August 2025
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Ask any question for EVs which you need help, advice, suggestions or discuss relevant issues.
Discuss articles that have been hosted elsewhere (this may be reviewed after a while to see how it's working)... Read more
I've read a couple of reports of sudden unexpected braking resulting in rear end shunts in cars equipped with this, er, 'safety' feature and wondered if this is becoming widespread? I haven't seen it mentioned here, but I guess most posters, like me, only have four or low five figure 'investments' in our wasting assets which thankfully lack this frightening (in)capability. Read more
Can't wait (not) until the fools decide to implement this ridiculous tech on trucks, it'll be fun when the 44 ton Scania coming towards you doesn't like the driver keeping over to the left and pushes the truck to the right at just the right moment....
This originally was a very long email so decided to make it shorter for fear of losing everyone's attention !
My wife and I are in our 60's. We have usually one to two weekends a month free now and we love just driving somewhere new with our 2 ( sometimes 3 ) dogs and exploring the local area... Read more
As with Ed, i'm not sure I'd agree that this is a good thing. Unless you have a newer, bigger and fancier minibus, it will have single glazing, so condensation will be a problem on all of those windows. Also, you can't insulate over a window, so a minibus is going less efficient to heat and get colder quicker than a well insulated van with just a couple of windows (excluding the cab area). For a normal panel van (with no windows), what you can do is buy a 2nd hand sliding door and rear doors from a minibus version of the same van. They just bolt on and hey presto, you have windows, and no cutting involved!.
My plan (or fantasy) was to build French windows and perhaps a balcony behind the roller door, which I would open for improved rear view while driving (a problem for me with commercial vehicles) and parking up in low-threat locations, but which could be shut for stealth....
Firstly, may i say how refreshing it is to still get such solid and pragmatic comments on this forum. I have been a largely silent "follower" for decades, watching as new contributors take up the mantle of automotive "wisdom". On a personal note, all my big car decisions have been sounded out here and the feedback was always so helpful.
Anyway, yesterday evening i took my three year old Yuasa battery back to Halfords as it had failed. It has a five year guarantee. To cut a somewhat surreal conversation short it was not exchanged as it had failed due to "being used too much". Seems the test device showed it had just worn out. The young man explained that it showed I was driving high mileages (which is classed as over 12k pa). The battery was in a Toyota MR2 that is garaged in winter and on the road for the summer months. Over the winter it is connected to a CTEK conditioner. Since March it has performed perfectly. It failed suddenly whilst driving, luckily close to a local and trusted garage. ... Read more
What this thread actually tells me is simply Yuasa batteries are fine, its the spotty loonies at Halfords that are the issue...........JohnF had one fail after a year, got a replacement and that lasted 6 years.
How long did JohnF expect his to last, 6 years is not that bad. At £60 a battery that is £10 a year.......
I currently drive a Focus MK3 Manual with the ecotec engine which is likely to give out soon, my fault for not doing my due diligence before buying.
Anyhow, my family is growing so soon will need 2 baby seats in the back, and modern baby seats are bulky. So would need to fit 2/3 adults and 2 baby seats.... Read more
SLO's post was helpful and detailed however the Mazda's recommended don't fit my budget. In fact, the Petrol CX5 would've been the perfect fit for me I reckon if I could find an Auto, Petrol one for under £9k
Found a few Honda CRV's within my budget from 2014 with 100k+ mileage, may have a look at those. Same with the Rav4, which I think may be slightly more roomier. No Toyota Avensis estates within my budget unfortunately either. ...
MXL - Peugeot recalled for software update and higher viscosity oil. They plan to listen to the camshaft drive chain which is apparently at risk of premature wear and test engine pressure.
I know the car was previous remapped to bypass the an issue that could not be fixed with the emissions system. Is it likely this will cause problems taking it back to Peugeot for the work? i.e. will they identify the modification and flag it? Read more
No mention of engine type, so could be a diesel.
Yes, they have a recall out for the 1.5 Blue HDI.
I'd expect them to change the chain (if necessary) regardless of the remap, although I'm intrigued to know what problem it has bypassed.
I've got a vw polo to part exchange and need a bigger car to accommodate dog and toddler. Seen a lovely BMW x3 but just not sure if I should be looking at hybrids. Read more
Thanks. They didn’t have the model’s name on the back.
My neighbour has purchased a used model Y. Its a 22 reg, it's done over 100,000 miles and it's ex fleet one owner, full history .It was about £18k, from an independent outlet. I've driven it. Its immaculate inside and out, drives like a brand new car, no rattles, no whines, knocks, nothing. Performance is incredible, obviously it's an acquired taste and it is not for me but here's the thing: it's a long range and he was expecting maybe naively high 200s range. He's lucky to get 200 so far. By my reckoning, it will have lost about 10 % battery through degradation, giving about 68 kWh useable (down from 75) internet says average consumption about 3.3 miles per kWh, giving him about 220 miles. He's a fast motorway man, so I'm guessing his range is about right. I can't help thinking this purchase is a bit of a gamble and for not much more he could have had something with equivalent range and a long warranty. Read more
There is clearly still a place for ICE and electric does not work for everyone yet.
However regardless of legislation I am sure electric will become dominant in the next few years regardless as:...
Mentioned on another thread, but I was interested to learn that the Puretech name has now been retired by Stellantis. This ties in with new engines having chains instead of belts, along with a list of other upgrades.
This article discusses the change and has a useful list of which vehicles now have a chain.... Read more
The 308 I owned only ever had the same suppling Peugeot main dealer put oil in it until it started consuming & burning oil at 6 years / 43k miles old.
Then I added Comma Eco P 0W-30 PSA B71 2312 to top it up, I left the unused half litre of new oil in the boot for the next owner when I traded it in. ...
Hi all
My Dad is looking to replace his 20 plate Vauxhall Crossland X with something similar in size. I'm aware of the wet belt issues with the car and would like to recommend him something which is relatively trouble free. Would be used, likely around 22 plate......higher seating position similar to the Crossland, and reliability the main concerns. I don't know budget exactly but expect it to be around £13-£14K. He's always driven manuals, but wouldn't rule out an automatic.... Read more
The issues with Puretech are not limited to the belt in oil. They also suffer from oil consumption. I think that probably it was an excellent engine in concept but had pushed everything right up to the margins in pursuit of that excellence. The design left no space for a dodgy batch of belts, people delaying services because they weren't driving in the pandemic or garages chucking in oil slightly out of spec.
I think there's a spectrum; at one end you have massive American V8s that consume vast amounts of low grade fuel to develop very little power and never go wrong, at the other end you have very light, very efficient engines like Puretech and EcoBoost that are somewhat fragile. ...
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