February 2025
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
Hi all,
Very grateful for any advice on the above. Specifically, I'm looking for a used Yaris hyrbid for my wife, budget around £10k and preferred trim of 'Icon Tech' in order to get front sensors.... Read more
As for the non-hybrid Yaris, my wife tried it and hated it, much preferring the hybrid/ecvt combo.
I'd imagine the hybrid Yaris would feel more relaxed and perhaps a tad more peppy in town with the electric motor (and its instant torque hit) doing much of the heavy lifting. But at motorway speeds, not sure that would continue to be the case because the electric motor does less the faster you go. Bear in mind the internal combustion engine by itself is only rated at 75bhp, the 100bhp quoted is the combination of both power sources. By contrast, the non hybrid 1.33 and 1.5 make 99 and 111bhp respectively by themselves and I would expect both to feel more at ease if pushing on at main road speeds....
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 .
Hello everyone.
I need some suggestions on buying a new car please. I have been driving an 06 Aygo for 4 years now. An absolute pleasure it has been. Zero issues and great mpg. Unfortunately I am having to upgrade due to lack of boot space, but I'm struggling so much with finding a car that's just as reliable and works for me within my budget of 6/7k. Really sucks. I've been searching for a year. ... Read more
Locking this now. The OP has been given some suggestions, it's up to them whether to take them forward or not.
...
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
Best of luck with that. As others have said, looks like poor workmanship.
On the bright side, at least the indicators are working - from my own experience, most BMWs' don't appear to work, or at least in 'ESP mode', because other drivers are expected to know what they are about to do and make way... :-)...
Last Saturday my daughter and her family (including her 2 & 4 year old) were rear-ended in lane 3 of the M42. They were slowing down as traffic speed fell to 50-60. A van whacked into them from behind going about 60-70. A further car ran into the van but my daughter’s partner brought the Vitara to a safe halt without hitting anything in front. The car is a write off but the rear crumple zone and child seats did their stuff. It was the only vehicle involved that could still move, albeit very noisily, under its own steam to get a safe, short distance from the wreckage behind.
Even a week later they are a bit hazy on the after accident details as they were shaken up. Recovery came after an hour or so probably summoned by their I-phone crash detection service which contacted a call centre. They weren’t aware of any 999 attendance meantime. Until recovery they remained in the car but protected by the two other damaged vehicles that were some yards back and traffic was also down to a crawl so, although very worrying for us to the end of a phone line, they were reasonably safe and warm in the freezing temperatures. Luckily it was daylight.... Read more
Thanks Paul.
I'm currently using a lease vehicle for personal usage and have the option to buy it before the end of the lease.
It's a Vrs Skoda Octavia 2021 model with 83k miles on the clock. It's a diesel with a DSG gearbox ( price I've been offered from the lease company is £16k )... Read more
I'm 5'11" - with the front seat set for me I was cramped in the back of a Corolla estate but plenty of room in an Octavia Estate - I think the Octavia estate has more boot space as well....
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…
Front-page news in today's Times says that a US study has found that 'hi-viz jackets and reflective strips ... can make cyclists and pedestrians invisible to modern car safety systems'. The vehicles tested were a Honda CR-V, Mazda CX-5 and a Forester. 'Every time, the Honda and the Mazda hit a dummy with strips without slowing' - the Forester was rather better.
Back to the drawing board ? Read more
Subaru use Eyesight camera technology mounted behind the interior mirror.
However isn't the idea of hi viz to make you more visible so the driver can actually apply brakes and not rely on tech?...
I've been quoted £300-400 to remove the DPF from my Vauxhall Astra CDTi, clean it on a "proper" cleaning rig, reattach it and then run the diagnostics.
Does this seem expensive? It's a garage that I trust in terms of workmanship, they've always done a good job but they aren't exactly the cheapest place. For the DPF I've seen other places advertising a similar service "from £99" but whether this is actually true or not I don't know.... Read more
Waste of money, cleaning a DPF never works longterm in my experience. Both bus firms I’ve worked for tried this and it’s never worked. It’s a 12yr old motor, a new DPF will be needed, and possibly there’s another fault causing contamination. Older DPF equipped diesels are a liability.
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....