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• Ford Direct Focus problems 17 May 2005 (Forum)
  Whilst both matters are relatively easy to resolve and covered under warrantees, I have a few questions. Is rust of any sort unusual for a car of this age? Do I run the risk of having long-term problems? Should I consider rejecting the car under Ford Direct's 30 day 'no quibble' Exchange plan? Has anyone had experience of doing this? Alternatively, should I stop worrying and just get it fixed?
• Mazda 323 v Ibiza/Civic/Corolla/Almera 16 May 2005 (Forum)
  Ideally the car will be up to 5 years old but she wants a 5 door hatch (kids to carry); up to a 1.6 engine; it must be cheapish to run/insure; fun to drive and above all reliable. Top of the current list is the Mazda 323 but she's also considering the Seat Ibiza (but with a list of possible faults/problems as long as my phone bill I'm not convinced), Toyota Corolla, Honda Civic and Nissan Almera.
• Red lights 14 May 2005 (Forum)
  Question 1: Is this becoming more common (people stepping straight out into the road)? 2: Are more people running red lights? 3: Did the car in front of me shoot over it just as it turned to red and I followed him not noticing? 4: Do they have cameras at pedestrian crossings? There are little CCTV things on the top of the traffic lights around here.
• You are being watched, already 13 May 2005 (Forum)
  I've no idea what rights they have in that situation ... but it seems to me that this is just as big an invasion of privacy a state-run system, and possibly more so, because there are fewer statutory controls on the company's use of the data. So if you are a company car driver, say hi to Big Brother. He's probably gonna be watching you much sooner than you thought :(
• Laguna Starting problems 1 Mar 2005 (Forum)
  I'm no expert but it is possible that something's making it harder to turn to engine over which is causing this (ie increased compression )? Car runs fine otherwise, but instinct tells me to get rid of the car asap. Possibly a bad move, but I supplied the starter myself (Hella from GSF) for the garage to fit, which makes warranty replacemant a bit of a palaver.
• Moron flatmate sells car without V5 22 Feb 2005 (Forum)
  As such, while there is a chance that the new buyer will deal with the paperwork correctly, there is a stronger chance that my friend will be left exposed to every speed camera and red light east of Reading, as well as a possible fine from the DVLA for not updating the change of keeper. (I will run an RAC plate check against the car, to see if the 'last owner changed' has been updated, but I don't yet know the plate and that takes a while to update). My question is - what is the best way to deal with the DVLA, to make it less likely that they will pursue the matter, and/or persuade the keeper to update the papers or break the car.
• Audi Coupe Quattro 20V / Corrado G60 11 Feb 2005 (Forum)
  Is the Quattro really worth it or should I just go for the fwd coupe? If I go for the Corrado (and cannot afford the running costs of the wonderful VR6) is the G60 reliable enough to consider and how does it compare to the Audi on performance/handling etc. Any help would be much appreciated, Cheers.
• Buying a Pre-Reg'd car 17 Dec 2004 (Forum)
  Today I have been looking round a few motor dealers with regard to buying a nearly new run-about car. I've had a look at the whole range of makes and models but do have a new style Ford Fiesta in mind. Anyway the car the caught my eye out of all of the dealers I visited was a shiny looking 54 plate Fiesta, and just making a casual enquiry with the salesman (because there was no spec sheet in the window) it turned out that it was a 'brand new' car but pre-registered.
• Ford Fiesta Mk 4 - What\'s wrong? 6 Dec 2004 (Forum)
  Hi all, I recently purchased an N reg Ford Fiesta Ghia but in the (new back then) Mark 4 shape. The car has had a new engine put in which is a 1.25 Zetec-S engine. All in all, the car runs perfectly but there are a few niggling things. Occasionally, when started, the revs will drop to almost stalling point and sometimes the engine will stop. This didn\'t really bother me because pressing the accelerator stoped this.
