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• Motorway breakdown 27 Oct 2003 (Forum)
  I was giving advice to my daughter, who is a relatively inexperienced driver, on what to do in the event of a breakdown on the motorway and emphasising the importance of getting onto the hard shoulder. However, there are many sections of motorway with more than three lanes and I found myself struggling to think of the best advice to give if she breaks down in the outside lanes and is unable to get across busy lanes to the hard shoulder.
• Avensis steering clunk 26 Sep 2003 (Forum)
  Does this sound like it is actually the steering rack issue that is cured by re-greasing mentioned in the HJ car-by-car breakdown? Is the fix important (i.e. safety, durability) and should I be looking to get it done under warranty? Cheers
• HPI checks 18 Sep 2003 (Forum)
  According to their info , they check whether the car is a write off/nicked/has outstanding finance/total losses/outstanding insurance interests/national mileage register info/value of car. for the grand figure of £37.95 Going through a similiar servive called carchecks which checks stolen/written off / number plate change/first registration/colour change/chassis /vin/engine numbers/number of previous owners/date of last keeper change/imported for £15 only Wondering whats the difference apart from the price and how HPI checks manage to get away with it by charging more than double the price of its competitor. Any ideas anyone?
• New Vectras at crazy prices? 11 Aug 2003 (Forum)
  Here's a conundrum for you: Vectra 1.8 Elegance's with heated leather seats, climate control, ESP + traction control, metallic - ie £2550 of optios on top of a £16380 list price car = £18930 at list prices Although imported from Cyprus and badged up as Opel Vectras, these are brand new. I saw them yesterday in Motorpoint for....£11999 ! Cheapest UK-supplied one I could find was £16077 including the extras. So that's £6931 or 37% below UK on the road list price and still £4077 less than cheapest UK-sourced one.
• Tyre rotation yes/no? 19 Jun 2003 (Forum)
  I guess it would even out the effects of uneven wear due to steering geometry, etc and would mean you get a matching set of tyres (not important to me so long as they're legal and safe!). What do others think? Steve.
• Where to buy loaded Alhambra 2 Jun 2003 (Forum)
  I am looking for a fully loaded Seat Alhambra 1.9TDi, new or nearly new. Do any of you know a good place to buy one? I was thinking of one of those deep-discounted importers... BTW: Does Alhmabra come in a comparable spec as the Sharan Sport 1.9PD? I only saw the Alhambra Sport with the V6. (The 'Sport' suspension takes out the body roll quite nicely...) BTW2: the ideal Alhambra would be the 4Motion Sport TDi, but that is not even availble as a Sharan in the UK.
• Brake imbalance issue!!! 25 May 2003 (Forum)
  Hi there, My wife's Toyota Carib ( a 4WD 1.8 Corolla Jap Import) failed its WOF (like the MOT) the other day, due to brake imbalance. The deal is is that the rear RH brake is 36% down on the rear LH brake. I had a mechanic take the drums off and clean the brakes, but on re-testing the RH brake was still 33% down.
• Head up display in cars? 19 May 2003 (Forum)
  Thus allowing the pilot to read his instruments with his 'head up' with the obvious benefit that he does not drop his eyes away from the important stuff going on in the real World outside the canopy. I would have thought these benefits would translate well into the motoring arena and have thus been wondering if this has ever been tried with cars, why is it not commonplace now?
• Deal on new Golf GT Tdi 130 24 Nov 2002 (Forum)
  I'm looking to buy a Golf GT TDi new from my local dealer. they seem unwilling to drop below list price (£16,200 ish, 3 door), but they have offered £4,000 for my 2001/Y Punto 1.2 Elx 8v which has 31,000 miles and patchy service history, plus the Punto is an import so has alledgedly been down-valued. So the offer is £12,200 to change, and they can do the finance at 7.1% APR. Sound like a good deal or has anyone got any suggestions?? Thanks.
