February 2025
I’m sat here stunned!
I posted on here 2 weeks ago about my clutch problems.
I’ve since had the clutch and flywheel replaced 2 weeks ago today.
All was fine, haven’t been far, few motorway trips.
I wait on the small hill where the clutch went, a burning smell ever so slightly wafts through. But all driving fine.
I get home, about to reverse into my space. What’s this? The car won’t go into reverse!
I can just about do it, I need to lift the pedal up and it makes an ungodly grinding sound!
Also notices 5th is a bit sticky also!
I paid £1300 for this job just 2 weeks ago! I’m devastated! Surely the parts are covered?
Car going back in Wednesday
Any pointers greatly appreciated.
Thank you ???? Read more
Hi all
Thanks for your great advice re cars to accommodate 3 kids in car seats on the second row.
Have decided to look for a Ford S-Max, petrol manual. Hoping this avoids too many pitfalls with engine reliability. Kids are upset that it doesn’t have sliding doors though …
Was hoping to ask your advice on two options on auto trader and about pre purchase inspections.
These are the two cars I’m considering:
www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202502048719273?s...a
This one I’ve been to see- it’s pretty bashed up in terms of body work and the privacy glass is peeling which will annoy the kids and they will probably peel more off themselves (can this be fixed?) but biggest problem is one of the seats on second row won’t tip forward.
The dealer says that they will fix the seat. On the plus side- two owners and one was Ford garage for 6 months, reasonable mileage and price with full main dealer service hx. Garage is v low pressure on sales, they really don’t care if you buy it or not.
www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202412227483000?s...a
Haven’t been to see this one - they say it has full service history and MOT check looks good. Obviously more expensive and dealer seems far less established (only registered with companies house in 2023).
Both are happy for me to book a pre purchase inspection which hasn’t been the case with every seller I’ve approached. Any thoughts on who is best to use for a pre purchase inspection?
Any thoughts, or used car buying tips?
Or does anyone think the S-MAX is a terrible idea?!
There are not that many petrol manual versions out there unfortunately.
Thanks in advance for your input.
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Thanks. I decided to go for it - the car looked good and the servicing paperwork seemed fine, although granted had gaps as mentioned above. I have paid a deposit and just booking a pre purchase inspection. Hoping this is the end of the searching…
Mrs F returned with grim face....'sit down dear, expensive car bill...'. An RTC on a fast road with... a stupid pheasant! No chance to safely stop and pick up the bits (and the 'free' lunch). Nothing left of mirror, casing and light apart from battered chassis, which still retracted. (Why no way of turning off this irritating feature which will amost inevitaby wear out the motor). Off to the indie....quoted £390 plus vat plus labour. Thank goodness for buying the last of the line rather than the first of the new model. Obtained one for £80 from on-line breakers (wrong colour grey so another £16 for spray can) and thanks to an excellent U-tube tutorial managed to fit it myself with help of 20mins of hairdryer directed through hole in the armrest (for the window control) to soften up the plastic door card poppers (still managed to break one!).
Why post this? Partly to amuse, perhaps also to help, but mainly to complain about how appalling it is that such minor damage to what should be a simple component can render what would be a hugely significant unexpected bill (north of £500 if neither nous, time nor competence to fix themselves) for a young person on a low wage driving an oldish car just about managing. (Although according to gov.uk if the car was made before 2010, it could just have been removed and not replaced; it was the nearside). Read more
Things won't change - buyers of new cars ... are more likely to be able to cover the infrequent cost of expensive repair, and, bluntly, will be unconcerned about the lot of subsequent owners.
Clearly, as they don't worry either about the high early depreciation, which many now pay via their PCPs ?
Anyone thinking about a Grande Panda? Looks like Fiat are onto something here.
<< ... the Grand Panda will be available with steel wheels. Not hidden under a set of naff wheel trims, but white painted and proudly displayed, >>
Very nice. I wonder how long the coating at the high-curvature points on those wheels will keep corrosion at bay ? That's where it always used to start after a few years, especially after tyre fitters have had a go.
My two month old Peugeot 208 hybrid keeps cutting out when trying to drive the vehicle. It's been running fine until this weekend, engine cuts outs and restarts itself after a few seconds and then repeats the problem. There are no warning lights displaying.
It's the first time I have owned a hybrid vehicle and I don't use the vehicle that much, could this be the problem? after speaking to someone with another make of hybrid vehicle they are experiencing the same problem and they said it was a common problem with hybrid vehicles. Read more
I agree, just take it back to the dealer. Unless.....have you tried pushing the accelerator after the engine 'stalls'? Is it actually just running on electric power?
