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• Peugeot 406 (1999 - 2004) - 02 2.0 Steering rack. Fitting an exchange unit. 25 Mar 2009 (Forum)
  Just put the car back on the deck after a tantilising wait for the new Genuine Exchange unit from GSF (£150-00+ Vat) to arrive. It works great. No more leaks. Had a hell of a job getting the old one out, but by dropping (and supporting) the sub frame about 3/4 inch I managed to wiggle it out.
• Renault Megane III (2008 - ) - No 2.0 diesel option 2 Mar 2009 (Forum)
  We've been casually looking at the Megane 3 as a new car for the missus in a few months' time. She likes diesel (I don't) but it's hers so I'm keeping quiet. I was surprised that there's only the 1.5 and 1.9 diesel available. We had the former in a Megane 2 and didn't rate the engine very highly and the 1.9 F9Q is getting a bit long in the tooth now.
• Nissan Micra (1992 - 2003) - SORN and how quickly can I tax 15 Feb 2009 (Forum)
  Does anyone know hoe long it takes for the MOT to appear on the DVLA's systems? I suppose I can always tax it the old fashioned way at the Post office Cheers Douglas
• Volkswagen Golf IV (1998 - 2004) - 99 1.6 exhaust mount snapped - how do I repair? 26 Nov 2008 (Forum)
  ... anyone know how to fix this cheaply? i dont really want to buy a new exhaust as there is nothing wrong with old one except mount has snapped? (ive read in loads of places that this is a really common fault with mk 4 golfs) i would really appreciate the help!!! (thanks in advance)
• Vauxhall Astra G Coupe/Convertible (2000 - 2004) - Opinions? 13 Nov 2008 (Forum)
  I'm looking for a car that I can keep probably for less than a year before upgrading to a more professional motor, would like something a little sporty but not ostentatious and around the £4000 mark. I have seen a 54 reg Astra coupe 1.8i (not convertible), metallic red with 31k on the clock.
• Citroen Saxo (1997 - 2003) - 00 1.4 lumpy running and cutout on warm-up 4 Oct 2008 (Forum)
  My daughters Saxo has the following problem: When a cold start is done, it fires up and runs OK, but after it has been idling or driven for a short while it coughs and splutters and runs really lumpy and throwing out black/grey smoke and sometimes cuts out. It seems as though it is being 'overchoked' just as an old car with a manual choke would have run with the choke fully out after starting it. If it is revved through this it improves and can then be driven OK until the next cold start. Does anybody have any ideas what would cause this and would a diagnostic show anything up.
• Truck menaces cyclist 17 Sep 2008 (Forum)
  making my way up the Hamsptead hill at 10.30 am on my pushbike , I was passed at great speed by the biggest rigid lorry possible , must have been 15 tons odd if not more. This thing nearly knocked me off the bike, and then proceeded to weave like a sports car to avoid oncoming traffic, in the process knocking branches off high trees. I caught up with the thug at the next traffic light , began berating the moron driving the truck ( he looked the type to usually drive a one headlamp old BMW ) , but he gave me two fingers and screamed off at speed again I noted down his reg - it was liveried and belonging to a well known firm in the soft drinks business - am still seething 3 days - this guy will kill someone.
• Volkswagen Phaeton (2002 - ) - Responsible spending 12 Sep 2008 (Forum)
  We includes all of our spendings = petrol+insurance +maintenance+VED , never buy new and try generally to drive the most comfortable car we can get for £3000 x 5 years = £15k. Just had a look at Autotrader and found that four years old VW Phaeton petrols go for £8000 to 12K. Say we get a not very high miler (at 50k miles+) do you think we can run it within our budget?
• Ford Focus CC (2006 - ) - ISOFIX 8 Sep 2008 (Forum)
  Hi all I've recently purchased a one year old (2007) Ford Focus 1.6 Zetec Climate. It didn't come with ISOFIX as standard but I paid the dealer to have it fitted retrospectively. The wife went to Mothercare earlier to buy the ISOFIX base for the seat and when the assistant looked up the car she said that they would not sell the base as the Focus doesn't have ISOFIX fitted as standard and even if it's been fitted afterwards it wasn't tested and therefore is likely to be unsafe.
