February 2010
Since I was diagnosed with PD last year and put on a short term driving licence, I have been pondering just what to get for my 2nd mid life crisis (The first being a heart attack in the wilds of Dartmoor in 2006, resulting in a 9-3 Saab cabriolet)
I had set my heart (But not my head) on a Boxter, but having sat in one knew it wasn't for me or, to be precise, my broad beam rear end!
Next was the original SLK Merc'. My, what a claustrophobic cockpit! I felt as though I was in a coffin.
I turned my fickle head and heart to a Z4 BMW. I sat in it and, glory be, it was comfy, roomy. It was so easy to get in, but could I get out again with dignity intact? (I am 55 & not the nimblest bloke in the world) Tell you what, it was easier to get out of than my Golf. I could almost literally bound out of the thing in one movement!
It is a beautiful 2003 53 plate 3.0L SE with just 22k on the clock, red leather, electric seats with memory, nav pack, blue tooth prepped, TV (Gosh!) It is immaculate and a credit to previous owner. Contrary to usual posts re BMW drivers, it does have an indicator stalk! I am going to have a sticker "Not your usual BMW driver" put on the rear.
Driving it put such a grin on my face that were it summer, flies would be stuck to my teeth! Even Mrs T, who is bored by the whole process is enthusiastic. I may invest in a head scarf for her and a long stylish cigarette holder. She don't smoke, but can pretend.
I know it will drink petrol. I know it is group 19 insurance, but I don't give a monkey's bottom! I like the noise the 3 litre makes. Live each day as though it is your last, cos one day it will be true!
I pick it up Wednesday. i don't think I will sleep 'til then. Read more
A good deal fell in my lap today which I didnt want to turn down.
I was mulling over whether or not I should change my car at the two year mark of ownership and hadnt decided.
Today my dad announced that after my sister pays a month long visit from OZ in May, for which he is MOTing and taxing my sisters Grand Vitara, plus a big service after its lay-up for the last year, he is intending on selling it.
And of course it occurred to me that this was a rather good example of the breed plus my wife likes the idea of us buying it so its all arranged that I will take it over at the end of May. Its a 2001 and only done 60k so hardly any more than mine, plus my dad is letting me have it for £1500 - I couldnt find a similar one for less than £2000 and some a fair bit more than that so Im more than happy with this deal.
It also means an instant bit of cash for my sis to help pay for her wedding to her aussie fella. They bought a '98 CRV today aswell, must be something in the air.
Should give me time to get my car sold without any time without a car. Sorted. Read more
>> I dont own half of Northanmptonshire, although a I know a man who does!
would that be my friends ex hubby, Mr W. or does your acquittance own the other half?
I have been looking at downsizing and the Suzuki Alto seems to fit the bill. Having never owned a suzuki before, are they reliable and emical?
It would be great to hear from owners/previous owners about their experience with them, before i take the plunge!
Many Thanks in anticipation. Read more
Hi
There are lots of these around on the used market, and a quick check on ebay reveals that many of them are very good value. Cost new was 5K, so bear this in mind when you're buying - I've seen some pretty silly prices at franchised dealers.
This model seems to be wearing well: no real problems as such, not rusting, still giving reliable service (some on ebay have wracked up some pretty high mileages so clearly quite tough).
The 1.1 engine is a nippy unit (as the car is light). Economy very good, and cheap tax because of low CO2 emissions.
Probably the biggest thing to watch on these is skimped servicing as these are often bought 2nd/ 3rd hand as a cheap buy and not really looked after properly.
I owned a mid-90s Swift and found it to be extremely reliable and I think this Alto is the same. It is built in India and there are loads over there existing quite happily in tough conditions (heat, dust etc).
Hope this helps
Rob E
Thought I'd fill in the form on their website to see how they'd value my '96 Mondeo diesel.
£50, minus £29+VAT admin fee!
I'd get more flogging the fuel in the tank. Read more
A couple of years ago, we asked for a price for my wife's Citroen ZX. Although not a brilliant car, it did have three month's MOT.
They did not give any price at all. We ended up selling it on ebay for £230.
Sisters c-max is coming up to 3 years old. She's had it from new and only does 5,000 miles per annum (that ISN'T frequent short journeys. It's only used twice a week for a 45 mile round trip.)
Up until now it's been serviced at a dealer. However given the warranty is up soon and she plans to keep it until 8 years or more, she is considering going outside the dealer network for the next service.
I could easily change the oil & filters and lube the hinges, check the brakes etc. I'd even hang a 99p airfreshener inside for the full "premium" service effect ;-) Only thing I couldn't do is the electronic diagnostic check but hey-ho.
It's a 1.6 petrol for what it's worth, so not exactly rocket science.
