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• Elderly cats 3 May 2002 (Forum)
  The emissions figures for my 12 year old, 140,000 mile Audi were CO 0.09%, HC 78ppm. Minimum even for a post 1992 vehicle is 0.3% / 200 ppm, although my car gets tested on the older standards (3.5% / 1200ppm). So presumably the catalytic converter is working just fine.
• Power Steering Problem - air??? 7 Apr 2002 (Forum)
  Hi, My father has an Opel Zafira 1.8 Elegance, approximately 18months old and low mileage. When the engine is running and the steering wheel is turned, there is a bubbling sound coming from the steering column. Sounds like there could be air in the system? The car drives fine and the power steering works ok.
• Those bloody catalytic converters again 23 Jan 2002 (Forum)
  Also the garage say that the part comes a complete unit - the old cats need to be "sawn off" and the new ones fitted using sleaves (not welds as it is stainless steel). Sounds a bit odd to me - is this correct?
• Honda CR-V Hybrid 2020 - High Oil Consumption 1 Jul 2021 (Forum)
  Today while driving at 70 on a straight piece of motorway the oil light came on again so thought it very strange to have low oil level again after only 1500 miles. I stopped and found the oil level below minimum. I took the car to the main dealer who supplied the car and voiced my concern to be told that the engine uses 1 ltr of oil per 1000 miles. So going from full mark to minimum in 1500 miles is OK. I knew ther were no leaks as the driveway where I park the car is clear of any marks.
• Hyundai Tucson (old model) - Just Bought a New 19 Mar 2021 (Forum)
  I have been looking at the forum for some time and have enjoyed reading contributions from ORB re his Kia and MG amongst others, so I have decided to...
• peugeot 107 - how much to haggle for <1 year old city car 16 Nov 2012 (Forum)
  hello! my cousin has recently passed his test. yey! the destination and nature of his new job necessitated the ability to be mobile. seeing as he...
• Mercedes-Benz E-Class / AMG - Servicing costs for a high-end Q-car 19 Jan 2025 (Forum)
    This did include a couple of items which fell into the category of 'preventative / worth doing while you're in there' jobs but even so.  It just proves the old adage (which the owner himself agrees with) that 'there's no such thing as a cheap used Mercedes ... ' 
• Buy new with PCP, but settle immediately? 2 Aug 2024 (Forum)
  I'm looking around at some nearly-new car options to replace one of ours which has gone to the sc***-heap in the sky, but also seeing various new car offers with substantial discounts "subject to taking out a PCP". Some of these seem to offer the possibility of a new car for barely more than a 1-2 year old model.
• Mazda CX-5 - Car buying help if over 100k miles? Is it safe? 30 May 2024 (Forum)
  Hi all, I'm looking to buy a Automatic SUV and was looking at this Mazda CX-5, Its top trim but has over 100k miles but will full main dealership history and is only 5 years old (2019). What are your thoughts? Would there be alot of service stuff to pay as it done over 100k? Sorry i'm not very experienced on this. https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202307129566156?
• Toyota Yaris mk II 2007 - Unresponsive driver console 28 Jan 2024 (Forum)
  Driver console is completely blank, ignition switch does not start the car. Headlights and cabin light do not turn on. Seems to be no power at all. Central locking not working with remote key fob. Car battery is 18 months old, reading 12.56 volts. Disconnecting and then reconnecting the battery console lights up and shows *all* warning lights on, and sets the clock at 12:00.
• Mercedes-Benz E-Class Cabriolet - Mercedes auto box reliability 4 Jul 2021 (Forum)
  Hi We've enjoyed our Mercedes CLK convertible for the last 2 and a bit years now and have been impressed by the reliability (it is a manual though) We are thinking about upgrading to the car that basically replaced the CLK i.e. the E Class cabrio in either E200 or E250 petrol form. So we're looking at a car around 10 years old. I quite fancy the auto box which would surely help with the weird foot operated parking brake arrangement on these cars but I was wondering if there were any major reliability issues with the 7G-Tronic box.
• Keep older gti or not 2 Jul 2021 (Forum)
  Bought a 2002 1.8 golf gti 6months ago for my 20yr old daughter and I to share. Only due to be driven maybe twice week. She loved the car which is why we bought it and it drives very well. Due to change of circumstances she is now going to be the main driver and using it 4 or 5 days a week for an 60mile round trip.
• Opel/BMW choices - Can't decide between 4 cars! 25 Apr 2021 (Forum)
  I am looking at the 2009 onwards Insignia, 2010 Astra and for BMW 1 and 3 series it's the 2004-2012 ones. I will buy a car that is 2010-2012 and less than 80k miles.  I have read so much but what makes me dislike the 1 series (despite better drive) is the rubbish old interior, can't even play bluetooth music.
• Worth buying diesel for long term ownership? 31 Mar 2021 (Forum)
    It is unclear, if the car is Euro 5 or Euro 6. I am looking at model which are 3 to 5 years old. For London, the minimum is Euro 6, but is this a good safe bet for long term ownership?    
• TFL Scrappage scheme question 16 Sep 2020 (Forum)
  Hi all hope someone can help me. An elderly member of my family has asked my help regarding the procurement of another car as her old banger has sadly passed the point of no return today (head gasket issues).).  She would be eligible for the TFL scrappage scheme and so could claim £2000 towards another car which is deemed" eco compliant".
• A student starter car? 31 Jan 2019 (Forum)
  Gurus' advice sought please. 21 year old daughter. Lives in Tunbridge Wells, Uni student, has flat with resident's parking space. Dad if only for peace and quiet is about to cave in for car request after much prevaricating. However since the UK trains don't function any more she cannot get to classes without wheels, and furthermore has an evening job getting to and from which by taxi at outlandish rates negates purpose of working.
• Why the difference between Diesel and petrol 7 Nov 2018 (Forum)
  Can anyone explain why the big difference . We have a 1.5 Clio Diesel and it comes under the old car tax rules and we don't pay for road tax and we have no plans on selling this car, We also do short journeys but still average 58 MPG with a long run now and again just to clear out the filter, so really happy with the car, Its just when you see the spread opening up between unleaded and Diesel and i am not sure why.
• Mini one D - Broken cam shaft chain 15 Sep 2018 (Forum)
  Hi Can I ask about my mini that broke down and was taken to the mini garage I have used to regularly service my car. It has 120000 on the clock and is 7 years old. The garage told me they would charge £500 to take a look at the engine and confirm the cam shaft chain is broken but found parts of it in the engine.
• Ford Focus II 1.6, 2005 - Spark Plug thread size 28 Mar 2018 (Forum)
  I have recently tried to replace spark plugs and find that all plugs listed by on-line suppliers for my car have a 14mm dia. thread which just fall into the existing plug hole. The old plug is marked NGK TR 5A-10 and I have measured it as having thread diameter 15mm approx. and is also visibly larger diameter.
• MINI Cooper S - Car on HP, engine blew up! Still have a year left 16 Mar 2018 (Forum)
  We bought a 09 mini Cooper s in 2015 and looked after it well, yesterday the engine was leaking out oil and there' a hole..spoke to mechanic who has said we need a new engine, cost in excess of 2k! My question is, we're over half way through our hp agreement which means we can hand the car back, how does it work with them charging us? Will we just need to pay for the repair? Its 9 years old and would have been paid of next September, I'm going to struggle to pay for the repair so feel I haven't got many options?