April 2023
I understand ad blue has a ‘use by’ date on the containers. But what about ad blue that’s been in the car for a while? I ask because I don’t do many miles, although they are long trips, as a result I hardly use any ad blue. As the tank is quite large, the stuff has been in there for quite some time. I last topped it up a good couple of years ago.
Is there anything I should do about it? Read more
Hope someone can help ?? gearbox gets stuck in gear say third , and will rev up to redline and it won't change gear. I try paddle shift the screen displays M7 but I am in 3 gear in reality and it is happening now and then. Would anyone have an idea Read more
Get it fixed for the lowest cost possible and move it on. This was the advice to a friend’s brother when his DSG failed. Had a cheap fix, but foolishly kept the car. A few weeks later it had a very expensive failure.
Looking for some advice here. We currently have a 2015 Audi A4 Avant which we love, but we are looking to trade in for a large SUV. My partner and I have both suffered back issues recently and think an SUV would benefit. My instinct was the Audi Q5 but I see that it is very heavy and therefore not very fuel efficient. Tax is also costly. We have 2x200 mile journeys each week and 3-4 times per year we make a near 600 mile round trip to visit my family. So the miles are high therefore mpg and running costs are important to us, as well as comfort. Does anyone have any suggestions? Read more
Thank you.
Yesterday my wife and I had a tour round looking at changing the CRV we have had for 10+ years. Slightly smaller car to gain better access
The cars looked at were all Japanese and from 3 different franchises - List prices £32K - £38K... Read more
I had been interested in a new Civic Hybrid when the price of the base model was around £31000. Then they canned the base model and the Sport became the base model at over £34000. Then the price of the Sport went up twice to nearer £36000 and the top spec model to near £40000. Pretty much lost interest now.
Went to look at one at a dealership and when I asked why the prices had rocketed, he virtually said it was because of all the good reviews the car had received in the motoring press. Whether this is true or not I don't know but a car is reviewed taking into account its list price at the time. Would it have reviewed as well at an inflated price....
We’ve seen companies like Toyota making the most reliable petrol engines around.
Earlier they were not outstanding but reliable . Take the Hilux that refused to die for Clarkson.... Read more
Toyota make good Diesels.
The 2.5 and 3 litre 4 pots as found in Hilux and Prado (badged Landcruiser here) have proved very reliable, i've had literally the same engine (mechanical injection in the first) in 3 different Toyota 4x4s, none have given any issues....
Wondering if I should consider a petrol Mazda 3 in my search for a new used car.... Have read injector issues are common and costly, is there any way of ruling the issue out (wondered if it is likely to have occurred and been fixed by X miles or similar, sorry I don't know if that's a thing!) or should I stick to other models?
Many thanks Read more
Can’t say I’ve ever heard of it. I’ve recommended these cars to many people over the years and helped source several for friends, family and work colleagues without a single case of injector issues. From a quick look online replacements aren’t hugely costly even if they were to fail. The diesels (especially the older 1.6) are another matter however. It’s a car I’d happily recommend to you but as with any used car buy on condition and history and pay extra for a good one.You're absolutely right the issue is with the diesels - I got confused! Thanks for sorting me out on that.
Most of the issues surround Mazda diesels revolve around the 'mis-use' of cars of that engine type, i.e. predominantly short trips from cold. If you've owned such a car from new and at least do mixed driving or mainly longer distance (20 miles+ on free flowing roads) driving then not so much to worry about. Just don't turn the engine off if its doing a DPF regen and let it idle at the end of a long journey / towing for 30-60 secs to ensure the turbo cools off....
Ford focus 2006 1.6 the EML light came on, plugged it in & got a P2303 fault code. Also in first gear only if you try to take off quick it starts to judder/kangaroo but will take off fine if you take off normally/slower if that relates to the issue at all? Read more
Coil pack failure is quite common, fortunately it's a fairly cheap fix. Do asap to stop further damage - whilst misfiring unburnt fuel is being sent down the exhaust and can damage sensors & the catalyst all of which cost considerably more.