• Peugeot 307 (2001 - 2007) - Excellent 'Local' Garage 31 May 2008 (Forum)
  A short story to illustrate the virtues of the smaller family owned dealership. My 4 year old 307 failed its MOT on Thursday due to rust/pitting of the rear brake discs. I rang my local dealer who had the parts in stock and could fit them on Friday while I was doing a charity collection in a nearby supermarket.
• New driver - how to help a nervous case? 25 May 2008 (Forum)
  My fiancee passed her test recently with flying colours but she drove my old Rover the other day and didnt cope at all well, finding it very difficult to handle compared to the 207 and Corsa that she learnt in - anyone here had a new driver who suddenly got very scared of driving once they didnt have the safety net?
• CCTV Evidence parking fines 31 Mar 2008 (Forum)
  From next week councils will be able to issue parking tickets based solely on CCTV evidence. http://www.itv.com/News/tonight/episodes/Parkingwars/default.html This...
• Toyota Hilux Tiger (2000 - 2005) - Interim oil change...dealer or me. 18 Nov 2007 (Forum)
  It's only done 2000 miles but it will be getting its first of many between sevice oil changes at about 3000 miles. Sounds too soon i know but i've always looked after my cars in a similar way and i reckon it pays, so don't try to dissuade me. Any of you who would find that type of motor on your shopping list used (say 3 of 4 years old) would you be happy enough for me to have receipts to prove that i've done my own interim oil changes, or would it make the world of difference if the dealer had done all the oil services?
• Mk IV Golf Oil Loss 12 Jan 2007 (Forum)
  She is losing a lot of oil, I don't know specific quantities, but it is not what I would call a normal amount on a low milage three year old car. When she first took in to the dealer they said they had changed the 'oil filler cap', as it was faulty. I'm sure if it was the oil filler cap or not **sorry Pip, if you're reading this**. The oil loss continued and the dealership steam washed the engine at around the sump and told my SIL to comeback the following ek to check.
• Mondeo Thermostat 'Handy' Husband 12 Jan 2007 (Forum)
  It's a mk2 diesel Mondeo - an expensive repair would probably not be cost-effective. Thoughts, ideas and general sharing of my husband's lack of ability in all things car-like are welcome! BIG thanks.
• Opening door with flat battery - Omega 3 Jan 2007 (Forum)
  The old Omega's about to go. Trouble is, it's been standing for three months and the battery is now flat. I've never had the need to use the key, and the doorlock is seized up. Central locking won't work because the battery is flat, and I can't get to the battery because I can't get into the car.
• Almera and Kia Rio 17 Dec 2006 (Forum)
  I have been checking out these two models, the 2003 Rio and similar age Almera look to offer value for money. I know both are 'grey porrige' and not a drivers car but if they last five to ten years then it's good for me. They are probably rubbish to drive compared to a Focus, or even the old shape Astra? Does anyone have recent experience of these models - I have heard the 1.5 Almera can be a bit noisy but has good equipment.
• Olympics only traffic lanes 17 Nov 2006 (Forum)
  near where i am, the North Circular goes down to 2 lanes, because the powers that be inc Ken Livingstone have consistently refused to pay for the proper widening because that supports the 'nasty old car'. so we'll have the prospect of the Angolan beach volleyball team swishing nicely through whilst the local residents and local tradesmen being stuck for ever more. Deep Joy....can't wait..........particularly when you think all our council tax has been hiked for this (with more to come)and my Borough will get one edge of a cycling track.
• Poor radio reception from Sony 6CD unit 2 Oct 2006 (Forum)
  I have a Ford Mondeo Estate 2.0 TDCi (Oct 2003) fitted with Sony 6CD audio unit. The radio reception (Radio 4, ClassicFM) has been consistently poor whilst I have had the car (from 1 year old). Much complaining obtained a new unit which was slightly better but not much. Further complaining produced a new aerial to little effect. Contacts have been cleaned (they said) and adjustments made and it is still hopeless.
• Lord Strathcarron of Banchor 15 Sep 2006 (Forum)
  President of the Guild of Motoring Writers for more than 30 years, some of you may remember him as the motoring correspondent for The Field, as well as contributing to Advanced Motoring and Hoot! a website magazine. An Old Etonian, David William Anthony Blyth Macpherson to give him his full name, was a pilot, appeared in vintage motor car racing and was a champion of transport on two wheels as well as speaking on motoring subjects in the House of Lords.