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• Bangernomics...I think I've nailed it! 18 Oct 2008 (Forum)
  Just thought I'd share my experience of buying/running what is increasingly looking like the best value vehicle I've ever had. It's a 1997 Toyota Camry, 2.2 manual in a nice metallic red. It was actually my in-laws next door neighbours car from new.
• RTA advice 23 Sep 2008 (Forum)
  Going along a straight section of road at about 15 miles an hour in a straight line usual positon about 3/4 metre from the curb, modest traffic and road ahead clear of traffic, when bang I'm suddenly aware that a car must have driven squarely into my back wheel at significantly higher speed then I was going (i.e. not clipped me as he passes, but straight into me), i'm suddenly explosively propelled forward, next thing I know I'm lying in the road and fortunately the car that hit me has stopped just behind me and not run me over. Fortunately a few good samaritans came to my aid (if any of you happen to read this thank you so much). Whereas the - I'll be polite - idiot who hit me I overhear telling a passer by that I had just ridden into the curb and come off.
• Signum Rambles 14 Aug 2008 (Forum)
  The Signum is my first petrol car for 12 years. ( If you don't count the Westfield which had to go when its lack of a third seat became an issue ) I have to say I have really enjoyed the feel of the petrol engine today while accepting that it will cost more to run. The trip computer is suggesting that it averaged 35mpg today but we shall see what the reality is when I calculate it accurately. Interestingly enough a fully comp inc. business policy on the Signum was almost exactly the same price as for the Mondeo.
• Vauxhall Vectra C (2002 - 2008) - Car seats - not what they used to be... 15 Jul 2008 (Forum)
  I would assume Skoda do the same as I found their seats to be far superior to the Vectra?s. I?m wondering if Vauxhall are doing some severe cost-cutting on the run-out Vectra?s and the seats have been caught up in this. So my next car won?t be a Vectra unfortunately. I really wanted to like the car, but couldn?t live with those seats.
• Holiday planning - Millau Bridge 19 Mar 2007 (Forum)
  Lucky to be having three holidays this summer; Drive the missus and twins to her home town in Czech Republic by way of a leisurely week's drive, for the second year running via Switzerland as we enjoyed it so much last year. After a few days with family at our Czech destination, I will take the train alone to Prague and fly home leaving the missus, the twins, a laptop with webcam, and (yikes) the V70 behind at her parent's house.
• Is 6 Grand+5 y/o a car tipping point? 16 Feb 2007 (Forum)
  This fuel saving would pay for me to get that 4 years newer diesel car. I know that even a newish car needs maintenence and costs to run, and it seems like I made up my mind to get the newer car, but what I'd like to hear hear from you chaps is wether my logic works or I should just hang on with a car till its dead? Seems to me that high spec 6K/5year old cars are very expensive in the 2-3 year term - anyone agree?
• Brake Pedal Creep on Vauxhalls 21 Jan 2007 (Forum)
  For reasons that become obvious below, I would like as many as possible to do the following test and reply here:: 1/ Sit in the driver's seat with the engine running. 2/ Press moderately hard on the brake pedal - and keep the same pressure applied for up to a minute. There are only two possible results - either: (a) once the initial free play and compressibility have been taken up in the first second or so, the pedal stays where it is.
• Insurance Claim & Repair Difficulties 2 Oct 2006 (Forum)
  When the two days were over, I rang them and asked what time I should pick it up and they said 5pm, so I dropped the hire car off at 4pm and then had a phone call to say the paint wasn't dry as the oven was broken, what rubbish I thought, and arrived 15 minutes later to find they had done nothing to the car for two weeks, other than do a few minutes of sanding of a small area of bumper, and painted the wheel matt battleship grey with runs in the clearcoat and sprinkled it with dust. I took the car away without paying £200 excess. In the morning I contacted the insurance company who immediately sided with the garage saying that's why the premiums are so low, as we only pay a low rate for the repairs!
• Help me choose my dad?s next car... 21 Mar 2006 (Forum)
  (My mother's car is a 1995 Xantia auto). His budget is between £6000 and £7000. His new car needs to be cheap to run (diesel) and reliable (so no Laguna nor 406). He still drives about 8 to 10 thousand miles a year. Cars on the shortlist so far are: Citroen Xsara Picasso 2.0 Hdi, Vauxhall Zafira 2.0 Dti Toyota Avensis 2.0 D-4d Ford Mondeo 2.0 Zetec Tdci 130 Bhp Vauxhall Vectra 2.0dti Skoda Octavia Hatchback (98-04) Mazda 6 Hatchback 2.0 D (119bhp) S 5dr Volkswagen Passat Estate (99-05) 1.9 Tdi Pd (128bhp) What models I have missed?
