May 2021
Hi considering going EV on contract hire while the market settles down a bit and some clarity on depreciation emerges. BUT would a near new petrol Fiat 500 acutally be better for the environment than a new EV, over say 4 years, once you've factored in the CO2 in manufacturing stage of a new EV? I've tried a few Google searches and did a forum search but not seen anything which answers this.
Thanks in advance. Read more
According to Car Dealer demand for used cars has reached unheard of levels as motorists fail to secure new cars because of chip shortages. And commuters reject public transport because of the risk of infection.
Well this is a first and one less excuse for the salesman who offer a poor trade in! Read more
Some of the demand may come from those who travel into London in diesel cars. The ULEZ (Ultra Low Emmission Zone) is coming into London.
I suspect there will be good deals on older diesels, as people rush to buy petrol cars....
I've just seen a neighbour being dropped off and the car then being driven off with a very small child standing on the driver's lap with its outstretched arms holding onto the steering wheel. Apart from interfering with the driver's ability to control the vehicle, the probability must be very high that the child would be killed in the event of an accident that deployed the airbag. It would be bad enough that the child wasn't in a properly fitted child seat, but that situation was just completely i****ic!
Indeed - petrol vapours are far more dangerous that petrol. After all, it's why cars can do 400+ miles on one 50L tank of it. 14.7:1 air to fuel.
Not so dangerous as ether vapour: some years back a bottle of ether was knocked over at one end of the lab, a few seconds later a big flash- back from a lit bunsen burner a good 10 yards away. (No injuries, thanks to prompt response with CO2 extinguishers)...
Hello.
Looking to buy a mini one with EML on.... Read more
A Psa/Prince engine at this mileage, I would consider worn out . Timing chain issues and heavy oil consumption usually make these a write off . Car needs to be super cheap for a punt . Also check clutch operation and noises from gearbox.
hello all
Just a little question. I've just got a letter from my local citroen dealer saying as part of my corrosion policy warranty the car needs an inspection at a cost of £55 , is this the new norm as I've never heard of this before and do other manufactures do this .... Read more
A corrosion inspection is required on most cars to keep up the anti perforation warranty, they’ll do it during the service if a Citroen main dealer does it. If a non franchise garage do it your anti perforation warranty will be invalid.
Hi all, I have a factory fitted radio and looking to upgrade to a DAB radio but have a few questions.
Apart from the head unit what else would I need to connect the controls to the steering wheel?... Read more
No problem fitting a dab radio . But I think you will struggle to get the top dash display and steering wheel controls to work on a car this old . You will need a dab stick on windscreen aerial . Stick with known makes . Kenwood, Pioneer, Sony , JVC , etc
Spotted this while working very hard at my place of employment... Affluent elderly owner had it for 15yrs. Not anywhere near the standard of the predecessor Saab 9000 but still an interesting car for around £2k. I’ve seen it around and it’s caught my eye before. Had it been an estate it might be sat on my drive now.
www.gumtree.com/p/cars-vans-motorbikes/saab-9-5-li...l Read more
Good engines in petrol spec, drove quite well, rode properly and the seats were great but the quality was poor compared to rivals. Anyone who tried a proper Saab before the American bean counters got their hands on the firm would see the big downward step. Last 9-5 I tried was my wife’s elderly aunts (yes she’s a petrol head) 2008 2.3T Aero automatic with a beefy 256bhp and while it fair went down the road it was horrendously thirsty and poorly built with rattles a plenty inside. It never went wrong but the £500 plus road tax and thirst were painful. I would never have bought one new or sunk much money into a used one but at £1500-£2000 for a decent one they’re great value now.
I was recently looking on a forum where the majority of cars were diesels. Many have remapped their cars for increased performance and economy although I have my doubts about some claims. However at the next level they talk about blanking off the EGR and removing the catalytic converter. Surely this makes the car illegal or am I missing something? Read more
If its a US-based forum, believe inspection requirements vary hugely between states, and for older cars there may be no inspection requirement at all.
www.autoexpress.co.uk/news/59950/average-age-uk-ca...p
So, if durability and generally less usage of cars is a trend that will continue why are we being pushed towards 2030 without any substantial prep from our beloved rulers. Gov declared they invest 2.9B in charging infrastructure, is it me or is that figure seems like a drop in the ocean? Read more
Perhaps more sympathy should be reserved for the owners and staff of traditional fuel stations whose numbers have fallen from 40,000 in the 1960s to ~8,000 today. Likely to fall further and become a rarity by 2040.
Most 'traditional' filling stations have become small convenience stores with fuel pumps as a sideline - profits from selling fuel must be small. Rather like traditional pubs becoming gastro-pubs....
Not seen too many of these about until tonight while walking the dog. Now I think that most vw cars look well finished and quite classy, but these didn't.
It was I guess, a base model in white with plastic wheel covers and happened to look cheap and nasty.... Read more
On a video review I saw the first thing I noticed was the wipers haven't been changed over for right hand drive models. Everytime you use them water will be thrown over the drivers side of the windscreen.
.jpg)
Thanks for that, yes inclined to agree with that thinking.
Now need to persuade my wife that we *really* need an Abarth to replace the 1.2 Lounge we have.