August 2025
I have a guy working with me at the moment, he drives a Defender with (I believe) the 300tdi engine. Yesterday, it sprung a fuel leak just as he arrived - diagnosed as a problem with fuel lift pump. He got a replacement and set about fitting it today.
After a lot of arguing with an almost completely inaccessible bolt, he eventually got it swapped over and went to start it. No problem with the starter, but just not catching. ... Read more
Its cases like this where make/model specific forums can be an excellent source of advice and tips.
The Hilux and Landcruiser forums have been a mine of useful info which is freely shared, maybe more important if you have one of those vehicles because the specialist indy who saved the day over the phone in this Landrover case are really thin on the ground for Japanese vehicles.
I’ve been asked to find a car by one of my old customers. Chap has had a 2008 Vauxhall Astra 1.8 that I sold him around nine years ago and wants something a bit newer. There’s little wrong with the car he has, it’s a few minor things that it would need for a fresh Mot in a few weeks, but despite my advice to stick with what he has and that another 12/13yr old car at £3-£4k will almost certainly land him with repairs bills too, he can’t be talked out of it.
Picked out a few for the shortlist. Two Toyota Yaris 1.33’s, a Vauxhall Viva, and a couple of Vauxhall Astra J’s with the belt driven 1.6 petrol motor.
The first Yaris was about five different colours, and had more runs than an IBS sufferer after a curry. It was a mess.
Next Yaris (a 2014 five door in silver) looked good on first acquaintance, but hadn’t been serviced in 6yrs despite being advertised as having “good service history” the bonnet wouldn’t open and it was absolutely rotten underneath. It had lived all its life on the coast and was rapidly dissolving. An unwise £4495 buy, it will be lucky to pass another ticket and with the trade away relative firm to the dealer I once worked for. They offer these cars up and do nothing more than give them a valet and a lights and levels check, they don’t prep them at all. Their 3 month warranty was pretty much worthless too. Sad to see a once decent firm stoop so low.
The first Astra, a 2015 car in red with 88,000 miles up for £3495 looked ok, but the front tow hook cover had been torn off when it’s obviously been towed in after breaking down… doesn’t half put you off.
The next one was the one he bought. It’s a higher spec 63 plate 1.6 Elite in grey with 80,000 miles up which was very fresh indeed. Full history, working a/c, and a new exhaust from flexi pipe to rear box. It has a minor misfire on test drive, which will almost certainly be a coil pack on one of these. He’ll fix that, service it, put a years ticket on and do a timing belt and water pump, plus gave my old punter £495 for the Astra he’s had for 9yrs and only paid £2300 for. I’d say he got value from that. If it had any Mot left I’d flog it for him, but being a less popular 1.8 it’s not an easy sell to budget conscious buyers.
I do quite like the 1.6 Astra J petrol as a budget family hatch or estate, whether it’s a manual or automatic. They’re a bit dull, but they’re cheap, simple and pretty robust… fingers crossed.
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Surely rusting panels are down to the quality of the metal and the treatments.
My Audi 80 had a galvanised body and was in perfect condition when i parted after the diesel engine failed ....
I’m looking for a small city type car that I can use to pop into town and park easily, and that my 17 year old can learn to drive in.
I have a hybrid Renault Arkana as my main vehicle, so a small manual gearbox car is all I’m looking for, A/C required. Hopefully when he’s passed his test, he will take it on, so must be very low insurance group too. Budget is £3500 max. Location between Salisbury and Southampton.... Read more
I doubt the "looking after the pride and joy" factor will make much difference to the sort of significant corrosion threat that the OP is concerned about, since people (and especially old people...er...except me, of course) generally dont do anything about that, though they may AUTOGRIM their sundays away topsides.
On the rare occasion this 'old person' cleans the car, I probably spend more time hosing down the underside than cleaning the rest. I did once polish and wax it in my ten years of ownership....
Brought dacia duster when I have the light stalk set to auto
Have noticed the rear lights also come on is this correct ... Read more
Another annoying thing on the Duster is that if you accidentally knock the indicator stalk (I do it all the time), the indicators flash 3 times and there's nothing you can do about it.
All my cars have done that for years, its for changing lane....
Currently have NX hybrid, looked at UX, two current version demonstrators, same spec but the hybrid was significantly more expensive than the electric. Checked auto trader with same outcome. Also seems that insurance on electric is much higher.
Has market for electric collapsed? Read more
I’d like an ev but I’d have to get another cable down to my garage to enable me to charge at home using cheap tariffs, or rely on 3 pin plug charging, I’m due to retire next year so my mileage will be coming down ( not that I do much anyway) , I’m quite happy with my Yaris cross which I think is the best of both worlds…
Hi, sorry for the Bobby basic question.
For some reason really struggling to get the OEM spark plugs out my 70 plate crossland X. I've tried with 14mm and 16mm bi-hex sockets and they just won't undo, does anyone know if they need an unusually sized socket? I can see they are bihex.... Read more
If they're tight, maybe use some aluminium antiseize on the threads going back in, though they are supposed to be plated to render this unecessary, and I've never done it.
I have just heard that this is restricted, with many hirers refusing it.
This is going to be awkward, since it was my plan to use car hire to supplement my bus pass as required, say when moving heavy stuff, car ownership probably no longer being a realistic UK option for me..... Read more
Not looked into it myself as I've still a wee while to go.
But, on the one hand, I believe car insurance for drivers above 70 does start to increase in price anyway, so maybe not a surprise that car hire firms add a surcharge?...
Bought my 1.8 petrol Civic about a year ago. Its a great car, only had 37,000 miles when I got it, just over 50K now. Bought it from a Honda dealer with a view to running it into the ground as it has no rust and I've rust proofed it. It wasn't cheap for what it was but have zero interest in newer cars as think that the vast majority of them are more complex and not as reliable as a 12 year old Civic (that's just in my humble opinion though).
It has a couple of minor issues. The first being the clutch. It just has a very small biting point and is very off and on. It can be a pain for really steep hill starts, but other than that I can deal with it. I've searched on the internet but can find next to nothing about this. I have a feeling that it needs a clutch. Don't know if keeping driving the car until it gets worse will cause any damage. Have no problem replacing this as I'm in it for the long haul. But wouldn't be great if it was still the same when replaced as it's quite a big job. The subframe having to be dropped or partially. Not sure if the car has been owned by somebody that would ride the clutch etc, you just don't know with a used car. It only averaged around 2K miles per year for the firsy 8 years of its life.... Read more
Shouldn't need a clutch at 50K miles unless the previous owner(s) rode them ? My father-in-law used to wear out clutches by resting his foot on the pedal. None of my cars have needed clutch work in 60 years plus, but I suppose if one lived in a hilly area needing lots of hill starts that might happen
Does the knocking vary with cornering ?...
Can't remember if I was ever told this by my driving instructor back in the day but, when I am leaving a motorway, I start indicating left at the first countdown marker (three bars, i.e. 300 yards to the exit). All I can find in the Highway Code is the following:
"Rule 273... Read more
Like most of driving matters its all about starting from a general 'rule' then adapting to the conditions,
General advanced driving guidance is to begin indicating at the first countdown marker, but that is when travelling at high speed (close to limit) and there are other vehicles around that will benefit from the signal....
Seems unlikely. Driving while SORN implies a deliberate misuse of the system while driving untaxed could be an oversight....