January 2020
Reports in Autocar about Mazda 3 s draining their batteries when the dashboard lights are left on overnight.
Attempts to jump start by recovery firms have allegedly resulted in dashboard meltdown.
They recommend recovering to Main dealers Read more
In another thread I mentioned that we intended to swap a car every 3 years in the future and with the first change possibly happening this summer I have been having a think.
With the environment in mind I had considered a hybrid but having done some research it seems totally pointless.... Read more
Your last para is good news, Thunderbird.
On some cars you have to prod menus and sub-menus to change the heater and AC settings, which could potentially take your eyes off the road for too long to be safe. Good to know that Volvo, with their reputation for safety, have thought of that. I think the XC40 also has voice control, which I suspect works for some people better than others....
Satnav plug fell apart in lighter socket. I retrieved the bits, no damage done, but now the socket's dead. Surely not coincidental?
There's a live feed to the fuse (in the fusebox) and the fuse is OK, but there's no feed to the terminals at the back of the socket.... Read more
Yes thanks, I only looked at the first wiring diag and indeed it's in the boot one.
Makes sense doesn't it, running wire all the way to the boot then back to the dash?
The words reliable and automatic seem to be at odds in the new modern gearboxes, hence why I would like to chose this car carefully.
I am no automatic gearbox wizard but from what I understand generally..
Torque Converter gearboxes are the most reliable and least economical.
Anything mech or tipotronic are unreliable and are manual cars with auto clutches.
CVT boxes are somewhere in the middle, good economy with decent reliability.
That being said I have narrowed down my choices but would like your guidance.
Honda Jazz 2005- TC or CVT ( are these boxes reliable?) Dont seem good at higher speeds
Suzuki Swift - Tc box and reliable?
Nissan note - not sure how these compare to the Jazz. Are they reliable and good on the motorway?
BMW 320i 170 bhp, has decent fuel economy.
Is there any other cars you would recommend? Read more
Further to my other reply I have found a Jazz CVT nearby at £2,495 but assuming an annual mileage of 7k p/a and assuming you got your £1,000 back on the Focus the extra £1,500 this will cost will take over 5yrs to repay itself and that’s assuming the gearbox holds out that long.
I just found a great car on Auto Trader:
www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/20200128668...6
Here’s another worthy. It’s a first gen Yaris and uses a conventional torque converter transmission which is very robust. Again it’ll take years to repay the extra money assuming it lasts and at this age you’ll need to be sure it’s not rotten underneath.
I just found a great car on Auto Trader:
www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/20200127661...6
Reading about the terrible case of the the 2 poor ladies knocked down and killed
by an 87 year old motorist who floored the accelerator instead of the brake while driving in reverse.. This is not an uncommon problem with drivers who only use the right foot to brake and accelerate,how to prevent these tragedies happening. Surely it must be possible to retro fit a limiter on these autos that works as soon as the car is put in reverse set to say 5 mph,of course at 5mph damage can be done but no were near as much as a car careering back at15 to 20 mph.it seems on the face of it quite a simple fix and a lot of accident could be averted i can not see a great problem as most cars fitted with cruise control also have a speed limiter . Read more
Good old Toyota are taking an active role in reducing the problem of this issue:
Afternoon,
I've received a PCN for using a bus lane. However, the car in the image is not mine (different make and colour) and the number plate image is of very poor quality. It looks as if the number plate could be mine due to the angle and poor lighting. When checking the one unclear letter against O instead of D I've been able to find the correct car in image. So rather than a case of a cloned number plate the incorrect number plate has been used to obtain the details from the DVLA.
I've informed the issuing local authority of this - they disagree that they have made a mistake and have told me to inform the police. They also seem unwilling to cancel the PCN even though they are aware that my car and number plate don’t match what is in the photo. They stand by the number plate is as they say and that I should inform the police my plate has been cloned.... Read more
First off, do not pay it.
As miniman suggested take a picture of your car from all angles ( 4 pics in total ), scan a copy of the v5 certificate confirming the car and take it to the council with a nasty letter. ...
Hi
I have recently purchased a used '14 plate Suzuki S Cross with 30,500 miles on the clock and in very good condition. Some 5 - 6 weeks after I purchased it the front wheel arch trim on the offside of the vehicle has started to come away. The trim clip is broken and some (what looks like) silicon sealant has been squirted into the gap - presumably in an effort to re-attach it. My own research (calling a couple of Suzuki main dealers) shows that this trim and the liner are routinely removed when a new timing belt and water pump are fitted. This work was done on the vehicle before I collected it. However, the supplier (Batchelors Suzuki, Ripon) are denying responsibility for the broken trim and denying removing the trim when they carried out the work. I have 2 queries I hope you can help me with... Read more
Hi Bazza, thanks for reply. Yes, it is the diesel (sorry I should have made that clear) - you are right about the petrol being chain, shame the diesel isn't.
I think the trim / clip is actually broken and a botch has been done, but can't quite see without prising it off further and risking further damage.
I am looking for a replacement to the Tucson and have seen a few BMW 2 Series Active Tourers as pre-reg with some really good discounts. They seem to be a nice mix of non-suv styling and high seating position.
I will be looking at automatics and probably the Grand Tourer because they seem to be cheaper than the Active Tourers.... Read more
I think that engine, fine in a Mini, is just too small to make a 2-series any fun to drive (unless of course it's paired with an electric motor as in the 225xe). The 218d is confusingly a 2-litre: my son-in-law has one as a company car and finds it adequate but a bit pedestrian.
220i, 220d or 225xe are the ones to go for.
I think he is quite funny and astute. Read more
Not technical enough in my opinion. How good are the headlights? How does the driver dip them and return to main beam? How good are the reversing lights? How do the seats adjust? How many Isofix anchorages for child seats does the car have? How do we cope with punctures with no spare wheel when we have appointments to keep? What are the tyre options, and how does each affect ride, tyre wear and cope with wintry weather? How does that touch screen work in practice? How does heating or air-conditioning or frosty weather affect range? How effective are the wipers and washers, and is there any means of keeping headlights clean? How often does the car need servicing, and by whom? How long does the warranty last? How much range will the battery provide after 5 or 10 years of use?
"As of 2020, holders of UK licences driving in EU countries may need an International Driving Permit (IDP)."
Be clear - are you saying a driver now need an IDP, or is that meant to be 2021? That's what "as of 2020" means. or is it a typo.?...pointless giving out key date info that is wrong by one year.
Sorry, I'm just unable to absorb/accept the fact we are stepping back through time into green cards and IDPs to drive through France. b***** tragic. Read more
You may consider it 'stepping back through time' but annual green cards are issued automatically by insurance companies in Spain. If you don't like the rules, don't play the game!
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Just checked in the Autocar and the car in question was a Mazda CX3.
But some of the stories on line paint a different picture of how recovery firms react to a callout....