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• BMW 3-Series E90 (2005 - ) - 325d 2nd Impression 24 Apr 2008 (Forum)
  I eventually get the hang of it by never manually cancelling and after a few minutes it seems to exhaust itself. The cruise control system is excellent with a rich feature set, including braking. The novelty of seeing the little bug racing round the speedo has me setting and resetting it all the way along the road. I almost run into a truck in the process. Gaining a little in confidence the temptation to experience the torque asserts itself.
• I bought an Almera 24 Feb 2006 (Forum)
  I'm very pleased :) Having done my testing, here's a few comments on the Almera: Likes: * good forward visbility, no serious blindspots * ride comfort adequate, not as good as an old French car, but felt better than a Focus * handling is fine: feels very secure and predictable, mercifully free of excitement * autobox smooth, road noise low, engine quiet in normal use (growlier when kickdown used, but it's fast enough for me that won't be needed much) * brakes powerful and progressive (no snatch) * seats and driving position comfortable, lots of adjustment (though no reach adjustment on wheel) * plenty of room in the back for two adult women with two adults in the front, boot quite generous * stereo sounds good in both front and back * leather steering wheel nice to hold, minor controls easy to use * steel wheels rather than alloys Dislikes: * poor rear visibility, redeemed a bit for parking by the bleeping sensors * speedometer in the facelifted model not as legible as in earlier Almeras (smaller, with numbers only at 20mph intervals).
• It's muscle car time again 28 Oct 2005 (Forum)
  So, after several months of enjoyable driving but increasing sotto voce remarks from Growlette, what was once an envisioned project for a Shelby conversion destined for Eleanor status in the hands of our talented Filipino restorers had to be shelved. After I'd spent a small fortune Fed-exing in from the USA a front end and disc brake conversion kit as well. Hmph. However, round here not having a V-8 to play with would be as bad as not having 3 V-twin motorcycles in the yard. When the good old US left the Philippines in '92 they bequeathed a wealth of excellent metal ordered by GI's as playthings under their military concessions, much of which is quite rare and much cherished among the cognoscenti.
• For Volvoman 14 Mar 2003 (Forum)
  As a lesson to me during the first trip, with 140+ MPH on the clock, I had an old boy in a diesel Passat doing all of about 60 pull out from the inside lane, across the otherwise empty middle lane, in to the outside lane, and back again, whilst he scrabbled for something in his glove box. Boy were those brakes impressive! Lesson learned. Drive at warp speed on totally empty roads, not nearly empty roads. It must also be said that some Autobahns are now in an appalling (okay, 70 years old?!) state, so there are plenty of road works at the moment.
• Bangernomics 22 Oct 2019 (Forum)
  Best small family hatch £2,000 Toyota Corolla 1.4/1.6 Mechanically very tough with no real vices beyond sticking brake callipers. Resists Rot better than most and rarely falls into the hands of anyone under the age of 60 so few are abused. A perfect banger buy. The Mazda 3 is a close second and is much better to drive but rust is an issue.
• Ford Focus Saloon - Ford Focus TDCI 55 Plate Rain/Electrical issue? 15 Feb 2014 (Forum)
  As we got home and I was about to park up I heard the relays under the glove box start clicking like mad as my power steering/braking died and all the dash lights flashed on. Lasted a couple of seconds and everything came back (engine remained on the whole time). The next morning it started fine so I hoped all was well. 50 miles later in the rain after parking up for about 5 minutes the same thing happened. got a jump start and went home, about 5 minutes of driving and I hear the relays clicking like mad, power steering goes, no lights, no radio display, nothing.
• Why DO we have to have such wide tyres these days? 19 Feb 2013 (Forum)
    But back to my original query (lots of individual questions though) : Why DO we have to have such wide tyres these days?   Does a wider tyre REALLY offer more cornering and braking grip? What about traction?   (I note plenty of mention in reviews about the Toyota GT86 deliberately having 'only' "Prius-size" tyres in order to grant its driver some fun (ie slip/drift/adjustable cornering attitude etc))   If wider tyres DO offer more cornering grip, do they ultimately let go more suddenly?
• mazda 6 2008 - Mazda Campaign - Finally get heard? 7 May 2010 (Forum)
  This is the big one & I won’t go too much into detail, my engine over-ran which just means without warning the engine revs hit MAX and being in 4th gear in a 2.0tdi the speed picks up real quick, hitting 100mph I see a sign 700yrds away from a roundabout i was forced to switch the engine off at that speed and swerve my way over the lanes to avoid hitting the roundabout, coming so close to hit these cars and nearly going down a ditch (as the brakes and steering go heavy when the engine is switched off) - coming to Mazda’s explanation! 1.
• Ford Fiesta (1995 - 1999) - 98 1.3 engine management fusing (F28) 8 Dec 2009 (Forum)
  Ford Fiesta Finesse 1998, 1.3 efi endura-e I was travelling along the M8 at around 2am the other morning, in my mk4 1998 Ford Fiesta (1.3 endura-e), the car had shown no signs whatsoever that there was a problem, as I had travelled 90miles prior to this in one go. As the motorway came to a junction where it splits(M9 SPUR) and I had to brake firmly down to around 40mph and went down into fourth gear, when I applied the accelerator to go round the vebd the engine stalled and the car rolled to a halt on the hard shoulder, I was quite stumped as there was no warning.
