October 2009
Ok, I have a Transit Tourneo 8 seater (not a connect, proper transit) with the 125 tdci engine doing a school contract, 140 miles a day, 6 days a week (yes, SIX) and am averaging 38mpg.......(figure accurate over 15 weeks)
My question is, as I have the run till march 2013 and only carry 2 pupils (only 1 from july) and am spending £110 a week on derv, should i change vehicles, as i hear a Ford Focus (and maybe a saab 1,9td or AR 156 JTD) could give me 60+ mpg
I need at least 1600cc, at least 4 doors and a 2005 reg or newer.
cheers
Read more
I was crossing over a dual carriageway today, and happened to pick the right lane (which is for both straight on and turning right) and got stuck in the central reservation area, behind a car that was turning right (I wanted to go straight on). Traffic in the left lane was all going straight on and eventually stopped when the lights changed.
There were two sets of traffic lights in front of me, one on the reservation and one on the exit from the dual carriageway.
The picture shows the junction and I have circled the lights. In the picture I would have been the white car in the centre, waiting behind the silver car that is turning right.
www.flickr.com/photos/43786777@N06/4035047389/size.../
The photo below shows more of the junction:
www.flickr.com/photos/43786777@N06/4035046587/size.../
The problem was that the lights I have circled were not showing any lights (I don't know if the green was switched off or whether it was completely covered by the "blind" over it). So after the traffic on the left had stopped and the car infront turned right I had no indication that I could cross the box junction and exit the carriageway.
I basically just proceeded with caution and got across the carriageway, however on the exit a couple of people were walking their bikes across, and seemed angered by the fact that I was coming towards them and had to hurry across (of course I slowed down, so there was no actual risk).
The lack of lights and the fact that the pedestrians seemed to think that they had right of way made me very worried, so I later went back to the junction (with camera in hand).
It turns out that the lights were working but that they were just not displaying the green. So a few seconds after the light before the central reservation turns red (stopping the traffic moving onto/over the reservation) the lights I have circled turn amber and then red.
So, I think that I was OK and that the pedestrians had just seen the left lane stop moving, assumed it was clear and started crossing, not realising that the right lane was an ahead lane also.
Does the above sound correct? Why would the green light be somehow disabled?
I have asked around at work, but the only explanation provided was that kids had vandalised the light by closing the "blinds". Seem a bit unlikely to me, but not impossible.
Any help in understanding this would be very appreciated.
Read more
Sorry, yes, I misread your point about the pedestrians, as you were going straight on.
So they too were misled/confused into making assumptions about lights they couldn't see.
There is a slightly similar ambiguity at ordinary junction lights. You want to turn right, the lights turn green, you pull forward ready just waiting for a few cars to clear out of the way, and partly turn ready to move into the turning. At that point you have passed "your" green light and are now facing a red light. But an instant's thought tells you to ignore that - although it is facing you, it is meant for someone coming from somewhere else, not you.
Or perhaps you were going straight on, and passed the first light on green but were then suddenly held up by a crowd of jay walkers, a very slow lorry negotiating a turn, a red-light jumper, etc. You wait in the middle, then the lights change to red.
You don't have to stay stuck in the middle blocking the junction, you can proceed cautiously on your way against the second red light. You have in effect been given permission to proceed by the first light, and that cannot be countermanded by the second.
Anyone know how I'd check/get to/look at the boot release button on a Ford Focus (02 model, original shape). I don't have a Haynes manual, but I want to check the connection, as it hasn't worked for ages. but the one on the remote fob works fine.
Thanks in advance.
Read more
im sure ive said before but its normally a boot problem than a switch problem
Passing a Daihatsu dealership last week I noticed there didn't appear to be any Daihatsus on the otherwise busy forecourt. Today I popped into the nearest dealer to me and there was a solitary new Sirion in the showroom. The salesman confessed it was their last car because the importer had stopped bringing them in because of the pound's massive decline against the yen. Some long-established dealers might have a few cars left but that seemed to be about it for the marque. Since the same importer handles Subaru and Isuzu, are there any indications in the trade about what might be happening with them, apart from huge price rises already being seen? I imagine the margin on the smaller Daihatsu cars built only in Japan has made them uneconomic. Read more
Feb 2010 arrival date if you want a new sirion with certain extras.
I presume the dealer was refering to the next anticipated delivery date?
Hello.
I asked on here the other week about the effect of replacing an engine on the value of a car. Well, my C-Max TDCi is still in the garage awaiting its new engine while we decide who should pay for it.
Short history:
Bought, freshly serviced at 10,000 miles.
At 37,000 miles (within warranty period) the turbo blows up.
We'd forgotten to get it serviced, so admit responsibility and pay our local Ford dealership £900 or so to fix it and service it and that's the end of it. Or so we thought.
It got serviced at 49,000 miles, no problems.
At 55,000 miles, we take it to the garage to fix a ticking noise, they replace the injector manifold seals and diagnose top-end damage. Independent inspection confirms worn camshaft and top-end, likely to be oil starvation caused by carbon build-up in the oil galleries, which was the cause of the initial turbo failure. Cure is to fit a whole new engine and turbo.
