November 2009
Since the weather has gotten worse, we have noticed that there is alot of build up of condensation and steam on the inside of the windscreen which takes ages to clear in the morning or just have wipe it clean with a shammy.
Anyone got any idea's? Read more
Sigh. After the A41 fiasco in Chester earlier this year, I had the misfortune of having to drive from Berkshire to Cheshire on Thursday and then back again this morning. Here is the list of roadworks, forgive me if I missed any.
A404 (M) 40mph limit as road is being widened (?)
M40: Those roadworks at the A34 in Oxford are STILL there. What exactly are they doing? Building an underground tunnel to Japan?
J15: Yep, those roadworks still there. "Please drive carefully through roadworks"... cones everywhere, and despite travelling at many different times I have NEVER seen any work being done. Which is probably why it's taken so long...
M42: just the depressing variable limits...
M6: 50 average speed check limit and roadworks up to and past Fort Dunlop in B'ham, then again towards Hilton Park services W'hampton. Then another 50 average near Stafford, "night works in progress". Got bored so came off on A5, thought would cut through A41 Newport... it's shut. For 3 weeks. Completely shut. The diversion is about 25 miles. WHY?
On way back today, M6 J16 to J17 roadworks, 50 limit, and then you're back to where I left the M6 before.
How does anything get done or anyone get anywhere in this country? Does it EVER stop?
How can you plan a journey properly? And don't even talk to me about London, I drove to Euston from Berkshire the other day. Never ever again. And you PAY for the privilege!!!
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Soupytwist, I don't do it every day. I have a house in Cheshire but am working at the moment in Berkshire. I have a room in a house down there, and sometimes I stay down there, sometimes my girlfriend comes down there. Depends on what is going on. I don't want to buy down there as i) it's too expensive and ii) I don't see it as a long-term position.
I thought about it for a long time, trust me.
AT 70mph this delivers me an indicated 35mpg (borne out by brim-to-brim), and at an indicated 80 it delivers an indicated 31-32 (again borne out by brim-to-brim).
But around town I can watch the fuel gauge falling as I drive. I doubt it's delivering 10mpg. Is this normal?
In the sort of traffic that takes 30 minutes to cover 5 miles across the centre of town.
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AT 70mph this delivers me an indicated 35mpg (borne out by brim-to-brim) and at an
indicated 80 it delivers an indicated 31-32 (again borne out by brim-to-brim).
My 55 plate 2.0R does has almost identical consumption to your figures.
I don't do much "around town" work, but if I do I would guess somewhere around 18-22mpg. However, 5 miles in 30 minutes is very laborious progress, have you thought about walking;-))
...Bad grammar....
The pic is credited to SWNS, so I think it's a case of agency copy, badly subbed, or subbed not at all.
Looking at replacing the little 205 GTi soon - (I'm 42 in a couple weeks!!!).
Time I bought something thats quiet, smooth and comfortable.
Been looking at either a 2003 C-Class Sport Coupe with 30k miles and a 2003 320 Ci SE
with 16k miles.
Reading the road-tests - the Merc is better on the fuel but otherwise there's little in it at all.
I cover approx 400 miles/week - almost all of which are on the motorway. I'm more than happy just to sit at 70.
Reckon the Merc will be available £750 less than the BMW but all in - both cars are immaculate with mature previous owners.
Any advice or comments to watch on either?
Cheers Read more
Took the BMW for a test drive on Friday.
Not too impressed I'm afraid.
The thing was pretty quiet and smooth but appeared to have quite a lack of
go.
Engine just seemed to rev with very little forward motion.
I know what you mean - I had a similar experience when I tested an old 325 cabriolet many years ago.
Whenever I start any vehicle I always have the clutch depressed and the gearbox in neutral, to make for easier starting, however in my car manual (Focus) it says that if the car is in gear, even with the clutch depressed, it can cause damage, but does not go on to state what damage.
What damage can be done? On the rare :) occasions I stall the car, I sometimes restart in gear with the clutch depressed but all seems well?
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Wear on the clutch release mechanism may be more of a problem than wear on the gearbox. And what about the wear on the soles of your Gucci shoes?
;-)
Actually, my Mk 1 Focus Owners Guide says start the car with the clutch pedal depressed and without touching the throttle pedal.
While walking around my local area I have noticed a few two-car families where the two cars are virtually identical. One has two black Honda CRVs. Another has two Renault Scenics of similar vintage.
Have they found the perfect car for their needs or do they just lack imagination? Read more
This has happened to us quite a lot.
In our early days we ran a sucession of Rover 3500 P6 pairs. Later on we both ran Citroen BXs and then a Xantia each. I was very keen SWMBO should buy a Mondeo III diesel hatch at the change we are making now as my Ghia Estate has been so good. However she insists on keeping to the Focus size.
We also had a pair of Citroen CXs at one time but she always chose to drive her Audi 80GT.
Realise this topic crops up for debate every few months, and the conclusion is usually a Renault or Peugeot from the 1980s, but what's the most comfortable car made within the last decade?
Comfortable meaning quiet, good seats, good primary and secondary ride and so on. There are aspects of many cars that fit the bill, such as the seats in an S60, the primary ride of a 7-Series and secondary ride of the new Superb, the library like quiet of a Phaeton etc.
I should confess a preference for the way older cars ride: I still have a '88 CX 25 GTi in the garage and would love a new 5-Series if only it rode like the last one! My worst nightmare is having to sit in any recent Audi while it's moving.
If we assume an arbitrary budget of 20K and no particular segment, what would you choose? Read more
Having driven today from Berkshire to Durham, given a 3-hour lecture and driven back again, with no aches despite being 61, I'm feeling fairly well-disposed towards my Octavia vRS. A slightly softer ride would make it perfect when not on motorways: 17" wheels as on other Octavias, instead of the 18"s on mine, might do it, although that might upset the handling set up.
Just been looking on Autotrader and saw a 2007 VolvoXC90 D5 Auto with all the toys for £7,000. Yes just £7,000.
Contact with private seller was via e-mail or mobile phone. I e-mailed in a very general manner (not referring to the make or model of the car) and got a message back that the car is in Spain. It was taken there buy the owner due to the economic crisis - she returned home she says, but cannot sell it there as it is RHD. Assured me that the car is A1. All fine so far.
But, firstly how can inspect the car without committing to buy it. How are they going to get it to the UK? It feels fishy and I know what you will all say. Also, the advert has disappeared from Auto Trader. Is that coincidence or .....? I think the car should be priced at closer to £20,000. Read more
As we are actively looking at the moment today I've done another Autotrader search on our criteria. Mixed in with the Focus/Astra/C4 models there are two more scam cars. A 2008 Galaxy Ghia at £4k and a 2007 BMW x3 at £5K.
Can't believe they are unable to detect these with some software.
Browse
Car is wet inside somewhere - check all the carpets. Either that or the heater matrix has failed.