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• Some new models seen today 11 Jul 2007 (Forum)
  Fiat Bravo - looks like a slightly larger Grande Punto. Daihatsu Materia - If you like the Nissan Cube this is for you with no grey import problems - I think it's hideous! For Christmas I'd like a commercial mulcher to attach to a John Deere and 10,000 acres of forest to go at. The demo of this thing showed it taking 6 10 foot length telegraph pole diameter trunks at a time and turning them to pulp in seconds!!
• Running two VAG diesels is uneconomic. 3 Jun 2007 (Forum)
  The spec for the hatchback car is pretty non critical but for a few essentials for long term bangernomics. I need a galvanised body, chain cam engine and a diesel engine (important to minimise risk of mis-fuelling and to limit CO2 emissions). I also much prefer driving diesel cars. Any suggestions? 659.
• PLEASE SUPPORT THIS! 3 Jun 2007 (Forum)
  His son was wearing his seatbelt incorrectly, and since then the gentleman has done everything he can getting the message across to people about the importance of wearing a safety belt. He is now going one step further - and started a cycle ride from Lands End to John O'groats on 1st June and will finish 18th June. He is trying to raise £20,000 for the Fire Services National Benevolent Fund.
• Last Night's Traffic Cops on BBC1 15 Mar 2007 (Forum)
  This has certainly opened my eyes to using mobiles at the wheel, I will confess it is something I have done in the past but when you see the stark reality of what can be the outcome then it really opens your eyes at to whether that call is important. Secondly, it also opened my eyes as to why motorways sometimes need to be closed off for accident investigation. If you are waiting in the resultant traffic it can be very frustrating but compare that to the death of the driver and it pales into insignificance.
• Main dealer vs. independant 22 Feb 2007 (Forum)
  By my calculations (based on phone calls to a few garages): (MB) A service = £325 / (Indi) A service = £160 (MB) B service = £600 / (Indi) B service = £380 So if in 3 years I need 2 x A and 1 x B then it'll cost: MB = £1250 Indi = £700 (indi saving £550) If it needs 1 x A and 1 x B it'll cost: MB = £925 Indi = £540 (indi saving £385) The question is, once a car like this is 7-8 years old, if it's in good shape generally is it so important for it to have the FMBSH?
• 1997 Alhambra 2.0 auto - opinions? 27 Nov 2006 (Forum)
  (Its priced at 6000 euro; for comparison, a similar age Primera would cost approx 4000 euro, or an imported Toyota Previa would be about 7500 euro) All advice gratefully received! - Gromit
• CAFÉ ? fuel economy 6 Sep 2006 (Forum)
  The old method used the vehicle weight. The new method will use the vehicle ?footprint? or wheelbase. Thus they have given to foreign importers the market for fuel efficient vehicles. What an effective way of burying your head in the sand. The relative figures per area are reported to be approximately : USA 24 mpg Canada 31mpg Australia 34 mpg China 36 mpg EU 44 mpg Japan 47 mpg
• I would like to talk to a dealer - odd b 16 May 2006 (Forum)
  I have an idea that I would like some feedback on from dealers that think customer aftercare is important, or not for that matter, just in case I am talking pants here, which would be the first time. I have had a few conversations with local dealerships that just don't see existing customers as a valuable part of the mix.
• Used car for £5000 - suggestions? 25 Apr 2005 (Forum)
  I want to have some cash left over so have a set a budget of £5000 to buy a used car. Main considerations are fuel economy and general costs to run, though safety is important also. Obvious options seem to be Yaris or Micra (but dare I say it these seem girly cars?), Corsa(long in the tooth?), Fabia (good cars), Panda (strangely appealling) or Punto (too old again?) Don't want Renault again and Fords give me backache.
• Judging a book by the cover 23 Apr 2005 (Forum)
  A 1972 Chevelle that he's owned for the past sixteen years, and in which he has just transplanted the original humble straight six with a tuned 454 that he imported from a motorsports division of GM. That's seven and a half litres of US muscle, with a holley carb the size of a three bedroomed semi, to you and I. As if this ain't enough, my smooth, gentle, laid back, unhurried, mechanically sympathetic, softly spoken friend is going drag racing with it!
