January 2010
I always think of the old Lada dealerships as an association with tin sheds. Or the old Skoda places, in the days of the rear wheel drive models.
Locally, Toyota and VW have recently moved out of what seemed like the next step up from tin sheds - into new glass palaces.
But our local Fiat dealership - which is the biggest in the area, (including surrounding big cities)
recently morphed from a tin shed into a tin shed - (now in silver and seeming like a long metal coffin) the latter though seeming to fit a perhaps enforced corporate image - and seeming big enough for around four cars inside. The parts dept is a tacked on metal box - that has you feeling you are entering a shipping container. Metal door, metal walls and roof and no windows.
Before, you obtained parts from within the showroom and were able to chat and maintain a relationship - while looking at new models. Now you are segregated off - to the detriment of continuity.
I was thinking of the importance of first contact image - then maintaining relationships. Perhaps though, there are not many customers like me - who just buy parts after the first year from new - and as such, have seemingly been written off as `trade`at the parts counter.
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Snake oil's been discussed in here several times before. Now it's claimed that you can save fuel just by plugging this into a cigarette lighter socket !
I won't be rushing to buy one.
tinyurl.com/yjdvggu
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Off topic, but the recent news about the 'snake oil' explosive detector shows that there will always be takers for any scam. I would suggest taking the instigator and leaving him in central Baghdad wearing a sandwich board announcing his activities...
In the icy weather, I skidded on ice and hit a kerb; now the car veers to the right and the steering wheel is slightly harder to turn anti-clockwise compared to clockwise. Pro-tyre (good guys) adjusted the wheel alignment but suggested I go elsewhere to get the "veering problem fixed" and with no visibile evidence of bent track rods etc they suggested that the knuckle joint / UJ might need replacing where the steering column joins the rack.
So I then went to a local garage where the garage inspected the car for free then said that a Hub knuckle - he didn't say if the direction of the veering implies whether it is the OSF or it is the NSF that is suspect - probably needs replacing at £400 all in but this was only 90% the probable cause.
Any coments or suggestions on where I can go (both literaly and and figuratively)would be much appreciated.
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Nothing to far out there then. I can't see how the steering column u/j could cause it to pull to one side, it could make it stiff or lumpy. How exactly does it feel, if you let go of the steering wheel does it veer off to the right or just feel lighter in that direction?
Any idea of this model will be coming to the UK? It looks very tidy: tinyurl.com/ykvqyon
It's priced less than a new Focus LX here in NZ! And strangely cheaper than the 4-door Cerato that it is based on. Quite fancy one! Read more
Is the Alfa Romeo brand the next one to fall? Their total sales have halved since 2001 and they have just cancelled their planned re-launch in to the US.
FIAT is apparently re-branding its Lancias as Chryslers in the US and may follow suit by selling Alfas under the Dodge brand! Eh? What on earth are they smoking in that boardroom!?! Do you think any Alfisti out there would switch to a Dodge? Read more
Look at the success of the BMW 1-series. Would it have sold so many as
a FWD car? Personally I dont think so.
......
>>>>>>>>>> i think you will find most people that run these cars dont know it
is rwd sulphur man
Like the story of the A-Class Merc with snow chains on the rear wheels recently !
news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/8472456.stm
You could not make it up! Read more
The Carp for Humberside they took it out on a run in Grimsby and it was too big to navigate some streets, in some it couldnt get through because of awkwardly parked cars.
What is more suprising is that it is now in holland been modified. Don't we have any British companies capable of doing this. Unbelievable.
i wonder if this doesnt work if the fire chief blames this supplier as well.
Two Police officers banned for reversing on motorway
www.examiner.co.uk/news/local-west-yorkshire-news/.../ Read more
...You have a grudging respect for a criminal who admits his crimes. Do you meet many or is this the hypothetical criminal who admits his crime?...
Met a few, but observed far more.
For example, armed robber this week admitted banjoing two prison officers while in custody - extra three years, no messing.
The guy is a genuine nasty pasty, but he was not boastful of what he'd done, just prepared to accept it.
...Having said all this, in my rather lengthy experience, lying is most certainly not the sole preserve of the wealthy or famous....
Too right, the contention by these two police officers they reversed down the sliproad to help their colleagues was rejected by the magistrates who found them guilty.
And any police officers who think they get a hard time in court should look at the penalties in this case.
The two police officers who fought it all the way were fined a few hundred quid and banned for a year, as was another driver who pleaded guilty.
Were I him, I'd be asking where's the discount for a guilty plea?
During peak hours, 90% of cars on road are just occupied by driver alone.
Why manufacturers are not bringing out one seater cars? It should cost pennies to run and should be environmentally friendly as well :)
Hope you don't suggest using motorcycles - a car is a car, even if it has just one seat.
Surprisingly, 2-seater cars usually cost more than family cars! Why? They need less materials to build.
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I wonder why Smart was designed to sit side by side rather than back to back.
The later would have increased the length but with reduced width.
Can someone please tell me if the front shock absorbers on a Mk3 Mondeo are the same or is there a different one for left and right side?
Thanks in advance. Read more
If you have a new shocker on one side and a worn shocker on the other the car will behave strangely, normal practice is to replace shockers/springs etc in pairs.
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Keith
Hi to all and thanks for reading.
We have a Vauxhall agila 2004, the car has done 82000 miles ,the last MOT suggested we replace the STEERING RACK DRAG LINK ENDS.
Does anyone no if this is an easy task to complete, does it require specialised tooling.
and are they expensive.
I would obtain a works manual but unable to find one
Thanks again
Bobs Read more
if its the same rack as a corsa c as i suspect then
yes they wear
yes they are replaceable
no special tooling required but access difficult
i use the weld a wheel stud to the locker on the rack end with the mig and then use the 1/2 inch ratchet tackle to undo the fastener
i suggest you locktight the new arm fastener when you replace everything
dont forget car will need tracking (did you read my make your own tracking guages only £4.99 including postage and packing?)
Browse
I also wanted to mention an indie parts place I know in Oxford. It's quite a big shop, but boxes of parts everywhere, stuff piled up in a seemingly haphazard way, and plenty of dust and grime about. But if you go in there and ask for a part, the guy can find it instantly. First class knowledge as well - for example my uncle went in there for brake pads for an early BMW 7 series, which they didn't carry, but they knew that the pads from some obscure early Nissan, which they did, would fit. I've also taken old parts in before and the guy has told me which car they came off before I could tell him!
Also open 7 days a week, and very reasonably priced. The decor and appearance of premises is no indicator of the level of service and knowledge you can expect.