January 2010
Hi,
I have just bought a 56 reg Avensis with a TNS310 (traffic Plus) sat nav system, however when i put the CD/DVD in the system the system dispalys READING, then comes up with ERRR1?
do you have any idea how i can fix this as the Toyota web site tells me the CD/DVD does not exist?
Regards
Baz Read more
I'm looking to swap my 2007 Ford Focus Zetec estate for a similar aged Volvo S40 (probably 1.6 petrol) as I can't tolerate the back pain the Focus is giving me any more.
Has anyone got any comments on the S40 of this age, good or bad? Are the seats comfortable for long journeys and has anyone got a realistic MPG for the 1.6 petrol?
I had one as a courtesy car for 3 days and was impressed, the spec seemed good even for the 1.6 S variant and the prices seem to be around Ford Focus level as well ( I know the S40 is based on the Focus chassis so the handling is pretty good) Read more
Hello all,
Further to my post of several months back, SWMBO has now got herself a new job which requires a 50 mile round trip, 4 days a week.
I currently own an '05 Golf 2.0TDI with 77k on the clock, which I intend to give to her to use for her commute, and subsequently run into the ground.
This leaves me with a requirement for another car. Ive always wanted a Volvo C70, and now seems the time to get one. Budget is about £3k, which should get me in a nice Y/51 reg example.
Which engine would you recommend? 2.0T or 2.4T? I have discounted the T5 on account of its tyre shredding power, and the fact that I want this car as a relaxed cruiser.
Also, any other left field suggestions of a similar cars in this genre are greatly received. I have so far considered a BMW 330i and also Saab 9-3 Aero of similar vintage......... but keep coming back to the Volvo.
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95% it will be the coupe, im not so keen on the looks of the convertible. Im keen on either silver, dark red or the bronze you mentioned. I narrowly missed out on a pristine Y reg, 1 owner 2.4T GT in bronze last week, going for a paltry 2.5k!
Was it the 163 BHP 2.0T you had in your S60? I've read various conflicting reports, some saying it is fine and others labelling it underpowered. Was yours manual or auto?
I guess the best way to find out is to test drive one, but there is not a single C70 for sale within 40 miles of here (Ipswich).
As in yer actual dreams, not "if I had money I'd buy a...".
Do you ever dream about cars?
I dreamed last night I parked my car in a public car park, and when I came back it had a complicated timetable stuck to the rear window on it along with a parking ticket, and in the next moment I realised it had been broken into, and in the moment after that there was actually nothing there but four wheels on axles with no tyres, as the whole body had been nicked.
It was my current car.
Weird. Read more
Quite a long time ago now, I had a series of 'falling dreams' in which I was perched on the roof of a double-decker bus hurtling down a steep hill with sharper and sharper curves. At the third or fourth bend the bus would start to roll and I would wake up.
Sounds absurd when you're awake but was quite sweat-makingly convincing in one's kip...
Even earlier but in real life, not a dream, along with other CCF cadets from my school, I was driven standing in the back of an army 3-tonner by a crazed young squaddie at breakneck speed down just such a road near Castlemartin in Pembrokeshire. May have been one of the sources of the dream, but probably not the most important one.
Hi all, My son has a fiesta 1.25 02 freestyle, When he was driving it up the dual carriageway the temp gauge suddenly went up high and the fans kicked in, he called out the breakdown truck and they brought him home they said it could be the water pump have also noticed that the heater was only blowing hot air, so I pass the car on to my mechanic friend to have a look at it. he replaced the thermostat and housing and flushed the system down and refilled it with new coolant and he also changed the heater valve and he is going to change the temp sensor on friday.this has sorted the high temp problem but the heater is only blowing cold air but when I take off the electrical connection off the heater valve it will blow hot air any advice on the problem will be gratefully recived, sorry if it sounds long winded but I wanted to give you as much info as possible thanks. Read more
Thanks for your reply Peter.I forgot to mention this is the second one he fitted on monday.he said the first one was faulty and he bought the second one from a diffrent shop.
Wife's Fiesta went in for first service yesterday, initially thought to be very convenient as they offered to collect and return.
They didn't collect until 11:15 despite being told she must have the car for 16:30 and returned the car at 17:00 - OK she does not finish work til 5pm.
When they rang her to collect payment they said they would put a litre of oil in the car for top ups, she believed from what was said that it ws FOC.
When car was delivered the oil is shown on the invoice as £8. . . She is not happy.
When I looked at the invoice I see they claim to have put 5l in the engine, am somewhat surprices and ask the wife when she got the V8 put in. It is a 1.4 which according to Ford's book takes 3.5L, so where did they put the other 1.5l - it is not in the sump as the level shows in between the full/top up bends.
Also their invoice does not add up - in our favour by a couple of pounds.
Will be an interesting discussion with the service manager this morning but it, and daughter's previous model Fiesta, won't be going back there again! Read more
Have to say I now usually ring up the two or three local dealers first
and get the best quote but also make very sure that when I turn up
and am handing over the key I say "and I'm expecting to pay £x unless
you find something else and ring me first". They always say yes and write it
on the job sheet so there's no argument later.
