January 2023
Please vote here: smartpolls.co.uk/p/24637
Choices are: ICE, P/HEV, EV etc.... Read more
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?...
Did anyone see any Genesis cars in flesh? I didn't know that Hyundai Genesis have entered UK market.
The cars look stunning - both interior and exterior.... Read more
Indeed - makes that have 'separated' the sporty and/or plush upper specs modesl into their own brand haven't done well afterwards, at least in the UK - DS from Citroen, Seat's Cupra, FIAT's Abarth to name a few.
I'd say (even with the Pandemic etc factor removed) none have been a success or at least being on par with when they were just top trim / sporty models. Shame, as a good few used to be associated with high class vehicles.
Hi folks,
I've just been trawling the internet looking for places to get some advice on buying a second hand van and thought Honest John could be the place :)... Read more
I've had a couple of Transits and I love them. It's a proven, refined design, with millions of units busily carrying stuff around, all over the world.
My fave is the diesel VH model from the early noughties. The engine is the same as you got if you bought a diesel Jaguar at that time. It's spirited, cheap to run, and a delight to drive....
Whilst I appreciate the legal issues with posting a link to Giles' article in the Times (which I won't link), I thought it rather ironic that the closed thread is accompanied by a series of advertisements for Jaguar E-Pace vehicles for sale ... perhaps one is Giles's accursed car? Read more
Yep no issues at all. Should have bought from Stellantis Giles..
Yeah, but he'd thenm have no cahce to get into the local pony or golf club, or feel 'special' when dining at some fancy Michelin -starred restaurant on the company dime? Image seems to make a lot of difference to the metroplitan journo set....
I’m in the market for a spacious (and reliable) used 7 seater with a budget of £12,500
Must haves are: petrol, auto, heated front seats, raised seating position OR comfortable drive (due to my disability), reversing camera, room for 2 teenagers in all of the rear 5 seats (so no Qashqai+2 for ex.) but also not as big as a van styled motor such as the Alphard or Berlingo
Would be nice: leather/half leather trim, tray tables to back of front seats, half decent mpg
After much deliberation I’ve cut it down to an imported Estima vs 1.4 Sharan - around an 11 plate or newer, with less than 100k on the clock and good history (Verso is too small, XC90 worries me with repair bills, don’t fancy a Zafira, Galaxy, S Max, Grand Picasso, or Alhambra)
Have I missed anything worth considering - such as an older X5? - and if not, which would be a better investment to try and get 6 or more years of well serviced motoring from??
Thank you for letting me tap into your combined knowledge and wisdom!! Read more
Hey GrowingFamily,
just about to buy 1.4tsi Sharan also....
I wonder if anyone can explain this. I was helping move one of the grandchildren into her university accommodation on Saturday. Her little Hyundai i10 couldn't hold enough of her things, hence using the Octavia. I was using the built-in SatNav, and was in the middle of Birmingham, when it stopped communicating with me, and when I managed to stop and reprogram it, it sent me to various quite wrong places.
I wonder if it upset the system when I had phone calls though the car, after we were separated, and if that somehow stopped the navigation system working. Or has it developed some fault ?... Read more
When it lost contact, were you surrounded by tall buildings? I’m wondering whether it’s lost sight of the minimum number of GPS satellites needed to know where it was and consequently thrown a wobbly?
I don't think so, just normal town buildings, and near the A38 it was fairly open. Some streets were more enclosed, but it didn't come back in more open places. Interesting thought though.
My Fabia has now come out of the 2 years free dealer service deal I had with the deal, As I've had the vehicle from new and I am thinking about keeping it for another 3 - 4 years so it will need another 3 services.
This has the 1 litre TSI unit with 95PS engine, does this unit have a cam belt? I'm thinking this will ideally be replaced at 5 years and does the DSG transmission need a service as well, If so at what mileage... Read more
"It has a cambelt and the recommended interval is 50,000 miles.or 5 years, whichever is sooner. Personally, I think changing a cambelt after 5 years regardless of mileage is absurd, but..."
My 2019 Seat Ibiza also has the 1.0 TSI engine. When I enquired at my SEAT dealer about when the cambelt needed changing, I was advised at 5 years old. When I asked about the mileage, I was told no mileage interval was specified, just every 5 years....
After reading the Jagar i pace post..
One of oue neighbours had his range rover stolen just before christmas.... Read more
I had to overinflate the front tyres of my ex MiL's Golf mk2 Diesel so she could park the thing, also had to retrofit Ferodo brake pads and shoes so she could stop the car, not an especially old lady at that time but cars from those days, particularly FWD models could be heavy to drive.
Those cars were on sensible tyre sizes too, you would struggle to find anything much wider than a 560 (cross ply) or 175 radial section tyre on a car without power steering after the 70's.
SMMT’s December figures have been published, along, obviously, with year end.
For December it’s:-
Tesla Model Y
Tesla Model 3
Qashqai
MINI
T-Roc
Yaris
XC40
Fiesta
LEAF
Puma
For 2022 it’s:-
Qashqai
Corsa
Model Y
Puma
MINI
KIA Sportage
Hyundai Tucson
Golf
Kuga
Fiesta
EV was 16.6% of 2022 but 32.9% of December.
Read more
Remember, we heard similar 'definitive evidence' of the environmental credntials of switching to diesel 20 years ago which turned out to be nowhere near true for a lot of people. Reports and 'scientific studies' can easily be manipulated to suit an agenda.
The government was pushing it as they do produce less CO2 - but I'd not class something the government of the day said as 'definitive evidence'. What scientific studies were you referring to?...
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Perhaps not....