March 2025
Does anyone remember tax discs? Colour-coded by month, you’d tear round the perforations and insert them in a little PVC sleeve on the inside of your windscreen. It was a selling point if your new car had 11 months to run, but if your vehicle excise duty had expired (or was about to), you’d be straight down the post office to renew, lest a eagle-eyed PC noticed the wrong colour was showing.
Fast forward a few years, and everything moved online. Tax discs disappeared, together with parking permits and sundry other visual obstructions to the driver, with arguably a safety dividend. In common with other government agencies, the DVLA exhorted us all to go digital, paying our VED by direct debit, monthly or annually. I’ve paid mine this way for so long it has become automatic. Noticing periodic adjustments as tax rates fluctuated, I’d thought, that’s clever. Other government agencies, such as HMRC, had introduced systems such as Tell Us Once, whereby ‘joined-up government’ would update records in sync. Your passport photo would serve as your driving licence photo and so on, making everything more convenient and user-friendly.... Read more
Hi all, total novice here. I'm in the market for a used compact MPV with a budget of around £8000, looking for an automatic to accommodate both me and wife (never had to buy automatic before) and prefer one with 3 full size seats in middle row. Been looking for weeks and now stuck on Ford S-Max, Peugeot 5008, VW Touran maybe Citroën Grand C4 Picasso. Anyone have any experience with these or have any other suggestions. My main fear being making the right choice regarding gearbox etc as I've never driven auto and was put off by reviews of the Ford S-Max Powershift transmission. Any opinions helpful cheers ?? Read more
If you don’t need 7 seats how about a Honda CRV? These are vast inside, and there’s little to fear from a well cared for petrol Honda. These don’t have a turbocharger, there’s no DPF, no timing belt and they use a long lived conventional torque converter gearbox. It’ll do 32-35mpg at best, but if this is a weekend use/family wagon that’s not going on your daily commute then economy is less of a concern.
www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202411246680444
In this thread:
https://www.honestjohn.co.uk/forum/post/199755/toyota-yaris-2015... Read more
Friend has a Vitara which seems to be bullet proof so hope your daughter's is as reliable - they do have a good reputation!
Regret that in Covid lockdown, they were shifting pre-reg SX4s for £11k. Wish I had bought a couple then!
So... I recently bought a used car. It has the 1.5 BlueHDI engine, Been made aware of an issue with the 7mm cam chain snapping and it being uprated to and 8mm chain with new cams/housing etc and kits to have it done.
Approached a local garage of reasonable size/good reviews to do the work. Discussed the job with them they seemed fully aware of the manufacturing issue/kit needed. They then insisted it could just have the chain swapped, I highlighted that from what id researched this seemed to not be the case and the full kit is needed. They had the car for a day, rang me and confirmed they were incorrect and needed the full kit, Ordered it, I paid the difference (as I originally expected too) and they said they were going to fit it. 3 days of "delays" later and the boss of the place calls me. Admits they'd tired to just put the 8mm chain on without the new cams, sprockets, housing etc. The chains jumped and damaged the engine...... Read more
Is them buying the car from you an option?
Hi
This is a screenshot on part of my car's MOT history. Can anybody think of a reason there would be no MOT record for 2015 yet the vehicle mileage increased by around 40,000 miles in a period of about 18 months?... Read more
Some taxis do not need an MOT. www.gov.uk/guidance/mot-testing-guide/c-designated...s
I have had a 5 series for 7 years, it's a lovely car and is now 10 years old. I have a chronic health condition which affects my mobility and will need to get a car that is easier to get in and out of. I no longer do a lot of miles (due to the health condition) but do still make a trip to the Dordogne in France for a family holiday each year. I am looking for suggestions for a car that drives as nice as the 5 series, is very spacious and comfortable, and is quiet on the motorways. I am really not sure about getting an SUV, the ones that I think are going to be comfortable will cost a lot to own and are too big. Budget is £25k, do not want an EV but a PHEV would be fine. Any ideas?
Recently swapped from a mid size hatch to a Seat Ateca SUV - similar to VW, Skoda and Audi variants. Knees were starting to be a bit of an issue - much better seating position, easy to get in/out, feels spacious inside despite footprint similar to previous car.
Just driven down from Bristol to Malaga, albeit with a few stops. Absolutely no problems - although may not have the "luxury" trimmings of a 5 series. Personally not bothered - would rather trade almost new for older, higher mileage, debatable gizmos.
Hi I'm in need of advice
A year ago my partner was hit by a car that ran a red light and wrote off his car. After going through insurance the third party admitted fault and gave a payout of £12000 for the car. A few months after the accident unbeknownst to my partner, the third party insurer got in contact with their client and got proof that their car was not involved in the accident and that the car was on cloned plates. They asked my partners insurance for the payout back. My partners insurance did not respond.... Read more
Pretty much what Leaseman says.
Your partner has a contract of insurance which should indemnify him against loss. The fact that the loss here has bounced back in odd circumstances is neither here nor there. ...
I bought a Honda civic 2010 plate last year and it’s just got a new MOT. However they have flagged up the dreaded rear subframe corrosion problem and I am in two minds about what to do.
I was hoping it would last me a few years and I really like the car.
I’m not sure whether I keep it or try and find something else.
My main criteria is reliability and similar space to the civic.
I’d rather a simple petrol and not a diesel.
I don’t want to spend the earth
Or do I try and scrub back the sub frame and treat it?
Or do I just keep it till it dies?
I have seen this www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202412247517288?s...a
Any suggestions / advice welcome Read more
I must be lucky. I have been using a trusty Indy for decades and have a choice of a few other known good places. I use main dealers whilst any car is under warranty and possibly a couple of years afterwards. There are still a few jobs I still would aim for the main dealer even after the car is getting on a bit - especially if they have menu/reduced for older car pricing.
Quite, main dealer is always worth asking, my previous Landcruiser had the superb 3.4 V6 petrol engine, replacement of the cambelt was somewhat daunting (unlike the simple1 hour DIY job of the 3 litre Diesels) so i decided to get it replaced by a garage....
Please excuse my ignorance but would like some advice before I speak to my main dealer where I purchased my ford puma 8 months ago.
I purchased a used 2023 ford puma from a ford dealership in Essex about 8/9 months ago. I have recently noticed that there seems to be an issue with the gearbox and 2nd gear very occasionally doesn’t seem to engage properly. Before I take this further I was wondering if this is something likely to be covered under the three year ford warranty (if a problem is identified) the car has only done 13000 miles. Like a Wally I can’t find any of the paperwork when I bought the car and would just like a heads up before I call the garage. I know this is a little general but has anyone got any info on the ford warranty side of things and if there is an issue how likely it would be covered? Hope this makes sense?
Many thanks Read more
Thank you for all your reply’s, I really do appreciate it.
I have contacted Ford and my car is under warranty until next year so I have booked in later this week to get the issue hopefully resolved.
Thanks again
Report in yesterday’s Times about a fire in a Dacia possibly caused by a faulty ignition switch which was the subject of a recall.
But a lack of a spare switch and the dealer allegedly ordering the wrong part could have resulted in the starter motor continuing to spin causing all sorts of electrical warning lights to come on an then the car bursting into fire.... Read more
Random car fires, and NOT an EV. Say it ain't so Mister....
2001. Customer brought in a Rover 25 which had self combusted shortly after a service....
Is that a question or a statement? ;-)