March 2018
Your comments about How the Mk1 beats the MK 2 hands down reflects the views of Jeremy Clarkson who had one in his fleet and actually bought it himself.
Ford GB must be reflecting on these golden years as they review their current range. Read more
My son lease-purchased the above vehicle new on July 10th 2014. Over the next 3 years the car was perfectly maintained and serviced according to the Ford service book recommendations.
On June 28th 2017, 13 days prior to the warranty expiration date of July 11th, the car broke down in Swindon and it was transported to our home in Hindhead by the AA. The following day, when I called Ford in Guidlford to seek advice on what to do next, I was informed that this problem would “not be covered under warranty” and I could get it towed to any local garage. It was taken to Liss Garage Services, who have been servicing and repairing our family’s vehicles for many years. ... Read more
This sounds like a 'diesel of doom' saga - although OP doesn't mention fuel type. I can't see how the ECU would cause engine failure, unless it had been reprogrammed (to remove the DPF at these low mileages?) I suspect that Ford refused warranty work after hearing the AA patrolman's diagnosis, even if 2nd hand.
Sensors/actuators - especially injectors, could destroy the engine and maybe the ECU was just indicating the failure ?
Hi all
I have finally decided on my new car- Hyundai ioniq Hybrid SE Premium. It arrives next Wednesday, and will replace my beloved i40 diesel manual,which after four years will be returned to the leasing company with 119,000 miles registered. Been a good car, setting aside initial clutch niggles, and a new clutch at 80,000 miles. It has averaged 47.58 MPG over the past 10 refuels, mainly motorway miles. However the weather has been cold and I can get more when it's warmer.
Why did I choose the ioniq ?, Mainly for two reasons, I will save some money in tax, and it's an automatic, and of course it seems comfortable.
This brings me on to my questions, many people have told me that once you drive an automatic, you will never go back to a manual, I must admit, when my i40 was having its clutch replaced I was given a Mazda 3 automatic for a week, as it was the only car available. I thought it was very easy and relaxing to drive with an auto box. Much more so than using a manual with all the miles I drive. So why haven't autos become the normal choice here in the UK as they have in other countries
Like the USA ?
Also, whilst researching my new car, I have learned that there are many types of auto boxes, CVT, DCT- dry or wet and many more. I read that the CVT box is very reliable and has been used in the Prius for many years. Is the DCT fitted to the ioniq going to be as reliable ? I guess with all the miles I do I am about to find out, but does anyone have any thoughts ?
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Have a Kia Niro, which uses the same drive-chain as the Ioniq. Previously had a Toyota Auris Hybrid, which used the same drive as the Prius. Find the DCT box more relaxing than the CVT, particularly living in a hilly area. With the CVT you are always waiting for it to drop down a gear, which, of course, it can't. Also find it's about 10% more economical. Also Toyota only give a 3 years warranty in Spain v. the 7 years from Kia.
Hi
Brought the above car 10th March for £6850 was listed as CAT D with quarter panel damage and repaired to a high level. Was also listed as having Stop/Start and Bluetooth. Viewed the car and went for a test drive (about a mile) the bodywork looked fine no obvious signs of damage or repair although I didn’t check under the car.
Completed the purchase and drove the car 40 miles home with no issues although was a bit puzzled as to why the stop start didn’t kick in. Got home and looked at the supplied manuals and realised it didn’t have neither stop start nor Bluetooth. Phoned the garage up who advised yes it did and the it needed driving a bit for it to charge and kick in. I said ok and thought would give it a chance.
It seemed to drive fine and I started noticing a strange nocking noise at the rear when pulling off or the car was changing gear.
I took it round to a mechanic I know who couldn’t identify anything but was horrified when he looked under the car and saw that the had cut the sill underneath and not welded it back when they repaired the panel. I called the garage and informed them and just got told to bring it back. Priori to doing this it took it round to a garage who put it on a ramp and did a thorough check underneath and found more issues listed below
“O.s rear sill + quarter panel repair inadequately fitted due to not being correctly welded on sill section I.e panel coming away from the body nd not correctly mated or welded to original sill section thus making the vehicle structure unsafe.
O.s.r brake pipe incorrectly fitted and rubbing on handbrake”
I returned the car Friday 16th March and asked for a full refund explaining why and showed them photos and the garage report but was told in no uncertain terms that wasn’t going to happen. Then I was told they might refund however would charge me for everyday I had the car totalling £500.
I felt rather intimidated but the eventually agreed to repair the car, I asked them to transport the car back to me but was again refused as they said it would cost them. They agreed to take me to the station ( in my car) but I had to pay the train fare to get home !!!!
I am due to pick the car up next Saturday 24th March but am dreading what I am going to find.
Did I do wrong carpeting the repair and as such have I lost any claim to getting a refund?