Easys.
I do the same, check 3/4 Franchise dealers (when car is under warranty) and then mention price when handing car keys over.
Last time the 10-40 oil was put in instead of fully synthetic!
On querying this the Service manager explained 20% voucher off service price the "well known chain of Scottish Garages" has a policy of downgrading the oil!!
After discussing matters for 30 mins the oil was replaced by 5-30 synthetic.
Last time that garage gets any of my money - service or new car
OK let`s set some parameters.
Assuming bought new (under £10,000) and considered over a 15yr life-span.
Defining `best`
1) Servicing costs - to 150,000 miles and 15yrs
2) Known issues and likely repair costs
3) DIY - difficult, or easy.
Basically, this is trying to define the best little engine found in bread and butter motors - that typically run around the City and get passed through several owners.
Considering servicing costs + ease of servicing and known weaknesses, as the only parameters for the sake of this thread.
Thoughts?
Regards
oilrag Read more
Now if you'd said 'bread and Butter' PUDDING, i'd've had no hesitation in saying that Skoda one off the telly ad.
Hello all,
Me and the good lady wife are looking for a used car. Its not proving simple. We had 'crossed words' tonight, and i see it happening again soon.
Our budget is 2700 max. Our mechanical knowledge is limited.
Looking for astra 2.2sri
vectra petrol (1.8 or 2.0T)
Astra diesel, previous shape, NOT CDTI
ford mondeo
in no particular order of preference, only stipulations are low mileage <100k, service history , 52 reg onwards.
I find the whole thing daunting, I know what I want, I know what I want to pay, but its all so bloomin difficult.
made three appointments this morning, first for a astra sri, 04 reg, at a large dealer some 10 miles away. Upon arrival, they did not have the car, but offered to show me other vehicles in a similar price range, after making me wait 45 mins. I politely moved on to the next.
Again I called the garage this morning, and asked if I could view the car in the afternoon, this time a vectra 1.8 elegance, on a 03. It was advertised as one owner, full service history, and 40 miles from home. It was advertised in auto trader at 2700. On arrival the screen price was 3295. Swiss tony explained he had had a lot of interest in the car........It was small-ish indy garage on a main road. On arrival, the car was blocked in by loads of vehicles and I knew straight away i would not get a test drive. The car was sporting carcraft numberplates, and swiss tony could not explain why. The back seat was not attatched to anything. I walked away without starting the engine, and moved onto the next appointment after swiss tony said he had no history, just old MOT's. Why would a one owner ex lease car have carcraft number plates? that put me off. I have had carcraft issues before. Best forgotton.
My third appointment was a small-ish garage on a main road, some 5 miles from home. The vehicle was advertised as a 2004(53) astra 1.7dti saloon, at 2895, with 47k on the clock. On arrival the screen price was 3495. A common trick I realise now.
I HPI'd the astra on my phone, but it was described as a 5 door estate, first registered in nov 08? but the car was a 53? You guessed it, I walked away.
Please help, is what I want do-able on my budget? and how do I deal with traders!!!!!!!!
Cheers Read more
Blue Bell is on Bury Rochdale Old Road near the Bird in Hand
the key on my bmw wont go all the way into the barrel. has about 5mm left. we cant get the lock off. any ideas please Read more
What does it feel like is blocking it? Something seized or something solid in the way / stuffed in the keyhole?
I'd try dipping the key in a tin of 3-in-1 oil then putting it in and out the lock, re-dipping & repeating a few times to see if any joy loosening it up.
There's some kind of mechanism to prevent removing the key while in gear on at least the automatics. If this is an automatic, might be worth rowing the gear selector all the way down to drive then back up to park.
Failing that i'd probably be removing the steering column shell / plastic surround to see about removing the ignition barrel.
Hope this helps but im just stabbing in the dark unfortunately, i don't know enough / have enough experience yet.
For anyone considering buying tyres online I've just used Camskill and service was excellent. Ordered at lunchtime yesterday and they arrived 24 hours later.
They were over £10 a tyre cheaper than anyone else I tried.
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The cost of tyres are a trivial motoring cost. A full set every (say) 3 years will cost £200-400 for most cars - £70-130 pa. Not much different to a basic car wash once or twice a month.
Fuel is about £1500 pa, depreciation on a new/newish vehicle is £1500 - 4000 pa, servicing and minor replacements £250-500 pa....
Browse
Snakey, did you make the move to Volvo? I am currently looking at replacing a written off 53 plate C-max with either an S40 (1.6 S, petrol. Test drive today, liked it) or a Focus Zetec Climate (1.8 petrol), both 57 plates, similar mileages and the same price.
Am curious as to what you decided on. We already have a 56 plate 1.6 Focus Sport and that's been fine, but I think the seats are small and the boot space with a full size spare is limited.