February 2025
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To think that many of us thought that intrusive nagging "safety" features were the worst thing that could happen. I expect that this new hell will even switch on the sound despite you having the radio off. I don't have an infotainment screen in my old car but if I did I would be taping a black cloth over it. Read more
Hi all.
I'd very much welcome your advice/opinion please.
I'm about to enter into the market for a used 'hot hatch'. When I say that, I mean early contenders include a Golf GTI, Golf R, Cupra 290/300 etc.
I just wanted to make sure I wasn't missing out any other cars/brands to consider and naturally people's opinion on any of them.
For context, I've always driven Diesels (company car) and now that I've started my own business and I'm working from home alot, I don't do half the miles and also want to get the enjoyment back into Driving. Previous cars I've owned include a Leon FR, Volvo V40 D4 & currently I have a Golf GT TDI (Hence the natural look at the VAG offering)
Budget wise probably around £16k and I don't really want to go older than 2016.
Any advice/opinion would be most welcome!
Thanks in advance,
Andy Read more
Hyundai i30n was my first thought. A Honda Civic Type R would also just about be doable. If you don't need practicality (or much comfort) you could go for an Abarth.
We have a 2015 Corsa E with the 90bhp 1.4 petrol engine. Tedious car but it costs us peanuts to run, and it has heated seats & steering wheel which seem to be very expensive extras on any new car these days.
The car has 75,000 miles up and was running OK, apart from an irritating fluffiness / slight stumble just off idle rpm. I decided to have a look, and removed the inlet trunking from the airbox. Looking at the motorised throttle body, there were brown / black deposits around the throttle butterfly's edges and a small ring were the butterfly rests against the TB's sides.... Read more
Always a good idea to keep the throttle body clean and free of debris , however some manufacturers, notably Ford , specifically say not to do this , as the Tb has a special coating that can get damaged if you take a brush to it . In fact there’s a sticker on the Tb to warn you of this .That's interesting. The Corsa throttle body looks like very ordinary machined aluminium alloy, and the butterfly the usual coated steel. No warning stickers on it, and we've had the car from new.
The brush I used was a fine, soft artist's brush which couldn't possibly scratch anything, it just helped to lift away the carbon deposits loosened by the carb cleaner. I was also careful not to push on the butterfly, so I didn't disturb its position and confuse the sensor. ...
I have a phone contract with Tesco mobile for my normal phone. However, I want a payg phone for emergencies when I am out cycling. I want a sim only as I have a couple of recently pensioned off phones that I can use. This will likely be used purely for texting or calling, no web stuff. I don't want to pay for any bundles deals or contract or to have to provide any bank details etc. I just want to register the sim and then put some credit on using a card etc, as in the good old days. I then want that credit to remain until I have used it. I would obviously have a different phone number but that isn't a problem.
I was going to go with Tesco, my normal provider. However, they are not the cheapest but also all their payg deals seem to involve you paying monthly for data/text/voice bundles which seems more like a normal contract to me. Can anyone recommend a cheap, simple payg sim that would do what I want?... Read more
Not a PAYG deal but I bought a sim for my tablet.
Iirc 5mb a month for 6quid a month. Unlimited calls/ texts. They use the three network, free EU usage etc...
As some may remember, I've had this car since 2016. I've put over 50,000 miles on it and it has been remarkably cheap to run. A couple of brake disks fitted on the rear a few years ago. New tyres. Apart from that, until recently no repairs needed.
Last autumn, after a longish drive to the far north-east from Hertfordshire, I could hear a knocking noise from the suspension. New stabiliser bar mounting needed.... Read more
Mirrors my own experience of owning several Mazdas over the years and I’ve never had any major issues with any I’ve sold.
Hi - can anyone help please - I've had my car in the local garage twice for this and they can't find the cause of my high pitched intermittent rotational sound...(Peugeot 3008, 1.2 petrol, manual, 17 plate)
My first guess was brakes - but they have 50% left...
The annoying thing is when I start driving my car from cold - the noise isn't there - takes around 10 mins of driving to become apparent - so when garage took it for drive - they couldn't replicate the noise... but I've had the noise for a few weeks now...
Backing plate was moved a touch by garage - no solution... Read more
Yes the rear tyre was 'out of round' - which gave the false impression that a wheel bearing needed replacing - same wobble feeling in car
Hi
I have had my Mini Cooper for 2 days when the active bonnet was activated due to a deer crossing my path. There was no collision, the deer wandered around in the road & then headed off & there isn’t a sign of dent, scratch or even dirt on the front of my car. Has anyone else had problems with this? Read more
I’m I bit concerned that the bumper is out of alignment, but the Op says there was no impact ??
OP states they've had the car for two days and it's a 2024 model. Maybe an earlier impact and cheap repair?
I have been issued a NIP for driving 40mph in a 50mph zone. The reason is that a 30mph sign was not visible due to fog, therefore I had no notice or any chance to slow down. This was at 4:30 in the morning in heavy fog (21/22 Jan).
If I appeal the ticket I'll have to go to court and argue that I was speeding but the mitigating factor was heavy fog, which doesn't sound too good. Is there any point?... Read more
<< Possibly the 30 sign was one of the temporary sheet metal on a metal stand type (as used for roadworks) which are less visible than gantry ones. Still a failure of observation, which has been noted as possibly being 'due care and attention'. >>
Would a speed camera take account of something as impermanent as a roadworks speed limit sign ?
Anyone driven this? Not near to me and having rarely been to area not sure I ever have?
L Or if you’re determined to avoid the motorway, Woodhead Pass is getting (finally) an upgrade through the bottleneck at Tintwhistle.
Which will take you to the other bottlenecks in that area much quicker!
Plus, won't be finished for years.
My Son had an accident last night that did not involve anyone else or any other vehicles, no damage to any road signs etc. He had passengers in the car but they are OK but the car is a write off from what I can see. He already has a write off from 18 months ago.
What can I do in terms of his insurance. He wants to just get rid of car and not involve the insurance as two write offs will finish his driving (which will be a relief to me) plus he is likely to get nothing back financially with excess etc.l
Just looking for some advice on what I should do.
Thanks. Read more
He will, under the terms of his policy and any future insurance declarations, be obliged to declare the incident to any Insurance companies or comparison sights.
It's a simple case of "Does he fee lucky that no insurance company will find out about his true record?"...
Ultimately people just have to vote with their feet. Don't buy one, there are plenty of alternatives out there. People will go back to stand alone satnavs or use phones for navigation and entertainment. Pop up ads should be banned on a safety basis.