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• Audi RS4 - Faulty RS4 out of 9 months in the garage for 4 31 Jul 2010 (Forum)
  * Negotiable, bearing in mind I have not had use of MY car for 4 months out of 9 whilst various work was carried out! 2)     Repair the car to a safe state and warrant it for the remainder of my agreement plus compensation.
• Downsizing one car - which and to what? 27 Mar 2022 (Forum)
  I bought a ’64 plate Civic 1.8 i-vtec last July with 10,500 miles on the clock (have driven 6,000 miles).  It would make sense for one of us to downsize to a smaller car for short trips into town etc and pool our use of the bigger car including holidays abroad (whenever that might again be a possibility). So our options are: A: Keep Golf, buy cheaper small car, budget £8-9k B: Keep Civic, second car budget up to £17.5k Option A: Pros: Very good fuel economy, good size boot, good all-around vision, quite practical, newer car with up-to-date features e.g. satnav, EPB etc.
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  Are there still issues with the 1.5-litre engine in Volkswagen/Skoda models? 1 Sep 2020 (Ask HJ)
  The petrol 1.5-litre engine in the Volkswagen Group range is supposedly fixed by software, but I rang my local garage and the sales guy didn't know about...
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  I need a comfortable car with easy access - what do you suggest? 26 Apr 2017 (Ask HJ)
  I'm tall and have a bad back. I need an automatic vehicle that has easy access and is comfortable. My annual mileage is approximately 3000. What do you...
• Honda Civic UK (2001 - 2005) - Trying to get a good deal from Honda Main Dealer 18 Dec 2009 (Forum)
  I only use a car about three days a week and my 1990 Honda Prelude has a leaking steering rack and the mot place wanted their pound of flesh to get it through the MOT. So I thought "times up" and eventually went to a Honda main dealer who know me well and am buying a 2002 SE Sport 1.6 vtec Civic 3 door hatchback.
• 6 drops of water 130,000 miles, Filters 20 Sep 2006 (Forum)
  Now this car fueled all over the place between the top of Scotland and Italy and the total water over the whole time came to less than 6 drops.. I used to drain the filter into a glass jar and hold it to the light...
• Used versus Reconditioned Engines 7 Apr 2021 (Forum)
  Logic tells you if your old engine is required back as part of the deal then it’s going to end up back in someone’s car, so why not yours? Unfortunately for you, the only true test for the engine will be when its fitted into your car. You need to be clear with your supplier pre purchase, in writing, that if you use their services in either rebuilding your own engine or fitting one of theirs, that if it becomes faulty either at the point of fitting or during its warranty that they will become liable for your mechanics reasonable fitting costs.
• Nissan Note - 16000 miles with Nissan Note 1.4 Petrol 3 Sep 2012 (Forum)
  The car was bought as it fitted our need to carry MIL and wheel chair around easily, with its ideal access height and big doors it has proved to be right for the job. Also the back end is very square, therefore allowing tall stuff to be put in the boot, unlike many hatchbacks which have sloping rears.
• Fiat 500 vs Hyundai i10 18 May 2009 (Forum)
  After weeks of consideration and a couple of test drives the Mrs and I are back from a head to head test drive of the two cars. Before the test the Fiat was the favourite. Cute looking, stylish, well equipped, perky and "fun" - the Mrs was almost ready to buy one without driving it. After the test drive it got a thumbs down.
• SEAT Altea (2004 - ) - 2004 2.0 Fsi Sport Automatic head gasket blown 16 Apr 2008 (Forum)
  Any guidance would be appreciated. I have asked my dealer to contact SEAT and ask that they accept an out of warranty repair.
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  Faulty DSG gearbox - shouldn't the trader pay for the repairs? 8 Jan 2015 (Ask HJ)
  Five months ago I bought a 2011 Volkswagen Golf 1.6 diesel DSG from a trader. Three months after purchase it starting giving me trouble and losing power....
• Honda Civic Type R - Engine Failure 25 Jun 2006 (Forum)
  We have confronted Honda and the main dealer with this information and they are unwilling to discuss the matter. Trading Standards are unable to help us as the purchase price of the car was over £5,000 (£14,995). Honda seems to be calling our bluff and forcing us to go to solicitors. This could prove very expensive. Can you help? Any suggestions or information would be welcomed.
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  Why are older cars being forced into obsolescence? 29 Dec 2012 (Ask HJ)
  Having spent much of my life immersed in most matters car related including working on the body shop floor and restoring classics, I have an axe to grind...
• Ford Focus - leak after cambelt/water pump change 1 Jul 2019 (Forum)
  Now considering I haven't needed to top up my Antifreeze/Coolant in six years, and now the fluid keeps going down after the cam-belt/water pump change - I'm thinking something is wrong. I should say, through my tests, it seems to only go down when the car is being used. If I let the car sit for a week it doesn't go down. Through what I can see there seems to be liquid dripping from underneath the Antifreeze/Coolant reservoir onto the engine mount.
• Fiat Brava 1.4 timing belt. 24 Aug 2001 (Forum)
  The original belt was replaced under warranty due to worrying noises from the engine bay at 36000 miles. The second belt snapped at 70000 miles (after 34000 miles of use) resulting in a bill for almost £1000." On the Car by Car breakdown HJ mentions...
• Drove a few cars yesterday 10 May 2009 (Forum)
  Helping a friend out with his used car lot yesterday and had the opportunity to drive a couple of different cars, in addition to my usual fleet. First up was my own Skoda Octavia 1.8 TSi. I've now owned this for over 6 months, which is a relative eternity for me !
• Toyota HSD - Service Plans-car got serviced today(July 16,2016) 29 Jul 2016 (Forum)
  He suggested I wait to get my car serviced until October, according to the plan on their database, for the next service but I refused this. They said that servicing a car 15 months later would not void the warranty! I found this very hard to believe.
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  What is Ford doing about the fire issue on the new Kuga PHEV? 25 Sep 2020 (Ask HJ)
  What is Ford doing about the fire issue on the new Kuga PHEV? I can't charge my car so what is the point in having it? Ford has not contacted me even though...
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  We need a large MPV, but do low mileage - what do you recommend? 1 Jan 2018 (Ask HJ)
  We have four children and are struggling with our Citroen C4 Grand Picasso. We need a secondhand replacement with space and a decent boot, so very few...
• Audi A4 - Purchased car and broke down day after 30 Sep 2015 (Forum)
   I had alerted them on each occasion a problem arose and submitted photographic evidence.  Three occasions they have had opportunity to repair the car but the engine is laying in pieces in a specialist garage up the road from them.  Under the Sales of Goods Act this car is not fit for purpose or intended use.  I have been informed that I have grounds for success in claiming a refund.