October 2016
Since the introduction of the new paperless UK driving licence information system, has anybody been asked for the "check code" when renting a car abroad? I have rented cars in Europe and the US on numerous occasions and have only been asked for my plastic photocard, never the code (or a printout of the information I always bring with me.) Read more
Yes I have been asked for it in the USA.
However, when hiring a foreign car owned by a foreign branch of the UK hire company in the UK last time, I was not asked for it.
We have just launched our first ever Honest John Satisfaction Index. We want to know all about your current car and your ownership experience - the good, the bad and the ugly.
Help us build a picture of the nation's car habits - and you could win one of three iPads.... Read more
The Satisfaction Survey is still running! We've chosen to keep it open for a longer time period to ensure we receive as many responses as possible.
Seeing the antics of L drivers practising and being tested outside my house on a regular basis, I would like to see the introduction of a car handling
course 'off road ' ,similar to the motorbike scheme and the young driver scheme, before being allowed on public roads. I know that my daughters were far more confident when taking to the roads after such experiences. Read more
Well The Majoreyeswater has a lot to say about the standard of driving tuition. I have been a qualified driving instructor since 1983 and have never just taught someone to drive to "pass a test". I and all the qualified ADI's I know teach people safe driving for life.
How a person behaves behind the wheel of their car in the future cannot be a reflection on how they have been taught. I suspect the major has no concept of the rigorous and disciplined format the DSA strictly adhere to with the training and monitoring of driving instructors.There are of course many factors as to why accidents happen and it has been proved that young inexperienced drivers are among the most likely to have accidents but please do not publicly state the the reason is poor driving tuition from intructors when you obviously no nothing about the professional standards they apply.
My son has bought me a copy of the US version of the Which magazine.
Needless to say the recommended models are mainly Japanese, Honda Toyota Mazda and Subaru.
German cars feature too in particular Audi and to a lesser extent BMW but very few Mercedes make the grade.
No mention of French cars as they are not imported as possibly they won't stand up to the lemon laws, and one Italian small car the Fiat 500 which is considered to have poor reliability.
Tyre choice is interesting with Michielin taking all the awards.
With the US having the toughest market to crack we may do well to take note of their choices. Read more
French and Italian cars were imported into America during the energy crisis years of the seventies, but they rusted badly in American winters and were unreliable and dealers very spa*** away from the cities, so were withdrawn. I don't think an American garage would be impressed with the complexity of a Renault Laguna, and owners would soon tire of the wayward electrics and expensive repair bills.
I still reckon the traditional Detroit iron of the sixties and early seventies were among some of the best cars of the time. They might have been very uneconomical by today's standards, but were powerful, luxurious and mechanically solid cars.
Are these reliable little cars? Looking for a cheap runabout, not bothered about styling or equipment levels.
I've seen a 2006 Getz with low mileage (50k) for £1.3k.... Read more
Well I managed to get the pipe repaired by a company in Liverpool as no one could match the thread on the fittings, all went well however the power steering pump started off quite noisy and has now settled to a speed related whine ( same as a worn clutch thrust bearing sound) is this something that will possibly settle as any air disipates or will the pump prob be no good as when the pipe burst and I lost fluid it went very noisy then ? ta
Hi everyone...
I'm new to this so please excuse my lack of knowledge.
I have a Mini Cooper D 2007 which has 90k on the clock. Recently the clutch failed and I had a replacement fitted which I was told is a duel mass flywheel. I received the car back and the first issue was the under tray wasn't fastened properly and hit the road and had to be replaced. The car then developed a creaking noise from the engine bay once the engine is warm and when in low gears and lifting up and then back on the accelerator. They have had the car back and can't fine the issue.
Yesterday the oil light came on in red and I took it to them. I should point out that it went off again but when it was on there was a "tapping" noise in the engine. There was more oil in than the max but not too much which they drained off. Whilst doing this they noticed that the air box was loose and the hosing wasn't connected so they had it overnight to fix.
They reconnected this but on starting the engine today then red oil light has come on again, but again gone off.
Does anyone have any ideas what this could be and I guess does it sound like the original clutch work could be linked to this oil problem?
Thanks in advance.
Paul Read more
I once bought a Vauxhall Astra very cheap because of it having an oil light that intermittently flashed on and off and sometimes stayed on. There was nothing wrong with the engine, the wire to the oil pressure sensor had damaged insulation and the wire was shorting to the engine causing the light to come on.
So maybe during the gearbox removal they may have damaged the wiring?
Not yet a Honda CRV owner, although intending as my next car.
Can anyone advise on where/how to establish maximum load supported by boot anchors in any particular car. I need to carry a 125kg load (motobility scooter) internally, with heavy duty straps. This may dictate whether i buy a car or van.... Read more
The eyes on cars aren't tested to any standard. I make dog boxes for cars here in sweden, and there as a series of crash tests available.
One test I did was into a deformable wall at 50km/h, and a box with a total weight of 100kg generated a load of 2.5G, or 2.5 tons. This was born by the back seat of a Volvo V70. ...
quick question - hired a car for a short break in Ireland (a wedding), chose Ford Mondeo or similar (familiar with car as Dad has one and fits my wife & I plus 3 kids plus bags & buggies easily) - arrived late in the Evening at Shannon Airport and got given a Renault Fluence that "is the same size car".
It was late, we were tired, i wasn't familiar with that car, so off we went to collect.... Read more
"Is a 4.6m long saloon (Megane with a boot) classed the same as a 4.8m saloon like a Mondeo?"
I would say yes it is, and not unreasonably so, both being between 4.5m and 5.0m. And I'm willing to bet that a 4.6m Skoda Octavia would have swallowed cases, buggy and kiddies' bags, with room left over for a kitchen sink....
There is a glut of oil since Iran came in from the cold! Life is a con!
The price is being forced up by unscrupulous traders and oil giants holding their stock back to fix the price higher than it should be!!
For the want of different wording! This is curruption on the world-wide stage...........................better get the pushbike out again? Read more
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A friend in Brisbane has the estate and his son a slightly modified saloon. The saloon is great fun to drive with masses of torque. Did wonder if it would fit in my Zodiac? :)