March 2014
I have inherited a 1993 Ford Sierra from a cousin. He bought car new in 1993 and has only done 50,000 miles. Car kept in heated garage and serviced every year even though it has covered less than 2000 miles a year for last 10 years.
I have an unexplained problem which previous owner also had. I can check water every day for 3 weeks without seeing any water loss, then suddenly will find expansion tank empty. I recently drove to/from my holiday cottage in Co. Durham (round trip 600 miles) without using a drop of water. On return used car for perhaps 10 miles a day, checked water every day and on third day all gone.... Read more
Hello fellow motor enthusiasts.
I am in the process of buying used car and stuck with options..as usual. Since I have a limited budget avaliable (1000-1500) due to other financial concerns, I will have to get the best one for that tight budget. Something fairly big (i am tall 6'3), economical and low insurance (not a student or anyhting, but still can't accord too much on insurance). I am steering towards Fiat Stilo atm after having gone through all the usual choices like focus, golf, leon, etc. I like the look of it and looks I will have good space to stretch my legs. Or may be Alfa Romeo 147. Although I wont get a decent motor for my budget, so i need to make some compromises.... Read more
that is an interesting choice. I've just had a look at lancers, looks like I will get a 06/07 plate with 100k miles around 2000, a bit of a strecth from my budget, but will keep the choice in mind :)
Can you advise who insures Cat B cars? The car was repaired after an accident before I bought it, and is in good condition. If I can't drive it any longer I will sell it but buyers understandably are put off, as I should have been!
I read somewhere on your blog that it is possible to appeal the Category, but does that only apply to the owner at the time of the insurance claim? I am unable to contact that owner and so cannot get the necessary authority to discuss the status of the car with the insurer. HPI won't change their record without something from the insurer.
I guess in the end I may just have to cut my losses. Shame, as the car is almost indistinguishable from a showroom model.
Thank you. Read more
In the late 80s I bought a well-used bright-blue Mini for the daughters to drive after passing their tests. I soon noticed that one door had been white, so I obtained the vehicle's history from DVLA. The car - originally white - had been rolled in snowy conditions, written off, and reshelled in blue. Later it got a replacement engine. It never misbehaved while I had it, and a few years later it belted past me on the M6 doing about 75. I think the only 'original' parts may have been that door and the bonnet-prop.
Makes one think a bit.
Would appreciate any advice on the following problem(s):
... Read more
Thanks.
I was really seeking a pointer as to whether the failure / erratic behaviour of these three display items was a known problem with the A4, or whether it pointed to failure of a specific component. (A US site mentions similar, but not what the underlying failure might be, or how much it might cost to fix.)...
any reports on this model please have been offered a 58 plate with full history but big miles what are the engines good for and consumtion round town, cheers in advance trt Read more
www.honestjohn.co.uk/realmpg/ford/mondeo-iv-2007/2...i
Not the most inspiring engine in the world, but useful mid-range grunt and reliable.
It struck me the other day that it's years since I saw an electric aerial in operation, presumably because modern "fixed" ones do the job so well and don't tend to break down.
Likewise, pop-up headlamps are consigned to the history books with their complicated and often slow mechanisms and modern lighting technology which allows for brilliant lighting from lights of any size, shape or position.
Remember those pop-up ("golf tee") door locks? And the keyhole in the front passenger door? CD players?
My prediction is that ignition keys, the clutch pedal and handbrake will all but disappear from mainstream cars within five years; conversely turbochargers, cruise control with automatic braking and HID lights will become universal. Read more
I am soory but Lagunas are made by a company notorious for incompetence with elctronics..
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I tested a Murano 3.5 v6 petrol and fell in love, its everything I would want from my next car except I find it hard to get my head round 23mpg and £490 tax.
I'd love to hear your suggestions of what I should look for... Read more
If you like the Murano, have a look at the Subaru Outback or Tribeca. Lovely engines! But only low 20s mpg. The Turbo Forester is smaller but no more economical in my experience (Forester XT auto 2 years and OUtback 3/0Rn 3 years).
Seven days ago I posted a request to the DVLA at Swansea. Today, I received a reply within everything completed efficiently. There are complaints about some service but I wonder if we rarely hear about the good ( applies in a lot of areas I know). It must be dispiriting to read nothing but negative comments. Read more
Your Lucky Avant, They recieved mine on Feb 19th and I still have not got it back.
I have had 2 Mercedes 220 CDI estates in succession. The only difference between them is that the rear, drive wheels on my current car, are wide profile. I am ashamed to say, I did'nt notice when I bought it second hand. The previous car had standard profile tyres all round. I was so suprised by the difference in fuel consumption, that I took the new car to my service centre to check it's performance, which was normal.
The effect on fuel consumption has been discussed at times in the Telegraph motoring section. I now have long term fuel consumption figures from both cars, to prove the point. If anything, with current diesel prices, I am even lighter footed with the current car, than my previous one. The first car had a long term perfmance over 10's of thousands of miles, of 42 MPG, the current one shows 37.8. I think that is a staggering and costly difference. It just goes to show that wide profile tyres are not only expensive and give an uncomfortable ride, but make a big difference to fuel consumption too. Read more
I've always thought the brand of tyre makes a difference too .. presumably this is why the new EU regulations includes fuel consumption as well as wet grip and noise
Hi again,
I changed cv joint on skoda superb 2009
2.0 tdi passenger side outer cv joint it was not easy so hammer was used any way i replaced it put it all back together now car wont drive in any gear and funny grinding noise coming from the shaft took it all apart again and checked everything all seemed ok??????????
Do u think i may have damaged the inner joint etc
Advice please
Regards
Zhr1849 Read more
I'm with Tom, hammering the CV joint is opften the only way you can remove them as they are held on by a snap ring, I also think the shaft has probably pulled out of the diff, feel it to see if there is any in-out movement, if its loose you can tap it in with a hammer and drift of some kind, a piece of wood would,be best.
Browse
If there is no water loss externally,then it must be going inside the engine.The 2.0 dohc engine fitted to these are notorious for internal cracks and corrosion of the aluminium cylinder head.hth