The reaction of VW does not surprise me, with their attitude to UK customers and their different treatment of US customers
My experience is a long time ago,but still bugs me. I bought a New VW Jetta Diesel in 1980 and ran it to approximately 40,000 miles.when the engine failed, with a crack in one of the engine cylinders. I contacted VW who were not interested, and disclaimed any responsibility.
This was obviously long before the internet and mass communication, but eventually I found out that the failure had happened to other VW Jetta Diesels in the UK with the same result VW did not want to know.
To keep the story short, In time and purely by chance I met a man who had been involved with VW sales in the US. He told me that the same problem had happened to the same engine in the US, and they had been given a directive by VW, to replace the engines with no questions.
Needless to say, but to this day I have never bought another VW.



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OK, before anti Renault people pooh pooh the ideas, I will admit that I like Renaults both from the past and now. But I also like other makes too.

However, one thing I don't like in general is part of the car choosing and buying process where you simply want to test drive a car but find that you invariably have to do so with a salesman accompanying you. (I would stress that I am not against them per se, they are simply doing their job) I just want to be able to get a feel and gather my own thoughts about a potential new car without being distracted or chatting away etc or have the pressure of knowing that "negotiations might be afoot".

So I was really interested to see adverts recently for "Renault Drive" events being held around the country at race tracks. Basically they are primarily there to show off the new Megane, but most of the other cars in the range are there too. The events allow you to test drive any of the cars, by yourself on public roads, for about 9 miles or so.

I went along to one this weekend and in my opinion, it's a really good idea. You have to sign up online before you arrive (if you want to test drive) and provide driving licence details.

And from my point of view, it all worked very well. I turned up, confirmed my details then they literally gave me the key to firstly a new Twingo and sent me on my way around the local roads. Then when I got back, I did the same thing again, this time in a Clio - they even found a particular version that I was really keen to try.

Lots of other people were doing the same in Kadjars, Meganes and Capturs and Zoes.

On returning from the test drive, you simply hand the key back and that's it - no hard or any sell (unless you want to discuss such things, and you make the approach) and you can either then make your way home or hang around and watch a racing driver racing a racing car around a small track, see other people doing obstacle courses etc. It was all very relaxed and well run.

Anyway, it must have cost Renault a lot to stage these, but if it helps lead to sales, good on them.

I wonder whether other makers might do a similar sort of thing? It certainly was a good way to check cars out in your own time and pace.

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I bought this car and having it rebuilt - in South Africa

have just been given a list of parts to source here , anybody got a pointer where
to find a reliable supplier ; The engine is called a DX4 , 2300 cc

parts include ;

Engine main bearings
Big end bearings
piston rings
Carb kit - a Weber 20/26
Timing chain and tensioner
Intake valves
intake and outlet exhaust valves
full gasket set


Labour is a lot cheaper there , so if I can get the parts sourced in the UK they can get on with the job


Car having a full bare metal respray , so should be mint when all done


constructive comments only pls Read more

I've had a look on the HJ car reviews and this issue has not been added.

Wife's 2013 Fiesta is showing brown water mark staining on the interior area above the rear view mirror.

It's dry. The screen does not show signs of deterioration and the aerial does not have any gaps around base.

Is this a generic problem? If anyone has this model and experienced the same thing how was it remedied?

Cheers in anticipation of your replies. Read more

My 2001 automatic C200 Kompressor has an intermittent start failure. The instrument display does not show the gear position, but all electrical components work. The battery has been replaced, the starter motor has been rebuilt along with the solenoid and the fuses have been checked. At times the car starts straight away, other times the key has to be in position 1 and wait for 30 seconds to 5 minutes before the gear indicator shows and the car will then start. Other times, the car just refuses to start. I have used the gear lever lock override to take the car out of Park and putting it into Neutral to try to start it. Again this is a hit and miss. Sometimes the fault persists for up to 2 weeks. Thank you in advance for any advice. Read more