August 2017

Julesisjustjules

Good morning

i am considering purchasing a mobile coffee business, it is down in Somerset and i live in Leeds so a long way to travel to view. I have had a look on the website regarding the last MOT and just looking for some advise. It passed in Oct 2016 and is due again shortly. The last MOT it firstly failed on the following, it has low mileage but i am just wondering if it worth investing £8k into this vehicle as i am unsure if the below will be an issue. I am 2nd guessing that the exhaust was probably sorted.... Read more

Ethan Edwards

I've seen a small takeaway coffee business being run out the back of a Smart for two car.

Seriously impressed at the intelligent use of space....

scot22

I am firmly resolved never to buy another diesel. However, there are a number of diesel Golfs coming on the market which seem good value buys - few petrols.

I know about emissions issue but are their diesel engines horrendous money pits etc. Was I just unfortunate with C30 1.6 diesel ? I average around 10,000 miles a year and do get the engine to a good temperature very often. Just because I have had a bad experience don't want to miss out on possibly good buys. Or is it better to wait ? Read more

jamie745

The S-Type applies it anyway when you taek the key out btw.

Yes that was my point, that you get used to it because it's just....there. You don't have to do anything....

Charlie Croker

Hello, any advice welcome!

Occasionaly I am getting the engine waringin light coming on, failry high mileage MK1 1.6 Ford Focus. On start all lights go out, occasioanly the light will come on and does not go off until the car is parked and restarted. It seems to run fine, and there is no difference engine running wise before its on or - when it comes on. I have read that the light can come on for lots of reasons, the Haynes manual I have bought for this car is singularly useless on this and I have searched the site for any clues... I'm thinking of getting a fault scanner from ebay for about £20... Read more

Charlie Croker

Generally I need no excuse to buy a nerw tool - working on old bikes for many years. Cars I have never really bothered with, a bit different but fundaments are the same so far, quite enjoying it. I wish lying flat under a car did not make me dizzy - very odd!

Anyway thanks again Doc, now I have a bona fide excuse for my next tool purchase :-)...

dazsaw

I have just got this car it has full service history cam chain just has been replaced it runs fine and drives nice but I have noticed a slight knocking /tapping
Noise when I accelerate for example if I'm
In 5 th gear and put my foot down to over take the knocking noise appear it's not there in tick over any ideas would be a great help Read more

dazsaw

Thanks for the help
I'll get a new sensor and see if this fixes the problem cheers everyone

Si-G

Hi all,

Im getting an orange warning light on my 58 reg Vectra 1.8i VVT.... Read more

RT

Most modern cars have the cat attached to the manifold.

RaineMan

I know a couple in their thirties who decided a few years ago they needed a people carrier. This has nor been a success! The first was a grey import diesel Lucida that blew its engine after a year and was sold for peanuts. After that they got a Galaxy automatic diesel on HP. Now after an expensive year (injectors and other issues after the relatively short warranty expired) it is another non-runner. The engine shakes more than the Austin Cambridge I owned forty years ago did after a plug lead fell off! Also, purely executed previous bodywork repairs are showing through. They still insist they need a people carrier and it must be diesel for economy. So what model would you recommend for a £5k budget? I cannot really think of one and would personally suggest a petrol Mondeo! Another car I know that is for sale is a Granada limo but dare I suggest it as an alternative?

Read more

MTD

yep, we have a 5 y o 1.6 petrol zafira, bought new for 10k when they launched the Zafira Tourer.

In 5 years / 35k miles nothing mechanical has gone wrong, and the bland interior has stood up well to my 3 kids jumping, spilling and trying their best to break bits off. All that has failed has been the hands free set mic (because it got kicked and was hardly a Vauxhall fail) and one of the front vent vanes that got dislodged then Vauxhall themselves managed to dislodge into the dashboard innards when it was valeted. oh, and the cover of the rear 12v socket also bit the dust thanks to some small yet eager feet....

NAthan smith

Noticing a lot more of these darkened number plates around which are surely illegal. Are the police pulling these cars over? I followed a 66 plate s3 the other day the plate was so dark it could only be read from about 2m! Can these plates be reported ? Read more

galileo

Followed an LGV this afternoon, company name was Bison, number plate was B15 ONN.

TheGentlemanThug

It's bizarre that leaner drivers are forbidden from learning on roads that encompass a large part of our transport infrastructure. It's about time motorways were included in lessons, not to mention tests.

Next we need to include night-time and bad weather driving. Read more

Kibuner

Yeah! Wonderful article

Car

We have 2 cars, one being a 2004 04 Astra 1.6 auto with 65,000 miles on it, owned 44 months had a look underneath and some parts are rusting see pics, front exhaust pipe is blowing and air con is as efficient as it was. MOT due December and car cover 1500 miles a year.

The other is a 2004 54 Skoda Octavia Tdi with 123,000 on it owned 59 months, cambelt & water pump replaced 4 years 42,000 miles ago and tyres due 6000 miles time MOT due next month.... Read more

carl233

I know it does not look great but the rusting on the underside is a quick and cheap fix. There are two different strategies: A good quality rust converter or black waxoyl mixed with engine oil would make a world of difference.

Even some new cars in the showroom have rust around items such as driveshafts etc.

Glaikit Wee Scunner {P}

Are any types of quadricycle ie sub 400kg, legal on UK motorways?

I doubt it ,what with their low speed capabilities.... Read more

badbusdriver

I know that some of the French quadricycle's can do more than 50mph, but I have no idea what the actual rules governing their access to motorways are. Presumably if a 48mph Renault twizy can go on a motorway, so should a 50+mph Aixam?. Unless it is also to do with the weight of the vehicle?.

I have looked at them in the past, and thought they would make a good city/town runaround. But at the end of the day, they are not very good value, they are not that economical, and they don't have to do that Euro ncap crash test (and I don't fancy having an accident in one). As a runaround, a C1/108/aygo make a lot more sense to me.