It's time for me to get a new car to replace my Mini. I'm not looking for anything like my current car - it was originally my partner's, but various circumstances changed and I've ended up driving it for the last couple of years.

I'm 6ft 2in, and all my cars previous to the mini have been big(ish) saloons, so I'm looking at a Ford Mondeo 2.0 Zetec, Mazda 6 2.0 TS2 (last shape) or possibly a Honda Accord 2.0 EX (last shape).

I've seen that I can get an 08 Mondeo with ~3000 miles on the clock for £10,500. UK sourced car etc. I can't find a better deal than that right now, so I think that may be the one to go for.

I want something with at least 2 years manufacturers warranty remaining, with safety and reliability the main qualities I'm looking for in a car. Looking at around £10k - £10.5k.

Can anyone recommend anything better than the Motorpoint Mondeo deal described above?

Thanks. Read more

Dear all

I notice that my engine coolant evaporates really quickly on either extended journeys, or on motorways when the engine is extended.

I lost half a tankful in covering 80 miles on the motorway on Saturday.

My current coolant is a mixture of antifreeze and water - nothing special.

Is there anything that I need to use specifically?

It doesn't sound normal to me that I have to keep topping up quite regularly - once a month.

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Just got back from a tour of France in our MK7 Transit Motorhome during which we drove over the highest pass in Europe at Resterfond (9200 feet).

Some observations of this run were that, firstly the change in pressure from start, at about 3000 feet to the top meant that the gas turned on with a huge ?whoosh? when we made coffee. This calmed down when the gas regulator sorted itself out.

Secondly, that plastic milk bottle that had been opened at the top was badly squashed when we got down to our overnighting spot.

Thirdly, our Tom Tom went into a tis-was when descending the hairpin bends on the north side of the pass and said, ?turn around when possible?, this was seemingly caused by the road doubling back on itself to such a degree that it appeared as if we had done a U-turn.

Fourthly, and the main point of this post, the next morning I found that the engine had lost about a pint of coolant. There was no obvious sign of a leak anywhere, engine temperature going up the pass had been normal, outside temperature had been below freezing (it was actually snowing at the top). My guess is that due to the altitude change, the pressure cap (25 lb) had been unable to cope and had allowed some blow-off of coolant.

There is not a huge amount of through traffic over this pass, due to its remoteness, height, narrowness and only being open for three months per year and so there is not a lot of driver experience in using it. My question is, can such a loss of coolant be expected in driving over such a pass, or do I have a problem?
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Has anyone ever changed the air filter on a Focus 1.6 TDCI?

I assume it's the oblong black box at the front right of the engine bay?

Halfords don't seem to stock a suitable filter (or at least their flip book in the store isle doesn't list one).

I'm interested to hear people's views on this. Thanks Read more

Engine sounds rough at idling - as if on two cylinders - but seems OK when above idle speed. Plugs and coils have been garage checked and declared OK. Garage suggests valve burning but says compression check shows all cylinders even - any suggestions? Read more