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• Foreign Servicing 31 Mar 2003 (Forum)
  As mentioned in my other thread (help with route planning) I am going to France for a weeks holiday, driving my Scenic dci. I have just realised that I will hit the 18,000 miles for its first service whilst I am there. I know buying cars is cheaper abroad, but has anyone any experience on whether I should try and get it serviced whilst over there?
• Do they ever get caught? 13 Mar 2003 (Forum)
  I witnessed some suicidally reckless driving on the M25 this morning, literally a whisker away from causing carnage. As the perpetrator sped from the scene I was left with that old "why are there never any Police watching" feeling. That set me thinking - has b'roomer ever seen something similar with the glorious result that there actually WAS a copper handy and he or she did do something?
• Decided 12 Mar 2003 (Forum)
  Well i eventually went for a new Mini One after much help from everyone here. I felt the car was the best option after a test drive and went for a nice spec. Also, the One has the benefit of the lower insurance group (5). I ordered the car about 3 weeks ago and its due in June. Thanks again, Chris
• Dangerous repair 8 Mar 2003 (Forum)
  Briefly, their new Citroen Saxo when delivered had a cosmetic problem with a seat and was changed under warranty. A short while after with her husband driving he braked rather hard and she was surprised to find herself and seat still moving forward. Fortunately she was not hurt. It transpired the new seat had been 'secured' with plastic ties by the garage junior.
• BMW 318i engine noise! 7 Mar 2003 (Forum)
  It sounds like a sowing machine or a lollipop stick clicking against bicycle spokes!! It happens when i press the accelerator pedal when driving along but if i feather back the pedal and catch the revs as they fall back the noise stops,only to start up again when i press the pedal down further and so on.Any thoughts on what it could be before i take it to a garage to be checked out?
• Tapping from engine 26 Feb 2003 (Forum)
  From cold it is fine until about a mile has been covered, then there's this tapping noise which is definately from the cam area. After about another mile it goes away and drives fine until the next cold start. Does any one know what this may be? This engine has hydraulic tappets. There is no loss of performance, no oil being burned.
• Deal is done... was it fair? 22 Feb 2003 (Forum)
  Mum has sold the 309, it was a K '93 1.4i GLX, 87k with a good maintenance history but poor tracking and ran poorly when cold. Bought for £700 about 9 months ago 13000 tough miles (delivery driving) in 7 monthsthen near zero for the past 2 months Given the faults, was £600 a good price? It did have a CD player installed so lets say £550 if it had still had the original Peugeot-fit tape deck.
• Laguna (1995) Alarm problem 21 Feb 2003 (Forum)
  To make things worse, I can enter a 4 digit code to override this, but the switch on the wiper stalk doesn't work. The voice computer system is driving me mad... Anyone have any suggestions to keep me sane?
• Astra Sport 1.8 31 Jan 2003 (Forum)
  It is so bad now that I want to sell this after only 6 months...what would be a good 2nd hand car to get that looks good and drives well without costing the earth to fix? Maybe I am asking the impossible :O/
• Vauxall Rumble 8 Jan 2003 (Forum)
  At 50 mph you can detect the increase by weaving in either direction. Tyres check aok passed MOT but noise is getting worse. Is this a wheel bearing, a drive shaft, or an inboard or diff bearing. Any ideas welcome. Thanks Peter
• Superstitious battery charging 7 Jan 2003 (Forum)
  I drive 25 miles to work every morning. Mostly motorway. 95 Micra 1.0. On cold mornings, about 1 mile from my work destination, I switch off: * heater fan * radio * lights (if safe to do so) I do this in the (probably mistaken) belief that this will ensure the battery is "well charged up" for when I have to start it again 8 hours later, at 5PM in the evening.
• Bad Car Seats 3 Jan 2003 (Forum)
  I have ankylosing spondolitis - a degenerative back problem - and I find lots of cars really bad to drive, some after as little as 20 mins. I find BMWs particularly bad, some Audis are OK but not the ones with "sports" seats, Volvos were fine up to the old 850 but since then I find them agony.
• Renault Laguna Bonnet Stuck 31 Dec 2002 (Forum)
  A couple of weeks ago I had the same problem but after fighting with it (pulling hard!) and then leaving and driving somewhere else I noticed the bonnet had released itself. Now cannot budge at all. Would you say it is the cable or the catches and where should I get it fixed?
• Coach to Spain 22 Dec 2002 (Forum)
  to Spain for the Festive Season, beats falling out with the in-laws! We're not back till the New Year, so good health and drive safe. PS My first time through the Chunnel(!) :-( I was hoping for the ferry again as it gives you a chance to stretch your legs and grab a bite to eat. (Allegedly...) John R
• Car for a learner 28 Nov 2002 (Forum)
  Dear All, My lad has just come of age and wants to learn to drive. I am thinking about buying him a 94/94 M reg Vauxhall Corsa 1.2ls 70k miles at about £1800. I have read HJs comments in the car by car breakdown and am a bit confused whether the cambelt is chain or rubber driven.
• New role for congestion charging 22 Nov 2002 (Forum)
  Just seen on TV news, at launch of Durham £2 charge to drive near the cathedral. Council spokesman said the charge is not a poke at motorists, it's to make the roads SAFER. Now, how does that work? Congested roads = crawling traffic. Traffic decimated by con charge = little traffic = faster traffic.
• Was he? Or Wasn't he? 19 Nov 2002 (Forum)
  Reported in The Times. A well known celebrity chef get's pulled for driving the wrong way up a one way street - fails a breath test. Further report a day or so later - he's not to be prosecuted due to a police "procedural error". Excuse me? How does this work? Can we non-celebrities look forward to more "procedural errors" should we be unfortunate enough to require one?
• No MOT, no road TAX 4 Nov 2002 (Forum)
  Doesn't matter right, got my insurance certificate, car's off the road and oh b*****, so has my MOT. How do l get from the garage to the MOT station without a tax disk? Well l know l'm going to drive it regardless but what's my legal position?
• Vx Vectra normal operating temp? 29 Oct 2002 (Forum)
  Hi At normal 70 + VAT motorway driving speeds my 98R 1.8 GLS Vectra indicates that it is at a shade over 60oC, while I am sure that the dial is not calibrated is this the normal position? When siting it traffic the temp does rise and turn on the fan etc..
• Don't Ask Ripley 28 Oct 2002 (Forum)
  NB: For those who do not read the Sat. Telegraph, Ask Ripley was a sort of advanced motoring column by an advanced driving instructor. One of the paper's best bits, beside HJ's column of course. Errm,is that enough flattery?)