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• Almera 1.8 Auto 9 Mar 2006 (Forum)
  I don't want to get into an argument about why I don't want the car, so I am not risking losing £200. We went to see one a 3 door S model, at a local specialist in ex motability cars, but it was really too much money for the age of the car, even though it had only covered about 13K miles. The bodywork was unmarked and a nice of green, but what I wasn't impressed with was the fact that part of the seat trim had come away from the front of the front passenger seat, exposing a sharp edge, and both of the door trim fixings were adrift on the trailing edge of both doors.
• Oil Temperature and wear 9 Dec 2005 (Forum)
  But knowing my engine needs to be at operating temperature before I push hard, I go the long way out of my estate which means that the engine is at about 70C when I enter the spine road (which must be better than going with a stone cold engine?). However, that?s the water temperature, but how long does it take engine oil to reach the optimum 80C? (bearing in mind sump capacity is only about 3 litres). I always make sure that the temperature needle has been at 90C for a few miles (about 3 or so) before I?
• VW warranty. 8 Dec 2005 (Forum)
  Please could someone confirm that the second-hand car warranties given out by VW should be nationwide and not tied to a specific dealership. Thanks for your help in advance. Regards, S
• Help! Honda Brake Caliper 10 Aug 2005 (Forum)
  Does anyone know if it's possible to muck up the hand brake adjustment on these if you dont set them properly? I get good handbrake efficiency on one side but can't adust the rear n/s caliper h/brake. Handbrake cable appears to move freely on both sides. I seem to remember reading in the replacement caliper instructions that if it it is necessary to turn the piston anticlockwise to take up any slack (ie. on partly worn pads) you should completely unwind the piston anticlockwise first then wind it back in again so that hand brake adjustment is correct.
• Wheel Camber re-alignment Ford Mondeo 4 Jun 2005 (Forum)
  Last workshop - Not confident with Continentals. Camber Guru on leave, not back. My verdict? 4th w/s sounds a little dodgy. Learning pt? Don't ignore small kerbs and be over-confident. Queries? What do you think guys? Any advice to share? Experiences with camber problem? My camber is 1 degree something off from wheel specs.
• French Radar Traps 12 Apr 2005 (Forum)
  (As an aside I gather French motorcyclists are rebelling against this practice as it makes them (the motorcycles) less visible). The camera on the A75 S close to the tunnel at Lodeve seems to have been reset to a new 80k limit (was 70). This appears more realistic, can any other local resident comment? Random Breathalyser checks at night seem to have increased around the Pezenas area.
• Is it a lemon - New Car faults :( 10 Dec 2004 (Forum)
  And when do we stand as regarding with the Law? (I think this is something to do with the sale of goods act?) So there that?s the note, I feel that the car is a lemon, but how do we go about getting the car sorted in terms of new motor or other means? As these faults are still happening within its 3 year warranty ? my father doesn?
• Watch Out - Rusty Mercs about... 26 Aug 2004 (Forum)
  The paint had blistered up and would have lifted off had a poked it with a fingernail. This is more the sort of thing associated with FIAT. Older cars, like early '90's, W201 and W124 are still largely rust free. If one does encounter rust it is usually a result of a scrape. They only tend to rust around the jacking tubes in the sills (where the welding seems to destroy the galvanising).
• Mondeo, 2.0 or 2.5? Also other questions 11 Feb 2004 (Forum)
  So, this has led me to reconsider my decision to focus solely on the 2.0 examples, and consider 2.5\'s as well. However, insurance isn\'t the only concern. One of the other reasons why I had chosen the 2.0 over the 2.5 was perceived reliability. I figured the 2.0 would be cheaper to service and less likely to suffer horrific wallet destroying faliure than the 2.5 V6.
• Passat TDi Sport - Suspension too soft? 6 Feb 2004 (Forum)
  I\'ve tried searching this site and the forum, tried the how stuff works site, tried a couple of others too but if it\'s there I must have missed it and I\'m starting to get square-eyed from staring at the screen too long! Thanks in advance. andymc
• advice insurance claim 18 Dec 2003 (Forum)
  As they will be contacting me in the morning I presume they will simply tell me where to take the car and that?s it?? alvin
• Advice re:buying Xantia TDi VSX 24 Nov 2003 (Forum)
  I would love to hear any feedback either positive or negative from any owners of this model of car. 4. In the photo of the car it looks like it isn't the updated model as I saw an S-reg car was. Is this strange, or is it possible 1998 model could still be the old shape before the update? PS. Where is the best place to buy those aftermarket reversing sensors that you can retro-fit to any car?
