September 2009
Whilst not directly motoring related I think this will be worthy of trying.....
Having read a few posts lately, I have changed my mental 'image' of some of the backroomers.
Im sure all of us, when reading posts have conjured up an image of the people behind the posts.
for instance, I had an image of Lud, as being an Old English Gentleman type, maybe a bit like Morse, or Rumpole.
Having read his post about the carnival now Im not so sure!
So.. what Im proposing ISNT an attempt to discover the real people behind the nicknames (I know many of us wish our real identity's to remain private) BUT more what images our postings bring to others - it will be fun to see how different people imagine others, and Im sure for the person reading about themselves it will be entertaining!
But... Please lets not use this as a slanging match! Read more
My car used to always pull to left and had to hold steering wheel at an angle (to the right) to drive in a straight line. I took the car to a garage to get the tracking/wheel alignment checked out and was told that one of my front tires was out of shape. I had two new tires put on the front and had them balanced, aligned and tracking was done. When I took the car out it was pulling slightly to the right, and had to hold the steering wheel slightly to the left to go straight. This is the opposite from before. I took it straight back and got them to re-check tracking etc and no change. They checked the suspension bushes and lower arms but all seemed fine.
Any ideas of what could be causing this problem? Read more
My 2001 Hdi was pulling to the left after one garage said they had aligned it. I took it back to them and they checked it again and showed me the steering wheel was in the middle and the lasers seemed ok, and they explained why they thought they were right, but then i am not a tracking expert.
Another garage (who i trust a lot more than the first) told me the tracking was out and reset it, but then on the test drive it was still pulling. So they then set the wheels dead inline and dead straight ahead and it was much better! The Pug standard is to have the front wheel pointing the nearside curb slightly, but if you can get the garage to ignore this then all may be well.
My rover 200 is suffering from an intermittant problem (once every 2-3 days) where there is no engine response when I turn the key in the barrel - all the lights on the dash illuminate and I hear a fast two-tone bleep.
If I remove the key, lock and un-lock the door (with the remote fob) the engine starts OK. I would appreciate it if anybody could offer any advice on what could be happening.
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This refers to the previous gen 200 but may be of help?
www.honestjohn.co.uk/forum/post/?t=5358&v=f
or this?
forums.mg-rover.org/showthread.php?s=1b1763de22fc5...2
I had a small accident with a tree falling on my car and subsequently have a broken lens cover on the n/s door mirror indication unit. Will I have to replace the whole unit or can the window/lens be replaced. If replacing the whole door mirror is this a straightforward job?
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Fantastic help, just what I was looking for thank you.
Hi,
I am in the process of buying a used Mondeo from a franchised dealer (not a Ford Direct car).
I will be collecting the car on Wednesday and do not yet have insurance. The dealership has told me that I will need to apply for 7 days free insurance via their scheme with Norwich Union, so that they can get the cover note in time to tax the car before Wednesday.
Sounds OK to me, but I just wanted to check if there is anything that I should be aware of with this. I am a bit suspicious of these guys following an issue with paying early (which some of you may have seen on my earlier thread). Not suspicious that they are trying anything dodgy, just that they will try to lock me into the deal ASAP, before I collect the car, or maybe lock me into some other "extras".
Is this situation usual? Does taking this insurance commit me to buying the car? (I'm 99% sure that I will buy it, but obviously want to check it again before handing over the cash) Is there anything else that I should watch out for.
Just wanted to say thanks again for all who helped on my earlier thread, much appreciated, and any thoughts on this issue would likewise be very appreciated.
Many thanks.
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Trade plates.
Ah ha, I wondered what they were for! They say you learn something new every day, well, since I started the process of buying a car, I'm learning loads of new things every day. :)
I'm starting to think about changing my 10 year old Saab 9-5 for a similar size estate. Cars up for consideration, with a 5-6k budget, are Saab 9-5 (I've had quite a few Saabs, feel a fair degree of loyalty to the marque, and quite fancy an Aero estate), Toyota Avensis, Volvo V70, Mazda 6 and Audi (probably too expensive) Some models seem to have a lot of diesels for sale, Mazda particularly. I've read plenty of diesel horror stories here ( I think the Mazda may have featured in some of those) so have discounted diesels completely, but just thinking again and wondering if I'm right to do so? Are modern diesels trouble? Are there any makes who have little or no trouble with their diesel models? Read more
I know nothing, but I tend to listen when Screwloose speaks. And in this post, he does:
www.honestjohn.co.uk/forum/post/index.htm?v=e&t=62...1
He may be right, he may be wrong, but I'm going to give him the benefit of the doubt.
