November 2010
have a funny noise immediately after turning key to switch on engine. happens when car is cold and is first started not when already warmed up. sounds like a buzz as if have turned the key too far and not a whining noise like other posts reported. only lasts seconds and the car runs as normal. possibly starter motor? anybody any ideas? thanks Read more
I'm considering buying a new car in the next few months and want to know the best time to buy. I really want to order the car around the end of December or early January. I know the best time to buy is usually at the end of the month but is this still true in December? I suspect that nobody will want to buy a car at this time and the salesmen will have no chance of reaching their targets. On the other hand they may want to get every sale they can.
I'm tempted to say I want to buy at the end of December but I'll buy 'now' (it will be early December) if they can offer me a good deal. This may be a good way to squeeze more discount out of them.... Read more
Not strictly true about the VAT. I will still pay 20% VAT even if I purchase now. The VAT rate depends on when I take delivery, not when I order the car. So VAT will be exactly the same whenever I pay.
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I'm looking at purchasing a car through a PCP scheme.
For insurance they are telling me the following information:
I am both the owner and keeper.
However the V5 will have my name C/O the PCP company and address.
The reason is they manage the vehicle tax, maintenance etc.
They said the insurance should be set up with me as both the owner and keeper at my address but also contain my name C/O the PCP company name and address.
All insurance companies are saying they can't insure this way.
I am totally confused! Read more
I can understand a lease car being registered in the finance co name as they have title to the car & (unless a secondary contract is entered into) the driver never will, but I don't see why a Personal Contract PURCHASE should.
But then again I don't see why a leasing co would "manage" the RFL & maintenance of an owner / driver vehicle either....
My wife has bought a used Toyota Aygo 1.4 Diesel. I need to change the oil and cannot find where the filter is located. Haynes do not do a book for this car and without a manual, I am lost. This is the first car I have ever had to service which does not have a Haynes book.
Could someone help me before I have to put myself and my wallet at the mercy of the retail motor trade!! Read more
I have lnow found out you can now only access the site by invitation..
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Okay, as I'm now the board's pedant can I object to this excerpt from the great man himself?: "Energy consumption was largely as you'd expect from any other car. In free-moving traffic at lower speeds, impressively low, while the energy gauge dropped more quickly under heavy acceleration and when the engine was being worked harder"
Engine? I thought this is an electric car?... Read more
turbo11 I hear what you are saying, however there is a genuine market for "city" cars, my mum hasn't driven a journey of more than 20 miles for 25 years!
There are lots of reasons electric cars are a non-starter on a large scale – in fact turning fossil fuel into motion is much more efficient than generating electricity, transporting it (50% loss through heating the cables and stepup/stepdown transformers), charging a battery (10%+ loss in heat), converting it back into electricity from its chemical composition (loss ?) and then driving an electric motor which itself is only about 50% efficient. The national grid is close to collapse as it is, if we could produce a battery that can store enough electricity for a 300 mile range at motorway speeds, we'd have to provide households with 3 phase 440V supplies to charge them as a standard 13Amp socket would take at least 15 hours to deliver 300 miles worth of motive energy at motorway speeds, suddenly our peak electricity demand would be during the night – how many domestic electrical fires would go undetected as the household are asleep? We cannot and will not switch to electric cars on a large scale for sometime yet – but this niche market is most welcome. Come on British boffins – let's have a slice of the cake.
Received pcn from Lambeth cancel for being in bus lane.
Firstly I was undertaking stationary vehicles waiting to turn right and was in the bus lane for maybe 30ft.... Read more
Best start checking the signs then. Other than that will pay up. Thanks a lot for your advice it makes things a bit clearer.
Been clipped by a bus again - scratch along front wing, door mirror knocked off. I never witnessed the incident which happened about 5am just before I was going out to work, although a guy at the bus stop opposite said he did however he then jumped on a bus and left, so didn't get his details. No specific bus details apart from the route and rough time. Its been reported to the bus company and I'm awaiting estimate from the garage recommended by my insurers, Aviva.
My policy carries a £350 excess so if the bus company do not accept liability, that part of the bill will be borne by me but at the moment I'd struggle to settle it. If I go to my local garage who do top quality restoration work, but aren't on Avivas list, Aviva will charge me an extra £200 on my excess. All's well, if the bus company accept liability, but if they don't I'm sunk. It's been suggested I refer to a 'no-fault' claims company regardless. The repair can be carried out over two days so the issue of a courtesy car really won't affect me. Advise please. Read more
Just remember before you go down the route of claiming off your insurers, it is a no claim bonus, not a no blame bonus. May end up cheaper in the long run just to take it on the chin.
Hi All, my daughter is trying to add breakdown cover to her policy but is being told that because she only has one instalment left that she will have to pay the full wack in one go. Fair enough I suppose, but she has also been given the impression that she will have to pay again when she renews in a little less than two months time.
Are we just confused or it this how it works?... Read more
Dunno where the location was but the first person she spoke to didn't have an accent but got it wrong, the second person might have been Indian but got it sorted!
I know what you mean though!...
Have traded in my old car for a newer model. the old car developed a problem with the engine before i left the dealers (while they were driving it to storage) but after they had signed the V5 as the new owners and after i had paid the balance on the new car. Who is liable to foot the bill for the repairs to the old car
Thanks... Read more
An update to this situation..... Just after Christmas the dealer eventually issued the warranty for the new vehicle and I have also now received the V5 which the dealer originally withheld from the DVLA. Additionally the dealer has never followed up their initial claim for an additional £1000 payment from me for the repair to my trade-in. So a satisfactory conclusion to the situation but not without some aggrovation having to make repeated calls and involving the trading standards authority and consumer advise service and threatening them with legal action.
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hi there can anyone help me with my uncle citroen xantia as the alarm keeps going off on its own even when driving how can i turn the alarm off for good as its getting anouing and we just want to remove it all together dose the imoberlizer go threw the alarm or is there a way to by pass it thanks madtaz Read more
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The only thing I can think of is dry starter motor bearings, but that usually give a descending screech as the motor slows down and I have'nt heard that in a long while.