September 2011
Coming back from Coleraine yesterday at lunchtime.
Tootling at about 50/55 on an empty road up past Ballyrashane.... Read more
Moved to Technical.
Hi
Really struggling as dont know much about cars.
I have £3000 max to spend.
Would like 50+ mpg combined.
Insurance group 7 or less.
Tax £150 or less.
9Obhp or more so it doesnt strain at 80mph on the motorway and has abit of power behind it.
Diesel.
5 doors if poss.
For mix of motorway and short journeys - maybe 8000 miles/year.
Low servicing/parts would be an advantage.
Been looking at Toyota Yaris 1.4 D-4D T3 (i know less than 90bhp), Ford Focus 1.6 Zetec, Vauxhall Astra 1.7 SXi, VW Golf 1.9, Seat Ibiza 1.9.
Out of these cars which fits my needs the best and are there any others i should look at?
Probably looking to keep for next 2/3 years.
Thank you in advance. Read more
I have bought tonnes of cars, from £50 to £23,000....
Best advice is to keep looking until you find something good (then BUY IT before someone else does) and consider the unusual....
My wife's car's spare key is physically broken, but the fob is completely intact. Can I get another one cut and keep it on a keyring with the old fob, thus saving the high cost of programming the new key? Read more
Mine requires a new cog due to excessive wear. I can't buy the cog on its own and Nissan want £500 plus VAT for a new vacuum pump. Add £50 for the chain and £60 for a tensioner and it's a very expensive job for a 153,000 mile 2004 car even though it's a T-SPEC model. It looks as if this may be a common fault as these engines reach high mileage.
I remember my father, in the 1960's/70's, sometimes substituting a mechanical fuel pump for an electric pump. Could I do the same with this vacuum pump and where can I find one?... Read more
I bought my i30 in January of this year with 19k miles on the clock, full history and one owner from new. I bought it from a main agent as one of the primary attractions with the car was the fact that it had a full warranty until September 2013 (car is a 58 plate diesel). I had had a nightmare with my previous 3 cars so this was my safe bet to keep trouble free for a few years.
A week after I bought it the windscreen was motor packed up; fixed under warranty. 2 months later the bolt securing the lock to the rear door sheared off rendering the car unsecured; again fixed under warranty. 2 months after that the glow plugs failed - warranty.... Read more
That's where my head's at. I have faith in the dealers and the brand even after a few niggles and, as aforementioned, I don't give a hoot about the badge. My cunning plan is to run the car until the end of 2012 (hopefully flawlessly) and sell it with a year left on the warranty with a FSH. Assuming my impression of the dealer experience is still as positive I may even invest in the new i30 which looks very nice indeed.
If not then there'll be second hand bargains aplenty for the current variant. Can't lose really. Oh and got a bargain on its winter tyres today too :-)
hi can sum1 help? my stupid waste of space father inlaw got caught drink driving last night, he was arrested and bailed after blowing 135mg. not only that but he was charged with improper insurance, no driving licence he was charged with drink driving about 11 years ago aswell!!! my partner is questioning whether he will go to jail.. any idea if he will have a sentance and if so what that could look like? Read more
How often do you actually see the maximum handed out though? Hardly ever.
...
I have a Jeep Cherokee 2000 Classic that after trying to 'bump start' a Vauxhall Signum won't start up. Tried changing the fuel line, .had an Auto Locksmith re-enter the immobiliser code...but all to no avail. It has been suggested that the Crankshaft Position Sensor is the fault....given that the immobiliser warning light is still flashing...would changing the CPS not only rectify the start up problem but also turn off the immobiliser warning light? Read more
Replacing 4x tyres for volvo XC90. Choice of two premium tyres at Tyreshopper, Continental Contact UHP or Bridgestone D33's..... price difference is £1. Which is better?
Or other suggestions for tyre size 235/60 R18 V. The above tyres are priced at £662/3 for x4 tyres. Thanks. Read more
That's a very keen price. I'd say Continental as Bridgestone (is the D33 a current tyre?seem to receive quite a bit of stick about noise and oor wear from owners with cars fitted with them as OEM tyres.
If wet handling is important to you then Goodyear Rain Experts could be an alternative, similar pricing, much better wet performance but not so strong in dry performance driving....
As you probably know, carmakers now are trying to make their hybrids or electric cars which are silent at slow speeds, produce some kind of audible warning. I bring this up because a colleague recently used the Prius at work and found nobody hears her coming and just wanders in front of the car aimlessly. Personally i think this is unneccessary as theres no reason for it. People should look both ways before stepping into the road so should see it coming, anybody who relies alone on hearing it should be run over as part of natural selection. It shouldnt affect blind people either because dogs can see them like any other car and can stop them at the side of the road, y'know, providing they dont turn it into a 'shared space' which is a great way of lowering the pensions bill.
But my question is this, if you had to design or invent a sound for these cars to make...what would it be?... Read more
Maybe a loop recording of the sound a power station makes converting fossil fuels and uranium 237 into electricity?
Or maybe the sound of the oil industry muttering dark conspiracies. ...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ILVHaIb5WO8 Program look on the road .Watch the driving and antics on Hollands roads.Sorry commentary in Dutch.