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Low Maintenance Reliable Small Hatch?
Cars Modifications Aspects of car modifications (tuning, styling) (uk.rec.cars.modifications)
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#21
 
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Re: Low Maintenance Reliable Small Hatch? -
01-30-2007
, 09:41 AM
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We've recently seen a lot of low mileage (20/30k) FSH 2001/2002 Skoda Fabia 1.4's going through the auctions for sub £2k Same specs/design as the 2002 VW Polo & easy to maintain |
#22
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Thanks for all the advice. I think I would also have to give the Focus a miss too because speaking to a few people who own one of them as well, the headlights on them don't sound like they are much easier to change yourself and have the same issues as the Megane. I have always liked Seat's and I like the design of the Leon. Is it Reliable and easy to maintain though? A few people here have been saying that VW's are not as reliable as they used to be or as well made and Seat is part of VAG now so....? I am thinking I probably will have to go for Honda or Toyota next. I wonder how long it will take for car manufacturers to get it into their heads that we also want a good value, reliable, easy to maintain well built car with a good spec? I'm not surprised a lot of car manufacturers are up a creek with only one paddle at the moment in Europe and especially America. John |
Bought with 2 months left on manufacturers warranty, in that time it
had:
New climate control back light
New TCS switch
New dash dimmer
Door seals hold water
Out of warranty:
Air Con compressor failed, noisily and expensively
Side window motor smashed the glass
Currently:
Losing coolant, no leaks
Door seals holding water again
Starts first time, but not always on 4 cylinders
Not Seats fault, but more evidence that I've got "one of those cars":
Stonechip in windscreen - fixed cheaply
1 week later windscreen randomly cracks while parked in work car park
Car broken into using famed security flaw, had to delock
On the plus side I changed a headlight bulb in two minutes!
Waiting for the worst of winter to be done with and then going to trade
it in for something reliable. New civic is out of budget probably, so
looking at Almera/Focus, hadn't considered the Corolla until this
thread, so they're in as well.
No Golfs for me, too pricey and other half has a Polo which although
much better than previous Ka is starting to get a couple of niggles now
it's just out of warranty.
--
Mike Buckley
RD350LC2 GPZ750 Turbo
http://www.toastyhamster.freeserve.co.uk
BONY#38
#23
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"Tim S Kemp" <news (AT) timkemp (DOT) karoo.co.uk> wrote in message news:-92dneWb6eesYyPYnZ2dnUVZ8taknZ2d (AT) eclipse (DOT) net.uk... Fraser Johnston <fraser (AT) jcis (DOT) com.au> wrote: How often do you change the headlights anyway???? Can be a lot if he drives with them always on - cheapies from motor factors / halfords lasted 2-3 months in the Volvo making them a pain to keep changing (although volvo make it easy) - that's about 8000 miles, which is probably 1-2 yrs for normal night driving use. Changing to Volvo OE long-life (they do a longlife bulb for about 3 quid more than the standard one) extended it to 9-12 mths. If you've got hard to change lamps then I'd definitely recommend buying replacements from a Volvo dealer - same went for tail lamps too. Then I suspect there was something wrong with your Volvo... I've never had a headlight bulb go, including a Triumph Acclaim, 25k miles in a 405, 30k on the 206 and they're automatic so get to flick on and off going through tunnels and everything. Blew a tail light on a 50cc bike once making it do 60mph down a hill... (they're on some kinda half dyno system). |
well on volvo's they are always on, HID's are the answer there
i was surprised how easy my 328 is for changing headlight bulbs. with the
lump of an engine in there i was expecting it to be tight and fiddley and to
lose some knuckles but nope! not even any swearing involved
#24
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well on volvo's they are always on, HID's are the answer there i was surprised how easy my 328 is for changing headlight bulbs. with the lump of an engine in there i was expecting it to be tight and fiddley and to lose some knuckles but nope! not even any swearing involved Not necessarily. My 10 year old Volvo features a small screw head in the |
lamps. I expect that all newer models feature this also, but it seems that
many owners prefer to leave them working.
Personally, I prefer to use dipped headlights in any conditions at all that
warrant lighting, e.g. dull and/or rainy days, so I don't bother with the
daytime running feature because sidelights do nothing to improve visibility
in bright conditions.
Stu
----== Posted via Newsfeeds.Com - Unlimited-Unrestricted-Secure Usenet News==----
http://www.newsfeeds.com The #1 Newsgroup Service in the World! 120,000+ Newsgroups
----= East and West-Coast Server Farms - Total Privacy via Encryption =----
#25
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Not necessarily. My 10 year old Volvo features a small screw head in the corner of the lightswitch that can be turned to disable the daytime running lamps. I expect that all newer models feature this also, but it seems that many owners prefer to leave them working. Personally, I prefer to use dipped headlights in any conditions at all that warrant lighting, e.g. dull and/or rainy days, so I don't bother with the daytime running feature because sidelights do nothing to improve visibility in bright conditions. |
it free as part of a service or when collecting a new / used car. Or buying
lots of headlamp bulbs.
