November 2005
Despite all the sorry weather related tales from elsewhere on this forum, i am fairly fortunate to live on a gritted road and my route to school and work is similarly well gritted.
Sadly, these roads are victims of their own success (?) and busy. Really busy and congested and it took me nearly 90 minutes to do 16 miles. With clever detours (ok they weren't that clever).
What i need, i thought to myself after the twenty second two wheeled vehicle shot down the bus lane to my left, is a scooter. A 125cc with biggish fairing to get some weather protection. Route is Bath to Clifton, Bristol, which is mainly on the A4, so that's nice old country road, village, dual carriageway, city. Thankfully there are bus lanes for about half the distance once you get past Keynsham, so the Bristol end of things should be a breeze.
Once i get past the CBT, i'll go looking for a bike. Can anybody suggest a good 125cc Scooter, I'm thinking of something along the lines of a Honda Dylan (awful name), criteria is enough speed to keep up with the traffic, some weather protection and a biggish boot.
TIA Read more
So the temporary Tourvan has arrived. As there are no ordering cars during December its mine till late Jan, or if I like I can keep it. 5 months old, 9k up, Touran SE 1.9 TDi 7 seats with Blaupunkt Travelpilot DX-R4 sat nav, 2zone climate.
Initial impressions.
Well the 105PD engine is nowhere near as smooth as the Renault dCi. You can feel its an oil burner. Having said that, for a 105PS its actually quite pokey with nice torque, quite wide band, not peaky like some 130PS PDs I have driven. All in all the power is useable and ample. Quiet at speed. 6 speed box means 2.4k revs at 78mph. Gearchange is nice and precise.
The ride is really good for a tall car, compliant smooth but not much bodyroll and can actually be hustled quickly and tidily round bends (had the TC warning light flashing!) Steering is lacking in feedback but is responsive with no slop.
It will be a comfortable motorway muncher.
Stereo is awesome, quick peek behind the speaker grill reveals a Blaupunkt premium component.
Has so many cubby holes and storage areas that I shall loose tons of stuff. The third row of seats pop up and down with ease, but 7 seats means no spare wheel so I have a jar of goo and an electric pump.
As far as build quality goes, well, fit and finish inside is as good as the goona (RIP), there is a rattle from the back I will get fixed. Why does a car of this vintage not have steering wheel radio controls?
Nicole said I look like Postman Pat (its red) and its true its no looker.
Despite that, its a contender. Its a good deal lease wise, its pre jan 06 registered so the 3% BIK E4 discount applies.
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RF - Da DAA. < changes in phone box > Its TOURVAN man Read more
TVM,
Yes the Kids get used to high seating position, and moan in lower cars. They also get used to being able to get all their mates in the extra two seats :-(
As for the styling, it does not help fuel consumption (what does you 2.0 do? My 1.9 does 45mpg), but makes for plenty of interior room.
Enjoy the 'ran, and have a look at the owners group at the bottom of HJ's review. Bunch of self confessed nutters(me included), but interesting never the less.
Joe
Does anyone know who would be able to insure a written off car and whether the normal NCD would still be valid.
Looks like my car may be written off for a bent bonnet and a broken R headlight cluster!
Trouble is Esure my current insurance company do not insure write offs.
Any recommendations for an insurer that is good for this?
Thanks
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I guess it depends who the approved bodyshop repairer is for your insurance company. They may have others apart from the main dealer.
You could try asking the insurance company.
The past 2 crashes I've had, the main dealer hasn't been the approved repairer. In 1997 I crashed my 1992 Montego into the back of someone and broke a headlight, dented the bonnet, dismembered the grille. The repairs can't have been too much as the car was repaired. The value of the car couldn't have been more than £2k (and in fact another insurance company agreed the following year when it was involved in a head-on & was totalled). But the approved bodyshop wasn't a main dealer.
I'd ask the insurance company either if they have another independant approved repairer, or maybe if they will give you a cash settlement in lieu of repairs (like mine did with my Primmy) or let it be declared a total-loss and buy-back the salvage (if at all possible, I have heard that some insurance companies have agreements whereby all salvage goes to an auction or a dealer; but I'm not in the trade so don't know how likely this is).
If it's declared a total loss, your current insurer may refuse to insure you on it and you'll have to find new cover. Wait a while and also do an HPi check to see if it has been recorded if you are really keen.
Stu
Cna somebody tell me how to jump start my volvo s80. The battery is in the trunk at the back of the car and not very easily accessible for jumping purposes. Someone tells me that there is a terminal in the engine compatment under the hood but i have tried to look for it and cant find it. if someone knows where this terminal is could u please kindly describe how it looks and where exactly it is.please try to simplify it as much s possible coz am not a car buff.. or if one has a diagram can send to lightshade99@yahoo.com
cheers Read more
No worries.