• HGF 150 miles from home. Fantastic! 21 Feb 2006 (Forum)
  s any good? which it wasn?t. Saturday night, things were looking bleak, but my uncle knew a man who used to run Polos, so on Sunday morning we paid a visit. The nice gent managed to supply all the tools which we didn?t have, and even managed to ring ahead to shop he knew, and reserved a head gasket set for us.
• MOT Retest Rip-off??? 19 Jan 2006 (Forum)
  Whichever way I choose to do the work/have it done I am going to lose out financially, either being charged by the garage for their labour or being charged by the garage for another full MOT. So I feel agrieved about this situation, it is the people who can't afford/choose to run older cars that are being penalised by this new MOT system. Suddenly overnight the MOT fee has 'doubled'. And before you say well you should maintain your car better, the car is mainted perfectly, it failed on an item of which its condition is at the descretion of the MOT tester.
• Failing to buy a new car. 13 Jan 2006 (Forum)
  Guy walks out but before I can ask for help he has taken a big bite out of a large piece of chocolate fudge cake on his desk and run for the front door. Next guy comes out - he's at least acknowledges me, I ask if they have any brochures and price list for the A4 cos none are out on display. No comes the answer. Do you want them for the A3 instead?
• need Legal avivce citroen c8 12 Jan 2006 (Forum)
  Recently power steering shuts down at low revs this has happened four times over last two months. Due to current ice road conditions we have little confidence in the car for school runs on icy mornings. Work pending Heater mixer R Belt tension wheel R Rear door motor R Exhaust Earth lead R Loss of power steering ?? Work to report Rear Seat Wear Roof Bars Please feel free to add and delete items, I am no mechanic but it?
• help in choosing next car 3 May 2005 (Forum)
  Also, not too keen on 20,000 mile service intervals - should the oil be changed more often than this? Plus I am concerned the Lexus will be dearer to run. Lastly, I did think about a Rover 75 / ZT - obviously a lot cheaper, but I know these are supposed to have a good ride. But I would be worried about the warranty/parts supplies. I apologise for the length of this post, but should be very grateful for views on which of the above cars are best.
• Prejudice against BMW & Merc drivers 26 Nov 2003 (Forum)
  Up-front I must say that this is definitely tongue-in-cheek, and not aimed at any current or past BRers. You drive a: 4WD - you are a school-run mum and a waste of road space unless: a) it's a Rangey, in which case you probably own half of the county, a string of horses, and have a trophy wife & daughter. b) it's an X5. Congratulations - you have the dog's cojones.
• Can I reject this paint job? 15 Oct 2003 (Forum)
  At least get the bumper fitted correctly and the new paint blended in. Have I missed the boat here and should I have rejected it at the garage? I've read the long running Polo saga and it fills me with dread, anyone had similar experience with this kind of thing?
• Rover 1.4 SLI with Rover Engine Doctor ! 2 Aug 2003 (Forum)
  Now it may be another problem but the exhaust has black try carbon more than she's ever had. the Spark plugs are coated around the edge with black dry powdered carbon. although the central part is nicely colour beige, as a good firing spark usually is. THe car runs a dream until I get this stuttering. Thats why I think the engine is ok ie moving mechanics are as normal. Last year I had a Drive belt change, first Ever. long over due could this be the root cause of my problems?
• Renault 2.2dT - Glow Plug Change 22 Jan 2003 (Forum)
  So, we sourced a 1/4 inch UJ from Halfords Professional range (£3.99). We already had everything else we needed. The inlet manifold has access between the inlet runs to each plug - couldn't get in there with 3/8 drive sockets. However, using the 1/4 drive stuff we had new glow plugs fitted and working inside an hour WITHOUT removing the manifold. The only "must have" was some blue tac in the 7mm socket so as not to lose the electrical connection nut (a magnetic socket would be much better).
• Vectra GSi tyre wear - The Conclusion! 8 Jul 2002 (Forum)
  I'm not sure that the claims to improve handling can be that true (Surely Lotus Engineering, who sorted the B model Vectra suspension out, and MSD, who did the GSi variant, know what they are doing?) but given that one option for next year is to buy the car when the lease runs out, I will investigate this further. There is a big difference between Fleetlease shelling out a fortune in tyres every few months, and me doing so! ;-) Now to the front tyres: Over the past six months, my GSi has developed a gradually increasing 'pull' to the left, along with increasing levels of wear to the inside shoulders.
• 2yrs on from buying a 9yr old dpf-equipped diesel 10 Sep 2019 (Forum)
  A long while ago, I promised/threatened to give regular updates on buying and running a 9yr old dpf-equipped diesel. Coming up to the 2yr anniversary now, so this is long overdue. The following is the facts, purely objective. What did I buy? 2008 Renault Koleos 2.0dci 4WD manual - 173bhp version, Privilege trim.