ezzysi
Posted a lot
Posts: 1,189
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Jan 17, 2009 16:09:04 GMT
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Took my volvo for its test this morn which it sailed through thank god!.. (i've got a friendly tester Anyways, we were chewing the fat about new cars and there problems...... he told me of a newish (just out of warranty) bmw they had in last week for a blown headlight bulb, they changed the bulb @ £70!!! (xenon) still no lights so advised by the dealer the amplifier would be the culprit.... it was and had also taken out the combined headlight switch and headlight control module.......... end result> a bill for £650 for a blown headlamp bulb He also mentioned taking his own volvo into the dealers for new front shocks (common fault with later v70's), couldn't do them himself as there adaptive and have to be reprogramed at the dealers.... end result> a £700 bill for 2 volvo shockers!!!! My mums neighbours had 2 mondeo dual mass flywheels let go and both times destroyed the engine> 2 x £3000 bills (but luckily a company car) I've heard many other similar storys .. This all adds to my shear terror at running a modern car, I only have the volvo as I opted out of company cars to avoid the tax but the proviso is I have to run a car suitable for the job and less than 5 years old, i'd dearly love to run my old bmw or similar as a daily but work won't allow it. It seems that, as new cars become generally more reliable the manufacterers are having to be inventive with there parts prices and electrickery to claw some revenue back..... gone are the days when you can take a car apart and fix it with a few basic tools/gaffer tape/cable ties.. Long live the retro's Anyways... rant over, have some picage for the trouble
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1991 Mk2 Golf Gti 8v 2005 Passat tdi (daily) 1971 Mk1 Escort 2004 Touran (her's)
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Scary modernsarthurbrown
@GUEST
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Jan 17, 2009 16:12:05 GMT
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I'd be telling any employer with that policy to stick their job. Fascists.
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MWF
Posted a lot
Posts: 2,945
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Jan 17, 2009 16:13:31 GMT
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Interesting thread.
At the moment I am very tempted by the fruit of a modern but ironically put off by reliability issues and high maintenance costs.
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ezzysi
Posted a lot
Posts: 1,189
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Jan 17, 2009 16:19:28 GMT
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I'd be telling any employer with that policy to stick their job. Fascists. Haha... fascists they may be but in there defense, I could have a company car provided if I wanted one, its my choice to run my own car instead, albeit one that conforms to there criteria. That said, i'm considering going back to company cars as there's zero worry/hassle involved.
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1991 Mk2 Golf Gti 8v 2005 Passat tdi (daily) 1971 Mk1 Escort 2004 Touran (her's)
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bigrod
Posted a lot
Posts: 1,654
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Jan 17, 2009 16:31:32 GMT
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This all adds to my shear terror at running a modern car, I only have the volvo as I opted out of company cars to avoid the tax but the proviso is I have to run a car suitable for the job and less than 5 years old, i'd dearly love to run my old bmw or similar as a daily but work won't allow it. Same as me. However, I've gotten to the point of thelling them to stuff it. I don't want to run a new car. My 03 Frontera has exceeded it's 5 year limit and I'm just going to run it till it dies. If they want to stop giving me my allowance then so be it. Driving a new car is a false economy in my book.
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If I have to explain, you won't understand. Maximum signature image height = 80 pixels
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Jan 17, 2009 16:34:27 GMT
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I remember years ago of a customer asking for a Omega Xenon headlight blub, turned up it was main dealer only and was £110!. Been looking at Mondeo TCDi's myself but have been put of my the horror storys of DMF's letting go.
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Mike
East Midlands
Posts: 3,387
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Jan 17, 2009 16:38:02 GMT
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The cost of repairing some modern cars scares the bejeezus out of me. Bangernomics all the way I say.
I'd laugh if my employer told me I had to run a car less than 5 years old, do you use the car for work?
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Jan 17, 2009 17:06:48 GMT
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When i saw the thread title i immediately thought SOC was going into car sales ;D
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1993 Fiat Panda Selecta 2003 Vauxhall Combo 1.7DI van 2006 Mercedes Kompressor Evolution-S AMG SportCoupé
"You think you hate it now, wait til you drive it"
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berendd
Europe
why do I need 3 keys for one car?
Posts: 1,449
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Jan 17, 2009 17:20:32 GMT
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my company car (ford focus) costs me around 240 Euro a month in tax, but it ensures me of a problem free ride... and unlimited miles come with it
since the end of october I've done 12000km's in it, so around 4000km's a month for just 240 euro's. that would be an impossible mission in a private car.
But I can imagine that when you don't make so many miles a month the economy is a bit different..
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ezzysi
Posted a lot
Posts: 1,189
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Jan 17, 2009 17:35:41 GMT
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The cost of repairing some modern cars scares the bejeezus out of me. Bangernomics all the way I say. I'd laugh if my employer told me I had to run a car less than 5 years old, do you use the car for work? I do, i'm a service engineer by trade and visit lots of posh offices so work see the vehicle is a direct reflection on our company, which is fair enough. I opted out to avoid the tax and have my own choice of car, as long as there's no unexpected big bills then i'm quids in, especially as I do all the servicing myself rather than send it to the dealers, basically I get a free car to sell on or upgrade every few years paid for by my mileage claims............thats "IF" nothing go's wrong.
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1991 Mk2 Golf Gti 8v 2005 Passat tdi (daily) 1971 Mk1 Escort 2004 Touran (her's)
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Scary modernsDeleted
@Deleted
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Jan 17, 2009 17:53:54 GMT
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It's a scarey thought. but it seems these are top end motors.
Suely a brand spanking new Corsa/KA/Micra don't come with these pitfalls? I know ones things for sure if i was to buy modern it'd be small! Although i did hear a headlight bulb on a VW Polo is booked at 40 min at a main dealer. Dunno how true it is!