Now, I paid the garage to FIX the car at the initial failure and wasn't told of any long-term damage, either existing or likely to occur. And also I know from the invoice, that the oil and filter weren't changed as many times as was supposed to be (twice for the turbo replacement and once for the service).
Are the garage in the wrong? Can I insist they pay under the Supply of Goods and services Act? Read more
Forums like this are often populated by people complaining that shop assistants and service receptionists are dismissive and unhelpful towards members of the public.
Sometimes you come across something which makes you begin to understand why that attitude develops.
Hello everyone, I have a 2003 Mazda 6 diesel and have recently noticed a hissing noise coming form the engine from possibly around the EGR valve or that area there is also a fluid reservoir with a screw top in the same area and was wondering if any of you have heard similar in the past? It's hard to pinpoint and I have checked pipes and all look fine. When I turn off the engine, this hiss dies away after a secind or two, then there's a sound like a pressure release (possibly the EGR valve) sounds like the engine is spitting, this is a few seconds after switch off. The car is driving fine and this cannot be heard unless the bonet is lifted, just that it's a noise I never really noticed before and dont think should be there.
Any help greatly welcomed.
Cheers,
N-I Read more
Hi cj1000, thanks for your reply, the fluid level seems ok, not too low. Could be as you say just noise from around that area. Will keep an eye on it!
Cheers,
Norn-Iron
My daughter has recently bought one of these (2006 1.6 petrol life model) and is a little disappointed that the three child seats she has won?t fit side by side on the rear seat. Currently, she is seating the eldest in the sixth seat at the rear. The usual other option, of putting the new born in the front seat, doesn?t seem to be possible, as there?s no means (as far as we can tell) to switch off the passenger airbag.
Has anyone managed to seat three abreast in these?
If so, what type/make of child seats do you use?
Sorry to bring up a well worn topic, but I couldn't find anything specific to this model.
Thanks in advance, Read more
Thanks to all those who have replied?most helpful.
It would seem that there is just too little width for three full child seats, but if one were a booster type for an older child it could work. The eldest child in this case is three and a half, so it does look like she could travel in the front. When both mum and dad are in the car however, she will be confined to the rear sixth seat, which looks a bit vunerable if the car were to be ?rear ended?.
The case made for rear facing seats is interesting. In this vehicle it seems we are unable to use this option for the front seat because of the airbag. Given that the whole purpose of these medium family vehicles is the versatility of the seating arrangement, this car seems to fall short.
dereckr
Hi All,
I've got a drive of a Ferrari at MIRA soon (Birthday present from the wife) and the accompanying letter says that for security reasons no photographs are allowed and all phones, camera's etc must be left in the car. A colleague at work reckons that's a bit of a scam so they can sell their own photo's!
To be honest I can understand there being an issue with photographs at MIRA but has anyone got any experience of this and advice please?
Cheers.
FTF
Read more
Ok, thanks all, I will treat the instruction not to take photo's with the utmost respect.
Fegards.
FTF
Hello all
Just got a golf for number one son.
have I had a good buy>?
its a July 2001 plate Y reg. 1.4 S, Silver, 3 door.
its got a gti rear spoiler, gti alloys, r32 front grill and lexus style rear lights.
I gave it £130 worth of service, wipers, spark plugs, oil filter, fully snyth, air filter, fuel filter, topped up steering fluid, mended brake light switch under foot brake.
2 owners full service history, 2 keys and plastic key with number on. handbook.
cd/radio/tape/ everything works on it.
1st owner had for 3 years - up to 89K miles
2nd owner 4 years, up to 109K miles, all MOTs and tax and service docs,
shows had a cam-belt change at 69K
all service and mots add up.
even the log book was at his home address.
£2100.00
seriously such a decent car, no rot, all panels line up, all original underneath, no leaks in boot, or at rear. no leaks from brake pipes, exhaust still got decent life in it.
goes like stink for a 1.4, and such a heavy car.
wife just said though she skidded today in wet.
looked at parkers and it should have abs. I will get the haynes out and see if it has the abs thingy-ma-bob-wotsit. Read more
How much are the insurers charging for the mods though ?
I won't go into this in too much detail, but basically I have got a car that has been seriously clocked and initially the "small-time" dealer refused to take it back - now he says he will LESS £300 "for inconvenience and hassle". Regardless, I know my rights (I've had the car less than a week) and whether he knew about it or not the car is not "as advertised".
I have also since discovered that the current MOT according to VOSA website is showing as a PETROL model not DIESEL. Although on the reverse of the doc it says if you have reason to believe it was issued incorrectly you have to contact them within 30 days. It is just over that period now but surely they should be interested in this? Maybe this is a simple error on the part of the station but surely this also invalidates the MOT?
I've been in bits about this and very upset so please no lectures.. just tea, sympathy and good advice please. xx
Sam
Read more
Your call to consumer direct may be the tipping point for the "home" Trading Standards covering his area to launch an investigation into the dealer. It is normal for the local TS to speak to the dealer regarding a complaint of this nature. However, if there are 1/2 dozen or so recent complaints, they may descend on him. TS have enormous powers to enter a business premises and seize documents, computers etc. Refusal to hand over what is required is an obstruction and, itself, prosecutable.
Best of luck
Browse
.jpg)
www.carbibles.com/gasmileage.html