Conference terri::cars_uk

[I'm posting this request here, as MAIL isn't working... again]

Phil,

on noticing this note I was tempted to move it somewhere, but having
read through it I feel it perhaps warrants a topic of its own... could
you amend the title to reflect the general feeling of the note?
Cheers,

Chris.

re.0:

You've done 36,000 miles and not noticed poor performance? 

Dave.

    It was a "takeover" car.
    I queried the cars performance and acceleration at servicing. I
    guess you get used to whatever you drive; it's a question of having
    something to compare against!
    I've also had a continual problem with the engine overheating, whatever the
    weather, which the garage has constantly dismissed. I don't know if
    it's related or not(?).
    For front tyres to last 36,000 miles is pretty impressive stuff.
    However, I've always felt the tyre grip (especially from start) has been
    poor and consequently tried to drive a little more carefully/reservedly.
    Phil.L� 
                                               

    
    The second part of your note seems seriously worrying if correct (re:
    detuning cars); and it sounds well dodgy.
    
    The first part I'm also concerned about having recently had a puncture
    on one of the back tyres on my Cavalier and had it replaced with some
    kak tyre that Leaseplan suggested ATS should fit.  As I use the car
    abroad and obviously adhere to higher speed limits (where permissible
    of course!) I'm very concerned that the tyre(s) fitted aren't up to the
    original equipment specification.  The Firestones that were on it from
    new were far higher quality than the crap I've been palmed off with
    after having both fronts changed a while ago...
    
    Anybody else had hassles with tyres/Leasplan?
    
    Chris.

    I haven't an issue with Leaseplan, it's with Hertz.
    Leaseplan have got to be the first port of call, since they administer
    the scheme.

    It appears that the Leasing company go with whatever is the cheapest
    tyre, regardless of quality. At the end of the day it's still legal, and
    they pick the cost, we just drive the cars.
    This is also why my Vauxhall garage couldn't replace the tyres at during
    the servicing. Unfortunately, it means two trips.

    Phil.L�

    I can understand Hertz trying to save money on replacement tyres which
    should be the same standard as the original if not the same make, but
    de-tuning engines ? I can't believe that.
    
    Royston

    I have NEVER had any problem getting original equipment tyres re fitted
    or better. Mind you my last few Vauxhalls  - Astra GTE, Calibra 16v
    Cav SRI 16v have all been PHH. And only a few weeks ago I had my local
    dealer (at service time )replace a punctured rear tyre with the same 
    model Firestone that was damaged. It's had a pair of MXV's on the Front 
    that I had fitted at Halfords, and once PHH even refused to have the 
    tyres I wanted fitted because they were not HIGH enough rating......
    Perhaps it's best if you TELL them what your having( within reason)  
    not ask ???
    
    Matt.
    
    Matt.

Due to the nature of my driving I am now on my third set of rears and second set 
of fronts on my BMW 525TDS(56K miles). The orginal Uniroyals were okay but lost 
grip in the wet after 14K, I therefore wanted something a bit better and had my 
local tyre dealer fitted Yokohama 509's. This was with the agreement of Hertz who 
have not complained about my average life of 17.5k per set and these are 225/55,s
The tyre dealer in question a small local independent speaclises in high 
performance tyres and is cheaper than all the national chains which may account 
for Hertz's co-operative attitude.  Please note these are not the very soft 
compound Yokohama AVS tyres that give great grip but only last about 12k but one 
of my collegues in OLO has had AVS's fitted to his Subuaru? Legacy Turbo a while 
back via Hertz. In my case Hertz have been very helpful.

For the benefit of those of you in the Warrington office the dealers name is Jim 
Jefferies they are based in Stockton Heath near the London Bridge pub on London 
Road of the A49 approx 7miles from OLO.     

Back to the performance issue perhaps you should ask hertz to rebill Digital as 
though the car is a Cavalier 2.0GL if the performance is the same. That ought get 
the attention of car fleet. IMHO the trade description act surely state that goods 
supplied should be as stated. I am willing to bet Vauxhalls broucheres dont 
specify detuned SRI's therefore unless you were notified of this difference then I 
would have thought that Hertz would be in breach of the act. Following this train 
of thought the list price is higher than 2.0GL which means you are paying more tax 
for less performance. 

Good luck in resolving the problems. 

  

This thread brings to mind the case of a fellow employee (since left 
the Company some years ago) who had a Vauxhall leasemobile (it could 
have been PHH or Hertz, I can't recall which) which proudly 
proclaimed 2.0i on its bootlid. He was not happy with the 
performance, especially when towing his caravan, and a group 
inspection of the said vehicles engine in the Viables car park 
revealed a carburettor as the method of fuel delivery, not an 
injector in site!!!

- John.

    Hi,
    
    As a matter of interest I have just had a Cav 16V SRi and the tyres on
    this are 195 V88 (carn't remember exact spec) but the drivers manwell
    only mentions V86 and V87 tyres ???  Any offers... not had time to ask
    at my local Vauxhall dealer yet....
    
