November 2009
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
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.
Next week I've got to do a journey I endured 2 months ago, taking my daughter to an interview at Reading Uni. Last time I went A12 ( I live near Framlingham), then M25 northbound and M4. This would seem a fast and simple journey but about 50% of the northbound M25 consists of roadworks and the journey was a slow frustrating crawl.
I've got to be at Reading for 10.30am, are there any sensible alternatives? I'd considered the North Circular then onto the M4, or even M25 southbound, then M4. Any thoughts or do I just resign myself to the nightmare of the northbound M25? What makes it worse is I've got to wait up to 5 hours in Reading whilst her interview takes place then endure the driving misery in reverse in the dark. Read more
>> There are lots of B & Bs in Reading;
>>
A couple of Travelodges as well. I believe the one in the town centre doesn't have parking, the Travelodge a little way out of town does have parking - I understand.
This Vauxhall has been used as a driving school car it has covered 33.000 miles on a 1.3 eco flex engine , this last week it is noticeable that the clutch slips in high gears when asked to make progress , I know its use is heavy and varied but would it be considered normal to be slipping at such low mileage , I had a citreon saxo from new that did 125,000 before it did anything and that was a school car to, Any views
{58 changed to 08, as the question asked for year of manufacture, not vehicle reg prefix}
{Which Vauxhall btw? You didn't chose a make from the drop down menu} Read more
I left my MkII Cav at a backstreet clutch specialist one lunchtime come 5pm he
hadn't touched it. He jacked it up as I stood there his mate sat in
the car pressing the pedal when he was told and they had it done and
back on the floor in 10 minutes flat. He told me his record was 6
minutes on his mum's Nova.
Cavs / Astras / Novas of that era were cars with properly designed clutches that didn't need the gearbox removing first. Brilliant idea!
my a4 tdi showed 2 faults maf and boost preassure sensor ,ive replaced both , still no boost ,do i need to get the faults reset to allow new parts to work ? Read more
is the preassure sensor the 1 on the black boost pipe ? top of engine
***** This thread is now closed, please CLICK HERE to go to Volume 39 *****
As the title suggests, this thread is for all things Formula One and other general motorsport related stuff.
This is Volume 38.
Usual rules apply. When we get to around 100 posts, the thread will be locked and the next volume will start.
PLEASE NOTE
As with the IHAQ & the Computer threads, When posting a NEW topic, please "Reply to" the first message in this thread, i.e. this one. This keeps each topic in it's own separate segment and stops each new topic from getting mixed up in amongst existing topics. Also please remember to change the subject header.
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I remember the Calibra had the lowest drag coefficient for a road car at the time. Due to tyre widths, the 8v was better than the 16v.
I'm not sure some of the methods of creating downforce (Venturi effect I think - also referred to as ground effect) make F1 cars poor in terms of aerodynamics. The big wings do and they vary these according to track - some they go for less downforce from the wing for higher top speeds on the straights.
What is the expected life of a 1995cc diesel engine??? Currently looking at one that is a 2.0L Dti Elegance model with high miles....Pls Help... Read more
Thanks Lygonos we'll be sure to look out for those things.
On Saturday I moved my Micra about 3ft so my neighbour could park his car.
Tonight (Sunday) it stalled and wont restart.
Am I correct in thinking the engine has flooded and its just a case of waiting for the engine to dry out? Read more
I certainly got my Corsa working by flooring it. It just would not start but could hear it turning over so I floored it and after a few seconds came into life. Been perfect since not a single miss fire or anything.
If you do the floor method make sure the car is in neutral/handbrake etc as normal put press the throttle down and start turning it over, if it hasn't kicked into life after 10 or so seconds leave it. If you keep it turned over you risk burning out the starter motor and flattening the battery.
monday 23 nov 2009 (tomorrow) bbc3 at 22.30
young mechanic of the year
might be worth as look? Read more
I made the error of watching this yesterday, and even now I'm not sure if I imagined it or not.
Absolutely mindnumbing in its puerility, in terms of the concept, the contestants and the tasks set.
The total budget could not have been more than a few thousand pounds.
Some of those lads looked as if they had never seen the engine of a car before and yet were trained mechanics.
The first 'fault' was a coil plug unplugged and the other electrical faults were taped wires to cause dual working of lights/ horn etc. Almost to a man they struggled, yet these faults were mainly visual and obvious.
As for fitting an immobiliser switch, they behaved as if they had never used a pair of pliers - perhaps that's true..
The programme must have set the image of the trade back a few years.
There must be thousands out there who could better represent a trade which already has a poor public image.
Browse
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.