The future is worrying. Cause in 15/20 + years it's gonna be harder to find these cheap retros. THese £600 headlight bulbs are gonna be a thing FOR the retros! Will see a lot of cars going to scrap early.... even if u can still get said parts for a £600 headlight bulb change.
I can see it now 2008 BMW that's 15 years old out side a breakers yard "whats up with the BM chap wanna sell?" "Head light bulbs gone mate" "Ah, i'll give it a miss"
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Scary modernsarthurbrown
@GUEST
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Jan 17, 2009 17:56:24 GMT
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I do, i'm a service engineer by trade and visit lots of posh offices so work see the vehicle is a direct reflection on our company, which is fair enough. Which is utter ballcocks more like. I carry out work for alot of -very- wealthy people, and usually deal with them direct. I am certain the age of your car has very little bearing on things. The people who really matter won't care if you are in a 30 year old Volvo or a 1 year old Aygo.
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Last Edit: Jan 17, 2009 17:57:03 GMT by arthurbrown
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filmidget
East Midlands
Mostly Lurking
Posts: 1,652
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Jan 17, 2009 18:14:40 GMT
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Indeed - the few wealthy people I know have one nice/possibly pricey car (which never gets used) and a couple/few old battered things which they go everywhere in.
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'79 MG Midget 1500 - Still patiently awaiting attention '02 Vauxhall Astra 1.8 Elegance(!) - Better than you might think '03 Mazda MX5 - All new and shiny looking (thanks to Antony at Rust Republic) '09 Renault Clio - Needs to go.
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Jan 17, 2009 18:15:37 GMT
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I carry out work for alot of -very- wealthy people, and usually deal with them direct. I am certain the age of your car has very little bearing on things. The people who really matter won't care if you are in a 30 year old Volvo or a 1 year old Aygo. I'm in the same position. I roll up for meetings with companies turning over £Millions in a P-plate Mondeo, last washed in August, with a gaffer-taped bumper. Or an '83 Sierra automatic. In summer I might be in a Mk1 Escort with lacquer flaking off all over the show. Nobody gives a curse word because I do a good job, and most people love the Escort despite it being a bit of a 10-yarder. Used to work for a firm who seemed impressed when, in the interview, I said I had a silver Honda Civic... On the first day when I turned up in my 1982 Civic with lamp-post damage they didn't think it was so cool.... I bought a modern, but the firm turned out to be a load of jumped-up mongs.
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My fleet: Suzuki GSX-R600Y SRAD with bald, melted tyres A borrowed Mondeo
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Jan 17, 2009 18:15:42 GMT
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he told me of a newish (just out of warranty) bmw they had in last week for a blown headlight bulb, they changed the bulb @ £70!!! (xenon) still no lights so advised by the dealer the amplifier would be the culprit.... it was and had also taken out the combined headlight switch and headlight control module.......... end result> a bill for £650 for a blown headlamp bulb In that situation I would have retrofitted headlamps from an earlier model to bypass the modern guff. units from a vauxhall chevette would lend themselves ideally.
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1987 Maestro 1.6 HL perkins diesel conversion 1986 Audi 100 Avant 1800cc on LPG 1979 Allegro Series 2 special 4 door 1500cc with vynil roof. IN BITS. HERITAGE ISSUES.
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Jan 17, 2009 18:25:29 GMT
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my modern civic has had between 4 and 5k of warrenty work done on it in the last 18 months!
At least its a company motor, If it were mine, I would be selling it before the warrenty runs ou!!
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Jan 17, 2009 21:04:03 GMT
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I do, i'm a service engineer by trade and visit lots of posh offices so work see the vehicle is a direct reflection on our company, which is fair enough. Which is utter ballcocks more like. I carry out work for alot of -very- wealthy people, and usually deal with them direct. I am certain the age of your car has very little bearing on things. The people who really matter won't care if you are in a 30 year old Volvo or a 1 year old Aygo. curse word it may well be but how many people are in a position to walk out on a job because they don't like the company's policy on using your own wheels in preference to a company car?
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Jaguar S-Type 3.0 SE
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Scary modernsarthurbrown
@GUEST
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Jan 17, 2009 21:22:02 GMT
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IF you are good at what you do, it's perfectly possible to get your own way over the 'trimmings' of the job. Because the firm won't want to let you go over a relatively small thing.
Or that's the way I see it anyway.
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Jan 17, 2009 21:36:10 GMT
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Done a headlamp bulb on a late model Renner Scenic today, bumper off job! Last week we changed an alternator on a V6 Vectra (R reg) Had to drop the subframe on the drivers side! Few weeks ago we got caught out with a Fiat Coupe timing belt. Engine out job! Yeah, we know now!
I find the price of parts for moderns more shocking. We done a Mitsubishi L200 warrior back axle. The guy had tried locking the diff whilst spinning about in the mud. It locked the diff but not in the way he wanted. Mitsy dealer quoted £2500 for a new diff unit! Yet a few days before we looked at a Frod Fiesta 1.25 zetec. It had no oil and had welded the crank to the con rods. Ford quoted us £850 for a short motor assembly! No consistency! LOL!
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Jan 17, 2009 21:51:33 GMT
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yes moderns are rubbish i work on them and they are pants and why have diesel pumps got such a high rate of failiure these days and its been said befure dual mass flywheels why can you get a solid replacement for a transit but the mondeo with the same engine you cant. and allso long life servicing i don't care how exspensive the oil is 20-30k on the same oil i don't think so ive done several oil pump changes on vag models with wrecked pumps due to blocked strainers give me old cars anyday of the week
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97 volvo 940 turbo wagon 87 fiat strada abarth 78 gs1000 82 katana 1100 84 gsx1100 efe
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