January 2023
Can you recommend a medium sized, upmarket, used hybrid SUV? My budget is £23k. Ideally I want it under 3yrs old, but max 5 yrs old. I need heated seats, parking sensors, and fuel efficiency. Also, comfort and looks matter. Definitely want it to be comfortable to drive, smooth over potholes etc. I prefer automatic, want high adjustable seats and don't mind a sunroof. I worry about reliability and repair costs once out of warranty. We expect to keep this vehicle for at least 5 years. I would estimate 8000 miles a year and am thinking that a hybrid would be a good choice. What would you advise? Read more
Hi All,
Wonder if anyone had similar issues. I have a automatic, 1.4 Astra GTC, petrol car, 40k miles, 2016 plate. ... Read more
I remember the first car I had with a sealed cooling system. It started venting water from the pressure vessel cap after turning off and I immediately leapt the conclusion it was the head gasket despite all temps being fine and no mayonnaise in the cam cover. Spent 1/2 a day fitting gasket and it still vented water. It was then suggested that I buy a new cap, not from the manufacturer but from Halfords ensuring there was a paint dab on the cap (supposedly meant it had been tested). No more issues.
Hey all
My car looks like it's on its way out and it may be time for a new old one. I don't have a max budget per se, as I'll be taking out a loan for it (I very recently got a relatively well paying job so I don't have the cash to hand to buy a car outright, but I know I can cover loan repayments) In theory I could spend up to £5k on a car, but I don't want to do that unless its necessary. I just want to buy the best value car, not the most expensive I can afford. I'd rather spend £2k + a couple extra for maintaining it if I thought there was a decent chance of it being reliable and lasting a few years. ... Read more
If you buy a car with 125k on it and run it for 5 years all other things being equal do you think it'll be a better car at the end with 250k on the clock having done 25k pa or with 135k having done 2k pa?...
I'm new here - hello.
A week ago the dash signaled overheating - I pulled over, stopped and turned off. The coolant level seemed OK - certainly there was some in the reservoir. After short while I carried on my way with no issue. I had been noting for a week or two previously that the engine cooling fan had been running more than normal when the engine was turned off.... Read more
Result!! Glad to read your problem seems to be solved, so many post about a problem and are never seen ( heard from?) again, many happy miles of motoring to you.
OSLO. The listed Norwegian shipping company Havila has banned electric, hybrid and hydrogen cars from its ferries. After a risk analysis, it was concluded that the risk to the safety of the shipping fleet was too great. If a car catches fire, the fire can no longer be extinguished.
The risks for ships from the transport of electric cars have been discussed since the "Felicity Ace" sank off the Azores last February. E-vehicles on board had caught fire. The fire could not be extinguished. Finally, the huge ship sank with thousands of electric cars and Porsche or Bentley vehicles.... Read more
If a fossil fuelled car is flooded in salt water it too will probably be (a) a fire risk due electrics and (b) a write off.
You missed the point of the article I linked to, that EV's that have been flooded with salt water can be a delayed action firebomb that can't be defused by disconnecting the battery, because the battery is the problem at some later time....
Really hope someone can advise….
... Read more
Agreed. Maybe the best thing to do is just go for a full repair (using pattern parts if you can) and then sell it quickly.
Is it fair that because of short comings in the national Grid that some consumers will actually be paid to switch off lights and appliances at peak times, Surely the people who choose not to or cannot comply because they do not have a smart meter are subsidising those who do? What a crazy system and its called Demand Flexibility Service. The older I get the more it seems that I am heading backwards to the 19th century. Read more
However when the grid is ""struggling"
I suspect it will carry on struggling for years to come as we get more EVs on the road, and renewables are not being made fast enough to cover the amount of electricity we will need, come to that the cables wont be capable either so more power reductions will be needed over the years to cope.......
Hi all,
New to the forum and hoping someone can give some advice please ?? ... Read more
just put some new pads in. How much are pads? I can't remember the last set I bought but they have never been expensive.
Last I bought were a set for the front of the Caterham. EBC Ultimax 2 which originate on the front of a Volvo 240, £14 the set.
Interesting to see that BMW will no longer be selling cars to the UK police. This follows on from fires, one fatal, in cars using the N57 engine. Apparently, it's the police's fault for driving them wrong!
The impatient among us no longer need to keep an eye out for X5s on the motorway. It's Volvo XC90s and VW Tuaregs from now on.... Read more
Time to bring back police spec SD1s..
I've been thinking about buying a portable solar panel car battery charger, given my car mostly sits around for long periods and the cost (fitted) of car batteries is now around the £150 - £200 mark, especially as my car seems to go through batteries around every 4-5 years, whatever the usage (I've never detected any electrical issues, including lights on in the boot, etc).
I did a very coursory web search, and came across the usual never-heard-of, seemingly shed-built cheap Chinese tat, as well as seemingly better quality units, including one(s) sold with the AA brand (though similar to the Halfords one) for between £25 - £40.... Read more
If you use it so infrequently I would just disconnect the battery. That's what I always do on the TR7; its batteries have lasted for ages. No spanner required, just a firm push and twist ensures adequate contact for the starter motor surge. If you keep the terminals clean you don't even get your fingers dirty.
I was thinking along similar lines assuming no problems would come of it?. I know Andy's 3 isn't a young car, so possibly just losing preset radio stations?...
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