September 2022
My son and his girlfriend are big into mountain biking, paddle boarding, open water swimming, canyoning, kayaking etc.
Every spare moment they have they are away somewhere remote doing something of that order.
This week they’ve been up in the Lake District doing all of that.
As some of you know, he has a 9 year old Aygo which he likes but even with a roof rack it’s a bit overwhelmed by his needs.
He really needs something that can cope with transporting more kit, and is a bit more suitable for regular longer journeys.
Now, his income is variable, he’s starting to get quite good pay days from his music, but still has to supplement that with part time bar work. Therefore at the moment he’s not feeling like borrowing or leasing due to the uncertainty of his income stream.
What he wants to do is spend about 5 or 6 grand all up on a cash purchase.
His main criteria include -
Loadspace
Roof load space
Sensible fuel economy
Sensible insurance costs
A reasonable level of reliability
Capable of getting a bit muddy (but to be fair anything with the “right” tyres will cope)
Not too tall, getting things on and off the roofs of tall cars is a pain.
Comfortable enough for long journeys.
£5k ish
Then there’s another complication, he’s promised to teach his GF to drive. They can’t afford a second vehicle, so whatever he has will be the learner car.
So, I’m steering him towards things like old Focus/Astra estates and the like, maybe even an Astra van as there’s usually only the two of them in it. Octavia estate maybe, a Ceed estate perhaps?
Any other thoughts from the assembly?
Other than the bank of dad stumping up again!
;-)
Read more
I was sold a vehicle in the last 24hrs where the dealer knew by virtue of the service check list that there was no kit. There is a space available for the kit but it is empty! It had "not been authorised" for my vehicle by someone in the dealership.
Needless to say I have been in touch with the company but had not had the courtesy of a repair. What do you think of this dangerous practive taking into consideration I have no means of dealing a punture or other tyre issue. Read more
Assume this is a second hand vehicle. Personally I'd have checked the spare wheel etc when viewing the vehicle with a view to securing a spare or space saver as part of the deal.
Unless there's a legality in play requiring a vehicle to be sold with some means of repairing a puncture then you've got limited leverage if the kit was absent at the time you agreed purchase. If you're lucky the dealer (are they a VW franchise?) will supply one as goodwill. If they're a 'car retailer' selling on monthly cost less so. ...
Seen some cars I haven't seen in the flesh in the UK.
The maybach sedan was white... Nice wedding car?... Read more
Looks like the equivalent of a tarted up Toyota, Lexus etc.
Hello all
The dreaded DPF light and message came on today on the Tiguan 14 plate - 65k miles. I'll try the Italian tune up, but I don't expect results from that, as I try and do that every so often anyway.... Read more
Thanks all.
I only suggested the Italian tune up because that’s what the manual suggests.
I’ll get it down to the garage next week, get it plugged in and sorted accordingly.
I have recently taken out an insurance policy with Churchill Insurance.
I wanted to transfer my insurance onto my new car, a Citroen C5x. I ‘phoned Churchill as I was unable to make the change online.... Read more
IIRC the big boys insurance-wise are only interested in the middle of the main stream.
I don't recall any occaision they were willing to quote on any of my vehicles....
Hi all,
I'm looking for advise on buying a 7 seater.... Read more
Would your budget get you a current shape Peugeot Rifter / Citroen Berlingo / Vauxhall Combo Life in the XL longer version? That way you get 7 seats and some boot space Do you need 7 seats or 6? If 6, once you remove one of the seats in the standard M size combo Life you have a huge boot area even with the other seat still in situ.
You wouldn't get into a current shape version of either wheelbase for £8k, add another £3k to the budget and the OP might just scrape into one!.
Maybe I'm just unlucky but I don't seem to find many garages that can do it properly. The Focus had some new front tyres about nine months ago but recently I've been on the motorway and at 70mph there's the annoying fidgeting felt at the steering wheel. Took it back, rebalanced, no better. So went back to a garage further afield I should have used before and they've got it spot on, as usual. Both the two garages about a mile from me can't get it right and I've found this at other places.
Why is it so hard? Equipment not calibrated right or operator not trained properly? What are the experiences of the panel? Read more
Dreadful brakes with no servo on UK models, same as the UK spec MK2 Polo. Flintstone's car would probably stop better!
I've had two cars with front discs and no servo. A '60s Triumph 2-litre Vitesse and a 750cc Fiat Panda. Drum brakes need no servo, as the shoe with a leading edge acts as a self-servo....
A car we here can all afford...not. Any chance in reviewing cars that don't require two extra mortgages or us to have a 6-figure plus salary? Y'Know, that mere mortals can buy (and not £30k EVs)?
Thanks. Read more
Yeah! I like this color.
By using the black screen website, your eyes will not become tired from staring at the screen for an extended period of time.
Good Morning
I'm Hoping someone may be able to help with this .....
A few weeks ago after driving to the shop my car wouldn't start, after an hour it started and I drove home in nipping into the house to get something and back out it wouldn't start again (nothing not turning) Spark plugs, cam sensor & cam sensor were changed and it appeared all ok.
Fast forward a few weeks & now at intermittent periods it wont start it will either
a) attempt to start, makes the trying to start noise then the engine kicks in
OR
b) Tries to start and fails then in starting again it starts 2nd time no problem
This happens at intermittent periods for example I may be at work for 8 hours comes out and either a) or b) happens
In checking it on a ramp leaving it running etc there is nothing visible as the issue
Any advice, experience or fixes would me much appreciated. Read more
In the old days one might have suspected a fault in the ignition switch, a relay, or the starter motor ....
Hello
On my uk model Vw mk5 jetta (same as golf) I am getting an error code 01638 which says it is a rear sensor drivers side on my Delphi diagnostic kit.
However does anyone know if this is for left hand drive or right hand drive?
My car is right hand drive, I don’t what to replace the wrong sensor !
Thanks Read more
Whichever side it is, I’d be checking the wiring to it first before condemning the sensor.
Yes, fair point expat. I guess that risk could be mitigated a bit by choosing a “younger” car with big miles over an older one with low mileage. Provided service history etc stacked up on the former and on the assumption that it had seen regular long distance usage.
But your point is well made and taken.