    - MARK -
    

What is the legal position that Hertz, Digital and our Insurers would be 
in you were unfortunate enough to have a serious accident because of a 
high speed blowout?

After the police had scraped the bits off the road and had them analysed 
them to find out why you and a coachload of kids had died, they would 
probably find that the manufacturers recommended tyre had not been fitted 
and lay the blame fairly and squarely on the cars owners/operators. (bit 
dramatic but you get the picture)

Vauxhall make a recommendation of V rating, V rating should be fitted.

I have never had a problem getting the right tyres fitted for my cars, but 
every one has been a PHH car. I have heard reports about Hertz getting 
shirty about fitting tyres.

I await the outcome with Leaseplan with interest.

Stuart

    I had the same problem with lower rated tyres being fitted.  I only
    discovered after a blow out on the outside lane of the M4 that
    replacement tyres on my 200sx were not of the same speed rating as those
    originally fitted and specified in the owners manual.  The tyre company
    claimed this was on the specific instruction of PHH.  Admittedly I
    don't drive at over 100mph but it's still worrying.
    
    When I had the tyre replaced I asked whether there were any other
    differences between the ratings and the technician told me that
    acceleration should also be taken into account.  Not being a physicist
    I don't know whether this is pertinent.
    
    Next time I will be more vigilant.
    
    

    
    I doubt any tyres which would fit a 200sx would be rated lower than 120
    mph, but it's been reported here numerous times (and I too have been
    told this by tyre fitters) that acceleration and cornering forces are 
    relevant when considering the rating of tyres on a car.
    
    Mark
    
    PS Next the lease companies will be fitting cheaper brake pads! 

>    PS Next the lease companies will be fitting cheaper brake pads! 

...and the `economy' airbag, which consists of a Sainsbury's carrier
bag and a party popper!

Chris.

    
>    (Mark) PS Next the lease companies will be fitting cheaper brake pads! 
    
    Do lease cars have brakes? I thought you were just supposed to stop
    by running into things :-)
    
    Richard

If you think about this statement it all starts to fall apart: 
1	modern cars such as the SRi can't be easilly de-tuned. The tuning is 
	built into the performance mapping of the engine management system, a 
	sophisticated computer that controls every aspect of the engine. To 
	retune the engine you'd have to remap this system, not a task for the
	average garage mechanic on a PDI!
2	When is this going to be done?; obviously on a PDI, it's too late after
	delivery as a drop in performance will be noted, but it couldn't be 
	before the PDI as often the cars will be supplied from stock models. 
	Again, for Hertz to contact a garage and specify this how this task is
	performed seems unlikely.
3	What about re-sale?; to sell a car as an SRi that isn't would be against 
	the trades description act, yet if I were driving one, and bought it
	privately, Hertz wouldn't take it back and return it re-tuned! Nor 
	could they specify that every garage that collected the end-of-leases 
	performed the re-tuning.

I believe it was a statement made over the phone to try and justify to an 
assumed unknowledgeable customer why he didn't need high speed tyres.

Richard
 

    
    re .16
    
    Could the practice of 'chipping' not be applied? Replacement chips can
    enhance performance, so why not degrade performance also. Then at 
    resale time swap back in the original. Would this not be the work
    of a few minutes on a new car?
    
    Just more consiracy theory :-)
    
    Terry
    

    Also there's usually a pot you can twiddle that controls the base
    setting of the "spit time" of the injectors. Sounded more like
    it would weaken the mixture to me , but people have claimed it
    affects whether the engine burns more fuel/more power or the
    opposite.
    Perhaps this is the "mod"?
    
    Matt

    I have  Rover GTI.
    
    I went in to have 4 tyres changed last month. I asked for Pirelli
    P600's as they were originally on the car. They car came back with 3
    dunlop's and a P600 (the spare) and the best P600 left over in the boot
    at a spare. The car seems better in the dry but mor nervous in the dry.
    
    My point is that someone said to me that you should NOT mix tyres on
    the same axle. I know this applied to crossply/radial, but same make of
    tyre? Anyone know?
    
    :Kevin

    It is not _illegal_ to mix different brands of tyres, but it is not
    advisable, especially if you are driving a performance car (or even a
    ROver ;-)).
    
    In recent years i have always INSISTED on original make tyres, and if
    the lease company refuse then i kick up a fuss - after all, we are
    paying for the higher-spec tyres out of our own lease cost.
    
    mb

    
    Agree with -1.... no matter how fast your car is, it is the tyres that keep
    it on the road and even though it is legal to mix the same spec tyre on
    an axle if it is a diff manufacture then grip, wear, etc wet and dry
    WILL be different.... ( I wouldn't mix the same manufactured tyre if it
    was diff either, as above still applies )  At the end of the day
    depending on your driving style/ability and motor you drive you may not
    notice the difference, but there is one.
    
    Don't forget, you drive the car not the lease company....
    
    - MARK -
    

    When I went to get new tyres on my 19 16v, PHH actually informed the
    tyre company not to use the tyres they had recommended and told them to
    us another make.

    
    I didn't know there was any other sort of tyre that fitted a 19 16v
    apart from the original equipment ones...?
    
    Chris.