astonbuilder

I'd personally go for diesel as IMO better driveability over petrol engined cars. Once you've had the more useable mid-range torque there's no looking back..... Unless you're buying new there's no reason to not find diesel and petrols at much closer prices, if not the same, so the age old argument of having to do 1000's of miles to offset the additional cost holds less weight. However with diesel prices going through the roof the saving on MPG is being offset somewhat. You're doing the right thing trying both but do make sure you 'drive' them not just pootle round the block for a mile or so

So all of a sudden chrome mirrors are cool. Tell people Rover 75's had 'em and maybe not so cool anymore..... I personally don't like them, think they look cheap, completely opposite to the perception I guess they are supposed to be giving out?

My view is 'benefit of the doubt' is on your side because they didn't check it and you immediately pointed out the issue. Small claims court is easy-peasy and cheap and I can't see you losing this one BUT chance to let the 'boss' resolve it first has to be given as 'reasonableness' on your behalf always counts when having to go to the law

How is something you give a 'yank' to an anti-theft feature, is that really designed to deter some yob scum pondlife who wants it?

You'd be suprised how many car dealers (all brands) use aftermarket ones for stock vehicles (how many don't declare it and charge OE prices is another matter....). I knowingly had them on my new Volvo, as recommended by dealer, for fraction of the price and colour coded. Absolutely perfect. I am having them retrofitted to my 06 Merc' estate and the dealer is using aftermarket ones but they will be fully warranted by the Merc' warranty as done through dealer.

I've moved to a Merc' now but wanted a rubber boot liner for our dog. One bit of advice was this site Search Looks like good ideas/products

I have a steel dog-guard from an 06 plate Octavia hatch if you're interested in buying it? Came with the car, which I no longer have - I've never fitted it but previous owner was a Briskoda member so I trust it is a Skoda one!!!

I reckon your car is a very careful chinese copy - its not really a Skoda but something called a Skado - they're that good the only mistake they made copying the blurry MPEG picture they had was in the badge colouring.....

Thats what I was on about in my earlier thread and what I had in my Octy hatch. Well recommended. Tell you what if it doesn't fit in my new Merc' estate (picking it up tomorrow evening:thumbup:) I'll let you have it cheap, me being an ex-Skud driver and thinking what a nice bunch of peeps you all are:) First dibs to Soldatov though if interested

The film for front ends is usually a quite thin as whislt people want to protect their cars they don't want it visbible - however it protects against stones quite well at high speeds..... Look at the bottom of the rear door on the wheelarch of your car and you should see the type of thing I mean. This is a growing aftermarket item now but a tip for you; for such a simple, flat area some of our clients/dealers used window protective film (to stop glass shattering and falling out, security, etc.) which was a bit thicker. Should easily withstand the dogs claws and is easily replaceable every now and then if it starts to go a bit tatty

The film is easy enough, you use soapy water to float it into place and then squeegy it on. Its a simple flat area to do, we used to do it on Aston Marting front ends and bulbous wings. With my skud I was given a nylon boot liner that had sides about 8" deep and there was a flop out piece to protect the rear bumper - it did a sterling job the few times I used it. I've seen similar items on flea-bay, look for mats and boot liners and then check out there other items

Well that's it - the Skud has gone. New owner returned off holiday and came up from IOW to collect last night with a huge pile of notes in his pocket. Nice bloke and I've given him the site details to get in touch so hopefully he'll enter the foray in the near future. Also I've realised what an excellent site this is having logged onto a Merc' one (the brand I've defected to, but also previously been part of a Smart site and a Pug 107 site - both really good), friendly enough but probably smaller population so not half as chatty as you lot - this is an excellent site people and a great bunch of (generally) non judgemental people giving good solid advice not tainted by rose-hued optical appliances

Don't worry about losing the company car - its actually quite liberating. I gave up two company cars when I left my last business ( A Disco series 3, 2.7 TDi HSE and a Volvo V50 2.4 auto). I now scan autotrader and such like looking for cars I want and/or have 'missed out on' over the years and its amazing what you can get for so little cash for a 2-3 year old Luxo-barge. Also, get your company finance manager (or whoever deals with car insurance) to write a letter on company headed notepaper and most big named insurance companies will recognise your history as NCB - I got 6 years NCB from NU this way and it wasn't as scary a cost as I thought it would be.

The manufacturer declares the C02 including all options, etc. and once set can't be changed. Auto/DSG gearboxes can obviously make a difference but also alloy wheels. On Smart cars for example a few people suggested to new buyers to buy without alloys/optional bigger one's so it came in at the £35pa rate and retro-fit them afterwards when it didn't affect the official rating.

May not be a Merc' yet, thats just the one that kept 'coming top' in all my search parameters. Also considering Audi A6 and BMW 5 series. Volvo V70 is in with a look-in (although I've had 5 T5's and XC70's and interior quality isn't very robust) and today I test drove a wild-card Subaru Legacy. Only issues with the Scooby is petrol only and the dealer told porkies (or didn't know his brand) over the C02 emmisions as the 3 litre is in band G taxation....ouch. However £3k cheaper or 3 years newer than the alternative mentioned 'premium' brands - I must have got a lets-be-different gene from the Skoda ownership!!!! Skud is still on the drive as new owner left deposit before going on hols so I promised I wouldn't do my house/garden clearance before handing it over....he he