• omega 2.0 engine 26 Nov 2004 (Forum)
  hi folks , I have been searching all day for some where i can get a 2 liter engine for my omega, i brought it a month ago and it was running great but had 1 months mot so got it cheap, i tried to mot it today and it failed on emitions, it smokes a bit at start up and idles erraticly the garage told me the engine has had it , i got it compression tested this after noon and was told 2 pots have low compression, then the guy turned around and told me he would part-ex my car for £500 against any car on his fore court which sounded dodgy to me so am not sure about what he said now, i did an oil change 2 weeks ago and the oil was ok no water or coolant. have read the conversations and am thinking about the engine centre in stratford london , has any one used them and what are they like can i trust them , i live in cambridgeshire if you know any where else better, cheers,
• Cleaning airflow sensors. Seat Leon 20VT 25 Nov 2004 (Forum)
  Seat Leon 20VT. When I first picked it up, it didn?t run very well, and the engine diagnostic light was on. My local seat dealer was both helpful, and cheap. They diagnosed a faulty lambda sensor, which was replaced under warranty. The car ran better.
• Top Gear v. Fifth Gear Collective Thread 15 Nov 2004 (Forum)
  Pretty much as the title suggests. I've just managed to haul myself into the living room and watch (a re-run) of 5th Gear on Discovery Home and Leisure. What a fantastic program. I occasionally catch bits of it but this was the full episode. It was the one about bulletproof cars and at the end, Tiff Needell and Adrian someone or other (quite a good reporter actually) were telling you how to attack cars which may have it in for you!
• Which car? 19 Oct 2004 (Forum)
  I'm currently looking for a new (Old!) car and need the following requirements: Diesel (I drive a fair distance to work) Cheap to run Cheap/easy to maintain Easy availability of spares Lots of space for moving junk etc Lots of space for kids Low mileage 5 doors.. It doesn't need to be particularly fast or trendy. My budget is max £5k ish.
• Audi A6 smoke 17 Oct 2004 (Forum)
  This email has been prompted by reading an article in last Saturday's "Motoring Telegraph", the chap in the article has run Audis for years and said that he had been pulled over several times by the police for excessive smoke in a couple of his cars. Honest John has made a comment in the past about fuel timing in these cars needing regular attention, which mine has not had.
• Audi A3 2.0 FSI Sport 5 Oct 2004 (Forum)
  Since I have had the car I would say that I have had to add at least 5 litres of oil to keep the car running. I have called Audi on many occasions and all they tell me is that this is normal for the car. I don\'t think this is normal. I plan to book the car in to get it checked out. What can I demand from Audi so that can assure me that the problem will be resolved?
• VAN MOT "failure" 26 Sep 2004 (Forum)
  My best mate runs an independent retail business and has two vans for delivery purposes. One of them went in for its MOT this week at the local Hi-Q outlet. Result? It failed its test and the list of problems requiring putting right came to a four-figure total.
• stop-start driving from cold? advise? 27 Aug 2004 (Forum)
  This morning, in my usual manner, I left to go to work. Mistake. The road outside my house, which is normally a \'rat run\' was busy, but i thought no more of it. Next thing I discover why - there\'s been an accident 800m or so up the road (YES! It involved a minibus taxi!) and traffic was at a standstill. It took me 20 minutes to get from my driveway to the corner - 100m down the road.
• Jaguar S type diesel 16 Aug 2004 (Forum)
  It pulls very strongly, has seamless auto gearchanges and is whisper quiet. Bonus is on our 20 mile run it returned 45 mpg. Sand coloured leather with black is not a good combination though! Most annoying aspect on both cars was the front parking distance system. Everytime you stop - traffic lights, traffic queues etc it begins working so fills the car with annoying beeps!
• Golf2 GTi - Semi-synth/High milage? 7 Aug 2004 (Forum)
  The car has done 220,000 miles on a G-plate and run great (except for the recent heater matrix leak, but this sounds quite common from reading the thread on here!). Thing is, the lad I bought it off told me to use Castrol Magnatech, which I did until just recently.
• Dealerships and national traits. 27 May 2004 (Forum)
  It has struck me from experience and tales on the back room that Dealerships reflect the perceived national characteristics of the marque of car: For example Renault dealers: chic colours, strong coffee, happy to have children running about the place (and I dont mean the mechanics - or maybe I do), smoking permitted anywhere despite any rules, happy and charming to sell you, bare minimum of servicing done, long lunch hours, try and complain and they shrug and pretend not to speak english, The receptionists are always pretty and flirty.