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• Tokyo and Toyota 19 Jan 2003 (Forum)
  The range topping and hugely conservative Century with 5 litre V12 is heavily reminiscent of something Boris Yeltsin would have trundled off to the Kremlin in rather than the flagship big brother of the S class-copy that is the CELSIOR (Lexus LS430?) I picked up a brochure for the CALDINA "touring machine" sports wagon. The top-of-the-range version comes with 4-wd and a 260 PS turbo 2-litre engine which goes head-to-head with Subaru's Legacy GT-B.
• (my) Autotrader gems 25 Aug 2022 (Forum)
  Don't think you are losing out on too much practicality going for the saloon either, the rear seats fold completely flat on all classic shape 900's. 202208118673933  Absolutely amazed to find this Toyota Tercel 4x4, really thought none were left!.
• Sub £1,000 motoring 21 Oct 2019 (Forum)
  Total depreciation cost per year £208 2002-52 VW Passat 1.9 TDi SE Bought for £400 to replace above and intended to be a temporary measure until I found something better but it went on to last for over 2yrs until rot got the better of it. Cost per year less than £200 99-V Toyota Corolla 1.3 S 5dr bought as another stopgap replacement for the above. Paid £360 with 3mths Mot and almost 2yrs later it’s still going. Depreciation cost to date £180 per year. 1999-T VW Polo 1.4 CL 5dr bought for new driver daughter for £1,700.
• Renault Espace (1997 - 2002) - Diesel Problem Vol2 19 Sep 2018 (Forum)
  As Volume 1 reached 180 posts, this post has become Vol2 - Vol 1(below link) has been locked - continue debate in this one, far more logical than my original edit ! http://www.honestjohn.co.uk/forum/post/index.htm?v=e&t=24466&m=614963 s
• Are current VED rules simply killing old cars? 9 Nov 2013 (Forum)
  Currently on eBay, there's a 52 Reg for £2400 and it's not even the higher spec'd model; it's the base model Lupo E (mine is the Lupo S model with CL+EW). So the short-term benefit is there, but in just 5 years, if I keep the car, I'll have paid £900 for tax alone. Throw in the odd cambelt + regular servicing and that initlaly cheap car has quickly cost quite a lot., but the majority of cost will be VED.
• Why DO we have to have such wide tyres these days? 19 Feb 2013 (Forum)
  These cars were understeery by nature anyway, but it's not as though they were lacking in grip. At either end. A 1990's Pug 405 estate (steel wheels) had 175 section tyres. In the 80s, 185s were the preserve of XR3is and Astra GTEs.  I think even the pre-cat 155hp GTE 16V only had 195 section. A 1995 Impreza Turbo with 208hp only had 205 section tyres as standard.
• Ford Fiesta (1995 - 1999) - 98 1.3 engine management fusing (F28) 8 Dec 2009 (Forum)
  The reason I felt the need to post this thread was that it took me two days nearly working with a meter and haynes wiring schematics and it was one little short on one wire that caused me all that bother. It also occured to me that this must be a common fault on mk4 fiestas(and possibly the mk5's aswell) since the donor car that I took the replacement wiring from was starting to chaff also and given time would have ended up with the same problem as myself. there also did not seem to be one other person that had had the exact same problem as me when I was searching for a thread that may have related to me yesterday, it really is a big problem when your engine management system develops a fault because the circuit in question(28)aux.fusebox supplies many things, and all of which are essential to the engine's running.
• Reborn classics - your choices? 5 Aug 2009 (Forum)
  T350 had hydrolastic suspension, too) would be able to put the wind up the Germans... Rover P5B - based on Ford DEW98 platform as on Lincoln LS/Jag S-type/XF (so a bit bigger than the original) with (if it would fit) Range Rover 3.6L diesel V8, maybe even Audi A8 4.2L diesel V8. I'd even quite like an estate version *flame war begins* Rover SD1 - base it, again, on DEW98 platform.
• Peugeot 207 (2006 - ) - A week driving in Portugal 11 Oct 2007 (Forum)
  The engine was very refined and quiet until around 2,000 rpm, after this the noise gathered until at 3,000 revs it became very intrusive, unfortunately in 5th 3,000 revs equals 120 km/h, the limit on Portuguese motorways, so I kept to 100-110 km/h to keep the revs and accompanying noise down, a 6th gear would have been welcomed. On urban 90km/h roads the car was probably in it?s best environment - 5th gear 2,000 revs and acceleration on tap when required, but even then if you came across a vehicle which could be overtaken it had to be planned very carefully as there is no way this car would take off quickly and once 3,000 revs was reached there was nothing left.
• SEAT/VW tdi pd VW505.01 oil follow up 21 Nov 2004 (Forum)
  As a result, these are the options I've been offered: 1.An oil cange to the correct oil and a free 4th year warranty. 2.A full refund of my money. 3.A brand new car, and I pay the difference. 4.Try to locate another used car of same price, age, mileage etc. Option 4, apparently, is as likely as finding rocking horse s***, as used 1.4 tdi's are very rare. Option 3 will cost me loads, option 2 leaves me with no car and loads of hassle, option one leaves my with doubt and worry (I planned on keeping this car for a few years).
• Impressions of new Focus C-max 19 Feb 2004 (Forum)
  Although trying very hard to maintain objectivity after 15 minutes in the car and found that I preferred the driving position in a 70's Transit to that of the C-max and that the CD player sounded very iffy in quality. Not that much later, with steering not all that communicative and the fuel gauge plunging rapidly from full towards the 3/4 mark after only about 30 miles then my initial impressions seemed to be confirmed, I really was determined not to like this car.
• 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.
