February 2024
If you search the internet, there are lots and lots of posts telling of issues starting hybrid cars, in my case a Yaris Cross, where the 12v battery voltage is too low. The AA want to sell you a new battery and starts the car, telling you to visit your dealer. The dealer, charges the battery, says it passes all Toyota checks and you pay £30 for the privilege only for it to happen again soon afterwards. Third party videos on You Tube suggest that the Toyota test does not allow the battery to stabilise after charging and if you leave for a few hours, testing shows the voltage is too low. The battery would appear to be underrated in terms of capacity.
My wife has lost all confidence in the car and wants me to change it for a non-hybrid. Why the car could not be designed to allow the main hybrid battery to charge the 12v starting battery is beyond my knowledge as it does this once you start the car. Toyota seems to be oblivious to this issue and issues unhelpful advice about driving so many miles a week or leaving the car running in your drive for an hour in "ready" mode (could be illegal?).... Read more
I called into Honda agent to query delay in getting my CR-V Hybrid back on the road (see other thread) and on looking around the parking lot saw two other vehicles (both Honda 2020 Jazz) parked alongside my car with windscreen sticker “Do not drive – Brake Servo Module failed”
Queried this with service manager, “Yes, we’ve got three more in our other branch, all with failed Brake Servos and Honda UK are denying liability”... Read more
It’s hard to believe Honda s behaviour in this matter. They could always be trusted to put customer satisfaction first and even recalled all their cars sold in the Northern Hemisphere to check and repair rust when necessary.
Perhaps Toyota philosophy to implant a member of staff in all their suppliers premises has reduced the risk of sun standard components reaching the production line ?
Where is everyone’s go to place to purchase low priced used cars now? Especially for the hugely popular economical supermini automatic market.
Autotrader - usually overpriced by private sellers and salesman if you do see a bargain it’s with a garage with terrible or no reviews in some dodgy area
Gumtree - see autotrader and doesn’t seem to be as popular as it used to be for used cars
Facebook marketplace - everyone knows about this one. Mostly scams. The odd genuine seller but have to be extremely careful and wade through loads of r******.
Shpock - seems less scammy than Facebook but not a huge amount listed.
Does everyone tend to scan all of these sites hoping to find a gem or do you tend to go to a known dealer you trust and pay the premium for it?
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You'd be surprised at how old cars on sale at main dealers are now - many are seemingly so desperate for new car sales that they'll take car that are 7-10 years old in PX and not just flog them on at the nearest auction.
It not just the age of the car. Back in 2018 when I bought a used X3 (8k miles, 10 months old) very few of the manufacturer approved cars for sale had mileages in excess of 10k per year. ...
So much has changed since my last post .
We have got rid of all our cars except for my wife's company car... Read more
Honda love a dashboard gearstick. The one in the FRV is so high up that a third person can sit under it. Speaking of which, an HRV might fit the bill. Not dash mounted, but the centre console is high so the gearstick falls to hand nicely.
In this thread you may:
Ask any question for EVs which you need help, advice, suggestions or whatever
Discuss articles that have been hosted elsewhere (this may be reviewed after a while to see how it's working)... Read more
This thread is now closed, please CLICK HERE to go to Volume 8 *****
Was shown at the Geneva Motor Show in recent days.
They havent posted anyone driving one yet but the new design looks a step up. Maybe the NCAP rating will be better too.... Read more
I would be interested in a no frills low priced car, just needs to go and stop with decent reliability. I am not fussed with all the gizmos.
In this thread you may:
Ask any question for EVs which you need help, advice, suggestions or whatever
Discuss articles that have been hosted elsewhere (this may be reviewed after a while to see how it's working)... Read more
This thread is now closed, please CLICK HERE to go to Volume 7 *****
Autoaid renewal arrived today. New charges applying.
Spouse cover £10. 16year+ vehicle premium £21.90. In the event of a breakdown pay the recovery agent £25 at the time....so what's the point of the 16year+ premium?... Read more
I have just renewed my Start Rescue policy for £88, only up £4 from last year so I really can't be bothered to shop around. The reviews are good although I've not had to use them so far. How's that for tempting fate!
After a year of fewer than 6,000 trouble and penalty free miles in our now 4yr old Peugeot 2008, the renewal premium has gone up from £309 to £486!!!!! Looks as though it's meerkat comparison time. Read more
Last year's premium with Direct Line was £350. This year's renewal, £550! I make that a 63% rise. Out of interest, I applied as a new customer and the quote was £770.
LV and Aviva both quoted £380 and Halifax, who are my bank quoted £370 so I have insured with them. Cannot understand the huge rise with DL.
I’ve had my car, I’ve named it Jazzy for 11 years and I’m very attached to it. Jazzy and I have had some excellent adventure and it has never disappointed me.
At the recent MOT I was told that it has a dreadful terminal car condition called rust and that whilst it had just passed the MOT this time it wouldn’t next year and would only be fit for the sc*** yard.
This is very sad the official phrasing was ‘ Vehicle structure is corroded but structural rigidity is not significantly reduced (6.1.1 (c) (i)).’
Looking at Jazzy you can’t see any signs of rust but apparently underneath it’s very bad. I was warned about it at the MOT last year and apparently this year it is much worse.
Is there anything that can be done to cure this? Otherwise I may just have to use my car allowance to buy a new car and retire Jazzy to the garage which would need emptying to be looked at and visited to reminisce about the good times.
I’m truly serious and would if possible like to keep Jazzy. I’m not really fussed about a new car and would much rather keep Jazzy. Read more
Ah Waxoyl, best to chuck the first batch over your head because by the time you've spent hours heating the stuff up in batches to stand any chance of it spraying and declogging the umpteen blockages in whatever you are using for spraying plus the inevitable drips (clumps) more of it will be on you and the drive than the car, a more frustrating product to use i've yet to find.
Yes its a bit messy but its inevitable since you are under the car and gravity ensures any drips go down....
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