December 2009
I put my old Volvo in the scrappage scheme some 3 months ago and I now note that it's reg' number is listed on the MID as being on a Honda CB500. Any thoughts?
MD Read more
Seems my Focus CC3 is holding its price much better than I could have expected.
Similar cars to mine are on Autotrader for a bit more than I paid last March.
Even the Glass's link on the Vauxhall website only shows a trade price loss of about £1,000.
New cars are supposed to depreciate at an alarming rate, so it's little short of amazing mine is still worth anywhere near what I paid for it.
Or is it?
One of the Back Room's resident traders mentioned increased used prices recently.
Perhaps credit crunch and scrappage has distorted the market.
Maybe CC3s in Blue di Cina are ultra-desirable. :)
Or have all new cars sold in the last year held their value?
If you have a 58 or 09-reg, how do you think it's performed value-wise?
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What you missed in your comprehensive treatise was the fact the UK pricing for euro
made cars was lagging the exchange rate by about 9-12 months.
Hence my decision to buy new in December 2008 - I could see what was
likely to happen to UK car list prices.
Good point although we hadn't decided to change SWMBO's car at that point, our original plan was to keep it much longer but SWMBO has tired of the hard ride and poor rear visibility of the Civic, after time these outweighed its undoubted other merits (2.2 CTDi engine for instance).
I also think that the 'price to change' has possibly not widened by much in that time either, I think we might be getting as much as £1500 more for the Civic now than we'd have got in late 2008 but I can't say for sure as we didn't explore the option at the time.
The market is (academically) interesting, exchange rates are only one factor - old fashioned economics like demand curves set the selling prices of cars, manufacturers have to balance their fixed costs with volumes, profitability and selling price, as I said, I think a major change is happening.
As for exchange rates, the delays will have been a combination of hedging and perhaps distributors /manufacturers hoping that major trends were just transient blips ?
when my car is started in cold weather it cuts out unless i rev the gas it cuts out a few times and i hear popping noisies, it eventually starts but for the first 5 mins of driving it will somtimes not accelorate i can put my foot down and i go nowhere the i suddenly take off this happens untill the car is warmed up and then it drives fine i have had this problem for 2 years i have had coil packs, a full service, cam sensors, cranshaft ect loads and this has cost a lot of money, im now being told its the lamba sonsor and manifold in exhaust i will get this done if it is the problem but i dont want to waste my money like i have already, as other garages are telling me this will not be causing the problem i am also being told its a weather sensor? does anyone have any idea whats up with this car Read more
Hi,
I am in process of getting a 2003 octavia 1.9 tdi 90hp. with 23k on the clock. its had a new derv pump earlyer in the year. just wondering if there is anything to be aware of :-) drives ok. bit of white with tinge of blue (not been started for a week )smoke on cold start but cleared away. no smoke on driving. Read more
Provided you can see the logbook to confirm what the dealer is telling you - after all, its in his interest - then buy it if the price is right. I would expect the dealer to offer you a warranty if its at top asking price. I would still do all the tests mentioned here though. Just because it SAYS low mileage doesn't always mean it IS low mileage.
Robin the Technician
VW Passat 1.9 TDI, with 105000 miles on the clock and original clutch. When pulling away on slipperly surfaces (all the lanes round here are covered in leaves) such that the traction control is needed, there is a violent shuddering transmitted through the clutch pedal and in fact through the whole car.
There is no problem if the car is moving and the TCS kicks in, and there is a small amount of shudder when pulling away on slopes (very occasionally enough to stall the engine).
Has anyone seen these symptoms before? The clutch isn't slipping, although I suppose it could potentially be nearing replacement age. Read more
Hello David
If its the DMF the a LUKS or Sachs full DMF kit is available from Eurocarparts for between £250 and £280, add a full OEM clutch kit from there or GSF for about £115 or £120 and all you need is a good independant to fit it.
It will work out nowhere near £800
As always
Mark
Perhaps it is only my perception but I feel I am seeing a recent marked increase in the instances and regularity of road rage incidents. Thankfully none so far targeted at me but for example, I have just completed a ten mile journey in reasonably heavy but flowing, late Saturday afternoon traffic. Only 25 minutes or so in the car during which I witnessed three separate instances of road rage style conflict.
Last week, while going about my business, I saw several such examples of what could loosely be described as the manifestation of the feral side of human nature on our roads.
I wonder if it is functional of our current economic frustration combined with the greater financial calls on peoples budgets and perceived obligations at this time of year ?
Chill people...... Read more
My mum and dad make me chuckle.>>
Thats odd, our kids, (and grandkids) chuckle at us too. Can't think why.
Life after work means choice, the weekly shop and car fill, and monthly cash and carry run are done mid week. If we do choose to visit the shops on a weekend it is early, and we are usually on our way home before it gets busy. This avoids all the various "rages" and queues, road, traffic, parking, fuel pump, trolley, and checkout.
I can understand that some people may find it hard to break long standing routines though.
My other half has a year old Fabia HTP, it started running a bit rough just before its first service and was given a diagnostic check, which according to the dealer showed nothing wrong.
After the service, the car has run rougher than before, the management light has came on several times but usually resets itself after standing overnight. After the car became a hesitant starter and seemed to be lacking power, we tried to book it into the dealers for a check, after 5 days of calls, we tried another dealer who eventually beseeched our original dealer to return our call.
The car was booked in yesterday and apparantly a "software update" (dealers words) was applied and the car was given back to my partner, she asked was she to sign anything that stated the work was done and she was told no.
Today the warning light is back on and the car is running rougher than an old diesel 405!
The OH is really annoyed and feels she is being fobbed off, can we legitimately take it to another dealer or do you think it would be better complaining to Skoda UK? as our local dealer is utterly useless. Read more
Well, it's finally fixed!
The light came on again just as SWMBO was pulling into the dealer, happily the fault code was still in the memory and one cam position sensor later, we have a nice car again!
Although we've lost a lot faith in the car, hopefully it can redeem itself!
I've just had delivery of my new Mondeo. It has a 5" Sat Nav (not the touch screen one). I cannot figure out how to change it from Km into Miles.
Any help would be appreciated.
Thanks
David
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Did you ever find out how to sort it out as my transit is the same?
Just spent a few hours getting my bikes ready for the winter.
First, gave both a good wash and let them dry off.
My Triumph tourer i've put on sorn, sprayed it with ACF50 (great stuff, google it) which protects the finish, waxed and polished the bodywork, and finally installed some fuel stabiliser in the tank and let it run for a while.
Next my Honda, same ritual but i will be using it through the winter so will repeat as nescessary,
Now i'm ready for whatever this winter throws at me, are you?
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Hi, have done all of the above on mine plus I've drained the carbs so that the floats don't sit in stale fuel all winter. Also pumped the tyres up and put the bikes on stands. They're taxed and insured all year so I may get them out if we ever have a dry day!
Drove over a bump and ignition light came on, radio stopped working ,mirrors don't work.
Ignition light doesn't go out. Battery voltage is 13 volts, start engine and it shows 15 volts. Seems healthy.
Fuse number 21 (10 amp) was blown. Replaced but no cure. Don't actually know what this fuse does as I don't have a handbook. Only had the car one week. Read more
Browse
So that does seem to show scrapped as far as DVLA are concerned and the MID showing Honda is an error.