October 2020
Been offered a 220 D with100k on the clock for £1650 from a neighbour.
Mot Til July 21 but no service history apart from a string of passes at MOT time.... Read more
For the first time in over forty years I have been obliged to book a 'service'. As far as I can tell it involves about thirty quid's worth of oil (3.5 litres, which actually doesn't need changing as it's only done 5,000 miles), an oil filter (about a fiver) and a few minutes worth of checks. Arbury Motors have quoted me £200 - " the prices are fixed by Peugeot". Apparently it also includes a wash (also unnecessary). Transfixed, I resolve to bite this bullet just once as the warranty (which SWMBO insists on preserving) is thankfully for only two years. I'm all for wealth creation but I think the garage industry operates in a different financial world......in my world that's five pub lunches! I looked up the Cathedral Motor Company - the 'highest paid director' apparently pulls in north of quarter of a million. I couldn't find out how the dividends are apportioned or who owns them. I wonder how much the service mechanic takes home.... Read more
Bet you thought about DIYing it John and not bothering about the warranty.
You bet I did! Sadly, Mrs F kyboshed that gamble....
When we arrive at our destination and turn off the car engine, if the passenger opens their door before the driver the horn gives three short but quite loud 'beeps'. I can only think this is a 'take your key' reminder perhaps for other countries who drive on the other side of the road.
As I understand it, it is illegal to sound the horn between certain times at night and should in any case only be used to say to other drivers or road users 'I am here'.... Read more
Hi, I have had the same issue as you. Did you manage to make any progress with the DVSA and having your vehicle updated by MG?
2 cars,
Pre reg,
Identical miles,
Identical prices
No part ex
Which is the better dealer network to go with?
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Definitely still alive, at least the current generation of Mr V! A nice man too, I believe. I second the terrible Peter Vardy Carz experience a few months ago and only got as far as their central Sales team. I’m just sorry I didn’t see this post before proceeding. If I had the patience to fight the levels of management upwards and speak to Mr PV, I would have plenty to peacefully say to him. I gave up after a week of chasing them after they took £99 to reserve a car that they then made it impossible to see because of sales executives who were unreachable, employing tactics to force signing up to HP/PCP before allowing test drive (yet providing insufficient detail to inform us of the financing options), ending up in endless anonymous sales call centre game of ‘pass-the-customer’, car not being onsite for organised test drive and cancelled 30 minutes before scheduled time (after e made it clear we had an hour long journey to make) despite confirmation texts from their end, cheeky admin fees and all of this with a cool wrapper of it being the new way to buy a car. In the end, had no idea what the heck I was buying or whether it even existed but as long as our names were on the dotted lines of a new 60 month plan what does it matter to them really hey ?? ?? I was ready and willing to purchase, and keen as the car was rare so needed to see in person. But the customer service was so horrible, it has put me off returning (and that applied nationwide). ?? whinge over I’m trying AC this weekend.Sounds like a awful experience, desperate sales staff, devious tactics. Where are the business ethics of a premium brand dealership? Is this widespread to complete with Cazoo and Cinch? Who on earth would sign up to a finance plan without seeing/driving the car? Rejection could be an interesting exercise. Dealers are a mixed bunch. Looking to spend £40k on a nice car some years back, sales enquiries were not returned, face to face negotiations nearly always hinged around a finance plan - “keep the cash in the bank” was their stock reply. Being in my late 60s, I didn’t want 4 years of paying for something I’d never own nor have my relatives arguing over used car values if the arm was twisted to conclude the agreement had I popped off. Paying cash, the car would be an asset to my estate and could be disposed of as required.
Engine is making a loud grinding/rattling noise at idle, most noticeable from outside the car. Other than this the car is still driving normally. From looking under the bonnet it seems to be coming from the drive belt on the drivers side of the engine, could be alternator bearings are shot? Is this a known problem? Car has done 82000 miles. What else does this belt drive?
thanks for any help! Read more
Turns out it was the water pump driven by the timing belt...
I can't find any information regarding euro 6b but euro 6 euro 6c euro 6d euro 6dtemp info is out there. I know euro 6 diesel if fine for ulez etcI, but let's say in 5 years, what emissions standard will a diesel car have to be - a standard euro 6 or further up the scale at euro 6d/temp?
... Read more
Many thanks, this is helpful. From what I gather euro 6b 6c 6d 6dtemp are all the same in terms of co2 and nox levels, they are just tested differently. But it's likely that the RDE of euro 6b may not meet the testing conditions of euro 6d?
Hi everyone.
I'm after a bit of advice. I currently have a 09 1.2 Polo which at 105,000 miles has had no major issues and been a really good, sound car but I'm now looking to get a golf.