• Secondhand Pug 24 Aug 2002 (Forum)
  I have the chance to buy this very car, which according to Parkers tops at about £2200-£2300, but due to the amount of interest it has generated, the owner (read executor of estate) has decided to do a sealed bids auction. Given that at this sort of age, condition is more important than mileage, I would appreciate any sage words of advice before I get carried away, please! Cheers, Steve
• 4x4 advice needed 28 Mar 2002 (Forum)
  My mother wants to sell two motors 1. 95' Golf 1.9 diesel (not turbo) 2. 96' Daihatsu Fourtrak 2.8tdi swb commercial and buy one motor to do both jobs ie carry 5 or 6 people tow 3.5 tonne farm trailer occasionally Reliability and Running Costs are the most important factors My initial thoughts are Dahatsu Fourtrak car Landrover 90 Station Wagen my mother fancies a jeep 2.5td but it may struggle to tow 3-3.5 tonnes. any other ideas???? Alternatively - could she install windows and additional seats into the Commercial Fourtak - would she have to repay the VAT?
• Filter and Oil Changes 4 Mar 2002 (Forum)
  I know this sounds similar to another topic still on this page, there amongst other views, Andy in Germany was opining that changing the filter was more important than the oil. Conversely, the previous time this topic was aired a couple of Backroomers suggested it might be good enough to change the filter every *other* oilchange. Others shot them down in flames - after all filters aren't expensive, and no gret hassle onnce you've found where they are on your engine(!)
• General views on Honda HR-V 27 Jan 2002 (Forum)
  I'd like someting which (1) above all, will be reliable over, say, 8 years / 80K miles with excellent build quality; (2) can cope with the ever-deteriorating roads (i.e. not too fussed about potholes); (3) has boot space like an estate car, but offers higher driving position (4) has reasonable running costs - insurance, service, mpg etc. Performance not too important (other car gives the thrills); won't be used off-road, nor for towing. Any advice, please?
• Warning Beeps from Gold Mk4 dash 25 Jan 2002 (Forum)
  Hi all, I've took delivery of an imported Golf GT TDi about a month ago through Oneswoop but unfortunately the owners manual has yet to arrive (in the right language). Everything else with the car is OK except that the car intermitently makes three beeping noises from the instrument panel.
• VW Golf MK IV Audio Equipment 24 Jan 2002 (Forum)
  I am contemplating importing a VW golf from Holland.The only problem with achieving a full UK spec is that cars from Holland due not have the UK std VW Gamma radio/cassette/cd player fitted to UK sourced cars. The equipt is very expensive to buy seperately from a VW dealer, does anyone Know of an independent supplier for original VW audio Equipt.?
• Diesel estates 3 Jan 2002 (Forum)
  Is the Audi A4 really better than the bigger Passat. The Current Mondeo Diesel is rather cheap as an import. I currently run a 96 Xantia and I have become very fond of it but the C5 looks rather plain to me. I really didn't think choosing would be this difficult Any advice gratefully received. Cheers Peter
• US Camper vans 18 Dec 2001 (Forum)
  My bother in law is seriously thinking about buying a ten year old Dodge Day van imported from the states. It has 5.7litre engine, electric bed etc - but are they a good long term buy? They will use it to drive around London and for holidays with their two kids. I have warned them about the fuel consumption - I reckon 18mpg at very best.
• Cheap New Cars - advice needed 25 Oct 2001 (Forum)
  The bloke promises me that this car is to the full UK spec and comes with warranties etc etc. I cannot understand how the dealer can sell the car so cheaply. I guess it is some sort of import. Would I have trouble selling it? How can I tell if it is to UK spec? I have no part-ex so should I try to haggle the price even lower? Any advice much appreciated.
• Vauxhall Prices 2 Sep 2001 (Forum)
  For example when I asked a dealer here for a no-nonsense no trade-in price for a Zafira diesel Elegance (list £17240) he could quote me £14700 (good through end Sept). Since I have enough GM card points this makes him competitive versus an import. Whether I should reward GM after suffering a Vectra for 5 years (serial cambelt roller failures) is another matter.
• Service Intervals 21 Jun 2001 (Forum)
  Now 5 months and 6k later I've got two lights left and no sign of an oil change indicator light on. Recognising the importance of frequent oil changes can anyone tell me whether I can rely on the indicator to tell me, or should I stick to my own intervals of 6months/6k? Also, if I do do it myself is it worth investing in the tool to re-set the indicator as suggested in the Haynes manual.