Glad you are sorted.
The central locking rod mechanism which locks the fuel flap (this is not a bi pressure pump)has leaked air, disabling the central locking feature on the car. I have resealed the mechanism, but the system does not work. Can somebody please advise me how to get this system working again. (exact whereabouts of the bellows, switch/control elements etc ) Read more
Thanks for your help, I found the pump in the boot, the fuse is OK, my haynes manual says if the pump unit runs for 35 secs (which it did) an internal control unit will automatically turn it off. So, is there anyway of swithing the bi-pressure pump back on.
my friend at work wants a replacement for her 1999 206 auto. She has a budget of up to 10k (new or used). What she has said is that the 206 wanders around in windy weather, and she would like something a bit more planted to the road. Essentials are:
Auto
307 size or smaller (easy to park since she lives in congested inner London)
ABS
Lots of airbags/feeling of solid construction
A bit more shove than the 206 Auto has
She's initially thinking of Golfs, but wonders if the 1.6 Auto Mk4 might be too slow.
Any ideas/good deals out there?
Thanks. Read more
The Jazz auto isn't exactly rapid though, in fact last time I drove it I found it a bit of a slug really, I had to use the manual selector to get any kind of urge at all.
Don't know what else I could suggest, Yaris is quite nice and I think it may be a bit quicker than the Jazz if bought in 1.3 form...
If it were me I would still rather have a Golf or Focus Auto though...
Blue
Knowing the forecast tommorow is predicting black ice (because of rain falling onto frozen roads I understand), and also knowing I have an important meeting 130 miles away I started wondering......
Is there a website that gives you an accurate forecast of the weather you are likly to be driving though on a complete journey.
I can go to the BBC weather website and put in a town or postcode but I will be doing a jaunt on the M3, M25 and M23 so this is not so relevant.
Also just before Christmas I have a drive from East Sussex all the way to the Highlands of Scotland (again, weather permitting).
Have I just got to look at a weather forecast showing the country as a whole or is there something more accurate? Read more
I don't think you're expected to act as a one man snow plough, the shovel is there to help you out if your wheels start spinning and you can't move or to dig you out of a drift if you skind into one.
A better suggestion would be to put a couple of very strong plastic sacks in to place under your spinning wheels. Tie strong string through a corner so you can tie the bags to handle/bumper etc and drive off onto safe ground to retrieve them.
Hi all, I have just spent £10,000 on a lovely looking 2 litre petrol engines 54 plate passat from a London VW main dealer. VW peace of mind guarantee and an option to exchange in 30 days if im not satisfied. First day after collecting the car I got a knocking from the stearing and also from the suspension. Car was taken in and steering gator replaced and I was told the front jsuspension arm was worn (13000 miles!). Collecting the car I found the noise was still there. Whenever I go over any bump at all I get a knocking, if I pull away with any kind of energy when turning into a junction I also get the noise. I tried another car and found the same noise was present. The dealer is telling me I can have either car but the clock is ticking on the 30 days and I have no other chance to change. They are saying that this is a characteristic of this car, but only after not being able to cure it and trying twice! PLEASE can someone tell me if they have the same car and any similiar noise? Does anyone know if this is indeed an accepted 'chracteristic' of this car? Surely not?! Surely VW would not deem a permanent knocking noise as acceptable. I welcome any advice as I am now regretting the purchase and the VW dealer is refusing to refund me stating small print. Thanks in advance for any help you can give me.
Chris Read more
No knocking on my 73k ,2001 Passat. Even when traction control is working there is just a brutal shaking as grip is lost and found.
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I wasna fu but just had plenty.
www.etis.ford.com/fordservice/serviceScheduleView....o
Ford show "Airbag renewal" at 15 yrs on the service schedule - this is for Fiesta Zetec. Has this always been shown or is it a sign of things to come?
Next will be insurance companies requiring service in accordance with manufacturers specn or disowning claims. Although technically they will probably not be able to get out of 3rd party liability, this would probably give problems if owner was in passenger seat and wife was driving?
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pmh (was peter)
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Unless I'm mistaken, the only time airbags actually get tested is when they are needed. So if there is a fault it's a bit late then. I know there is usually a warning indicator to tell you if there is 'fault' but how accurate are these. Don't suppose I'm really going to worry about this though.
My 4 year old Golf GTI has just failed its MOT due to 'excessive pitting' to all of the brake discs. The brake efficiency and balance passed OK.
When I was shown the discs each one had 10-15mm of corrsion on the inside of the discs near the edge.
Was the failure warranted? I have I got grounds for appeal?
They (a VW main dealer) also wanted nearly £400 to replace the discs and pads so I walked away anyway. Read more
I had the car retested today by testers from VOSA. It passed!
So I guess you can't always take the tester's word for it.
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Mare,
Did you ever get the bike ?