July 2024
This is almost too hard to believe, but it's a true story.
I bought a used car from a 'dealership' (I use that word lightly). There were some alarm bells ringing that I ignored in favour of a deal—namely, the mention of spares and repairs on the contract (I know now what this means, but they let me test drive it and let me drive away with it with a children's seat in the front, so I'm fairly sure my consumer rights would have been intact). ... Read more
I have a 2006 Citroen C3 that I like very much - it's been brilliant since I bought it 5 years ago and needed no repairs until it broke down this week in France with a broken clutch. I'm being quoted 950 euros for the clutch to be repaired there, which is about £800. The car is only worth about £700, so the insurance won't cover recovering it to the UK. It ought to be a no-brainer to sc*** it but I am torn because it's been such a reliable little car and I'm sure it has a few years left in it. Any advice? Read more
Morning Andrea,
Can you please expand on what the RAC have told you in their decision. This may alert our members to review their overseas breakdown cover and find a policy from a company like Brittania Rescue who may be more helpful in this situation....
My engine has suddenly started running lumpy at tickover (particularly noticeable at about 1000 rpm). At higher revs the engine is obviously not happy either, and the car feels underpowered. The engine is petrol 1.6 litres DOHC (engine type Z16XEP). My little OBD reader says error P0304 Cylinder 4 Misfire Detected. I think cylinder 4 is the one f***hest from the timing belt end. I had a look at the spark plugs, and they seem fine, though the one in cyliinder 4 looked very slightly sooty. When I put it them and the ignition module back, there was no improvement and the same error showed on the OBD reader. Might this be something simple, or am I in for a nasty shock at the garage? Please offer advice if you can - many thanks :-) Read more
Well, AFAICT without knowing the car, it would still have allowed you to provisionally eliminate plug and lead faults before you shelled out 80 quid for the unit, but anyway it worked out ok
I started my MkI Lada a few times using the starting handle, perhaps the last starting handle available on a new car ( the enormous OEM battery was finally dying), and it just worked. Mostly it was just useful for turning the engine for doing the tappets, manual timing chain tensioner and such....
My misadventure enters 13th month of trying to find the car at a reasonable price that'd last for me for 10 years.
Lately I've been glancing over gumtree, with Suzuki Vitara catching my eye. 66' plate, with very low 24,000 mileage advertised as a private seller - I though my luck is turning and I've reached out to a gent on other end of the phone line. I thought - worth a short for just over £5k.... Read more
This sounds like a scam. The disappearing ad, no response to a test drive request, and being directed to an online auction with a "free 7-day premium membership" are red flags.
Our lovely dealer Prestons of Writtle are no longer selling Ssangyong or doing warranty work.
Nearest official dealer is Attleborough or Wymondham or Chingford.... Read more
Having looked at the alternatives except for the 2025 Duster, Prices are crazy.
Yes, it will (or should be) an annual trip to Wymondham for servicing to keep the warranty, (which I have not needed yet....
We have a Clio 1.5 Diesel clio and normally we were getting 58MPG , After the car had a service in January and the MPG display was reset, We started to get 50 MPG , I then changed the fuel filter which increased the MPG to 52 and after a month i added some red X Diesel engine cleaner and some DPF Cleaner and took the car on the motorway and held the car at 3000 RPM and covered 50 miles, Since then i have increased the MPG to 54, So i am still missing out on 4MPG.
Is there a way to try and get better MPG, I am just using normal Diesel at the pumps since i have read that modern cars don't really benefit from Fuel additives and this even includes Red X engine cleaner .... Read more
Most of us can only dream of 50mpg!
Both my Peugeots (one petrol, one diesel) give me comfortably more than 50mpg, John - but that is because of the kind of journeys they do....
One answer to this question is "slow down", so please assume I know that...
I'm still getting on very well with my Vitara but, for a car that has a reputation for being quite nimble and fun, I have found the cornering grip to be a little lacking and unsettling. ... Read more
Ah yes, Michelin ZX!! Lasted forever, maximum understeer on my mini!
My commute home involves several miles of B standard country road, its plenty wide enough for two large vans to pass without issue, it gets a bit narrower when you meet a bus or truck...both are rare because well you never see a bus in our county in a rural setting and its a 7.5 ton limit road, even when you do meet one the're usually still on their own side of the road.
Every day when you meet a car coming the other way they're often straddling the centre lane or even completely over it, for no reason i can tell other than incompetence, the fact i'm coming the other way doesn't make a sc*** of difference, if it wasn't for me brushing the verge to my nearside there would be mirror to mirror clouts regularly, don't know what happens when two half blind mostly incompetent of this type meet one another....well i do because the minor cross roads half way along often has debris and fresh evidence of where the cars have ended up in the fields and railings either side.... Read more
Seems to be more people swinging out to the right and crossing the line before taking a not-very-sharp turn left, as if they were driving some 18 wheeler rather than a Fiesta.
Hi,
I would really appreciate any advice on what my options might be. I'll try to keep it brief, bullet points.
1) Volvo V40 bought from Volvo Wolverhamption, October 2023 (bought on the Selekt car program, i.e. approved used)
2) Front end of car collapses while driving, June 10th 2024
3) Car collected by recovery truck and taken to local Volvo dealer, East London
4) Diagnosed as left front spring has snapped
5) Warranty agree to pay for the work. I am called to collect on completion.
6) Driving the car 200m, I can feel it pulls to the right quite hard once up to 50mph. Take it straight back to the East London
7) They keep the car in over the weekend. Diagnose the problem as the front right spring is non standard, not a Volvo part
8) Volvo UK advise to get the spring changed, and approach Wolverhampton for compensation, as the car was misold
9) Spring replaced at my cost, £900. I am called to collect the car, two technicians have driven and verfied it is all now good.
10) I collect the car, drive 200m, and the issue is the same as it was previously. East London keep the car in.
11) East London say they can not visually see any issues, and to investigate further they will have to dismatle the front suspension.
12) They also insist the car is safe to drive and suggest I take it away, as they don't know the problem. And, they advise Volvo UK that the car is safe to drive, as long as I keep my hands on the steering wheel. They suggest for any further work I drive it, 3 hours, to Wolverhampton. East London also offer me £6,000 to buy the car. I paid £10,000 8 months ago.
13) Volvo UK speak with East London, and relay to me, East London are waiting for my authorisation to do more work, at my expense.
14) East London, now say they don't know if the car pulled to the right before it arrived on the truck. Should this not have been identified in initial diagnosis?
So this is the stage I am at. I do not want to take the car back as it is. I am happy to take a replacement car, my car driving as it should, or £8,000. To buy a car like mine from Volvo would be £9,000+
Any good advice would be massively appreciated. Read more
Have had broken springs on 2 cars in the past.
First was a BMW 118D. Had to be removed to the local BMW specialist by the RAC (he stayed open late Friday evening) and for just over £300 he fitted 2 new genuine BMW front springs. He said he could fit aftermarket springs but very little difference in cost for the job and experience told him that the springs could be of variable quality, the car could lean afterwards....
Opinions on the below are sought.
My previous car suffered a catalytic exhaust theft whilst parked away from our drive. ... Read more
Insurance companies put premiums up for any reason they dream up. No claims bonus dosen't get you a brass razoo off your next premium. It's all a stitchup.
Well I for one would rather have my 70% discount than pay the full price....
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