November 2015
A friend of mine told me that she recently rented a VW Caddy automatic. She had to pass through some narrow gates so she stopped the car, put it in neutral and pull the handbrake on and got out of the car to fold back the wing mirrors to pass through the gateway. As she was getting back into the car, with her right foot still on the ground, the car pulled away and went through the gateway trapping her ankle between the door and the cill, badly cutting and scraping it. The hire company is charging £350 for repairs to the door but she is adamant that the vehicle malfunctioned in some way. One thing is for certain, she could not have had a foot on the accelerator is that was outside the car at the time of the incident.... Read more
I have just taken delivery of the latest Jazz. Although generally very pleased with it, I am slightly disappointed with the 'magic seats'. According to the road test of the Jazz on this site. it is possible to fold the seats, including the front seats, to make 2 beds. If this is possible, I can't work out how to do it. Even with the front seats pushed fully forward and reclined, the back rests rest on top of the folded rear seats. Although useful for carrying long items, you certainly couldn't sleep on it. Read more
Unless I misread it, it means the front seats fully recline so you can lay on it, as it shows in the photo, pretty much similar to the Civic in that respect
and yes you can sleep on them, I have seen people in car parks at the seaside laying on them (whether they are asleep or not I`ve no idea;)
I'll start with an apology; it's been some years since I last opened the door of the Back Room, so it's likely I've forgotten 'Best Practice', like should this enquiry be in Motoring Discussion or Technical Matters.
My sister and husband are thinking of buying a '4x4', but probably car based rather than Land Rover, and not new but probably not more than 3 or 4 years old. They do not do DIY car maintenance. To be used around the Northumberland area, on tarmac rather than loose surfaced roads. They have lived for some years around Basel, moving between Switzerland, Germany, and France, so are used to using Winter tyres as required, but of course, the weather conditions there are more stable than in the UK, and with the appropriate levels of road management.... Read more
When i had a permanent 4wd car an Audi, there was at least 6 different systems that Audi used for the quattro drive.
The OP question really cannot be answered, as these systems are being constantly refined and updated....
My Pug 207 diesel (1.6 HDi) is approaching its 8th birthday, and as advised in the maker's handbook, it still runs with the original engine coolant, which is still clear blue in the reservoir - though it is now just about at the MIN mark when cold.
Would this also happen in a light-alloy block? I'm a bit surprised that there has been no discolouration in a steel one. Read more
my post was tongue in cheek
Got me there. Thought John F had got a mate. Thank god he's still in a club of one.
LLooking for a little advice.
My Partner Tepee 1.6 e-Hdi has just had it's second service and the dealer (Pentagon) uses a traffic light system when checking the car.
Everything came back Green, meaning all is ok, except 3 tyres which were rated Amber as they are at 3mm tread depth, so ok for now, but will need changing at some point.
The current tyres (205/65 R15 94H) are Michelin Energy Savers, which i believe are rated C for fuel economy and B for wet grip.
Having looked around online, i see the Dunlop Sport Bluresponse and Hankook Kinergy K425 in my size are both rated B fro both fuel economy and wet grip.
Would i be better getting either of these as replacements for the Michelins or should i stay with what i already have?
I've checked tyre review sites and reviews are mixed, but they are mixed for the tyres i currently have and pretty much everything out there, so they're not much help whatsoever!
If anyone can help, i'd be very grateful.
Tim. Read more
Thanks for all the replies.
Having checked reviews I'm now contemplating Michelin Cross Climates.
These only seem available in 99V rating, which i believe would be fine.
Anyone got these? They seem well recommended by press and reviews?
The airbag warning light on the dashboard has come on and stays on. I am aware that this is cause for the car to fail the MOT. There has been no reason for this light to come on, no sudden braking etc. (It has done 160,000 miles on a 60 plate).
Can anybody advise? Read more
There are some known fail point on some cars. For example, on Peugeots its usually the connector under the seat that gets damaged by feet from rear passengers.
You can only do a cursory visual inspection, a diagnostic is the way to go.
Mine is the 320 D, 02 reg, estate. The plaque with BMW's official pressure recommendations disappeared some time back when the bodywork was being repaired and I no longer have the figures. It has turned out to be remarkably difficult to get hold of the official BMW ones on the internet since then. I do remember however when going by them how ridiculously high particularly the rear ones seemed to be and I would frequently run unloaded at lower ones. Such high rear pressures could account (partly) for BMW's reputation for providing fun and games in snow & ice conditions.
Can anyone provide me with recommended useable pressures for 205/55/R16's? Or is it gut feel? In which case I would opt for the same all round, whatever the pressure. Tks Read more
ISTR the stated pressures on the sticker are, as MB, a little unclear for the typical owner here.
In MB's the pressures are stated as x but when you look at the load and speed guide (matchstick men luggage and speed in kms/hr) they are for high speed and full load running and you are supposed to deduct 4psi for 99% of us, rather silly way to state the pressures but probably decided as putting the company at less risk of litigation overall....
I am looking at buying a 2013 Skoda Superb 2.0 diesel dsg. I believe this engine may require a recall for software update. I am worried about the residual value being affected. I know they are good cars but don't want to be left with a poor resale value. Am I worrying ove nothing? Read more
Might surprise you to know i now cruise at about 51mph (82k's) when at work, keeps me out of the bunching and tailgating which as you rightly point out has been one of the worse results of speed limiters together with snail racing, also means if i come up behind a slower vehicle, which isn't often, i have a good 5mph to play with to overtake, as a bonus when driven in manual override (the automated manual gearbox isn't up to much left to its own thing) that cruising speed and letting it lug sees better economy and smoother progress than pure auto can provide.
Years go, hmm yes there were some flyers about, i had a Cummins engined lorry that cruised at 70mph @ 1100rpm all day long, hows that for gearing (it was governed to 1800 rpm, i haven't done the maths), after that i had an MAN regd in 86 that would actually cruise at 95, not as the tacho would record that speed if you did it....
Can you please confirm what parts are required to convert the transmission on a 3.0l Vauxhall Carlton from automatic to manual and what the procedure is. Read more
You will probably find the labour costs to have the job done would be in the region of £1000 or more, plus all the parts if you can find them. The only way you can guarantee having all the necessary parts is to get a doner vehicle. I suspect some of the parts will not be available from the manufacturer.
Your next problem is finding someone to do it, unless you are intending to do it yourself which I think is the only way you will find it viable.
Next weekend we're off to Gran Canaria for a week and will be hiring a car.
I'm aware that, since the UK switched to photocard licences, there is the possibility that car hire firms will want to know more about the licence-holder's driving history.... Read more
Very recent car hire in Majorca (October), took a print out of DVLA code and paper counterpart ( belt and braces ). Offered both, the car hire operative said no need as I gave all licence details and paid online the previous week. Makes a mockery of any system to waste the time and energy of people on such a rigmarole, which the rest of the world ignores. Only in the UK! Have used Sixt a few times this year and I am now a member of their Express Club. This mean they simply retain the licence and other relevant data and it is used for future car hire. I am hiring again in a few weeks at Malaga airport. Simples! The only requirement is to inform them of any major material changes i.e health, driving bans etc.
I also have an Insure4Excess policy that covers all excesses on all my policies, even household. This means you don't have to take the ridiculously expensive Damage Waiver insurance hirers offer....
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Another thread reopened that the OP hasn't replied to since November.