December 2021
Hi all
I often hear that in the US you're able to 'rent' 'one-time tools' like: ball joint separators, presses, pilot bearing removal tools, etc. for free from local parts stores. AFAIK, this isn't a thing in the UK. Does anybody have any experience with a parts store that's lent them a similar tool for free?... Read more
Boring isolation Saturday spent flicking through car ads with Top Gear on as background noise and despite the recent price madness I’m still finding a few cheap cars worth a look.
... Read more
I wouldn’t go to the main dealer with a simple thing like that. Any half decent indi can maintain a Panda and they’ll find ways to save you money. With simple older cars like this it’s wise to build up a relationship with a good local independent garage for repairs and maintenance. I have an excellent local I use to keep old Terrance the Toyota running and he gets both cars for Mot’s as I trust the main dealer not one jot. They get the Volvo for servicing purely due to the complexity of the thing and for value retention.
Hi all,
I've read about the passat electronic hand brake module (which includes the buttons for auto hold and ABS) - mine works but the hand brake button has become loose so the button stays down and you have to pull it back up. I can't find anywhere that sells new units, only one in Lithuania, the rest are used ones on ebay.... Read more
You could probably find it online without going to the dealer. Guess it will be cheaper if you know how to change it
Hi
Does anyone know if there is a recommended mileage for getting Injector seals looked at/serviced/replaced. Its for a 14 plate Verso Trend Diesel.... Read more
Not known as an issue.
Would be a PIA to get injectors out with risk of damage due to carbon build up on threads....
I bought my booster cables for my vehicles because I thought they would be useful, particularly as I live in a cold climate.
So, as soon as I needed them to boost a friend’s vehicle for the first time because it was -36 C, the cheap plastic bag shattered because it does that when it’s that cold.... Read more
Yes, about as predictable as a wet Bank holiday.
Getting ready for a Madeira holiday in january and happy to see that a certain large site has day 2 covid pcr tests for our return for £64 for 2, free delivery with prime, and got a £10 voucher to discount off that price,
Every little helps... Read more
The Amazing Hotels series has just covered Madeira. If you missed it it’s well worth a look on BBC iPlayer. It was centred on Reid’s but also covered a visit to the levadas. I only knew of them as tourist walks along irrigation channels but they have an interesting and darker history.
Hi,
I picked up a 2007 Clio Dynamique 1.4 petrol a month ago - with 110,000 miles on the clock, seemingly in lovely condition. Both outside and inside it was extremely clean. It pulls like a train in all gears and runs so quietly and smoothly I sometimes can’t even tell the engine is on - a big improvement on my 02 Yaris! It had a single advisory at MOT 9 months previously '‘front play in steering rack inner joint(s) both ()'. Since that MOT it has done 1,500 miles, most of those miles by me in the last month since I bought it.... Read more
The MOT test should also not be relied upon as a measure of roadworthiness,.
I thought that was exactly what the test was intended to show - but only on the day of the test, not for the next 12 months ?...
Transport Minister Trudy Harrison said:
Boris has to pay for all those parties. Read more
Electric cars are not very environmentally friendly , they maybe at the point of use , but manufacturing them and possibly causing the destruction of a perfect sound I.C.E. car is most certainly not.It takes around 40,000 miles before an EV offsets it's manufacturing pollution.
Further more I have no desire to fund other people's purchase of these expensive vehicles .I want my money to fund my purchase of a petrol car.
These EV s are extremely heavy many weigh 2,000kgs or more , definitely not very environmentally friendly.
A Kia Picanto or Renault R4 for instance are proper economy vehicles , low weight and low performance all you really need .
Richard.Allen.
Hello.
Looking to buy this car... Read more
I drove a couple of these a number of years ago before buying a Mazda MX5. The earlier MGF with hydragas suspension is quite appealing, it’s lively and fun on a twisting road, handles like a rear wheel drive Metro, essentially that’s what it is but the later TF was a poor relation. It’s not as well screwed together and the suspension is brick hard which is useless on the road. The MX5 was the better car.
I certainly wouldn’t touch one with the faults listed here. It’s very likely it’ll need an engine and while it’s easy enough to find the 120PS 1.8 K series, the 160PS VVC version is rare. If as the owner suggests it’s only needing minor work then they’d do it and sell it at a higher price. I suspect they know full well the engine is knackered.
Hi, I am just looking for some advice and thoughts on my scenario please?
My car recently had a new water pump, tensioner and Cambelt replaced on it. The day after the repairs it started t make a noise. I immediately called the garage to ask if they could look at it asap (As I'd just spent £660 the day before on cambelt and new exhaust etc) but they said they were too busy and come back on Monday (2 days time) they did not advise me to stop driving the vehicle. ... Read more
Might be worth getting an independent inspection if the garage and supplier are going to bat the ball (you) between themselves to absolve blame.
If you don't know the garage they could do anything while they have the car to push the blame away from themselves - especially if its negligence on their part....
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Nothing in business is free. It’s recovered somewhere in the deal. Parts cost may be higher. Or maybe your data is used for future sales or sold on to other companies. After all if you have borrowed a “free” tool you will undoubtedly have given address and.ID and quite possibly email, car details and credit card info.
It might still be a good deal but not truly free.