February 2017
From HJ Queries this week:
How safe is it buying a new car through carwow or drivethedeal? If it is safe, which company would you recommend? Incidentally, how do they make their money on a purchase? When is the new Skoda Yeti model due? Can I expect a good deal for a current Yeti at the moment from carwow or a Skoda dealer as a new model is due?
RC, Urchfont, Wilts
Either is fine because though you buy through them you don't buy from them. You buy from the franchised dealer supplying the car. The reason why prices are lower is that carwow and drive the deal channel large numbers of orders through individual dealers allowing the dealers to get bulk discounts from the manufacturer. The downside is that the dealer the car comes from might be some distance from where you live, which poses problems if the car develops faults.
Point of order re problems and far away dealers.
We bought our Aygo through Drivethedeal. The dealer was in Suffolk, we live in Yorkshire.
Car had a fault when delivered, local dealer fixed it under warranty, as they did for other warranty claims with no quibble whatsoever. Read more
Hello,
My cars interior stays rubbish free except for the daily take away coffee cup that gets chucked away every evening when I get home. I travel a lot so a clean interior is a must. Today I went with a client in his car from to a site to quote for a network installation. 2012 Merc C200 Kompressor.
The dash has a layer of dust that makes the dash look brown, I could not put my shoes on actual carpet because of wrappers,beverage containers, paper etc. To top it off it had a sour smell mixed with a rotting apple smell. He didn't seem to think anything of his messy car or apologize for the state. ... Read more
I'll preach if I want - consultants are a waste of time and money.
I badly worded my post - I meant that there are consultants who do and consultants who preach - I understand why the one group bring both into disrepute...
Hello,
Hey I am currently in the market for a car cover for my 2016 mustang GT coupe.
I would like to gent insights on this one company i was refereed to by a friend carcovers.com
They state that the mustang’s covers are custom fit all weather proof covers. they offer a lifetime warranty as well on their covers.... Read more
specialisedcovers.com should be able to help you
Hello,
What determines the model year of a vehicle, is it the date of manufacture or the date of sale or the date of first registration?... Read more
If you placed a factory order now, it would be one of the last 2017 models - depends what changes are planned.
According to Wikipedia "In the United States, for regulation purposes, government authorities allow cars of a given model year to be sold starting on January 1 of the previous calendar year. For example, this means that a 2017 model year vehicle can legally go on sale on January 1, 2016. This has resulted in a few cars in the following model year being introduced in advertisements during the NFL's Super Bowl in February"
Hello,
Got the gearbox stall issue with the CVT gearbox. Mercedes wants to replace it but I have heard that a proper trouble shoot can save that replacement.
Anyone knows someone who can assist?
Thanks.... Read more
Is this the same guy who was doing something similar a week or two ago? Does he really think we're that gullable?
Can you buy this seperately or even this part of the loom ?
... Read more
just thinking ...
something drew your attention to the wires....
if the wire is faulty , it can read perfect sometimes,
and went bent the other way, it'll read faulty.
the break and the frayed wires could touch when in a certain position, and not in another..
might be worth doing continuity check while rotating the wire up and down, and around a bit.
I've seen similar when fixing electrical things...
Cheers
Liam
My work colleagues Mondeo left him stranded and the car was recovered to the Main dealer.
The diagnosis is an new Abs unit at £2600 and if this does not sort it a new instrument binnacle bringing the bill to £4600
The car is immobile so the garage has been given the go ahead. But is this a known problem and is there any chance of getting a goodwill payment from Ford? Read more
Brilliant diagnosis doc.It was the wiring fault you identified. But Main dealer claimed the abs unit was faulty as well as a wiring fault!
HI all,
I just recieved in the post a letter to say my 2005 honda cr-v is being recalled for a fault with the air bag inflator. i dont know if this is old news or not, the letter states honda is recalled affected models from 2004-2012 as a safety precaution. I am based in germany so i do not know if that would also affect UK cars.... Read more
List of vehicles affected and amount needed to be replaced I gather is far more than can be manufactured, last note I saw was Takarta are having to use other manufacturers to make them to try and catch up
something like a million a month all in, so replacements may take years to do, not seen latest production time/volume maybe someone else may know?. bit surprised this hasnt bankrupted the makers
Regarding the VW diesel 'fix' issues above, perhaps it would be of use to the public if HJ were to speak to the parliamentary commitee that is currently taken evidence from VW and other on dieselgate about the ongoing problems with VW cars after their fixes were applied. Read more
Great article but I would add that relative to its peers, they are great to drive. You don't get IRS on a new Astra or Megane but you do on these thanks to Honda. The sophisticated suspension gives great ride and handling and they rarely rust much. My 400 is 18 years old, has no rot and rides amazingly well. Very underrated cars, even if the door trim and headlining go all baggy! Read more
I remember buying an old Vauxhall Velux in 1962 in Cape Town. I was 21 and had just emigrated to S.A. I paid the dealer a Cape coloured ( mixed race) 40 Rand (£20) down payment. His car plot was at the bottom of the hill. The Groot Schure
hospital of the first heart transplant fame was at the top. On maneuvering the car I stove in the near side wing on a lamp post. In England I had been used to driving as personal transport a J Type Morris van, this had the engine in the cab so no bonnet hence the accident. To my shame I told the dealer I no longer wanted the car and told him where it was parked. He just said right'o in his thick Afrikaans accent.
Browse
For some reason only part of my post appeared and I recieved an error message so try again.
My new Superb comes next Wednesday, bought via a broker. By some incredible coincidence the brokers Skoda dealer is 4 miles form where I live so its just like buying from the local dealer. Only difference is the savings I made....