August 2015
New to the forum and just after some advice on a used Corsa I am interested in purchasing.
Its got 122k on the clock. I was ideally looking for something with lower mileage but I am being swayed as its just what I'm looking for in my budget (800-1000). Should I let this put me off, or does it depend on how well it's been looked after? 2004 model 1.2 sxi
Thanks in advance! Read more
I'd like to fit a DAB radio to our Honda Civic, it's an 09 and quite high spec but annoyingly has no Aux socket. Does anyone have any experience with aftermarket DAB's? I'd rather have something that isn't to intrusive on the dash. Prices seem to range from £50-£500 and I'm at a bit of a loss as to what the difference is! Read more
Its possible the Digital switchover which was supposed to happen this year may not happen at all apparently, they were looking at 2020 but it seems the takeup has not been as good as expected
so if your changing because of switchover you have no need to worry, also some people are not happy with reception or sound from digital ...
I'm looking to buy a Mazda 3 TS 1.6 petrol but I'm not sure whether to go for automatic or manual. It's gonna be an 06 or 07 plate, I'm worried that the automatic gearboxes are much more expensive to fix should anything go wrong. Is there any Mazda 3 owners that can advise whether the automatic is a good car to buy. I know the tax is a bit higher on it than manual but other than that are there any known major issues with those cars. I'm spending all my savings on it so wanna make sure I won't have big repair costs soon after. Thank you Read more
If you have trouble finding a Mazda 3 it could be worth widening the search to include the Toyota Auris (equally reliable) or Ford Focus (lots of them around to choose from and more garages able to service them).
Agree about the Auris Avant, but if its the previous model our OP should avoid the auto at all costs, its satans MMT of doom...mind i'd be wary of almost all non TC autos in a car well out of makers warranty....
Dear Honest John,
I would appreciate your advice. I bought my Honda Jazz 2 years ago, and it only had 23000 on the clock. I have been very happy with it on the whole, but it has been juddering in low gears once it has warmed up.... Read more
Mark 1 Jazzes need regaular transmission oil changes due to potentail problems with start clutches..
Read all about it here....
Is it better to have a transverse or nort south engine which benefits from equal length drive shafts.
Do newer Audis have transverse engines .? Read more
Having had both BMW's & Audi's BMW has always favour rear while drive Audi front.
Audi oddly does favour Longitudinal and front wheel drive. What this amounts to is with bigger engines weight and balance is further foward, past the front wheel of the car, and can rocking which in turn equals wheel spin. This is less notable with newer redesigned gearboxs which in effect are shorter and allow the engine to be mounted slightly further back.
I am thinking of knocking more depreciation off my next "new" car by going for a three year old model rather than the heralded 15 months and 10,000 miles idea. So- the cheaper car will be a pro--what are the cons I should look out for?
I think it is better to buy new off a broker and keep it rather than an older car. 90% of 6 month old cars with 13 to 15 thousand miles have had only one owner, usually called Hertz, Avis or Europcar!
Or ERAC - that's Enterprise Rent-A-Car
Hi I have a 2004 Laguna and the heater fan has stopped working, it is the climate control one with air con. Previously to the fan stopping working the heater was always warm even when turned down to number 16 but would be hot at number 26. I have pulled all fuses from drivers side fuse box and under the bonnet and all seem ok have also removed and replace all the relays under the bonnet but still no joy. Does anybody have any ideas please as I can't afford to pay the extortionate Renault prices but don't mind getting tools out and getting my hands dirty ha, cheers. Read more
Not 100% sure of the set up on this model,but on many French cars,the electronic speed regulator is built into the base of the blower motor plastic housing.A clue may be the number of wires connected to the fan motor unit.
Hi all, Car started off with coil light so decided to investigate as it came on at start..drove n stopped but after 5 mins light went out and it ran smoothly. So, took garage and it showed air flow sensor was faulty. Fitted new one...no light....brilliant..drove 7 miles home after stopping at conking out at every junction. Tempermental acceleration and then dropping revs. Now there's an air leak near top of engine at back. Air leak only started when new sensor fitted...never noticed air leak before. Any ideas? Read more
Yes, a good throttle clean and a well spotted air leak at the manifold. Didnt need air flow sensor but that came up on diagnostics machine. Still going strong and no lights on dash.
Has any one been to one of these places? 10 plate grand scenic privalige less than 50000 on it but interior looked like it had done over 100000 miles!! I'm not saying there up to clocking there cars but I have a scenic with 50000 miles on it and it looks new inside still ( and I have three kids) all the cars I looked at including over 10 k cars didn't look anywhere near what they should for price. This is one of the reasons lots of people get caught in the car on finance net. Crap rubbish being polished up to look new and sold at a premium price only to find five months down the line it doesn't work and any kind of warranty gold platinum nickel dimond cut super £500 extra or free rac AA whatever doesn't cover it! After buying cars and selling for over 15 years the bottom line is always you get what you pay for and main dealer 1-3 yr old cars are the best to get on finance. Read more
Well Well.
Nothing new in the original post....
The suction mount on the new Garmin nuviCam is so short that it cannot be used on very raked windscreens such as my Audi A5 coupe. The top of the nuviCam fouls the windscreen and the camera will only point to the sky making it useless. Has anyone found a solution to this problem? Read more
There are shaped pads which sit on the dashboard which such gadgets will sit on quite securely (obviously with the suction pad turned round to face down).
Browse
<< I guess you're buying from a dealer/salesman. Ignore every word of what they tell you and form your own opinion. Don't believe a word they say, unless they put it in writing and sign it! >>
If a 'dealer/salesman' is selling a car in that price range, definitely take everything with a pinch of salt. If it's a private seller, judge his character from his surroundings - you may get a bargain. Ask for all paperwork, especially servicing history. If it's all been binned, maybe look elsewhere. If there are few owners that may mean the car is reliable enough; if many, no-one wants to keep it for long.