Looking for a sub £2K small automatic for a relative. We're close to bangernomics at this price I know. On my "to view" list ATM is a 04 Honda Civic with around 80K miles. Good MOT history, but I'm told that running an old Honda can be problematic because of the price of parts compared to something like a Focus.

Anyone confirm or deny? Read more

Hi, hope this is the right place to post this!

I bought a 65 plate Nissan Pulsar from a well known national dealer in November. I’ve had no end of issues with it - stop/start system fault which they claim is caused by the battery despite my having the battery replaced, slack seatbelts, violent vibration when accelerating over 60mph, a key system fault and the car rolling when the handbrake is on/ handbrake getting stuck if you pull it up too far.

I took it back to them today (2nd time in less than 3 months!) and had to kick up a fuss to get them to look at it, even though it’s supposedly got a 2 year warranty (which of course did not include the battery). An hour later they called me to say the handbrake issue is actually a serious problem as the back breaks have completely gone and they need to keep the car for repair as obviously it’s not safe to drive.

The car came with a full service and MOT with no advisories and the dealer is saying this is a new issue, not an existing one but the handbrake has been this way since the day I bought it. I know literally nothing about cars so hoping someone here might be able to tell me how likely it is that they are being truthful? Is it possible for the back breaks to go from perfectly fine to completely gone in less than 3 months?

I use the car mainly for school runs and the odd day trip so it’s not done many miles in the time that I’ve had it but I feel pretty sick about the fact that I’ve been driving my kids around in a potential death trap. Read more

Hi everyone, my 2012 MINI Cooper failed it's MOT 3 weeks ago on 'Nearside Front Shock absorbers has a serious fluid leak'. This came up as an advisory a year ago so wasn't that surprised. Anyway, the mechanic changed the shock absorber and it passed the MOT. However, since I've had the car back it makes a really loud whirling/ humming sound when driving.

I'm not that knowledgeable about cars but based on my research the sound replicates that of a wheel bearing on the way out. The odd thing is this issue has only happened since the shock has been replaced. There was no noise before at all and now its really loud. The mileage is only 60k and I've barley used it since the MOT. I have since messaged the mechanic about it and he said he noticed the wheel bearing noise when he dropped the car off for me and to let him know if it gets any worse. I've told him there was no noise before so he's coming around in a few days to listen to it. Could this just be a coincidence that the noise has appeared from the same side the shock was replaced or is it possible there are other factors in play?

Any help appreciated. Read more

Tesla car spontaneously catches fire, taking 22,000 litres of water to put it out (msn.com)

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Hi

I’m new to this forum and it seems like a really good resource for information. I have a grey 2006 Ford fiesta ghia , automatic - I bought it 3 years ago second hand for £800 - because of rising costs I’ve been patching it up but am really ready to scrap it -but yesterday a guy at a garage said hold onto it as they are no longer made so are valuable

Is this right and if so could someone give me a link for a trader

Many thanks for your help Read more