January 2025
I bet I'll get loads of replies say why I am thinking of replacing what many say is a brilliant car/engine !
I have a 2005 Passat PD100 estate, 120k miles, only cost me £1200. The boot is massive and great for our two dogs and carrying stuff.... Read more
SWMBO has reclaimed her car (Leo the Leaf) because it has isofix in the front passenger seat and mini swmbo likes to be beside mum whilst being chauffeured around, so I am now back to using the C class for commuting purposes and I’m really missing the Leaf for its simplicity and running costs and I’ve been looking at used examples where many a bargain lurks.
Seems that the rear end has fallen out of the used EV market, particularly the Leaf so there are many stupidly cheap cars about. I can get a sensible mileage 4yr old big battery 62kwh example from Cinch for around £11k or a private sale 40kwh car for much less. It is tempting despite the £3k loss I’d take on the Merc. I’d save around £2k a year on fuel.
www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202412287582428 Read more
<< I suspect it very much depends upon the design and build quality of the panels and related equipment (and the quality of the installer can make a difference too), plus how much damage the panels get from the weather (including debris from nearby trees hitting them) and local wildlife.>>
I have the advantage of living in a bungalow and the panels are arrayed facing a small flat roof, so I can occasionally give them a wipe over with a squeezy floor mop. Also worth remembering just now that if snow settles on the panels output drops to zero :-)...
Hi all, any advice on the following options would be greatly appreciated.
I currently have a Volvo XC60 B4 mild hybrid, just short of two years old. I like Volvos (this is my second) but I have concerns about their long term reliability, so I was planning on changing it next year before the warranty expires. I have retired now and don’t want to be changing cars every three years, so I was thinking about switching to a Lexus NX and taking advantage of the long warranty. ... Read more
As someone famously (and IMHO very wisely) once said: "The more they overtake the plumbing, the easier it is to stop up the drain."...
Hi everyone, got a 2013 i10 4 years ago, failed MOT today with the below. My local service guy said it would cost about £800 to fix all the below (mainly timing belt & ABS), and sugested perhaps I should sell the car. Used cars are still way too expensive. What do folks think - repair, or replace like for like?
... Read more
What problems will be pushed to next year? The suspension being a bit worn?
Got an 09 fiesta. I've written about it a few times here in the past but thought I'd give an update since I keep getting oil warnings (they pop on for one second then disappear). My ex owned this car for 5 years before me and I've owned it for about five years since. She never changed the oil. I've changed it once and topped it up once.
Anyway, I bought a bottle yesterday and I'll probably top it up or change it again next week. Read more
In my days of running bangers when I was young, foolish and skint (as opposed to old, foolish and skint ?) I used to habitually visit sc***yards for spares.
It was amazing how much congealed black rubbery oil there was in sumps where the oil had never been changed - has some wonderful pictures of US cars where the oil has congealed to look like jelly pudding and will not flow out of the drain plug. You Tube - not available then as the Internet did not exist nor did PCs!)
Hi, I bought the car last April from a Toyota dealer, with a mileage of 24129 , I paid £9200. They gave me a 1 year warranty. I took it back to them today for a MOT. Mileage 26214. It's failed massively, dangerous defects, do not drive. They said they will pay £173.99 brakepipe incorrectly routed not secure.
...I have to pay £246 lower arm bush excessive movement, £42 tyre also advisories - £500 brake pipes, handbrake £72, arm bush £26 (another one) , £42: Ant advice please Guy's? So annoyed and fed up. The salesgirl said it was to be expected on a second hand car. Read more
UPDATE...
I picked my car up from the little garage this morning ...
I had to drive to Watford the other evening, to stay in a hotel before an early funeral.
Going south on the A12 I had to flash a good few cars coming toward me on full beam (and they all dipped their lights)... Read more
One problem is the height of headlights. They are much more blinding if fitted to large SUV's, trucks or HGV's. Perhaps there should be a maximum height requirement for headlights. Any vehicle could have them fitted lower.
Absolute madness so many are buying L322 Range Rovers.
Facebook Marketplace is full of people selling cheap RRs they cannot afford to repair and run.
Bargepole jobs....
I’m replacing two tyres next week, one on the front, one on the back. The other two tyres have about 4.5 mm left. All in readiness for it’s mot. Would you:-
1. Just replace the tyres as they are or
2. Put the two new ones on the front or
3. Put the two new ones on the rear?
Obviously a front wheel drive car.
Thanks, H.
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I toe the "official line" on this one. having twice "lost the back end"" on FWD cars due, I think, to lift off engine braking in greasy conditions, in one case going through a hedge backwards and stopping on the edge of a sea cliff, new tyres go on the back.
There are clearly several variables at work here - quality of tyres and road surface, correct tyre pressure - but I am wondering at what point (depth of tyre rubber) does the difference between front and rear tyres become significantly large ? Might not this hedge incident have happened on nearly-new rubber ?...
I have a personal plate. If I pop it onto a retention cert. Does it cause a problem if I finance a car but put my plate on it? Via the dealer of course. Read more
I have been and it looks better than Vauxhalls. Same whining about diminished range sub zero temperatures but thats about it. Planning to change end of the year when the 500e goes back.
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Nissan Elgrand?