I'm presuming the OP means the old stalling effect of a small lurch forward, then no drive at all. A hybrid should seamlessly transfer from electric to petrol and back again with no issue in terms of its level of acceleration....
Hi all,
This is my first post so please let me know if I’ve posted in the wrong place.
I am urgently in need of some advice about what used family car to buy. I’ve been looking for several months and am going around in circles and haven’t been able to make a decision. It’s driving my family mad and using up all my time and mental space! Would be v grateful for any advice.
I have recently had a 3rd child- all 3 kids need car seats and ideally I’d like them together in second row. Isofix not necessary but want all 3 to fit safely. Am not considering multi Mac car seat which accommodates 3 kids but doesn’t rear face for as long as I’d like.
Currently have a Hyundai ix20- love this car, it’s been so reliable and was fine with two kids but now my eldest has to sit in front seat which I don’t like and boot (whilst excellent for size of car at 440L) is now too small (also have a roof box).
Live in ULEZ area so would prefer petrol car. Can’t have electric as live in terraced house and couldn’t charge it at home.
Drive down France couple of times a year to visit family and camp so need a decent boot space.
Trying to save to buy first home but have to use savings to buy car - would prefer to spend under £15K or as little as I can get away with.
Don’t mind about look or drivability of car! Drive a manual and assumed best to stick with this as less to go wrong? Priorities are safety, reliability and space.
Thought a Berlingo type van based MPV would suit us well but got spooked by the Ecoboost / wet belt engine stuff. Same with Peugeot 5008.
Considering SMAX but don’t know if this has same Ecoboost engine problem?
Looked at a Sharan but reliability seems mixed and I’m worried I’m paying for VW badge which I don’t care about.
Sadly think the Toyota Verso and Kia Carens boot is too small.
Would be v grateful if anyone has any thoughts to share. My family think I’m overthinking/over researching this but it’s the most money I’ve spent on anything and I’m worried about making a costly mistake.
Thank you in advance. Read more
Yes I saw the Sharan had gone from 5 stars to 4 stars and worryingly the rear door detached completely… so take your point re difficulty comparing cars tested a while ago with newer models
I have seen complaints about this engine's excessive oil use so I thought I would report my own observation having kept a careful eye on this since new. The big '0' has just arrived - just turned 30,000 miles; 10k and nearly two years since the last change. For the first time ever, a 'top up oil' warning has appeared a couple of times recently in between the 'oil level correct' message on start up. Never knew it had one!
There are 40mm, equating to 1 litre I believe, between the minimum and maximum marks on the dipstick. The level is currently 28mm below the max mark which, assuming zero fuel dilution and a regular 25mls per mm, equates to 700mls oil use, i.e. around 14,000 miles per litre. That seems fine to me. I shall refill with my usual choice of Castrol Magnatec 0-30 which, despite Halford's robot saying it's probably not suitable for our car, clearly has the required PSA spec B71 2312 printed on the label. ... Read more
An issue that too many people ignore is coolant changes, its not that the coolant will no longer protect against freezing temps, its the changes that occur in the coolant itself over time which may well attack head gaskets etc.
Hmm. I have disagreed with this assertion on many occasions here. Assuming the cooling system is almost completely sealed, acidic glycol degeneration will be minimal once the dissolved oxygen has been used up. In my opinion, the fresh supply of corrosive oxygen dissolved in the replacement water of a coolant change is more risky....
Any recommendations on a van or mpv for 5 adults and 3 dogs for weekends away (not to sleep in). Most luggage would go on a roof box.
I've done a little research. In terms of vans I can get 5 seaters and for a few hundred pounds install rear windows... Read more
Locking this one, there's no need to have two threads running by the same person covering the same questions.
Mod
Traffic police seem to chase 'pool' cars used by groups of criminals.
These are described as not only untaxed and uninsured, but also 'not registered to anyone'... Read more
AIuI, plod aren't interested as they regard car tax as a DVLA problem.
Odd that, because on the DVLA website it tells you specifically they cannot deal with VED reports and you must go through local Plod. I could report there that car was not MOTed though....
Hello All,
I have a Golf MK8 1.5 eTSI, engine code DFYA, year 2020 current mileage 44,038 miles and I would be grateful for any advice on when I should be looking at having a new timing belt kit installed? I have looked online and have seen that the timing belt kit for this car includes a timing belt, tensioner pulley and deflection pulley. I am keen on preventative maintenance with regards to the timing belt and two pulleys. Please can anyone provide an official source or reference from Volkswagen confirming the recommended mileage and time interval for the replacement of the timing belt kit for engine code DFYA? Thank you.
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Vag have changed the timing belt replacement schedule on these . It’s now 120k miles . There’s no specific time limit .
