Hi, I have not driven my car for the past 2 weeks due to the lockdown.

Yesterday, I could not start my car and AA Roadside Assistance inspected my car and advised me to change my car battery. He advised me to choose 054 car battery model.

However, Halfords website shows only 154 car battery model when I input my car registration plate number.

What is the difference between 054 and 154 car battery model?

Can 154 car battery be interchangeably used with 054 car battery for Honda Jazz car?

Please advise. Thank you. Read more

Looking through my collection of old car mags got me thinking of the cars I’ve driven in my life and which ones were better than the reputation they had (Montego/Maestro) and which were truly awful. Here’s my wee list of cars which were in my humble opinion unforgivably awful to drive, where the manufacturer made no effort to create any driver enjoyment at all. Some cars that were unpleasant did redeem themselves by being cheap or robust or useful off road, Lada Niva springs to mind or they were long lived and reliable - Nissan Bluebird/Volvo 240.


10 Seat Ibiza Mk I (all versions)
9 Fiat Uno Selecta CVT
8 Ford Fiesta Mk II CVT
7 Lada Riva
6 FSO Polonez
5 1990 Ford Escort Mk V 1.4/1.8D/CVT
4 Suzuki Vitara 1.6 JLX
3 Volvo 340 CVT
2 Daihatsu Fourtrak 2.8 DL
1 Suzuki SJ410

What cars have you driven that made you want to get out at the first bus stop and leave the thing behind?



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Delving into my collection of 80’s and 90’s Diesel Car mags (yes I am a geek) reminds me of the fact that I’m going to miss diesels when they’re gone. I’ve always been a bit laidback when it comes to driving, I prefer a slogger to a speed machine nine times out of ten so they do suit my style. I always favoured them over petrol though recent complexity ruled them out as wise for many used buyers.

I like something that has plenty of low speed torque to avoid the constant need to change gear. I like to see 60mpg plus on the trip computer after a drive. I loved the old pre-emission control days when a simple diesel motor could hit half a million miles with care without crippling repair costs.

I didn’t mind a bit of shake at the traffic lights, I’d rather have kept it than face a £1,500 bill for a new dual mass flywheel every 7yrs or so depending on driver and mileage. Keep it simple was my mantra even in my early days. I loved the simplicity of the family sized diesels I flogged to local taxi fleets back then. They were slow but they’d rack up massive mileages before the rust killed them.

As a young junior salesman I had to pick my cars from the low value or supermini range and while there’s fun to be had from wringing the neck of a small capacity normally aspirated petrol motor in a small fwd car I soon settled into the habit of picking what is fast becoming extinct today, the diesel supermini. My then girlfriend lived a fair trek away and they were just so much more relaxed. I was hooked.

I liked the slogging gear-change free pull of a 1.8 diesel instead of the frantic 1.1/1.2 petrols most of them came with at the time. It was so much more relaxing and they’d last longer too even if economy was barely any better in real life. The 205 Pug was my weapon of choice but I went through most of them from Fiesta to Corsa. It started off with a tatty Nova 1.5TD which went like stink and did 50mpg.

When shopping for a supermini for swmbo to use for Uni and work I settled on a previous gen VW Polo for the size of boot and the decent ride but after trying the 3cyl 1.2 and 4cyl 1.4 non-turbo petrols I knew it had to be diesel - the TSI motors were too dear at the time and the other two were utterly gutless.

The 1.2 diesel has around 130lb/ft of torque which is more than an SRI Cavalier had to call on in the 90’s. Yes it only has 75bhp but in every day driving from 30-70 and 50-70 and above when safe, it pulls great and give a nice relaxed and comfortable drive. I even love the quirky 3cyl diesel thrum. Not to tempt fate but It’s also never caused any mechanical issues that cost me any money either over almost 5yrs. It still drives as it did when I got it and despite repeated attempts to change its appearance (that rear bumper has been painted four times now) it still looks great. Though a little bubble has appeared on the passenger sill.

Looking at replacements recently and there’s really no diesel option. Yes to be fair they really didn’t make much sense economically even back in the 90’s but I like a diesel, always will. Yes I know the latest small capacity petrols are superior in almost every way but my wee Polo still feels stronger at lower speeds than most I’ve tried and is more relaxed.

I’ve driven several Fiesta 1.0 Ecoboosts and despite one being the 123PS version I found it nowhere near as strong as expected. Not that I’d buy one anyway. With four onboard I had to change down a gear several times where the Polo would’ve slogged on. Ditto the 95PS Fabia I tried recently while considering another supermini which is a car I quite like. You do really need the higher output model but I’ve yet to try one. I tried a Mazda 2 1.5 also another car I like but it is a bit flat.

It won’t be replaced by a supermini or small hatch anyway so swmbo has for now decided but I’ll miss the diesel superminis and small hatches which will disappear into the mist without anyone preserving or caring a jot.

Such greats as the Nova 1.5 TD which was the first turbo diesel supermini. It went like a hot hatch from 30-70 yet it would run and run on a thimble of fuel.

The 205 1.8D - Well known for doing huge mileages, capable of over 50mpg yet rode as well as a luxury saloon.

Citroen AX Diesel - A hoot to drive yet rode really well and could do 70mpg no bother. Shame they never built a turbocharged version.

Peugeot 306 Dturbo - The first diesel hot hatch. These were a hoot to drive yet comfy and great on fuel.

Peugeot 405 GTD - The car that set corn fields on fire. Smooth, comfy and economical. I loved these especially the later post facelift cars with the smoother 1.9 motor and better interior. All drove well though. I know it’s not a hatch but these were great things.

Audi A2 TDI - Way ahead of its time. Loads of room, well made, light, quite nimble, great on fuel and quite lusty. Often spotted with 200k plus at a daft overinflated price by sellers who think it’s a classic. It will be but not a tatty big miler.

Ford Focus Mk I TDCi - This out-handled every rival and was quicker 30-70 or 50-70 than the top ST170 model while it would do 50mpg easy enough.

Vauxhall Cavalier 1.7 TD - Yeah boring I know but might well be the best taxi ever made. Comfy, relatively cheap yet it would do 500k with ease.

Citroen BX Turbo diesel - Lightweight, economical, comfy yet genuinely quick where it counted. This was my first turbo diesel experience and I loved it. More reliable than most believe too. Gearbox was the only letdown.

Skoda Fabia 1.9 PD TDi VRS - A quick but very tough and economical little car. Most were ruined by the boy racer brigade. Last seen in a plume of black smoke on its way to hell with a driver who tells you “remapping doesn’t damage owt mate.”

There were others worthy but times moved on and diesel is heading to the grave, certainly in smaller cars. I’ll miss the lazy torque and gruff engine note.

I know it’ll be mentioned that the old Toyota Avensis I oft compliment here is a heavy car with a revvy petrol motor but most modern diesels as they age are too troublesome to risk and it was bought at nearly 9yrs old. I bought the Polo at 3yrs and with that budget and mileage in mind I’d have another diesel. I’d favour one over a hybrid for certain despite the potential for problems. I just like the way they drive and it’ll most likely be what lurks under the bonnet of the SUV we buy in the near future.










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Glad to see it - some idiot in an Audi TT passed me on the local dual carriageway today and they must've been doing at least a ton.

Add to that that they overtook me with one car length to spare and I hope idiots like this get the proverbial book thrown at them if caught during the pandemic, when the authorities have better things to do. Read more

I can't find the front passenger air bag disarm switch mentioned in car handbook. Read more