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• Passat TDI 100k miles - good idea?? 15 Dec 2003 (Forum)
  I was looking around at some cars this weekend (a garage that deals in high mileage ex-lease cars, all with FSH), with the intention of perhaps going for a 2000 - X-reg Mondeo 2.0 Zetec with 78k miles. However, I also saw an S-reg Passat TDI Sport with 100k miles. The Mondeo felt like it had done 78k miles but the Passat could have passed for 20k miles, such was the condition. It just seemed so much better screwed together.
• Diesel or petrol 29 Oct 2003 (Forum)
  Does the cost of maintenance outweigh any benefit in fuel consumption? Just trying to get some answers to common questions I guess. Thx in advance. S.
• One cylinder, two pistons. 29 Aug 2003 (Forum)
  Further to the discussion in the selby rail crash thread: I thought I'd share the debate under a more interesting title! For the back ground go to: http://www.honestjohn.co.uk/phorum/read.php?f=1&i=52437&t=52253 John S: Don't think so John. I *think* I saw it in motorcycle news. IIRC it was in a racing formula where less cylinders confered some sort of weight advantage/disadvantage. The design was to get around this rule.
• First new car 27 Aug 2003 (Forum)
  I would rather have a good car that loses a few grand in three years than buy a banger that loses all it's value and costs £100's to repair and insure etc. Cheers.
• Diesel Smoking / Additive 8 May 2003 (Forum)
  After purchasing a 1993 TD Astra, I thought it would be a good idea to use Miller\'s Power Plus additive to give the engine a \'clean\'as it has been probably been neglected (it was only done 2k in thast 12 months!). Over two weeks, the car has done about 180 miles doing the school run, bobbing about town etc.
• Volvo s60 27 Mar 2003 (Forum)
  I've seen; 2.0T SE 52 reg choice of pre-reg'd for £18k-manual and £19k-auto as above 02 reg 10k £16k again choice (man & auto) both these at Volvo main dealers Also I notice 'on here' 03 Reg for £19k manual. They seem good value compared to A4's and BMW's. The SE spec all get leather interiors and decent spec (180bhp too). I presume the dealers with pre-reg 52 plate ones will be getting pretty keen to move them on - are they a good deal? - I guess depreciation will be greater than BM and Audi - but they cost less and are better equipped in the first place.
• peugeot 306 1.9 DL MPG's ???? 22 Mar 2003 (Forum)
  I've just bought a 1998 'S' plate diesel (non turbo) 306. Currently I'm doing about 450 miles per week... approx 360 of those are a weekly commute from Sussex to Lincolnshire. My old 405 1.9 diesel (non turbo) estate with 120K miles on it easily returned 50 mpg on the same trip/conditions... the 306 is doing a max of 44...
• Omega - oil leaking onto manifold 19 Feb 2003 (Forum)
  The mechanic (a Vx specialist) noted that the car had more than it's fair share of oil leaks (none of which were serious - rocker cover gaskets?) and that oil leaks were quite common on the 2.5/3.0 V6's and his advise was just to keep an eye on the oil level as fixing them would be fairly expensive. However, one annoying and sometimes embarrassing leak seems to dribble a few drops of oil onto the manifold (drivers side bank) which results in smoke appearing from under the bonnet similar to a "boil".
• Sticking electric windows 29 Jan 2003 (Forum)
  As it was the drivers window I was not very confident of fixing it as the car is 14 years old and must have been operated 1000's of times. I thought of using a light oil on the guides but considered this might be a bit messy, then I found a can of spray silicon oil which is not like oil as it seems to evaporate. So out we went and sprayed it down the guides.
• Steering problems 21 Oct 2002 (Forum)
  This means nothing to me, but he explained that its a problem with the steering, but not the steering rack, and he understands that it is a known problem with 525's. Any advice experience would be very much apprciated. I do have the car booked into the main stealer, but they cant fit it in until Saturday, ah well. Thanks in advance.
• Worn crankshaft 16 Oct 2002 (Forum)
  I had a problem with my S reg 1.9 turbo diesel 306, the crankshaft pulley came loose. When I phoned the garage to find out how the repair was going I heard a mechanic tell the person I was speaking to that the engine was knackered.
• Volvo S60 4 Oct 2002 (Forum)
  For long enough I have seen the 5 series as the main contender for replacing the Omega, however on my budget I will be struggling to pick up a 530, and would more than likely choose a 523/528 on a V plate with 50k on the clock. However, an S60 T5 whizzed passed me today and it rather caught my eye. On looking up the T5's stats it sounds fairly impressive and certainly looks more than capable of whooping the local neds on my often crazy drive home from work on the late shift. Volvo's I know little about, has anyone had any experience of this model, not to mentioned the Volvo customer experience in general.
• Fuel Company Loyalty Schemes 11 Aug 2002 (Forum)
  Looks like the discount ends up at just over 1p/litre, with added points if you buy enough fuel.Double points too, if you get a Shell credit card. Seems a better deal than:- Esso-nothing BP-Argos points Total-Boots/M&S vouchers Tesco-Store points (not one on my routes anyway) ???? What have I missed? As I spent nearly £8000 on diesel, last year & it's my own money, I do like to save it when I can, even if it's only 1p/litre!!
• Rover 216 cooling systems 6 Aug 2002 (Forum)
  This is a cry for help. I run a 1996 Rover 216si new shape car. 2 months ago the engine blew which resulted in my having an ivor searle re-manufactured...
• 1991 Fiesta 1.0 - Bangernomics sense? 15 May 2002 (Forum)
  Of course I will inspect more thoroughly before proceeding, but guideline advice would be appreciated, as I have plenty of knowledge on some cars, but none of it on early 90's Fiestas. Many thanks, Steve
• Company car or money instead ? 12 May 2002 (Forum)
  Given that I am soon to become a father for the first time and that I will do very little business mileage would you go for what\'s on offer or take the £250 a month and see what that gets you ? In the event of being given a choice of any new car in the Mondeo/Vectra price range I would probably have a Seat Leon 110bhp diesel or the new diesel Civic.
• Coolant loss, any idea's? 23 Apr 2002 (Forum)
  Audi say the next step is to pull the head. I don?t want to pay for this and the problem is something else. Any idea?s? Cheers, Skippy
• Peugeot 405 oil leak 8 Mar 2002 (Forum)
  I have an old, high mileage Peugeot 405 (1.6 carburettor model) which has started to leak a bit of oil from out of no. 1 sparkplug. It?s not too bad at the moment but I would like some advice from the experts if possible. The car doesn?t appear to be blowing smoke from the exhaust, so can I assume from this that the leak could be from the valve stem seal rather than broken rings, piston wear etc?
• URGENT - Renault Remote 16 Feb 2002 (Forum)
  My friend bought a S reg Laguna from a motor warehouse late last year. One of his remote blippers has gone on the blink. Apparently it worked when he got the car but a few months later it didn't. He tried replacing the battery but to no avail.
• MOT failure 3 Dec 2001 (Forum)
  Took my wifes maestro turbo diesel for its MOT yesterday and it failed due to the bottom suspension swivel on the N/S having excessive play. Set to this morning to replace. You have to remove the bottom suspension arm complete with the offending ball joint swivel. This is riveted in place incidentally by three rivets which have to be drilled and ground out.