against a firm. So most small firms who get low complaints volumes don't pay case fees. Thereafter it's £500 case fee for each complaint, payment goes to the Ombudsman service, not the FSA.