May 2025
Is there profit to be made buying cars in mainland UK and shipping them out to Ireland or elsewhere?
I used to work as a trade plate driver and I was forever collecting vehicles from auctions and delivering them to docks – particularly Birkenhead for the ferry to Belfast. Given that the customers who ordered the vehicle deliveries will have been paying out quite a lot for both the deliveries and the ferries, I assume they must have sold for a considerably higher amount in Belfast to make it worth their while!... Read more
Good Afternoon
I have a "gear selector fault" showing intermittently but the car is running fine. Is this a problem anyone is familiar with, and what are the consequences of ignoring it?... Read more
Good Morning
Very many thanks; most helpful. I will keep going!...
I wonder if anyone has any words of wisdom with my issue with my insurance renewal which has more than doubled. A car with a cloned plate hit me last year and the claim has gone down as a fault claim because the insurance company have nobody to claim against. Consequently my no claims discount has gone from 10 years to 4.
My ongoing debate with the insurance company is that they have an ‘uninsured driver promise’ which they won’t invoke because they cannot say for sure that they offending driver was uninsured because they don’t have his details.... Read more
I haven't heard back directly from the ombudsman yet, but I have heard from Hastings today that they have reviewed my claim and have decided they were wrong. So the uninsured driver promise has been applied, the claim has been changed to a non-fault and my 9+ years of no claims has been reinstated.
I now need to work out my renewal, which is due on the 6th June. I had lined up a policy with Aviva, but I now need to look again with my improved situation. Hopefully I can get the price down a bit. ...
What is the likely cause?
I was on the longer driver today, about 2 hours after all, and noticed towards the latter 3rd of the journey the battery light was on, then went off after a couple of minutes, then came on again maybe 15 minutes later and stayed on until I got the to destination.
I really didn't want it to be the alternator having died again as I only got in not a year ago. I took a look under the hood as soon as I parked and put the voltmeter on with engine stopped and it read 12.9/13.0v. So fully charged right? I know you should let it rest a while to get a true reading but in time when it has been working normally and checked the voltage I didn't seen it deviated much above the suggested voltages for full charge In fact I have never read it as high as this, usually 12.6 or so but then again I don't usually drive that far and check. If the alternator hadn't worked at all I would be looking at much lower voltages right? It is a normal sealed batter btw, not lifepo4 or the like.
I ran the engine and saw the belt spinning so relieved to see it is still operational. I just read an article which advises to put the voltmeter on when the engine is running, which I haven't done yet, to look for a jump in voltage on the battery to indicate the battery is charging.
Likely causes?
I will also note that it is a new battery, bought only last year.
MOT test is tomorrow so fingers crossed it won't affect that! Have to try and solve it if is going to be an issue, only a few hours! Read more
Sounds just like my old 2007 Focus when the battery was on its last legs. It did (just) started but then all the dash lights came on, as you say like a Xmas tree. Slowly they went out although it was a nervous drive to Halfords to get a new battery.
A reminder to us all regarding the danger of falling asleep at the wheel.
I've never fallen asleep at the wheel although I have experienced being very tired while driving.
One thing I do experience sometimes is feeling tired shortly after the beginning of a long journey. I think that's a psychosomatic reaction to the thought of hours ahead behind the wheel.
Hi.... Read more
Another vote for the PCV valve. How often was the oil and filter changed? (should be 10k miles max). Was decent Peugeot spec oil used? (a jug of sludgeogenic bog standard 0-30 from the cheapo garage 200 litre oil drum is not good enough for this engine). Do you give it a regular 'italian tune-up'?
I'm intending to drive in Germany this summer and need to know how much tread I must have on my tyres. I found an old thread on here that said categorically that a minimum of 3mm is needed, and even if you are on that limit you won't be allowed to drive away
Searching online I find that the minimun legal tread depth is 1.6mm, same as it is here Does that mean the German authorities are enforcing a recommended tread depth and not the legally permitted minimum.... Read more
Ed, I think you may be mixing things up. The requirement to replace all four tyres is for AWD vehicles to stop the differental being stressed. Nothing to do with a German requirement.
Pretty sure I;ve seen it stated as such in an article on used tyres, though if so I still couldnt be sure it was true, and on reflection it does seem a bit unlikely...
Sorry now public.
Thanks all, particularly for the video Mord.
It certainly isn't as clean and smooth sounding as that, but doesn't sound hugely different and intend getting it tuned and any work done ASAP....
Daughter #1 has just passed her test, so I’m looking for a car for her.
It’s got to be auto, and relatively(!) lower cost to insure. Budget c£1700.
I’ve homed in on first generation Škoda Fabia, 1.4.
Doing a bit of research, it’s coming up as a four speed auto, so pre-DSG. Anyone know which box this is? Read more
Pre Powershift automatic Ford Fiesta and Focus are generally robust things too. Mazda 2/3 auto again good news also. I’ll second the Astra auto also, I’ve never had any bother with any Vauxhall autos I’ve flogged relating to the gearbox.
Second year running that my Nissan Pulsar 1.6 has failed its MOT on a broken coil spring (different side each time). Roads round our way are terrible these days. What’s the best used sub-£10k pothole proof SUV? I’m sure most of the “soft roaders” out there will be no tougher than my Nissan. I do a very low mileage so not too concerned about fuel consumption but no diesel, please. And would need to be ULEZ compliant, certainly not paying the Khan tax! Suggestions welcome. Read more
How about a RAV4 petrol.
Well within your budget , 2 or 4Wd . Great reputation for reliabilty as long as you choose the petrol version. ...
