I doubt there's a definitive answer here. It could limp on for the necessary few weeks or it could disintegrate completely tomorrow. In my experience of terminal release bearing problems, sooner rather than later is more likely.

You can help matters by performing clutchless changes where possible (i.e. once it's moving). Presumably if you're trying to avoid changing the bearing before getting rid, the synchromesh cones don't owe you anything either :-)

Well done - it's a rare event when a dealer will admit to a problem of his own making and put it right. I give all credit to him.

It's also satisfying to see that Forums such as this excellent one can be used to achieve worthwhile results for agrieved consumers. As a generality, vehicle makers and dealers seem to be oblivious to the Internet - ignoring the fact that we can all now compare experiences, faults and their resolution. This will cost them dear in the long run and I suspect the Japanese makers are more aware of this than many others and are thus more open with their problems....

I agree inexperience is inexperience, i feel someone learning to drive at 27 has just the same level of ability as a 17 year old. I also feel if you just bumped it to 21 it'd go from the group of 18 year old plebs who crash a Saxo into a lamp post on drugs into the batch of 22 year old plebs who crash a Saxo into a lamp post on drugs. My point is with all the stuff the Government puts out of how untrustworthy teenagers are behind the wheel, the pseudo scientists with their "in teenage years your ability to make proper decisions isnt yet fully formed" stuff and insurance companies all less than keen to have teenagers as customers that its surprising the age wasnt raised some time ago. I dont think it should be, i think practically it'll make little difference. In America you can get a learners permit at 15, in Australia i believe they start at 16, in fact its 18ish in most countries so its not like we're drastically younger or that much different to anywhere else really.

The only area where it sort of makes some sense i suppose is that although a 27 year old learner has no more/less ability than a 17 year old (in fact many youngsters have perfect ability in controlling a car) its the attitude, mentality and decision making which does change as you get slightly older. Confidence as well. When i stalled at the lights in a learner car at 17 i absolutely fell apart, but ive met people who started lessons in their 20s and had alot more confidence and were much calmer and it wasnt as much of an issue for them....