January 2025
Not totally unsurprising.
Over 100 years of dealership sales offers, customer relationship nurturing and, crucially, the important feeling of being a customer allowed to make choices with actual humans.....taking that away and turning car retail into an experience similar to taking out a Sky subscription.... has not proved popular. ... Read more
A compound close to a car dealership in Midlothian Scotland is currently holding 40+ cars which all appear to be part exchanged and which would probably have gone to auction in the past.... Read more
Have you noticed this happening anywhere near you in the UK?
Err no....
Hello,
I would appreciate some advice buying a second hand SUV. ... Read more
If you go for Kia Sportage, then opt for HEV only. The latest Sportage (5th gen) MHEV and ICE only models have issues with PPF and Kia forum is full of people complaining about it.
Apparently HEV & PHEV are not affected....
Hi. I'm a terrible procrastinator and c******d with indecision. I've been looking to replace my old Civic for two years now and still can't decide on what to replace it with. Whenever I get it down to one or two, I'll end up reading a review that says the steering is awful or the timing chains snap etc and I'm back to square one.
My requirements are; ... Read more
To add to SLO's comments above the Mazdas, The 3 in SE-L trim is fine as well (if you can find one at that price range in good condition / reasonable mileage for its age) as it also can (some people spec up the lower profile 18in rims) come shod on sensible 16in (60 profile, 123mm high sidewall) tyres rather than low profile 18in ones, which firm up the ride.
As I understand it, the Mazda6 in SE and SE-L spec (including Nav variants) comes shod on medium profile (55, probably still fine) 17in because it has a bit higher trim spec than the Mazda3 does, in line with most vehicles as they go up the sizes. They can be on 18in rims if a previous owner up-specced them....
They a thing? Since when?
I've just been told that through all my years of banger bodging I should have been using... Read more
Oh yes indeed - these calipers were horrendous. I found repair seal kits never seemed to work well with it, "swing" bolt could seize and the hex hole rounded off trying to remove it, handbrake auto adjust was a nightmare - On a Zephyr and then a Zodiac mkIV I could set it to pass an MOT re handbrake - but a couple of days later it was hopeless..I found the drums in a certain age of VAG car had teeeeeeeny bleed nipples that just snapped off once a few years old. I used to bleed by releasing the brake pipe slightly - but as for the pre abs rear brake distribution valve - argh............
Being inboard brakes (adjacent to the diff) i never had any issues with those swinging calipers on either of my P6 Rovers, must have helped being out of the worst of the weather but not an easy place to work if they did play up....
My car sometimes turns over a few times and doesn't start. Then I try again and it starts.
No engine lights or anything. And intermittent. ... Read more
Not all faults put on an engine warning light. Take Peugeot diesels - a failed temperature sensor will cause all manner of starting problems, but you'll only find out by doing a decent scan and reading live data.
Hello, I am hoping someone is able to offer some advice for an extremely stressful situation that I have found myself in.
Back in 2023, I was contacted by my insurer that a claim has been filed by a 3rd party insurer alleging that my vehicle has hit their client's. The 3rd party claimed that they were given the car registration by a witness as the vehicle drove away after the incident. The witness also reported that they have dashcam evidence. I told my insurer that neither myself nor my vehicle were involved. We were nowhere near the location of this alleged incident. My insurer wanted photos of my vehicle which i sent them. I was very worried that this is a scam or car cloning incident but hoping it's just a mistake by the witness which the dashcam evidence would easily clarify. I kept chasing my insurer for update. They told me they contacted the 3rd party insurer for the dash cam evidence but did not get anything back. After about 6 months , they told me they closed the claim.... Read more
thank you for your advice. I'd wait a couple of days to what my insurer legal team says.
Hi
I’ve had differing opinions about this and interested in the esteemed opinions on here!
Just bought a 62 plate 65m on clock and the belt hasn’t yet been done.
Full service history though and runs beautifully
Do I just need to get the belt done asap or can I assume some warnings such as noises/low oil pressure warning as suggested on lots of websites…
Thanks for sharing your experience as to whether you’ve seen one ‘go’ without any warning!
Read more
Hi I’ve had differing opinions about this and interested in the esteemed opinions on here! Just bought a 62 plate 65m on clock and the belt hasn’t yet been done. Full service history though and runs beautifully Do I just need to get the belt done asap or can I assume some warnings such as noises/low oil pressure warning as suggested on lots of websites… Thanks for sharing your experience as to whether you’ve seen one ‘go’ without any warning!
Belt failed on my Sister's 63 plate 1.0 ecoboom in 2023, slightly higher mileage which cost many £1000's to repair.So yes get belt done asap! Hers needed an engine stripdown, new cylinder head and obviously a new belt. It was a close call financially as to whether it was worth doing.
For the past 6 years that I owned a 2006 Ford Fiesta. A typical annual service+MOT cost has been = £250 to £350. This year however, the cost sky rocketed to a whopping £1115 on account of the car needing a new starter motor, one new engine bracket, new suspension spring on near side, headlight beam correcting, 2 new tyres+wheel alignment, oil/filter change - and the MOT itself. The car has 125000 miles on the clock. Felt a bit deflated paying over a grand for a car that's currently valued around the £550 mark. Shall I try and sell it soon while it still has a long MOT (possibly to a newly passed driver), or wait 12 months then sc*** it to cut further losses, or with all that work done on it now - might it be good for another 2 years? I do around 12K miles a year, mainly motorway. Not a petrolhead either - hence this make/model for past 6 years - and its served me well during this time. Any opinions/thoughts gratefully received. Read more
I would get a hose and old car brush and hose along the underneath as far as you can reach and in the wheel arch lips to get any mud and salt off.
Well, you could do that, but after 20 years I would guess nearly all the damage has been done ?
Hi there,
I'm looking to buy a used car for £5k (7k at a push).
I know nothing about cars so would like your optinion about which of these options to go with:
-Manufacturer approved from a main dealer
-Local independent dealer (most offer AA covers)
-Private
With this budget, I wouldn't want to cover for a dealer's profit margin but it will give me a peace of mind. I'm in no knowledge position to check a car before buying and only have one friend who's good with cars but I can't rely on him to come with me or help me if any issues later on. I read that the AA cover don't mean much but manufacturar approved is a good scheme for if things go wrong.
Given all this, which option is best for me do you think? Read more
AA/RAC checks can be a right pain for a dealer selling.
It is not that they are worried about what they might find but they take ages to book and when someone finally shows as someone else has said describe a perfectly honest car as party worn out (which it will be) and the buyer gets cold feet because it has one advisory mark on the report....
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Honda Australia managed to lose 50% of their sale volumes within 18 months apparently!