So....... simple question looking for a simple answer - (a) DEALER, (b) INDY or (c) DIY. Read more
Having had a C-Max go wrong 1 week out of warranty I'd agree and say get it main dealer serviced this time, just in case something does happen.
The only reason I got even limited good will out of Ford for my problem was that it had been serviced properly according to schedule at Ford dealers.
I can't help noticing how many Volvo ads there seem to be featuring the new(ish) C30 on TV (particualrly satellite/Cable)
yet I have only ever seen 2 on the road !
Does this mean it is not selling and why would that be ???
Edit: Edited the title to say Volvo instead of Citroen, Rob Read more
We are only 1/2 mile from Volvo dealer and Ive not seen many C30s so I cant see how they can claim to be selling well.
Weve never had one in the workshop, but I know the lads at the volvo dealer dont particularly rate them and reckon they are a lot flimsier than volvo of old.
i have been having problems for a while, sometimes the car locks and other times it does not, if i lock via the boot the electric windows sometimes come down. recently the problem has go a lot worse, i can no longer lock/unlock via the drivers door and sometimes when im driving the car will continuously lock & unlock, i can no longer leave it parked up because sometimes i come back and it has unlocked itself, plz help! Read more
the problem has been on going for 6 months, its dry at the moment but its possible it got wet at some point, will i have to get a diagnostic on the ECU
Yesterday, there was a jam following an accident on the A406, so I joined it at a different point than I usually do.
I was coming onto it from a fairly small side road with a give way line, rather than the light controlled junction that I normally do.
The speed limit on that stretch is 50. It was fairly busy, but I found a decent gap with no traffic in the outside lane.
Thing is, because of the speed of the road (taking into account that people often do much more than 50) and the fact that it was fairly busy, I thought it prudent to get up to speed ASAP.
So, I put my foot right down in 1st and, with a bit of complaining, it got up to around 40 pretty quickly, but then sounded as if the engine gave up for a moment. I put it up into 4th and all was fine, up to 50 and put it into 5th.
I just wondered if you guys could give any advice on the best way to get up to speed in that kind of situation. Should I set off in a higher gear? Sometimes I have mistakenly set off in 2nd, and if accelerating quickly, it does seem to be smoother.
On the few occasions I have mistakenly set off in 3rd I have always stalled, although I guess it might work if I revved higher.
I don't really know the intricacies of the relationship between gears, revs and accelaration, was always just taught to set of in 1st, and then move up and down gears when accelerating and decelerating - but it seems to me that there are time, when accelerating quickly, that you don't want to have to make an early gear change, and it didn't sound as though the car really liked the idea of 0 to 40 in 1st.
Any advice appeciated (it is a 2 litre Diesel Mondeo BTW).
Read more
Any advice appeciated (it is a 2 litre Diesel Mondeo BTW).
I have done some quick "back of the envelope" approximations. Feel free to correct me if there are any errors in my calculations.
Assume that the approaching car is 150 yards/metres away, travelling at 60mph (just under 30 yards/metres a second).
At time zero:
Your position = datum zero
Other car position = minus 150 metres
Say it takes you time = t = 10 seconds to go from your standing start to get above 60mph (assume steady acceleration = a = just under 3 yards/metres per second per second).
In that 10 seconds, distance d1 you will have travelled (d1 = 0.5 x a x t x t ) = ( 0.5 x 3 x 10 x 10 ) = 150 metres
The other car will have travelled distance d2 = speed x time = 30 metres per second x 10 seconds = 300 metres
At 10 seconds past zero:
Your position = plus 150 metres
Other car's position = plus 150 metres
Therefore collision unless the other car brakes! [*]
In other words, you need to allow the other car a gap of about 200 yards/metres before you join the traffic or you need a car capable of accelerating faster than .
Notes: [*]
Actually there would be a few metres gap yet because 60mph is not exactly 30 metres a second, but is about 26.83 metres a second.
So in 10 seconds, the other car would have travelled 268 metres, giving you head start cushion of 32 metres. The other car would need to brake a little to increase the gap to about 60 metres in line with the "two second" rule.
Also, at a steady acceleration of 3 metres/s/s, your speed at the end of 10 seconds would be 30 metres/s which equates to 67.11 mph
Main Dealer 59 reg - del mls CRD
Good Buy or good Bye? Read more
We service a couple of the 2006-09 Magentis that are used as airport taxis. They have already done big miles and are proving a good and reliable car.
The two guys who drive them seem to like them as well.
They are strongly built, roomy and have all the gadgets you would want.
Personally I am surprised they are not more popular as a large family car and would seem to make more sense than some of the SUVs and people carrier type vans that people buy.
That is true lots of small garages are closing down many folk will remember the good old days and won't know what they have been upto so will trust them.
Browse
Go for it! Suggest growing a dastardly moustache and have a great time.