November 2023
An academic paper alleges what many have suspected for a long time. Drivers of the Subaru, Porsche and BMW brands are more likely on average to be "risky", with drivers of Subaru cars involved in proportionately the most “injudicious action”.
A study of more than 400,000 road accidents found that speeding, jumping a red light, overtaking on double white lines or ignoring pedestrian crossings were more likely to be a factor when a Subaru, Porsche or BMW were involved.... Read more
Peugeot Partner went in for service & MOT 2 weeks ago. 10yr service.
Service done, failed MOT as expected, needed a spring doing. Husband asked for timing belt doing as it's 10. Then we got a call to say it wouldn't start. There's power, but no starting. They plugged the computer in, computer says all fine.... Read more
Any news on this please.
Hi. I have £2500 to spend on a nice cheap motor. It will be a mix of normal and motorway no more than 8k.miles a year.
We really like the A3 (especially tdi models), Ford focus and for extra room in case we wanted an 2nd car for the dogs the VW Touran.
I've been on all their FB forums and what a suprise they all say their cars are best but they all say I could pick a decent one up for £2500
What do other people think in terms of reliability, maintenance etc
Cheers Read more
We had a 2003 Touran 1.9 Tdi, bought secondhand, which served us well for many years. Problems tended to be electrical, which I guess would be the same for the Audi A3, as it shares much of the same technology.
The main dislike of the Touran was loud tyre roar at the back when travelling at motorway speeds, something we never solved. Ours was a 5-seater, which meant it had a proper spare wheel.
Hi
Bought a used Mazda 3 about 40 days ago. 2 days in got engine management light, had to take back in and fault was fixed (I should know what they fixed but dont and am checking tomorrow).... Read more
Have they not even diagnosed what is wrong with it? These are generally very good cars, though Mazda’s customer service isn’t great in the UK. Have you contacted them directly? A nasty trust pilot review of the dealer always instigates a quick response from dealer and manufacturer from my experience.
Been browsing on Car And Classic quite a lot and came upon this last night. As mint as it appears to be, still quite an ambitious asking price!. I wonder if there is a fan out there with the money and willingness to buy it?. ... Read more
As for reliability, the Dolomite Sprint does have a reputation for suffering much the same cooling issues as the Stag (unsurprisingly). So highly unlikely that either one would be a lot more reliable than the other.
Indeed - mine also suffered from the water pump problem. It was situated high up on the slanting block and would surreptitiously leak through an aperture in the block. I can't remember if there was a coolant level warning but if the level dropped too much the head would overheat with CHG failure and possible head warping. Fortunately this never happened to me as I caught it early and replaced the pump. Otherwise it was reliable mechanically - rust was its undoing. ...
Do the clutch switches show correct operation of pedal down and released? There are 2 switches on the pedal .
First time visit to USA, observed following (motoring related) differences compared to UK/EU.
- Cars can turn right (equivalent to left in UK) in red lights. This felt unsafe for pedestrians as cars were moving at the same time while pedestrians were crossing (in New York City).
- City speed limit is 25 MPH or 40 km/h in Canada. This seems better than 20 MPH limit UK towns are adopting. If 30 feels too high and 20 feels too low then 25 MPH feels just about right.
- I knew undertaking is normal in USA but I didn't know HGVs can travel on fast/outside lanes!
- While there are many European/Japanese cars - the American made cars were massive! I have seen American cars on movies but in flesh they look lot larger.
- Honking is normal in NYC - much more than in London.
- No roundabouts but only intersections. Although internet says some US cities are now building roundabouts.
- I didn't really understand what Americans use pick up trucks for. There were plenty everywhere and none was carrying any stuff in the rear loading beds.
- Some American made cars have red rear indicators - instead of amber. Why?
- Lane discipline is poor (compared to UK/EU) in interstate highways.
- Amtrak trains were good. Seats were spacious and comfortable even in coach class (economy class). In future I'll use Amtrak again.
- USA is not as cheap as people want us to believe. Barring fuel prices, NYC is horrendously expensive on everything, compared with London. Middle America is not that expensive though.
<< ....which brilliantly illustrates the fundamental problem of the American lifestyle, now visible and aspired to by billions of cell-phone-owning huddled masses globally. Even if the above (usually oversized) vehicles become EVs, that's still a huge carbon footprint. >>
And how many vehicles occupy your garage /drive /other parking space, John ? It's not that many decades since the notion of the 'family car'. My family had no car until - I think - about 1954. After I married we had one car until the mid-80s. Then the kids started learning to drive, which called for an elderly Mini at about that time. They now live elsewhere and we could manage with one again ; the other museum piece spends most of its life in the garage.
My 2019 Peugeot 508 Blue HDI 1.5 has been horrendously unreliable this year despite only just reaching 48,000 miles. It has had two rear suspension arms replaced and brake pads plus discs replaced at 40,000 miles. Then in September 2023 when exiting a roundabout, the car totally cut out with what was diagnosed by the RAC as a ECU failure but later investigation when the garage eventually accepted it some weeks later was a snapped timing chain and a whole new engine.
Luckily I had a Peugeot extended warranty which agreed a replacement engine but on removing said engine the garage said it need a new clutch too! It never felt on its way out. The biggest shock is the bill which is being quoted at £1200! An incredible amount of money and I know of no car outside a Porsche 911 that will cost so much. To further irritation, they are replacing the battery at £175 and the robbing swines at Peugeot breakdown assist charged me £96 for a 2nd tow as the dealer was shut at the time!
Peugeot have declined any goodwill and have said it is a pure wear and tear item. They also reckon their extended warranty is through a third party company, so my complaint lies with them, not Peugeot!
Aside from not buying another Peugeot, what other options do I have to address this awful service and situation? Been off the road for 2 months now and driving around in a dire Citroen c3 “courtesy car” out of pocket. I bought the car with cash from new but now must ponder if a lease may be better in future to give them greater responsibility. Read more
I checked the price this morning, clutch kit, flywheel and bolts is about £1550 (parts ONLY!!!) so not sure where they got the £1200 from.
My Fiesta is just coming to 10 years (50,000 miles) and Ford recommend change the cam belt. If the water pump is driven by the cam belt should the pump also be changed? Read more
If it’s the 3 cylinder ecoboost engine , then yes , needs water pump. I’d get a quote if you’re going to main dealer . It’s probably going to be about £1k job .
£1k is cheap for a Ford main dealer to do this job last time I enquired.
Hi, I'm getting confused information from the van itself and two garages I've taken it to...the injectors were replaced 18 months ago, a month ago it stuttered when going through 3rd into forth, fourth into fifth, STOP light flashed on then immediately off...I had it looked at, told it's driving fine, but when diagnosed the reading says injector no.1...but the van drives fine again to a degree and STOP light not come on, I feel it will if I get up to 60mph however, but reading injector issues, it's not misfiring, it's not leaking, no noises, starts great everytime...so i dont get it...I have bought a decent reviewed cleaner and additive to mix into the fuel tank...any input off you guys be greatly appreciated Read more
Diesel?
Genuine or pattern injectors?
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They can add a 911 to the list.
Just had to do a short hop on the M621. Lashing it down, surface water, I'm doing about 65, not much traffic, Mr 911 appears and disappears doing 90+. I commented to family in the car that that speed in that car in the conditions probably wasn't wise....