I've been looking around the Kia Soul, C3 Picasso, Fusion class of cars and narrowed things down to the Soul or C3 Picasso. What have they done with that engine in the C3 ? The other marks 1.6D engines trounce it on the numbers. I must admit to not noticing much difference on my test drives though. Mind you, the Kia and Citroen dealers nearest me are 30 miles apart so the tests were on different roads.
Anyone got any thoughts on Soul vs C3 ? My current car (corsa - 56) requires MOT, Tax and a big service at the end of next month so I need to change before then (well, not _need_ but you know what I mean).
Ciao Read more
Did you check the new Fabia estate as well? Bit more conventional!
Mine is quite simple.
The first owner bought my car in September 1999 having specified most the optional extras. She came from Nottingham she had a first for knowledge but she didn't study Sculpture at St Martin's college.
She used the car to drive from her home in Nottingham to her holiday home in Cornwall.
In 2004 she decided to get rid of it and sold to a dealer. The girlfriends dad of a Scottish electronics student studying at the university of Nottingham owned the dealer and suggested to the scottish student that he might want to buy this Corsa to replace his MOT failure Nova.
So Scottish student now bought the car for £4500 and when he graduated was offered a job at a very well known electronics company in Manchester. He moved down with the car but he found himself working more less next door to where he lives and only used the car t go to Scottland he decided it was pointless and sold it for me for £1150.
I bought the car and use mainly to carry computers and used it on a holiday in Wales. When I had bought the car the two previous owners owned the car for exactly four and a half years age, it would be a challange if I kept up that trend!
What is the story behind your car? With my dads car I really don't know that much of a story about it. Read more
Nice find Bagpuss.....
96 MB E320 coupe bought new by/for MD of large local company from MB dealer in Solihull, one of the last 124 coupe's.
Seviced every year by supplying dealer, full history all mot's etc, we bought it from a dealer of unusual cars in Bham when it was 6 years, i'd have to look up the mileage when we got it, but it's now done about 77K.
Ignoring all other factors, do you prefer the torque of a diesel or the revs of a petrol? With my tdci I just love the torque that pulls the car along with minimal effort plus the reassurance it gives you. Oddly or not, driving a diesel feels better in winter - thats comparing with windows up in summer and winter. I can't explain it, but when its cold outside the feel of the torque is even better/seems more appropriate compared to a petrol!
On the other hand, when I watch movies or police car documentaries, which are usually in petrol vehicles, I love it when they just accelerate smoothly and the revs just keep on going. I know I can't do this because of the limited revs in my car. I use this example because I have only driven low powered petrols. So am I missing a lot in terms of driver satisfaction due to driving a diesel car? Read more
Try a VW 1.4 TFSI, I don't think you will be dissapointed. It has enough torque for a golf sized car, and revs freely aswell. I wouls say it is comparable to a 2.0TDI VW engine. The TDI has a bit more shove at those low revs but the TFSI revs more freely so its about even.
Hi
I have a mazda 6 2.0 2004 model. Purchased it only 3months back. Its had multiple problems in the past but got them all fixed one by one.
Today the engine has started making a noise...its a loud whine from the engine everytime I accelarate. Even when the car is in neutral if i press the accelerator just a bit the engine makes a weird whine noise.
1. Any idea what could this be?
2 .How much it could cost to fix.
3. If you know a good garage around Halifax, W Yorkshire. to sort this issue out please do reply back. I am sending this car to Perrys Huddersfield tomorrow. But usually they are quite expensive.
This is my first car ever...purchased it only 3months back and already spent 800GBP or so on repairs. Its been such a disappointment :(
Please do reply back with your thoughts. Thanks a lot.
Cheers,
K
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To eat a turbo at this age implies there is an oil/water feed problem. Regards Peter


Lud is the only one that really intreagues me. I have this this vision of Lud resembling the late Willie Rushton. I read his posts in my head with Willie's great booming voice.