• New car for mother. 3 Sep 2004 (Forum)
  We hope to spend around 5k on this car. The car will only cover at most 6k a year so fuel economy is irrelevant. Reliability is an important criterion for the new vehicle as it will be required every weekday without fail, so no Renaults. I have a little knowledge of the cars available in this price bracket, but dont know much about automatics- which cars should i look for?
• Honda CRV 23 Oct 2003 (Forum)
  Although the Volvo is very thirsty I would expect to use the Honda a lot more and so the fuel consumption is quite an important consideration. I know that some regular contributors to the Backroom have CRV's.Any advice on real-world mpg figures would be much appreciated. Is the official combined figure of 31 mpg actually obtainable.
• Automatic versus Automated Manual 16 Sep 2003 (Forum)
  Clutch, gear changes, hill starts, etc not really wanted. Something easy to drive and not too heavy on the juice, also reliability is of importance. I have heard that the non torque converter autos and CVT's don't hold on a hill. If this is the case, how is it possible to pull off on a steepish hill, in one of these cars with the handbrake etc?
• What rubber? 25 Jul 2003 (Forum)
  however after scouring the net (and reading chris longhurst's site)ive found some contestants that could be up for the job, and look F'ing mean, which is important(!!, and are 205/50r15 The chosen few are(in order of meanness): Viking Millenium www.viking.co.uk Viking Protech 500 Bridgestone potenza re720 Goodyear eagle NCT 5 Bridgestone potenza re50 The Vikings are the first choise but i cant find much info on them in relation to hard/soft compound, noise etc etc im not worried about the cost at the mo, althought bridgestone 720 are going for £62.04 each at www.topgear.co.uk.
• Failed VW TDI PD engine 23 Jul 2003 (Forum)
  And from discussions with people who I know at some VW agents it seems this is not a unique case. Has anybody else suffered the same? and have you got a better deal out of VW? Mine is an import so in theory the warranty was only a year. If I'm not unique a case it maybe something to consider before buy a second hand car with VW 115hp PD engine. Cheers
• How to insure - the proper way 7 Jun 2003 (Forum)
  As soon (or long, as the case may be :-( ) as she passes her test, I'd then register the car in her name and she'd insure it herself as the main driver in order to build her NCB. For us insurance is important and we don't want to take any chances on that score so I suppose I'm hoping that someone far wiser than me will reply to this post and tell us that what I'm suggesting is indeed the best way to proceed.
• Mercedes, what is wrong with you? 21 Feb 2003 (Forum)
  So given our new taxation laws as regards company cars, ever increasing interest in luxury diesel cars, the need for greater economy yet still the desire for powerful cars etc etc... ...Why the HELL are you not importing the goddamn E400 CDI?!!!! It's probably most businessmen/women's dream for those who can afford it, yet the most interesting variant won't even be built in right hand drive. Any ideas as to why this is or are Mercedes simply taking the ****?
• Volkswagen Golf TDI 115 PD - Juddering 2 Apr 2002 (Forum)
  Presently they are goign through a 'list' of repairs. The symptoms are that the car (which is only 19 months old and a full UK spec import) judders when you put your foot down on the accelerator. I drove all the way down to London from Manchester and could not reach a speed of over 65 mph. The power died, although it did pick up if I changed down a gear and then back up.
• Undersealing 4 Jan 2002 (Forum)
  I know that there have been quite forceful opinions on the wisdom of running an imported Japanese MPV (Toyota Masterace). However, with due consideration to it's low purchase price and it's full complement of "extras" compared to the traditional types of MPV, and acceptance that these vehicles are not for the fainthearted owner in that it is essential that the cambelt, cooling systems, electrics etc have to be checked/maintained and fully understood to obtain satisfactory and satisfying performance, I have been more than pleased with my vehicle over the last nine months.
• Sick Alfa 156 2.0 TS Man 9 Apr 2002 (Forum)
  Apologies for the long email but I refuse to sell this car as when it works it is fantastic, and having solved one fault am eager to sort the others out. The local alfa dealer have been ok (i.e. they could have told be to f*@!#$ off as it is in an import with an extended UK warranty), but they struggle to diagnose advanced faults... On another note anyone with an import in the UK, must take out an alfacare warranty, as the dealer principal mentioned they are getting return rates on alfa's of more than 25%, and with labour rates at £50 p/hour, it could get bloody expensive.