Ekona

My suggestion is don't. Unless the car came with them from factory, they look like ugly stuck on chavvy tat. And even when the factory does fit them, they still look awful at times (I'm looking at you, Merc C class and new FFRR!).

Best engine oil? I'd say the Motul 300V stuff is about the best you can get, but it ain't cheap.

Have you never changed a wheel?

Thats how it was with my estate agents when I sold. Its a bit of a con really, as rather than charge say 1%, they worked out that 1% of their "valuation" of my house of £200k is £2000 and so thats what they would charge for their fees as a fixed price. So you agree to that. Then of course, it transpires that they have overvalued your house and you end up selling for £180k and the estate still gets his £2k which works out at a higher percentage of £180k. Mine has a cracking set of pins and wears short skirts and high heels whenever I've seen her, so I figure I also get my money's worth that way

I haven't, you're right!

Actually, it's a locking wheel nut key.

Also, please don't spend a fortune on nice wheels then put crappy spacers on. At least buy the decent ones, like Eibach from the traders on here.

DO NOT DRIVE WITH ONE NUT MISSING

Or buy a motorbike.

I change usually just 'cos I want something different. Everything I've owned has been pretty much unique in one way or another, and I like driving different things.

Should be 'Kill it with fire'

And then it's time for you to sell it, correct?

Don't buy them yourself, that's just going to end in a world of pain, I can see it now. Give him the contact details and the EXACT wheels you want him to buy. Let KF do it for you.

Agreed. If he lost the roof scoop, and actually finished the bodywork without the dodgy edges, I reckon that'd be ace.

Trust me, it's in there PMX: Yes, declare it all.

No, that would be an argument you'd need to have with the insurers to make sure you get market value. If it's miles out, then you can bet the GAP co will be doing the same and then that could really drag out. If the value of the loan is always less than the value of the car, and almost without exception if it started off like that then it always will be, then you do not need GAP insurance.

@Grundy: They do, yes. However, they're done in such a way that you're pretty much always in negative equity for a good year or more, unless you get lucky with the car you buy.

Can't help on the car I'm afraid, but your friend needs to declare the intake to his insurance company ASAP... Also, lols at the random potato

This is very true

Yeah, that's not quite right. If you think about it, the loan is secured on the car so if the car no longer exists, then the finance co have no asset to claim in event of you not paying. My own documentation corroborates that, and you also have to inform them before selling the vehicle for the same reason. In practice no-one does the latter (I didn't), as you pay the finance off with the proceeds of the car. I can only imagine the headache you'd get trying to get them to give permission for you to sell the car...!

He may not know any different, to be fair to him.

Two things: 1. You probably have damaged your engine. It may or may not be terminal, but it's almost certain that there is some damage caused by running that low on oil. 2. Stop using Magnatec. It's p*ss thin crap that I wouldn't use in a lawnmower, much less a car.

Not at all. I'll use my own recent example of the 911. 2 year old car, cash price £62K, total finance cost £75K, monthly payment £1K (or something like that). I drive it for 6mths then crash it and write it off. Insurance company pay out market value, let's say it's £58K, and since I've only paid 6mths that £6K I've knocked off the finance deal, leaving me with £69K I owe the finance company. I've only got a cheque from the insurance co for £58K, so I now need to find £11K out of my own pocket to pay them off. Or essentially what Sargara said. You can't carry on paying for an asset that no longer exists: In your friend's case he took out a personal loan, but most people do not.

To cover negative equity. Motor insurance doesn't cover that.

It's probably illegal too unless it's in his contract, which is highly unlikely. I'd be tempted to mention that to him, he doesn't deserve to get shafted like this.