Semi car related. We're getting hit with the remnants of Hurricane Helene that beat the hell out of Florida and the SE US. Just a lot of wind, a little rain, and humidity. Mrs.Cheest parked her Renegade outside yesterday so she could work on a table she's refinishing inside the garage. I stepped outside after lunch and saw a large branch that fell from our Birch tree laying across the front of her car. Luckily, no danger to the car and I got some more firewood.
What's made you not grumpy but not smile either today?
- Thread starter dave
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What's made you not grumpy but not smile either today?
"Terrifying" I'm sure. Back mid summer my youngest boy took himself, wife and their two kids down to Devon for two weeks holiday at Mrs J's sister, as they do most years. With two young kids they take so much "stuff" with them going in their large Audi A4 avant (estate to you and me) makes the most sense so, as he'd not had it serviced since he bought it the March before that, over a year previous - I despair - I insisted he put it into our local VAG indy for a full service and check over. Luckily we have written evidence, backed up by a computer entry at the dealer, that it had a full cambelt kit done just before he bought it. The car's got the 1.4 TFSI turbo petrol engine. The service all went as expected with no "nasty" surprises but they advised that the rear suspension spring mounts - look like large rubber doughnuts - were seriously degraded and should be replaced if he's going to do this long, heavily laden, journey. They also commented that the top front suspension ball joint boots were showing signs of wear (perishing) but would last a while yet (maybe need doing for MOT next year). I went in and they put the car up on the ramp and showed me the rubbers. They are quite large and the springs bear directly on them so need the suspension partially dismantled to change. They definitely needed done, the O/S one was actually in danger of unseating the spring! The bill? well north of £1,000. I had to lend him the money or they wouldn't have been able to afford the holiday and Mrs J's sister does so love making a fuss of the kids. I told him a Skoda Octavia would have done him fine!
They now send them to your mobile phone which is no good for me with my dumb phone. I never learned much from them but found it interesting to observe that they positioned the lifting arms sensibly and had rubber pads on them which were in good condition.
Lucky
A car I quite fancy myself but in the event decided I was better off with the Skoda and the backup available from my local VAG indy who are friends.
Aye support is always good...
I'm hoping that it won't throw up anything exotic in terms of faults and that local garage can deal. Unlike the C3 where basically everything needs to be done at Citroën on pain of no support in case of engine death.
However had a pleasant surprise in looking up the history..it was last serviced by Parks originally the car had been serviced by borders Toyota then the stamp changed and I assumed they'd dropped out of the dealer network.
No apparently Borders Toyota changed their name to Parks..this means under current Toyota rules it may be under manufacturer warranty until next May but will have to confirm if I go ahead.
Of course this means that perhaps the Scottish weather may have had its way with the underside of another car....but less said
Got to say one of the draws with this car over something more modern...other than it not being immensely expensive is it has buttons for things.
Heated seats...on a button, heating system is absolute simplicity it has climate but one rocker for fan speed, one rocker for temp, one for air direction. A button next to the gearstick to deactivate stop start, another to knock off the lane assist on the steering wheel.
The bloke who designed the satnav needs to have a quiet word with himself but other than that it's logical, still has phone integration and a CD player and is a well equipped car.
I don't think I'd like to deal with the modern VW system despite my time with C3.
One thing that would be setting my alarm bells ringing now is that they seem to be happy to jump through a lot of hoops to sell a car, body shop work is one thing, but having a car under sealed and making sure there are no advisories on the MOT as well as changing tires they seem to have an almost endless budget to spend on this car to get you to buy it so either they got it very very very cheaply or there is something very wrong with it…. Apart from it being a Toyota
When they say underseal...there's a chance it's largely a case of they'll give the rear subframe quick blast of Waxoyl while tweaking the front sill back into shape. The rest of the metal work is hidden.
They did similar on my dad's Yaris in terms of sorting the advisories before delivery. New tyres are about 40 quid each jobbies...
I suppose it's a case of if I don't buy I don't exactly think they've got 8 other buyers lined up....it's a petrol estate and it's a manual gearbox Auris...no one buys those and well I'll let the numbers speak for themselves. It's not even desirable as a mini cab as the hybrid would be for that.
www.howmanyleft.co.uk
Otherwise though it appears all together I drove it a good 10-15 miles and no knocking noses no over heating no issues, oil is fresh, coolant is bob on and bright pink. Under the bonnet shows no signs of having been bent and neither does the boot floor.
They did similar on my dad's Yaris in terms of sorting the advisories before delivery. New tyres are about 40 quid each jobbies...
I suppose it's a case of if I don't buy I don't exactly think they've got 8 other buyers lined up....it's a petrol estate and it's a manual gearbox Auris...no one buys those and well I'll let the numbers speak for themselves. It's not even desirable as a mini cab as the hybrid would be for that.