Can I pick the car up and bring it back to get it checked? I Commute from Nottingham to Sheffield everyday so cannot be without a car.....
Please help and advise as I’m lost as to what to do .... Don’t have funds to pay for this and that to be done ! Any help much appreciated
Thanks
Matt Read more
It's an odd one in that, even if the 'encouraged' person does nothing, the 'encourager' has still committed an offence.
I'd agree that it's highly unlikely that anything would ever come of such a posting. But it's always worth bearing in mind when making a posting - Facebook, forums, etc....
Last year when I finally passed my driving test I bought a car and used compare the market for my insurance quote.
One of the questions asked was do you have any no claims as a named driver. As I was driving on my husband's policy for over a year and his policy had 1 years no claims I input this.... Read more
Disclosure of material facts when taking out insurance is vital. If an omission comes to light when you make a claim, they won't pay out.
My advice would be to take some time to put all the facts in writing and email the insurance company. That way you have absolute certainty that the price and cover you get is cast iron and that there's nothing which can come back and bite you. Along with the email I would send them a recorded delivery signed-for letter with the same information. ...
Hello all
So I was on my way to work. I was going through this really narrow street with an incoming car coming towards me so I tried to give it room but there was a delivery van parked halfway on the sidewalk. My left mirror hit it, once I realised I turned the wheel to the right and slowly moved out. The driver got out and said I broke his plastic panel and dented it. There was precious damages of scratches and screeches on it and I didn't think my mirror could dent the panel as I wasn't going with speed and was slowly moving to give another car some space.
Anyway the damage was barely visible. The guy wants me to pay for renting a new van because it doesn't look professional to deliver in this van even though there was previously more apparent damages to the van. And expects me to fix the entire panel which I suspect had been damaged previously.
I don't know what to do. If I let my insurance deal with it, I'm assuming I'd cost me a lot. Should I deal with it myself? Any advice? Read more
You are 100% liable, but haveing said that claiming for a hire van would not be justified
Sitting in traffic the other day in Hammersmith. People flying up the bus lane. I was behind a cop car waiting until legal to cross into that lane to veer off to the left. Cops did absolutely nothing about these cars. Not the first time I've come across cops doing nothing to taffic offenders. Is it just speeding they are hot on? Read more
Gosh I must be more careful when driving, in rush hour traffic can be so heavy I find myself in the sacrisanct yellow box. Good to know about that, thanks.
With reading the bus zone times, I am definitely guilty of not reading signs and yes I would find it too distracting especially in around Hammersmith where driving can be hairy.
Car carpet. One area that really bugs me is the quality of carpets in cars.... Read more
You are right re- mass produced items in a very highly cost competitive environment.
However why cant a customer get an option for an add on if they so wish.
Hi,... Read more
Hey thanks for the reply. A lot to think about. My last car was a BMW x3. Well... Still is at the minute. I'll have a look around. Cheers
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Bought my son his first car - had major issues with it and, long story short, got a partial refund. Went car shopping again. This time I looked for more reputable dealer and used the 'AA Approved' listing as my starting point. Found a car - saw it, tried it and put deposit on it - it needed brakes sorting and a new passenger door handle. These were fixed and the car was MOT'd. Paid £1500 for it. Took it home on a trailer the following weekend and checked it over after unloading it - no oil. Dipstick was dry. Checked the engine block - wet from cylnder head down one side. Cylinder head gasket failure - great. Rang dealer - they said the would fix it. I said OK BUT I want an engineers report on the repaired car - salesman agrees. Returned car on trailer again and three weeks later they say its ready. I instruct ACE Engineers to go inspect the car but the dealer refuses to have the vehicle inspected on site.
With no other options, I go to collect it. I take my time looking under the bonnet and for the life of me, I cannot see any sign that a spanner has touched the engine at all. No new parts, even the oil stain on the engine block remains. The fluids are all still old and dirty and there is barely enough oil in the sump to cover a quarter of the way up the dipstick. I mention this to the young guy who was left to deal with me (the guy who sold it is always conveniently away on holiday... three times in as many weeks...) he shrugs his shoulders and has no answers. I ask to see the repair invoice - he cannot show me one. Reluctently I drive the car back home some 30 miles - it seems ok but now pulls to the right a bit - I dont remember it doing this on the test drive. It does not show any sign of over heating though...... Read more
There are not many reputable dealers selling cars at that price range, probably better off to look for a private sale eg Yaris
Browse
Great cars I currently run an 03 plate 3 door 1.8 Zetec now on 118k engine is still sweet keeping oil changes to every 6k, in the 3 years i've owned it hasn't failed an MOT either. IMO pretty much reliable as anything Japanese and better to drive.
The interior design is I guess a little dated by modern standards using harder dash plastics than the Mk II but its well screwed together no squeaks or rattles on a near 15 year old car. I still think the exterior also looks fairly contemporary....