I was after a bit of advice on what's best to compromise on, miles or age.My budget is around £7000 (ideally nearer 6k) and I've seen some decent cars, 2012/2013, but they have around 80,000 miles on. Is this an issue or would there still be plenty life left as long as the car has been looked after.
... Read more
Depends how hard you look and who you believe. Just bought a Toledo 16 plate with 35k with fsh from a mechanic who worked at SEAT for £5700, 1.2Tsi 110 style advanced. Immaculate and drives perfect.
The 1.2 EA211 is a cracking engine but quickly superseded by the 3 cylinder 1.0 tsi...
I'm in a bit of a quandary (no, that's not the name of a new SUV).
My dad has a 2014 Skoda Octavia 1.4 DSG which, sadly, he can no longer drive. Apart from a few scuffs (and mossy window seals), it's in good nick and a nice spec (Elegance), with low mileage, and my parents and I agree that it would feel a shame to get rid of it, so we're kicking around the idea that I could buy it off them. From their perspective, they would be happy to offload it (it's not currently getting much use) and for me to benefit from it, and from my perspective it would be an opportunity to acquire a pretty decent car at a relatively low cost.
Currently, my wife and I have a one-car household, sharing a 2015 Toyota Auris Hybrid Touring Sport (or estate, to you and me), which we've had from "new" (pre-registered). It is in reasonable nick (some cosmetic damage aside), just with a bit of recurrent suspension noise and I think the traction battery isn't lasting quite as long as it used to.
Most of the time we've coped pretty well with just the one car, but yes, there are occasions when we wished we'd had another (though not when it comes to maintenance & servicing!). So I'm mulling over a few options:
1. Take on the Octavia, and keep the Auris too (although we wouldn't have chosen such a large model as a second car - no need for two big-booted cruisers hogging the driveway).
2. Take on the Octavia, and part-ex the Auris for something smaller such as a (newer) Yaris (the hybrid version of which I've had as a courtesy car and quite liked).
3. Take on the Octavia and sell the Auris. Would that be madness? The Octavia is a fraction older but has lower mileage and (mostly) higher spec. But perhaps less of a reliable prospect in the long term compared with the Auris?
4. Take the Octavia, but part-ex it against something like a Fabia or Scala, to have alongside the Auris.
5. Just let the Octavia go and probably keep the Auris until there are more affordable examples around of the new Corolla.
The Octavia has lots of useful bells & whistles which count in its favour *except* for my niggling concern that there's a lot of tech potentially to go wrong. I know Skoda fares relatively well for reliability, but I still get the feeling Toyota is in a league above, and the Auris in particular seems pretty bulletproof, apart from the glaring design weakness that has seen loads of catalytic converter thefts in recent times (mine has the Catloc installed, but it's only really a deterrent). I also have a couple of other niggles with the Auris, in that it can feel a bit slow and heavy up hills, and leaning into corners (a bit of body roll), when I'm driving a bit more briskly (not really what it was designed for, but I can't be sauntering along all the time). To me, the Octavia handles a bit more neatly and is more lively in general, although I do find it can hesitate when moving off from a standstill, which is a bit frustrating. MPG-wise, it's actually not all that far off the Auris, at least where motorway journeys are concerned, perhaps not so good around town though.
So I thought I'd put these thoughts out there and invite opinions from the learned HJ and also his followers.
Oh and just to add this into the mix, I've now had a look at Which? Magazine's car reliability ratings, and they give Skoda only three stars out of five for older (3-8yr) models, versus a big fat five out of five for Toyota, so perhaps taking on an ageing bundle of tech with a 3-star record would not be the most prudent move... any views? Read more
Oh and just to add this into the mix, I've now had a look at Which? Magazine's car reliability ratings, and they give Skoda only three stars out of five for older (3-8yr) models, versus a big fat five out of five for Toyota, so perhaps taking on an ageing bundle of tech with a 3-star record would not be the most prudent move... any views?
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Hi all,
I've just been looking at an 09 Fiesta 1.6tdci Titanium for my wife to replace her 206 however I've read some articles that it's not the most reliable engine. She probably only covers a couple thousand miles a year as it's a secondary car to us really.... Read more
Just found another Titanium with the 1.4 petrol engine, 52k on a 2010. Looks nice and hopefully a good option
With thefts of cars gaining momentum from those with keyless systems I wonder what drove this new system which has , as far as I can see no advantages over old fashioned key systems and many disadvantages Read more
"About as credible a spam post... as an election result from Detroit."
A gratuitous comment....
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We have a 2007 car in the family.
It belonged to my late brother who bought it new. His usage involved regular motorway journeys and it's suited to these. Since it came to the family, it only ever does local journeys. It's way over-geared and seldom gets out of 3rd gear. Very notchy gear changes. Very rattly and thirsty engine - mpg in mid to low 20s locally. Cramped rear space. In fact a Yaris of the same period has more rear space....