TOYOTA AURIS BUSINESS EDIT TSS VVT-I - How Many Left?
Statistics for TOYOTA AURIS BUSINESS EDIT TSS VVT-I.. See how many cars of any make and model are left on Britain's roads.
Otherwise though it appears all together I drove it a good 10-15 miles and no knocking noses no over heating no issues, oil is fresh, coolant is bob on and bright pink. Under the bonnet shows no signs of having been bent and neither does the boot floor.
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Manual and petrol would just increase my interest. I have next to no experience of Toyotas but did get briefly involved in helping a friend rebuild a 4 cylinder head quite some years ago. I remember it because the valves - it needed exhausts - were eye wateringly expensive.When they say underseal...there's a chance it's largely a case of they'll give the rear subframe quick blast of Waxoyl while tweaking the front sill back into shape. The rest of the metal work is hidden.
They did similar on my dad's Yaris in terms of sorting the advisories before delivery. New tyres are about 40 quid each hobbies...
I suppose it's a case of if I don't buy I don't exactly think they've got 8 other buyers lined up....it's a petrol estate and it's a manual gearbox Auris...no one buys those and well I'll let the numbers speak for themselves.
TOYOTA AURIS BUSINESS EDIT TSS VVT-I - How Many Left?
Statistics for TOYOTA AURIS BUSINESS EDIT TSS VVT-I.. See how many cars of any make and model are left on Britain's roads.
Otherwise though it appears all together I drove it a good 10-15 miles and no knocking noses no over heating no issues, oil is fresh, coolant is bob on and bright pink. Under the bonnet shows no signs of having been bent and neither does the boot floor.
Hopefully all will be well, money may need to change hands in their favour re. The rust proofing...if that's the case fine if it's reasonable.
Otherwise the lifting lacquer on the tail of the roof isn't a deal breaker given it's probably going to be brown forever.
The jacking point probably needs a block of wood and reasonably sized hammer it's not fully folded over or crushed just out of line. But it's bent enough you couldn't use the widow maker on it.
I'll see what they say Monday..
Otherwise the lifting lacquer on the tail of the roof isn't a deal breaker given it's probably going to be brown forever.
The jacking point probably needs a block of wood and reasonably sized hammer it's not fully folded over or crushed just out of line. But it's bent enough you couldn't use the widow maker on it.
I'll see what they say Monday..
This reminded me of my mums old 1986 (back in about 1990) 12valve Corolla, was the peak of technology back on a car back then
76k miles, and it's lived in or around Melrose, so central Southern Scotland.
The rest of it is all under plastic covers anyway...so if they can wire brush what they can see and seal it then it'll be good for long enough if I get 6 years out of it I wouldn't feel short changed.
Obviously not as good as if it hadn't been a Scottish car...but never mind.
I've seen a few Evoque cabrios, all in white.
You could have the risk of a Land Rover, with lots of fresh air, while admiring all those looks from the plebs as you pass them by.
Don't VW do something similar with a cabrio SUV thing?
My next door neighbour always seems a bit clumsy, with doors slamming, and wheelie bins (when she moves them, although it is mostly me that does mine and hers) being rumbled quickly and crashed into things and each other.
Thsi morning, after the usual door and tailgate slamming, it went quiet for a few moments. I looked out, to see her sitting in the driving seat, reaching for the door to close it. Unable to reach the pull, she stuck out a leg and kicked the door away from her, against the check strap, and caught it as it bounced back. I wonder how long that will last, and did Honda consider this when designing and specifying hinges, check straps and A-post?
Thsi morning, after the usual door and tailgate slamming, it went quiet for a few moments. I looked out, to see her sitting in the driving seat, reaching for the door to close it. Unable to reach the pull, she stuck out a leg and kicked the door away from her, against the check strap, and caught it as it bounced back. I wonder how long that will last, and did Honda consider this when designing and specifying hinges, check straps and A-post?
Mrs J's sister was terrible for doing this. Cars mean nothing to her and she abuses hers awfully. Her favourite way to exit the vehicle is to release the catch by triggering the inside handle then using her foot against the door - right where the speaker is - to kick the door open against the check strap. She doesn't do it in my car anymore but it took me ages to get her "trained".
In golf and Audi line, that CUNA
I have a friend, who's wife is a car door slammer. The Panda rocks on its suspension. She now keeps nagging him to be more like me, as I always see her in, and shut the door, so courteous, she thinks. Vehicle preservation is the motive.
Back in the eighties, we sold a new MGB GT to a guy. A fortnight later, he was back, complaining that the doors, tailgate, and glovebox all did not shut properly. He was slamming them all so hard, that the catches were moving. Copious loctite, and some subtle demonstration, over several visits, eventually got him acting more gently. Still had to adjust at every service.
Yeah. Youngest granddaughter, now 11, is turning into one of those. and so the education process goes on!
