RE: [doc] Re: "new" new cars

["Lloyd Bonson" <lloyd_bonson@xxxxxxxxxxx>]

This topic has posted some interesting discussions.

Certainly agree with Claire about the insurance. I took out GAP insurance on 
a Fiesta in 1999, car was written off in 2001 when someone hit me from 
behind and cracked the chassis.  The value I got from my normal insurace was 
about £1,000 short of what I still owed on the finance - luckily the GAP 
insurace made up the differance and gave me some more for the deposit on a 
new car.  Cost of the GAP insurace, £150 for 3 years.  Verdict - well worth 
it.

Interesting discussion on diesel engines.  Some facts about the current 
diesel engines on the market in small cars, espexcially the talk of 
German/French diesel engines - and only because I've been heavily invovled 
in diesel engine programs within Ford.

French manufactures:-

Renault - build and design their own engines and also place them in sister 
company Nissan's cars.

PSA Peugeot-Citroen - in a joint development program with Ford on all diesel 
engines.  In fact PSA decided to work with Ford because Ford were further 
ahead on developement with 2nd generation Common-Rail technology than anyone 
else.  In fact, the diesel engines in PSAcars have more to do with design 
work done by Ford in Merkenrich, Germany & Dunton, Essex than anything the 
French have done.  To prove the point, Ford are so disspointed by the 
engines that PSA are making, they're setting up their own production line 
for the same 1.4 & 1.6 diesel engine variant in Dagenham, because the 
quality is better.

German Manufactures:-

Volkswagen/Audi - build thier engines to Bosch's Pump Duse technology.  The 
verdict is still out over which is best, Pump Duse or Common-Rail - either 
way the effect is the same; increase the power without harming the fuel 
consumption too much.

BMW/Mini - diesel engines for the Mini actually come from Toyota.  Part of a 
long term agreement for BMW and Toyota to work together on a new range of 
four-cylinder diesel engines, which will eventually involve BMW's VANOS 
technology.  Although under the current agrrement al lthe egines wil lbe 
biuld by Toyota in Asia.

GM/Opel/Vauxhall - currently using FIAT JTD engines as part of GM's 
ownership of Fiat Auro Group, which was severed at the end of last year, but 
the agreement for diesel engines will last for at last another 2 years.

So if your specifically looking foir French or German technology, your best 
bet for a good deal would be a Skoda, Seat or a Nissan.

Hope that's some help.

Lloyd




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