• Penalty Charges and Bureaucracy gone MAD 14 Nov 2003 (Forum)
  There is a lot of congestion in peak times during which the camera operates (7-10 am and 4-7pm) on the road with motorists speeding up as they get to the roundabout not slowing down. I am scared that if I follow TFL?s generic advice then I risk injury to myself and other motorists. Otherwise I have no issue with the bus lane or the camera, I only want the ability to access my property safely. I would welcome any useful comments or suggestions (moving house isn?
• BMW 318 E46 Coolant System Troubles 18 Oct 2003 (Forum)
  I have an S Reg BMW 318iSE which has done 78000 miles and twice in the space of a 1.5 years the car has broken down with cooling system problems. The first time the thermostat failed which caused the expansion tank to crack.
• What does the team think... 15 Sep 2003 (Forum)
  about my chances of getting a Parking Penalty Charge Notice retrospectively overturned. Here's what happened. Last December (I know, b****y C*******s shopping) I got caught-out one dark gloomy evening in Central Milton Keynes. Parked in a spot that I thought was OK. It subsequently turned out to be for Community Transport Users (whoever they are) but was identifiable only by a small easily missable (in my opinion) plaque attached to a lampost!
• Main-dealer salesmen techniques? 29 Apr 2003 (Forum)
  I thought end of the month, quota to meet and they might be on for a deal. They had over a dozen 75's and three I liked, there was a nice Arden Green 75 2.0 Diesel on a 99V with under 40,000 miles with leather and climate control at 11,995. A nice car, it was though easily £1500 over A1 book. I told him I had a big deposit wanted about 50% of the price as Rover finance, had no part-ex and all the documents to sign up that day and leave a deposit.
• brakes that don't brake, but break 29 Apr 2003 (Forum)
  As the car is a cheap tool, and a great little car asides from this niggle, I would like to either fit the vented discs and calipers from a mk5, or ideally if it is possible (cylinder matching, wheel clearance), fit the larger discs that came on the zetec s. I have also heard rumours that the mondeo / focus / escort components may fit..... ? this is not me wanting to make a boy-racer style modification, just fix the only real flaw (IMHO) of the handy little tool that this car has generally proven to be.
• Time to treat myself 2 Feb 2003 (Forum)
  Fair bit of poke, at least 120bhp, preferably more Some toys to keep me happy, ie elec windows, cruise control would be nice 5 doors Luxury rather than outright sportiness Group 14 insurance or less Cheap to service Reliable Not too thirsty, V6 would be nice but too expensive to run at the mo HER requirements are: Decent size boot for all the clutter that goes with kids of 4 and 2 Manual, not auto gearbox Remote central locking No more length than the 405, that's difficult enough to park! We're looking at R,S and T reg cars at places like the GTC or similar, up to about £4k (will be on finance). Likely candidates include Honda Accord, Toyota Avensis, Nissan Primera, Ford Mondeo. SWMBO fell in love with an 85k mile 98S Mondeo Ghia X 2.0 16v manual with leather, air and cruise for £3899 screen price last weekend, but now it's been sold.
• Suzuki Swift 318i Touring 26 Aug 2002 (Forum)
  Spotted a 'right one'- sometimes you get an intuitive feeeling about a car- and went to see it today. It was a BMW 318iSE Touring, 1998 S reg, metallic dark green, full BMW history, 134,000 miles, lovely condition, loads of extras (inc. sports suspension and leather sports steering wheel, passenger airbag), full MOT. Ex company director's car (really!)
• fuel tank replacement - legal position? 23 Aug 2002 (Forum)
  Hi I have an S-reg Renault Clio 1.2 RN which I bought from my grandfather-in-law last year. He bought it from a Renault dealer in Chelmsford, where it was serviced all the time he owned it, so it has a full official Renault service history.