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• Insurance - how to lose a customer 10 Jan 2008 (Forum)
  So how do you lose a customer? You tell them it will cost £3000 per year to add a 17 year old girl as a learner using the car for a bit of practice. 24 hours later we are now with Elephant. Customer loyalty has its limits.
• SAAB 9-5 (1997 - 2009) - Battery dead for over 2 weeks - will it survive? 8 Jan 2008 (Forum)
  The battery in my little-used third car died just before christmas, not terminal but just because I don't use the car very much. I made the mistake of using the electric tyre pump to sort the tyres before starting her up & checking how much juice she had.....
• Mercedes Benz E-Class W124 (1985 - 2000) - Auto gearbox oil 23 Dec 2007 (Forum)
  I have considered Dextron 111, as this is newer and washers whiter, but while chatting at a MB dealership to a MB mechanic, he stated that on older (1992) cars, they still used Dextron 11. Question: if I use Dextron 111, hoping for better changes and life etc, can I expect any nasty surprises such as seal weaping and leakage? Is there anything negative about Dextron 111 in a 15 year old car?
• Driving schools, intensive courses etc 17 Dec 2007 (Forum)
  My son will be 17 years old in January and is keen to learn to drive. He's bright and knowledgable about how cars work and the basics of driving. I had him driving on an airfield (with a permit) and he picked up the basics of car control within an hour, so I don't think he's going to be one of those 'problem learners' that needs hours and hours of tuition and many attempts at the the test.
• Air Traffic Controller Needs Autopilot 21 Nov 2007 (Forum)
  I have a 100 mile round trip to the 'office' and so clock-up well over 20K miles-a-year. I need a car that will give me cheap motoring (including residual value) - we're not paid as much as the pilots! I'd also like a car that will transport me in comfort. Most of the drive is on dualed roads and, after a hard day on console, I'd like to be transported in a fashion as near as possible to autopilot!
• To sell or scrap the '95 Fiesta? 30 Aug 2007 (Forum)
  As we know the old Fiesta will need some welding before it would pass its imminent MoT test, we had more or less decided to scrap it. Friends have, however, suggested that we ought to try selling it on e-bay. I'm not sure if it would be worth the trouble, but I wonder if anyone here could advise on the likely cost of using e-bay to sell a low value car?
• Peugeot 206 2003 Coil Pack Failure 29 Jul 2007 (Forum)
  A friend rang last night to say that her 206 has been diagnosed with coil pack failure by the Pug dealer. The dealer says that the car has the 'early' system which will be replaced with a later (and one hopes more reliable) version. Car is under 4 years old and has done about 36k. Out of warranty on time, but mileage not high. I've suggested she contact Pug on the basis that the modified coil pack indicates a known problem and that if it had been used more it probably would have failed within the 3 years.
• Insurance costs/groups 11 Jul 2007 (Forum)
  If you have a high insurance group you basically have to eat the cost of most types of damage to your car due to the effect on the NCD. Whereas people getting in lots of scrapes in their small city cars won't mind making a claim because their insurance only costs £200/year.
• Fabia v. Ibiza 8 Jul 2007 (Forum)
  After hours of research, I have narrowed my choice of my next car and am trying to come to a decision about which 2007 1.4 16 valve petrol car to buy new. The Fabia would be the Ambiente 100 bhp. The Ibiza the 85 Sport. Does anyone have recent experience of them please?
• Father's Day Presents Road test 20 Jun 2007 (Forum)
  No I did not get a Lexus or BMW In the land of cars I got a Meguiars Washmit & Some Autoglym Goodies. Autoglym products I have had before and if not the best available they are very good. The Meguiars Washmit is a revelation, infinitely better than "the old sponge" and a lot better than using the power Washer + attachments I bought a few months back.
• Ford Mondeo Oil/Emissions HELP! 2 May 2007 (Forum)
  Hi, Have a 5 year old (02 plate) 1.8LX petrol estate with 80k miles. Had the car since 20k miles and not abused. Car just failed MOT: Carbon Monoxide at idle excessive also after 2nd fast idle. Hydrocarbon after 2nd fast idle excessive.
• MItsubishi Colt - baulky gear-shift 20 Apr 2007 (Forum)
  So daughter's month old Colt is proving a little difficult to get into first from rest, and the 1st to 2nd gear change can be a struggle. It's just the same after a month and 1000 miles as when new. I remember that the gearchange in the (brand-new, 4 miles) car we test drove wasn't quite as slick as our Jazz, but it was more 'clunky' than 'baulky'.
• Good driving = happy commuter! 10 Mar 2007 (Forum)
  I felt like saying thank you for making one days commute that little bit less stressful. I must be getting old....
• Dead 306 any ideas? 5 Jan 2007 (Forum)
  I have just heard from the garage that my 306 is beyond economical repair as the ECU and coils have failed (aparently a common problem with the 1.4). I am resigned to the fact that a new car will be on the cards but am not sure how to dispose of the old one. The garage suggested that I call the local council (Hammersmith and Fulham) who will take it away for free, however the cheapskate in me feels I should be able to get something for it!
• Warranty Purchase 7 Dec 2006 (Forum)
  My experience was it did not cover what went wrong BUT Is there warranty cover available where you take the first say £250 of the claim? i.e. If you have a car you expect bills - a few Hundred pounds is not unsual but where it really hurts is if on a 3/4/5 year old car the Engine goes bang, the auto box refuses to change up/down, the ABS Pump does not. The ECU decides it has had its day.
• BMW 318 1993 Have I got Remote C/L 28 Oct 2006 (Forum)
  I'd have thought it would have had remote C/Locking but the previous owner (it's fourth previous owner) said the car didn't have it. It has a key with a button and what looks like a small led 'transmitter' type thing. I dont think this is the old key torch type things that were useless after a few months. Is there anything I can look for without dismantling the doors that would indicate that there should be remote c/locking on the car or is it easier to try and replace the battery on the key and see what happens?
• Halifax Bank of Scotland sales at BCA 24 Aug 2006 (Forum)
  Hi guys, Can anyone shed any light on the probable source of cars in HBOS sales at BCA? Are they ex-lease properly maintained stuff? Or bodged nasty finance reposessions? Spotted a 5 year old 'prestige' vehicle with no previous owners and 6 figure mileage in an upcoming sale, wondering what its history might have been - I'm sorely tempted if it was simply a lease car they had for 5 years etc etc.
• Brave or Stupid? 18 Aug 2006 (Forum)
  I was already driving with "great gusto" so I carried on in that style and it was obvious that he was out to teach me what a real car can do.... I wiped the floor with him over the 20 or so miles we were together, OK on the straights they just don't corner as quick as the Legacy but my point is that he was giving it everything in a car that's over 30 years old and I suspect is his pride and joy - is that brave or stupid?
• seized caliper (Honda Accord Tourer) 1 Aug 2006 (Forum)
  I'd also be interested to know whether this is likely to be covered under a manufacturer warranty or likely to be fair wear and tear - the warranty document (as always) is somewhat unclear. Have had car for 4 months and it's done 19,000 miles and is just over 3 years old (has 1 year Honda extended warranty). It's going to the main dealers tomorrow and I'm interested to know the likely problem. Regards and thanks in advance
• Volvo 240 4 Jul 2006 (Forum)
  Does anyone have one and any particular points of weakness I should look out for - apart from obvious age related issues on a car which is going to be at least 13 years old? I was thinking of a Torslanda model with nice leather seats.