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With my wife having got the forms from Motability through the post today letting her know she can place an order, I've been sifting through what is on offer on the Motability website. Narrowed down to automatic, 5 doors, and a maximum of £500 advance payment. With the continued absence of the current Suzuki Ignis (and Swift) from the list I've resigned myself to getting something wider than I'd like and just mount the kerb (as per tyre vs kerb thread) to allow more room on our narrow street. These are the cars (in no particular order) which have interested me along with pro's and con's.
I'd be interested if anyone has any experience of any of the cars listed below, or any other points or thoughts you feel worth mentioning. ... Read more
"The advance payment is only an issue in so far as the money could be put to better use elsewhere." Fair enough.
Good to know that users are now encouraged to look after the cars. My CMax, purchased in 2007 at three years old certainly hadn't much care lavished on it. HJ used to recommend an auction buyer (can't remember his name) who helped source the car via a contact at BCA Bridgwater. It stunk of cigarettes and had a fair few minor dents. It was low mileage and was promoted as in excellent condition. Took a professional valet and a couple of years for the smell to go. Turned out to be a good car in the end and I kept it for 10 years, but I'll never rate ex Motability as a plus.
Toyota CEO: “This New Engine Will Destroy The Entire EV Industry!”
youtu.be/rTawvzH0MQ4
This must be the new CEO, hence the recent doubts expressed by the old CEO about whether EV's are the complete answer. Read more
You'd have to trap all the CO2 produced in combustion, then you'd have to put it somewhere harmless, like maybe a very big sealed greenhouse.
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I'm very grateful to one of the site contributers at Ask John for suggesting my brother goes for a VW Golf mk 7 to replace his beloved Lexus CT200h Advance (2014 plate). While he's loving the tech spec of the Golf and is warming to the fuel efficiency despite the cost of diesel, he's balking at the cockpit design. To explain the following, he is neurodivergent (think Forest Gump but not as severe) and, whilst an excellent driver, he can be a stickler for things that someone us may not find important. His criteria so far:
Budget: £12k. 60+mpg, lowish insurance group, reliable. Must be automatic (disability issue). Reliable and low(ish) maintenance costs. Would like bells & whistles that you see in the Golf. Refuses to have another hybrid (dont ask, but it was a nightmare getting repairs and downright expensive). ... Read more
Just thought I'd update on this. The car is now back at the dealership for the third time for battery drain issues. Cause is unknown - keys are well out of range and in a faraday box,, nothing left on or plugged in or connected yet almost every day without fail the car needs a jump start, even with a new battery. The car is driven almost daily and they're not short trips. I've had the car a couple of days myself to make sure it's nothing he's doing, and the same things are happening to me. Worse, twice the car has nearly caused an accident - once when it decided to do an emergency brake when a cyclist emerged from a side road well away from the car and another time when it decided to try and ram me into a parked car rather than let me straddle a lane marking (even though I'd indicated). It's by far the worst car I have seen and the technology on it is b***** dangerous.
He's regretting buying the thing now and I'm fighting his corner in getting the vehicle rejected. Mazda Assist have proven to be the absolute pits. The technicians who respond are OK, but the rest of the outfit is an absolute joke. Twice now he's been stuck at the dealership waiting for a courtesy car that Mazda said they'd arranged but hadn't, and when it was arranged, the either sent the wrong info to the hire company or sent it to the wrong branch and me or my partner have had to finish work early to pick him up after he'd been left waiting for 5 hours. When he did get a car (over a day later), it was an Aygo or Yaris. Bit of a comedown from a Mazda 3, but hey, at least they started and could be driven. The only reason it's not happened a third time is because my partner has not needed his car and has let my brother use it....
Browse
Sometimes if clumsy blighters spill adblu over the bulk pump handle, it crystalises enough to stop the pump handle operating, a kettle of hot water over it shifts it all in no time.