as all p/cs data store, this car one has had a manfactures software up grade on its last service it has a gear change icon on the dash great but the car has a good torque at over 3000revs so great on the motorway but if u drive buy the book u spend all day in traffic changeing gears ie low down torque poor not a good town car ie 29 mpg motorway 47 mpg tilil u get back into town then it drops back down .when new it read full tank 430 miles now one year later full reads 330 miles this is my second focus last one was a mk2 auto same problem after the service lost 100 miles on the full tank acording to the girl on service reception same complaint from customers its ur driveing style mk 2 is a better drive than the mk 3 its lost the driver input feel .The real test should be 4 up with a loaded boot of cases then u would see the performance overall ie correct millage under load real condictions

ps iv driven a lot of fords since the 19 60s ie anglias corsars escorts mondeos why some company cars some private because all reliable servicable value for money cars when i stared motering u could get four gallons of fual for one pound fill a tank for a fiver now its liters thats 4.55 lts to a gallon a pure money makeing tax system Read more

Hi all,
Most posts on HJ are from consumers who feel to have been unfairly dealt with by car dealers .
I would like to relate a dealers perspective from the same problem .

A few days ago I received a phone enquiry on a Suzuki Sx4 diesel I advertised on autotrader .The buyer wanted to buy the car on behalf of his daughter and wanted to part exchange a Peugeot 1007 diesel .He offered £1500 plus the Peugeot .I agreed to the deal after doing a little research .It wasn't a good deal as a 1007 is not a sought after car ,and their wasn't much profit ,but times are heard and it gave me a different car to go on with .

The buyer transferred a deposit of £1000 into my account and agreed to pay the balance when they collected the car .The day before he was due to collect the car the buyer rang me to ask if the car was a 4 wheel drive .I said no ,he said he presumed all SX4 were 4wd .He didn't want the car because it was front wheel drive .Nothing in my add said 4wd .

I checked on autotrader ,out of 412 sx4 for sale 12 were 4wd .

So I did what I thought was reasonable, I said I would return £900 of his deposit ,which I've done .i retained £100 to cover the time I put into the deal ,HPI check on his px etc .

Was the buyer pleased at my reasonable approach ,No way ,unbelievably he wasn't happy .

I could have kept the whole of his deposit ,I could have kept £500 for the loss of profit .We didn't sign an order ,but paying a deposit forms a contract .

Or am I wrong or unreasonable ,it's not always car dealers that are wrong .

Tony g







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hi there,im changing the two metal oil cooler pipes on my mitsubishi l200 53 plate,was wondering if its just a case of replacing them or do i have to bleed anything relating to the fluid afterwards? Read more

Hi All
I have imported a classic car at the end of the summer from France.
It is now registered in the UK with DVLA, but I have not yet put the UK plates.
Last night I parked in a P&display and residents bay. Paid for my stay.
The car in an old convertible, therefore do not lock the doors [they cut the hood].
On my return, I found a PCN a my winscreen. And no P&display ticket.
I could park on the yellow line, but felt safer there.

Code: 12 Haringey council. Time: 20:19
There is no mention of the country the car is from.

Is there any way the car trace the keeper? I know I am fighting a lost cause with the Pay&display ticket.

Thanks. TB Read more

I have had two parts fall off in the rain. Front nearside wheel arch lining (garage reply : it must of got wet and too heavy. Doh!!) and the rear trim under the bumper that hold the reflectors and goes over the exhaust.This was yesterday and have not been to a garage yet.

Any one else had problems like this? Read more