May 2023
Last night as I got back into my car in a supermarket car park, the car next to mine a man walked up and and was putting their child into the car.
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Is there any way to easily calculate how much it will cost for an EV to travel X miles?
For ICE it is easy if you know the MPG. ... Read more
Please don't get into a discussion of ours and theirs pollution ...
Hi
A few weeks ago I received a single justice procedure notice for failing to respond to an NIP. Firstly, I never received the NIP and secondly I wasn’t driving.
I therefore responded not guilty on both accounts and have since received a summons on referral to court. At this point obviously I’m very worried as i already have 3 points and receiving 6 more would be very bad news.
How can I best defend my case in that I never received the NIP? Read more
Not saying it did happen, but if it was your wife speeding, maybe she "helped" the letters to disappear?
Well getting her hubby in position where he's on a sticky wicket and at risk of six points is'n't really helping........
We are looking to get a second hand toyota again and are thinking of either the Avensis or Auris with an automatic gearbox. I'd like the Avensis but not sure if it's too big a car for us (wife is not sure about parking it on our drive) so the Auris is smaller and more manageable.My question is, was there any particular the Auris had problems with its automatic gearbox or are they pretty much reliable regardless of year it made? Another question is , how do you tell if the battery in an Auris is at the end of its days? Any help much appreciated as we are weighing up the pros and cons of these two models of cars. Read more
Cost, size and weight are lesser considerations with trucks and buses. Most I’ve driven are single clutch automated manuals, which are in said heavy vehicles generally very robust. The ponderous gear change wouldn’t be acceptable to most car owners however, as manufacturers such as Citroen and Peugeot showed with their horrid but not particularly fragile single clutch automated manual transmissions. I recently drove a 2007 Citroen Grand Picasso with one of these boxes, the potential buyer (a work colleague) thought there was something wrong with it, but no they’re just like that, they were from new. He couldn’t live with it (and I suggested something else anyway) and is still looking.
Just looking for a bit of advice on my next car please...I hope this doesn't get lengthy...apologies if it does!
Budget = £4k... Read more
Based on your preferences and budget, the two best options to consider are the Jaguar XF and the Mercedes-Benz C-Class. Both cars offer luxury and comfort, with the Jaguar XF providing a refined driving experience and the Mercedes-Benz C-Class known for its upscale features. Be sure to thoroughly inspect and research both options to find the best fit for your needs and budget.
Additionally, consider the Audi A4, which offers a stylish design and a refined interior. Older models with documented service histories may be available within your budget. Carmax can be a good option for purchasing used cars, as they have a wide range of vehicles and are known for their quality, excellent service and return policy. However, ensure to thoroughly inspect any used car, check its history report, and take it for a test drive before making a purchase. Also, consider factors such as maintenance costs, potential repairs, and insurance premiums when selecting a luxury car.
I have been having battery problems for some time now. When the car was only 6 months old, it was in an accident and spent seven weeks being repaired. The damage was rear end only. When I got it back, I started getting starting problems where one day it was fine and the next day it was pretty much dead and I had to get recovery out to start it. (I subsequently bought a booster/charger).
My initial thoughts were that it had probably spent its time at the repairers being started and stopped as they moved it around the shop without any long running to charge it. It was also delivered back to me on a trailer so still no long run. I have given it plenty of long runs since then but the problem occasionally rears its head when it suddenly won't start one day. Now that I am retired, I don't do the mileage I used to but still do enough to keep the battery charged I would have thought. However, the battery voltage always seems low, even shortly after a long run. Last Sunday I came back from 600 miles of mostly motorway driving over the previous week. I checked the battery voltage this morning and it was 11.6V. Surely it shouldn't have dropped this much in four days!... Read more
There may be some ‘new car pseudoprogress gotcha’ I’m not aware of, which makes this not longer an option, but on old cars you can check the alternator output with a cheap multimeter.
IIRC I “tune” my alternator belt tension to 14.0 volts output. You can also look for voltage drop across the charging circuit.
Most multimeters will measure 10A which should be adequate to check for parasitic drain when parked up
If you buy a new battery and your charging system isn’t working properly it may not last long
The company officially plans to cease all production of gas (petrol) models by the end of September 2023, selling off its remaining inventory through 2024.
www.msn.com/en-us/autos/news/honda-to-stop-manufac...8
This ties up with Honda UK offering discounts on their lawn and garden range in the UK, they are not noted for discounting!
www.honda.co.uk/lawn-and-garden.html
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My Briggs and Stratton engine push mower is still going strong after some 28 years. It has a hard life with a lot of lawn cut weekly and a rough area once a year.. All it has needed is regular oil changes the occasional new spark plug .and a good clean of its aluminium deck.
In contrast the local golf club has all kinds of cutters and other kit to keep grass at its best. These mowers are on the go all the time and their fuel bill and carbon must be high. I wonder if a battery solution for their machinery will come about eventually...
Hi I bought a Ford fiesta 1.5 tdci 2015 reg ex learner car it was great on fuel the miles to empty on the screen would hardly go down and same with the fuel gauge but just seemed a bit slow so I did a Forced dpf regeneration by plugging it into forscan software a lot of smoke and crap came out of the exhaust now the car is more responsive drives better but I’ve noticed now after doing it the miles to empty is dropping very quickly and the fuel consumption is greedy before I did the forced regeneration it was great on fuel the gauge hardly moved and the miles to empty on the screen clocks hardly went down any advice on this would be great Read more
Forced regeneration is my opinion is a last resort. Usually when the car doesn't regenerate on its own you are either doing very little miles or you have a fault. A forced regeneration puts a lot of stress on the engine and dpf. Are there any codes? I suspect your car is dumping diesel in the sump so I would check your oil asap before the engine runs away. Get the fault fixed or give it a long run once a week. Then do an oil and filter change.
Dacia still use 'normal' controls for heating and ventilation. My 2021 Duster has an ignition key, a proper handbrake and a spare wheel too.
I'm on the cusp of buying a BMW convertible , either 220i or 235/240i around the 2017 date.
I have just had a quick test in 240i and I love it but the running costs are a tad worrying – I am now retired . The guy selling the car here in Purbeck is a mechanic with a small forecourt . He has warned me off buying into the four cylinder range as they have proved troublesome , namely timing chains . He did seem like a knowledgable straight forward guy , no sales pressure at all . ... Read more
V and flat 12's go even further to (naturally) reduce vibration, because they are essentially two straight sixes matched up.
With any other configuration, exceptional smoothness can only be gained through the use of balancer shafts.......
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