• Reborn classics - your choices? 5 Aug 2009 (Forum)
  Range Rover Classic - simply because it was so good and the modern Rangey is so unaffordable Triumph Stag Might keep the rollover bar, would definitely get rid of the fore-n-aft bar linking rollover bar with top of windscreen. Modern FIRS+V8. Shooting brake anyone? Triumph TRanythingupto6, GT6, Spitfire - no more separate chassis, go for monocoque, plus straight-six engines. Triumph Dolomite Sprint - the original everyman's sports saloon. To use BMW 1-series underpinnings, ideally a rev-happy Honda four-cylinder engine such as in S2000.
• Impressions of new Focus C-max 19 Feb 2004 (Forum)
  Somewhat later, having in the meantime, just got on with driving it and found it just seemed to do the job in that uncomplicated simple way that base level Fords tend to do, found myself confronted with a couple of suicidal deer hinds running across the road immediately in front and then freezing in the headlights. Yikes! ABS pumping furiously, EBD distributing whatever electronic brake distribution does in its mysterious way, your reporter sawed away at the wheel and the Focus C-Max just...... well went "Certainly Oh master!" and drove round Bambi and sister who were left with however many remaining lives they need intact until the hunting season.
• Sick Alfa 156 2.0 TS Man 9 Apr 2002 (Forum)
  Took 3 months to order in parts by which time car tended to understeer and vibration developed at all speeds through front of the car, (also changed tyres to Potenza S03's from Pirelli's wished I had put Michelin on). 4. 22 months old, dealer finally fitted new front wish arms, repaired rocker cover gasket and the engine braking improved but the suspension did not. Main problem was car vibration all the time, through the front of the car and instability at speed. Dealer agreed with problem and decided to 4 wheel align the car 4 times, no improvement.
• Audi - Reversed into pedestrian - any thoughts 4 Feb 2020 (Forum)
  My car moved back around 3 feet, and at that point I bumped into a pedestrian who had crossed the road on a zebra crossing behind me. I had not seen her over my left shoulder and the collision happened as I took my foot off the brake and onto the accelerator (it's automatic). Goes without saying that I was horrified at what I'd done, the young lady (in her early 20's) was lying on the road, but after some time, the only external injury seemed to be a grazed (no blood) right elbow.
• Lexus RX400h - RX400h owner's review for gordonbennet 20 Jun 2019 (Forum)
  Rust, a few bubbles of rust have appeared near the arches and on the bonnet lip. The wheels are heavily corroded (typical Lexus), the brakes work well when pushed but don’t inspire confidence. The sat nav is rubbish. The traction control is over sensitive and really hampers acceleration in the wet, I suspect this nannying is because of the next issue - there’s noticeable torque steer when hammering it in the wet which never gets out of hand, but it’s there to remind you you’re not driving a Range Rover!
• Lexus RX 450h - Lexus Dealership 1 Oct 2015 (Forum)
  Their findings were to meet expected DVLA driving standards, I was to be retrained to drive, with a left foot accelerator, I went back to Lexus who found me a firm who carried out conversions to cars, a left foot accelerator could not be fitted to this particular vehicle due to the location of the foot parking brake. I personally tried many firms, Ergonmobility, being the most helpful. They are the main conversion firm in the area, and carry out works for the Motability Scheme. I basically had to sell this car, and buy another type of vehicle of which could be converted, of which lost me in access of £4000 on the Lexus, and roughly the same amount on the Toyota Rav 4 I purchased.
• FIAT Doblo Cargo - Shaking on acceleration in all gears 7 Feb 2014 (Forum)
  Or to accelerate very slowly through the gears. Or just go round clockwise circles. Steering, braking and general handling otherwise seem normal. There's no visible play in the steering, and that's not where you feel the wobble anyway. The engine pulls like a train so I don't think it's the problem.
• New Car Time - Replacing Nissan Primera P11-144 6 Dec 2013 (Forum)
  It has started smoking on startup, possible valve seal fault which could cost upto £600, gear's are starting to get difficult to engage so there's a possibility of clutch, new tyres, new exhaust system, rear brakes, accessory belt, get the oil stain out of the rear seat - could be looking at £1500 I reckon tops.   So what to get instead? I do 10,000 miles per year, I don't like debt, I don't have a budget per se, the cheaper the better, but my homework suggests I should budget around £4000, but if there's a must have car, I guess it's a no brainer doubling the loan amount and period to £8000.
• Scooter and motabilty car - Whiplash scam best way forward advice needed 2 Jan 2013 (Forum)
  Our daughter was driving a small scooter she is 16 has done her CBT and is a confident rider. She braked in relatively slow moving traffic after the car in front of her made a sudden stop, she lost grip, skidded, and collided into the rear left hand bumper of a stationary car at the time of impact. Speed at time of impact less than 10mph.
• Citroen C4 Picasso 5-st (2007 - ) - Quick review (well, rant) 28 Mar 2009 (Forum)
  Parked literally at the top of a mountain today and pulled the (P) button to engage the handbrake. It whirred and the light came on, then as I took my foot of the brake pedal, the car started to roll backwards and I noticed it had disengaged the handbrake. Goodness only knows why. Luckily I was able to stamp on the pedal. SWMBO pressed the button to open the rear tailgate but it wouldn't open.
• Peugeot 206 hatchback (1998 - 2006) - High mile. What to do, keep or replace? 22 Jan 2009 (Forum)
  s probably got about 40k left in it, but it is going to start costing money. Specifically, it needs a new exhaust soon, it requires a new brake servo, the clutch while still ok is not going to last a huge lot longer. The reason given for 40k is that it is due a cambelt then and that?s probably not going to be economical. On top of this it?