I prefer them on, and the auto setting on the merc comes on quite early.
--
"Get a paper bag"
#26
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"Pete M" <pete.murray (AT) bogoffwithzepressedmeatblueyonder (DOT) co.uk> wrote in message news:epnd49$hc$1 (AT) registered (DOT) motzarella.org... In news:528r53F1mi003U1 (AT) mid (DOT) individual.net, Iridium <iridiumdan (AT) googlemail (DOT) com> wittered on forthwith; "Pete M" <pete.murray (AT) bogoffwithzepressedmeatblueyonder (DOT) co.uk> wrote in message news:epmb3g$19a$1 (AT) registered (DOT) motzarella.org... In news:sm2tr2pugek0q4020aa2f1t05uur50hfdm (AT) 4ax (DOT) com, John <uk (AT) nYg (DOT) com> wittered on forthwith; Thanks for all the advice. I think I would also have to give the Focus a miss too because speaking to a few people who own one of them as well, the headlights on them don't sound like they are much easier to change yourself and have the same issues as the Megane. I have always liked Seat's and I like the design of the Leon. Is it Reliable and easy to maintain though? A few people here have been saying that VW's are not as reliable as they used to be or as well made and Seat is part of VAG now so....? I quite like the Seat Leon. Drives 10 times better than a Mk5 Golf., is cheaper and doesn't have the "prestige" bollocks about it. My choices would be as following. 1. Focus. 2. Focus. 3. Focus. 4. Leon. 5. Walking 6. Golf. Ah I thought it was you that liked the Leon. Have you ever driven a Cupra R one? Not yet, but the 1.8 normal one I drove a few hundred miles was a nice enough car. Not as good handling as a Focus, but otherwise a nice car. How do they fare reliability wise? |
Seemingly better than Volvo.
--
The DervMan
www.dervman.com
#27
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"Pete M" <pete.murray (AT) bogoffwithzepressedmeatblueyonder (DOT) co.uk> wrote in message news:epmb3g$19a$1 (AT) registered (DOT) motzarella.org... In news:sm2tr2pugek0q4020aa2f1t05uur50hfdm (AT) 4ax (DOT) com, John <uk (AT) nYg (DOT) com> wittered on forthwith; Thanks for all the advice. I think I would also have to give the Focus a miss too because speaking to a few people who own one of them as well, the headlights on them don't sound like they are much easier to change yourself and have the same issues as the Megane. I have always liked Seat's and I like the design of the Leon. Is it Reliable and easy to maintain though? A few people here have been saying that VW's are not as reliable as they used to be or as well made and Seat is part of VAG now so....? I quite like the Seat Leon. Drives 10 times better than a Mk5 Golf., is cheaper and doesn't have the "prestige" bollocks about it. My choices would be as following. 1. Focus. 2. Focus. 3. Focus. 4. Leon. 5. Walking 6. Golf. Ah I thought it was you that liked the Leon. Have you ever driven a Cupra R one? |
He does.
And the Cupra R is great in a sort of "this isn't quite German in the way it
drives but it's fun nevertheless" way. I like it.
--
The DervMan
www.dervman.com
#28
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Thanks for all the advice. I think I would also have to give the Focus a miss too because speaking to a few people who own one of them as well, the headlights on them don't sound like they are much easier to change yourself and have the same issues as the Megane. |
Replacing a headlight bulb yes, the rest of it, no.
Quote:
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I have always liked Seat's and I like the design of the Leon. Is it Reliable and easy to maintain though? A few people here have been saying that VW's are not as reliable as they used to be or as well made and Seat is part of VAG now so....? I am thinking I probably will have to go for Honda or Toyota next. |
Quote:
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I wonder how long it will take for car manufacturers to get it into their heads that we also want a good value, reliable, easy to maintain well built car with a good spec? |
Replacing a headlight bulb on just about *anything* isn't easy.
Deal with it.
Quote:
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I'm not surprised a lot of car manufacturers are up a creek with only one paddle at the moment in Europe and especially America. |
--
The DervMan
www.dervman.com
#29
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I am thinking I probably will have to go for Honda or Toyota next. Check to see how easy (or not) it is to replace a Civic headlight bulb. |
Chris
--
Remove prejudice to reply.
#30
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Check to see how easy (or not) it is to replace a Civic headlight bulb. |
refit holder, refit back cover ? (I think the air intake hose may
have to come off on the driver's side, though.)
Access to the indicator bulbs does require removal of some lining in
the wheel arches.
None of the bulbs on my Civic requires a trip to the dealers or
anything like.
--
"I've been seduced by the chocolate side of the force."
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