Ratboy

What happens is, you connect the wires to the existing witness within the vehicle using scotchlocks or similar - these then plug into the bypass relay - the electrics from the towbar then plug into the other side and it prevents the bulb out warning showing when something is connected txt he towbar electrics. It is powered by a 12v supply - I usually use a switched live but you can also use a permanent live. It's not a case of plugging it into somewhere on the car. You need to find the wire which powers the offside indicator and connect it to the corresponding wire - then near side indicator, offside and near side position lamps, stop lamps and fog lamp. I've done it twice now so I'm quite used to it but if you have no experience of auto electrics then you may struggle.

It puts more strain on engine components so there is a likelihood that they may wear out sooner. The vehicles may also put out more CO2 and the tax band would be higher. There are some vehicles that the manufacturers do this on. Look at the 1.2tsi fitted to the Fabia 2. It comes in 3 different power levels where the engines are essentially the same and only the map is different.

It's not a Skoda dealer, it's an independent used car place. To be fair they did say it had a chain - it's the auto trader advert which says TFSi - which got me thinking. Thanks for all the replies confirming.

Can anyone confirm if a car I'm looking at has a timing belt or a chain. I've tried searching but am still none the wiser. The car is an Octavia VRs 2.0 TFSi on a 2011 plate. Dealer says chain but I thought they were belts till they became TSi engines - but I'm no expert. Can anyone shed any light? Thanks.

Cheers for that mate - it's much appreciated - PM on its way [emoji106]

Thanks very much for the reply Steve. It's at Auto Vogue, Cygnet Park, PE7 8JA. We've made arrangements to go down on Friday but the dealer wants a deposit (fair enough) but it's non refundable if the car isn't as described. Just looking to see if there's any dings, scratches, dodgy paint, scuffed wheels etc.

Hi, a good mate of mine is looking for a Mk2 facelift Octavia. He's found one he's really keen on at a dealer in Peterborough. We are in Glasgow so it's a fair distance to drive if it's no good. Anyone in the area that would fancy taking a bit of time out their day to go and check it out? Thanks.

Good evening. A friend of mine is looking at a Blue Petrol VRs with the VRM DE12XRM. It's currently for sale in the Peterburgh area. Is the car known to anyone on here? Thanks.

I Take it your budget doesn't include fitting? I git one for my Ibiza (same one fits Polo and Fabia). It's not a detachable, it's a swan neck, but 2 bolts and the bar is off and it's almost invisible. I use mine for a bike rack and small trailer. You'll need 7 pin electrics for the lights on the bike rack. Mine are wired through a bypass relay and I've had no problems with bulb warning lights on the dash. I got mine from eBay from towbars4cars which also go under the name toys4vans - but I don't see anything on their eBay shop now. Fitting was pretty straight forward if you've not done it before.

You write off your car and due to depreciation it's market value is £10k - which is what the insurance company give you, however in all likelihood you'll owe more than that - the gap insurance will cover the difference. Depending on which level of cover you have you may get more - my policy covers the difference in what the insurance payout to the amount that model of car would cost you today.

Do you not get a space saver from the factory and a full size from the dealer though? That's been the case on a couple of VAG cars I've purchased.

Witter is a decent make so that looks an excellent deal. I have a swan neck style bar on my Ibiza and use it for a bike rack and small trailer. Single electrics is fine and yes a bypass relay will be required. You fitting it yourself?

I find the Bridgestones very noisy - I find the contis nice but a bit softer and wear quicker.

I have a small trailer for dump runs etc and I use these http://www.ebay.co.uk/ulk/itm/200971465966 I just wrap them round the underside of the trailer as I don't have the hooks for proper ratchet straps.

Go on gapinsurance123- and phone the number after getting a quote. They're a broker and you always end up getting a better deal. Our £36k 5 Series back to a brand new same spec car (so if a new model comes out we get the price of that) was £160 for 4 years cover! The broker is called Aequitas.