March 2013
Hi, I have recently brought a Peugeot 306 1.9 diesel, turns out the water has been disappearing rather quick I have diagnosed the problem as the water union, hidden under the car, I'm just wondering if anybody has any info on how I would change this as I can't see a way to get to it. Thanks.
Read more
I am looking for some contacts to get some parts, can anyone help? Read more
You could try these:
I wondered whether it's just me being cynical, but I wondered if anyone can shed any light on this?
Am currently dealing with my wife's car insurance claim. Due to the age of the car (2001), the insurer has deemed the car a 'total loss' because it sustained cosmetic damage in an accident (a fifty-fifty), which would be close to the value of the car to rectify. My wife wants to keep the car as the damage is cosmetic and the vehicle is otherwise OK and drives fine.
The insurer has valued the car at £1100 (a valuation I'm OK with, it's in the middle range of Glass' guide figures). They will deduct the excess (£150) from that amount, which is fair. They also want to take a 20% 'Scrappage charge' from the figure, leaving my wife with a sum total of £750.
When I spoke to the insurer, the Scrappage charge is due because my wife is choosing to hang onto the car and not scrap it. The insurer also said that this is because they don't make any money from scrapping the car, which they would have done otherwise.
My point is - surely that's irrelevant, as it's not their car to sell - it's my wife's car. As far as I'm concerned, my wife is paying her insurer to a) Insure her car and b) act in her best interests in doing so.
As an aside, I don't understand why a scrappage charge would be on a percentage scale either – surely a scrapyard wouldn't care much between vehicles? The cynic in me says it's just a good way for an insurer to make more money than a flat fee on more expensive cars.
Am I just being cynical? Don't insurers make enough money in premiums as it is? Read more
If insurers make losses on private motor policies (even over several years) it does not mean that they are insolvent as the vast majority sell other forms of general insurance which is more profitable.
If you have some evidence that insurers are falsifying the figures then take it to companies house and the stock exchange - the penalties for doing so are severe....
So I've been a spectator on the pages several times for advice on bits and bobs, time to join the discussion and ask for some help.
My petrol Nissan Almera 1.4 has got to 120k I clocked the last one of these up to 150k, but the current one has to go too much work needs doing now, it's worth £150 scrap or part ex, or perhaps a bit more if I can find a mug to buy it - MOT till November.... Read more
please could you tell me where the sump nut and oil filter are located and anything to be careful of when changing the oil and the filter Read more
A 1998 1.4 Polo is hardly high tech. If you have changed the oil and filter on other cars, a quick peep under the car will quickly reveal the location of the drain plug (lowest point on the sump) and filter (round thing about 10cm dia.). Suggest you source a Haynes manual if you want to learn more.
I was reading an article in a motoring magazine the other day about the idea of going to an auction, buying a car, then trying to sell it in say 2 or 3 months time. Then once that car is sold, repeating the process. In theory, this method should mean depreciation free motoring as it should be possible to constantly get your money back everytime you sell the car.
On paper, this idea appeals as I live very near a large auction and can usually get a morning off work. However as far as I can see, the big snag is insurance - my private policy years ago complained when I changed my (troublesome) car after only 5 months. So am I right in thinking that a normal private policy will not tolerate someone constantly changing their car every 2 or 3 months? I'd imagine that trade insurance would be difficult to obtain as my initial research shows that trade policies require proof of trading when starting the insurance and when making any claim. It is of course possible I won't be able to sell the car within the 2-3 mth timeframe and I wouldn't really want to set it up as a business anyway as I'm not expecting to make a profit. Looking at a few old articles online, it seems as though trade insurance years ago would be ideal but it sounds as though a few people abused the system by using it to cheaply insure loads of cars they constantly owned and had no intention of reselling.... Read more
Thanks for the advice. Yes, I can see that the insurance issue could be tricky and it sounds as though there isn't that much difference between auction and private prices once you factor in buyers fees and the cost of wasted trips. I guess the trouble with auctions is that you are competing with traders who can sell on at top retail whereas I'd be just looking to sell privately after a few months use.
Ineresting short video of lorry loosing control then sparks fly!
http://video.uk.msn.com/watch/video/truck-loses-control-creates-light-show/1j4xpswa9... Read more
Browse
Where abouts is this water union?