• Letter toWelsh Assembly on car restriction plansci 2 Dec 2001 (Forum)
  pollution? their cars produce. Carbon dioxide is a vital trace gas, essential to life on earth. It?s the bubbles in beer. Pollutant? What utter rubbish. Nature puts out 200 billion tons of CO2 via the natural carbon cycle whilst fossil fuel burning returns 6 billion tons to atmosphere from whence it came.
• letter from the colonies vol 14 18 Aug 2006 (Forum)
  He has saved for months from his pocket money and his weekend burger flipping job at The Home Of The Whopper to buy a mid 1990's Civic Hatchback, redone in a sort of metallic white, with green headlights, purple tail-lights, pretty chrome wheels, snazzy interior and of course a sound system capable of belting out knuckle dragger tribal noise at a great many decibels.
• Smallish 4wd cars 27 Apr 2024 (Forum)
    At idle, it sounds like a tractor. I chose not to buy one partly because it's a bit small and a bit rough.  It s a lot of money for something with no great comfort or space.  I was also worried about the twins it's reliability.  I have no particular reason to suspect it, but I know they're vulnerable to the wrong oil and so possibly a risky second hand buy.
• Toyota RAV4 - Toyota RAV4 - Dodgy MOT/Ripped Off? 18 Jul 2023 (Forum)
  We got it out of storage and it developed a little rattle prettry quickly, had a feeling it was the bushings so we decided to take it in for an MOT which came back with: ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 99,200 miles: Repair immediately (major defects): Nearside Inner Integral body structure corroded to the extent that the rigidity of the assembly is significantly reduced sill excessively corroded multiple patches (6.1.1 (c) (i)) Offside Integral body structure corroded to the extent that the rigidity of the assembly is significantly reduced sill excessively corroded multiple patches (6.1.1 (c) (i)) Nearside Rear Inner Suspension component mounting prescribed area excessively corroded significantly reducing structural strength (5.3.6 (a) (i)) Offside Rear Inner Suspension component mounting prescribed area excessively corroded significantly reducing structural strength (5.3.6 (a) (i)) Nearside Front Shock absorbers has a serious fluid leak (5.3.2 (b)) Nearside Front Lower Suspension arm pin or bush excessively worn Rear bush debonding from arm (5.3.4 (a) (i)) Offside Front Lower Suspension arm pin or bush excessively worn Rear bush debonding from arm (5.3.4 (a) (i)) Offside Front Outer Drive shaft joint constant velocity boot split or insecure, no longer prevents the ingress of dirt (6.1.7 (g) (ii)) Repair as soon as possible (minor defects): Offside Rear Registration plate lamp inoperative in the case of multiple lamps or light sources (4.7.1 (b) (i)) Monitor and repair if necessary (advisories): Front Inner Play in steering rack inner joint(s) Sub-frame corroded but not seriously weakened Front and rear (5.3.3 (b) (i)) Nearside Rear Coil spring corroded (5.3.1 (b) (i)) Offside Rear Coil spring corroded (5.3.1 (b) (i)) Nearside Front Coil spring corroded (5.3.1 (b) (i)) Offside Front Coil spring corroded (5.3.1 (b) (i)) Rear Suspension component corroded but not seriously weakened All suspension arms/shocks (5.3.3 (b) (i)) Offside Rear Anti-roll bar linkage pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement (5.3.4 (a) (i)) Offside Rear Inner Brake hose has slight corrosion to ferrule (1.1.12 (f) (i)) Nearside Rear Inner Brake hose has slight corrosion to ferrule (1.1.12 (f) (i)) Vehicle structure is corroded but structural rigidity is not significantly reduced (6.1.1 (c) (i)) Nearside Front Inner Suspension component mounting prescribed area is corroded but not considered excessive (5.3.6 (a) (i)) Offside Front Inner Suspension component mounting prescribed area is corroded but not considered excessive (5.3.6 (a) (i)) Offside Front Shock absorbers has light misting of oil (5.3.2 (b)) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ The guy that did the MOT said it's scrap and it's going to cost way more than it's worth to fix it.
• Renault Clio II (2001 - 2007) - 01 1.2 16v Orange coil light coming on 19 Jul 2021 (Forum)
  Well, I am 6 months pregnant and a few weeks ago the car decided to cut out on my whilst doing somewhere in the 70's on the motorway which was quite frightening. I managed to turn the engine off and on again whilst hurtling along and with a lot of revving in a lower gear the light went off and I continued the journey.
• The best first wheels 23 Jan 2021 (Forum)
  People seem terrified of older cars, believing them to be unreliable and unsafe but I argue that they’re not and to land young drivers with a crippling monthly bill is unwise and only delays the day they can stand on their own two feet with head held high. They’ll be with you in their 40’s if they get into the PCP/Lease trap of a costly new car every few years. My neighbour has a nearly new VW Polo GTi at age 19, which is taking most of what he earns between HP and insurance. It’s c******d him and he now can’t stand the loss of face that would come from downgrading in his mind as all his friends are doing the very same.
• Honda Accord 2002 - Car failed MOT, need advice (do I keep repairing?) 30 Aug 2020 (Forum)
    8k a year... cheap motoring ?  Or am I out of touch (why buy a car that costs me £000's when it's just going to get 8-10k driven out of it).  My only worry is that it'll fail more and more on rust and not be saveable (the body car paint, whilst dented/scratched etc has no rust....).
• Audi - Reversed into pedestrian - any thoughts 4 Feb 2020 (Forum)
  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. Obviously she was shocked at what had happened, but she rose to her feet after a few minutes, and one of the local shops provided her with a chair to sit on, I got back in the car, reversed it back a few more yards so I wasn't blocking the road anymore.