Rather sooner than expected, I've been promoted and now qualify for a subsidised lease car.

It's a four year lease and includes everything bar the kitchen sink - private miles, servicing, tax and insurance plus being able to claim a small amount for business miles.

I've worked out a shortlist and had the quotes, and my contribution for the following cars, including income tax, per month for four years, is (all specc-ed with metallic paint):

Honda Jazz 1.4 dsi sport £110
Fabia vRS with added cruise control and side airbags: £130
Audi 1.9tdi SE: £220
Audi 1.9tdi Sport with cruise control: £230
Ibiza Cupra with cruise control: £230

I think the Audis and the Ibiza are out of budget, so realistically that leaves the Jazz and the vRS. I'm totally in love with the cheeky little jazz and all it's clever little touches, but the vRS is what I've wanted for so long! The only thing stopping me going for the vRS is that all our cars come on four year leases and it's looking a bit tired now. The dealer said there will be a tiny change in May (body coloured door handles) and might be a new model out next year but I can't wait until then to change my car. On the other hand, the Jazz has just had it's facelift and there are apparently no plans to make it look like a plastic Civic.

I pootle around Hampshire quite a lot, and there's still fairly regular trips back to the midlands, so it needs to be a good motorway car. I don't want to be filling up all the time, hence the diesels, but the Honda has amazing economy.

So would the sensible thing to do be to get the Honda? Or would you go for the budget busting Audis/Cupra? Or the Skoda? My promotion equates to about an extra £300 a month after tax, so that would eat that up, but on the other hand I wouldn't be paying out for car related stuff so would probably still be better off. Does a Honda Jazz say 'boss' though, like an A3 does?

Help! Read more

I guess some of you will read the title to this thread and think its a post about "another low life scum illegal immegrant who mows down children while high on drugs"

Well, you would be wrong, its about my dear Mums car.

So here's the story from start to end...

A few years back my Mum bought a new (second hand) car. It needed Tax so she went to the post office and bought a years tax, the PO took the log book and said they would send it to the DVLA. One year later Mum notices that the tax is about to expire and realises that she never got the log book back. After several phone calls to DVLA she managed to buy another years tax although I'm unsure of the exact details.

So lets fast forward another year to the present day. Mum is dead.

The car is sat on the drive, the MOT has expired, the Insurance has expired and the tax has run out. I can't find the log book and a reminder for the tax never arrived. Mum died on Christmas eve and the tax expired at the end of March. I now have the letters of administration so I can deal with her estate. It is possible that the issue with the log book was never sorted out properly and the car may still be registered with the previous owner.

It's been a long time since I've posted on this board, although I read here almost every day. Previous experience has shown me that there is a huge amount of knowledge that you guys (and girls!) are willing to share, so here are my questions...

1 - Should I SORN the car? If so how? Am I liable for a fine?
2 - How do I get a new log book?
3 - What do I do next?
4 - The car is not worth much (I would guess around £800), whats the best way to dispose of it?

Thanks in advance.

BTW - If any smokers want help to quit, I'm happy to share the details of my mother's death with you (privately). I used to be a smoker.....
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Advice appreciated...

I have been keeping my eyes open for a reliable economical diesel run around for a while now and I spotted the above with 25,000 miles on the clock in Autotrader. It is a private seller and they are asking £4495 which seems a bit optimistic to me after looking at the valuation guides.

Are the Rover 25's ok or is there any glaring problems that I should know about?

I have a L-reg 106 1.4D at the moment and it feels like the clutch is about to go (again!) but apart from clutch problems it has always been mega reliable and I wouldn't mind something similar again - just not a Peugeot because of the weird pedal situation!

As for why it has to be a diesel, I just prefer to spend more on the car and less on the fuel... I had a 106 1.1 and put in £20 a week, a Corsa 1.0 and put in the same, a 206 2.0 HDI and put in £25 a month and the same for the 106 1.4D. For some reason I don't seem to get the book figures with a petrol? Maybe its something to do with being a woman driver...

Allie Read more

Hi, I currently own a Vauxhall Zafira 2.0 Ltr DTI, Elegance. Registered 09/2000 and has covered 91,000 miles.

Like changing the oil on this car I needed specific tools to undo the sump plug etc (Torx),however, I need to change the front discs and pads on my Zafira. I have a haynes manual to refer too, but can anyone advise on specific tools I may need to buy inorder to remove the brake callipers and pads, I am thinking of sockets etc.

Thank you
Nick Shep Read more

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