Hello

I have 2001 VW Polo 1.4 16v (100bhp) which has done 78,500 not so easy miles. Having spent almost £1800 in the last year on various repairs, including a full Geabox recon, having just about sorted out my Emissions Warning Light (by cleaning the throttle body...!!) my gearbox now crunches into Reverse and takes Hulk Hogan like efforts to engage first and sometimes second, beyond this it behaves as normal. The clutch needs to be pushed down as hard as I can manage (and I'm a strong lad) and then the effort on the gearleaver can be avoided! But the biting point has also migrated to the bottom of the clutch pedals travel - could it be the clutch cable needs adjusting?

I fear this might be a pedal box failure, especially annoying as I am due to take delivery of my new car in less than a week! I have given up hope of selling privately as the clutch makes it difficult to drive, and I honestly would feel awful about knowing the person who paid me for this financial black hole! So I am selling it to a large faceless trader who I shall not name, but needless to say, I don't feel too bad about giving it to them!

So - the question is, can there be a quick, cover fix if it is the pedal box that has cracked? If the clutch cable were adjusted, might this fool whoever the large faceless organisation send to check how the car drives?

I would appreciate any solutions people could suggest, other than to review my ethical principles!!

Many thanks.

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I went to see a mint condition 98 Alerma today, it was 90 minutes way by public transport so it took me a long long time to get there. When I arrived the car was out ready for my viewing it had P reg plates on it and it was of a different trim. Clearly a different car, I asked if this was the same car as it was in the add and he said yes.

I spent 1 minute looking at the car and in that time discovered that the milleage had increase by 4000 and one of the sills was completly rotten and within 30cm of a seat belt pescribed area yet it had 10 months MOT on it.

I calmly told him the car has excessive rust and is not in surburb condition he then said what do you expect for £800. I just left and I could have got into a big argument about the trades descriptions act.

Anyway I am annoyed as my day has been wasted.

This is not my only experience like this but it is the worst, I now have no trust in motor dealers as a lot of them seem like crooks, I assume this just because I am looking at the lower end of the market but what is the point on not being clear in adverts? The add on autotrader shows the same type of car but it has R plates on it, there is no rust on the car in the add and it clearly did not state the car in the pic was just for illustration purposes.

Is this sort of experience typical? Read more

Am into my 2nd (real) mid-life crisis. Having got one out of the way in November 2006 (heart attack = Saab Convertible). I have now been diagnosed with a degenerative neurological condition. A big thank you, Dr Parkinson, for giving it a name!

Courtesy of DVLA, it is likely that my driving days will be numbered eventually, and I want to go out with a bang rather than a whimper. Looking to spend £15k + trade in on my C4 Picasso on something sporty and comfortable and even quite practical for day to day use. I don't mind having to get on hands and knees to get out of it, as long as I can get IN it!

1st thoughts err towards an SLK or even a Cayman. That's the heart speaking. The other voice; emanating from my head, says some form of 6 cyl exec' i.e. BMW 3 series or Merc' CLK or an Audi. Pray to God my backside has no say in it then heaven knows what we will end up with. Got to be auto, leather.

Choices, choices. Read more

I think good, wouldnt have a car without it. Maybe because most of my driving is done north of Carlisle in light traffic compared to the more manic parts of the UK. Read more

Posted before about a passat TDI with power problems. I want to take out the MAF Sensor and clean it, but have read that it is a very sensative part and needs to be cleaned with the right stuff. I've come across a specialist product produced by a company called CRC, but they are based in America. Anyone know of a similar product in the uk, or a good alternative ? Read more