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• Honda Jazz/Fit (2001 - 2008) - Seem to deteriorate quite badly after 6 or 7 years 3 Feb 2010 (Forum)
  The Jazz recall thread prompted me to look at CarByCarBreakdown and I noted there's a comment: "Seem to deteriorate quite badly after 6 or 7 years." I'd be interested to know what that's based on? We just changed our 6yr old Jazz for a new one, but I did wonder if I'd done the right thing as the old one felt as though it would last for ever. The new one doesn't feel anything like as robust. I was slightly concerned that the gearbox was getting noisy, but within a couple of weeks of changing the car I saw a comment that Honda will now repair the box on any age Jazz, so I felt quite miffed about that!
• Toyota - VVTi engines & Oil consumption 12 Dec 2008 (Forum)
  My old corolla has done 125,000 miles, doesn't seem to use any between services, same story with my 2.0i GT celica. Does anyone have any hard technical knowledge about what engines in which cars this affects ?
• astra to be kept to age 10 plus 28 May 2005 (Forum)
  I was wondering though if there was anything else worth having done or if its a case of "if it ain't broke, don't fix it"(gearbox oil? power steering fluid?). We intend to keep the car until its at least ten years old. Its never given problems so I hope to keep it that way- although as it ages there are no guarantees. Any advice on the worthwhile extent of preventative maintenance gratefully received.
• 3 year old Micra or Ka? 21 Mar 2003 (Forum)
  I'm looking at buying either a 30k 2000W/X Ford Ka or Nissan Micra 1.4 at auction, both of which I would hope to snag for around 3 grand. Can't decide...
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  second hand car not fit for purpose 6 Dec 2012 (Ask HJ)
  Hi I bought a send hand Toyota Previa GLS VVTI petrol automatic 2.4cc W reg from year 2000 for £3125 on 30th June 2012. Mileage was 130,585. The car...
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  Are hybrid cars reliable? 8 May 2025 (Ask HJ)
  I am considering buying a Toyota Yaris. I've never owned a hybrid before and I'm concerned I will be hit with unexpected costs during ownership. It's 2...
• Proton GEN-2 - What to do with an old Proton 12 Jun 2021 (Forum)
  Apologies if this post is in the wrong place as it's in part a technical question, but mostly its asking for advice on what to do with my car as I think...
• Mercedes-Benz E-Class Estate - Tyre dilemma 11 Jun 2020 (Forum)
  Good morning fellow car nerds, and a very happy Wednesday to you all ! ;-) Looking for a bit of advice/direction/comment, if I may, on a small dilemma I'm wrestling with. I recently bought my old company car from my employers, and I plan to keep it, for a while anyway.
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  Audi A3 tyre problems 13 Dec 2016 (Ask HJ)
  My Audi A3 (2014 model) has just had a service: the report advises the tyres are perishing and will need replacing. But tread remains 7.5mm, does this...
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  Ten year old Honda Civic - repair or scrap? 18 Apr 2015 (Ask HJ)
  I have owned a 2003 Honda Civic Type S for 10 years and it has only done 25,000 miles. However the steering is stiff in the centre position making small...
• C-Max - Engine Failure will follow 22 Jul 2013 (Forum)
  Do I  cut my losses and  auction the car  or sell for parts.  Either way we are left in a position of having to buy a new car as it is needed for work journeys. Any advice would be appreciated - sorry I am not a mechanic just an average car owner who thought Ford was a solid relaible  brand    
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  Does this car really have a full service history? 14 Nov 2012 (Ask HJ)
  I was looking to buy a Dodge Nitro 2.6 CRD SXT from a dealer. It's three years old, has done 36,000 miles, and claims to have 'full Service History'. ...
• BMW 330i sport auto convertible 30 Jan 2007 (Forum)
  Some may recall from a recent thread that I was thinking of buying a new freelander 2. The old L/R reliability problems still worry me (perhaps unfair) but I've now decided aginst it. I need to keep a practical car for the uni run & I am trying to persuade the wife to take over my estate car & sell her old Audi.
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  Should I buy this seventeen-year-old Renault camper van? 17 Nov 2012 (Ask HJ)
  I have seen a 1996 Renault Romero camper van with a 1.7-litre engine and low mileage which has been sat for some time. I am thinking about buying it. Do...
• Am I getting old 9 Sep 2003 (Forum)
  On arrival at AVIS today the office had forgotten to book a rental car so I was given a choice between an Omega or a Mini Cooper. No contest I thought as I have fancied thrashing a Mini for ages. When it comes the disappointment startes to set in as the interior is a bit tacky - aluminium is OK but aluminium coloured plastic is not.
• Toyota build quality - am I unlucky? 25 Jun 2003 (Forum)
  Granted most of these are things that didn't affect the actual running of the car, but even still I'd expected more from Toyota. I'm wondering now if I've just been unlucky and got a bad one, although as it was 2.5 years old when I bought it, surely most of the bugs should have been ironed out?
• Ruined battery ? 12 Aug 2001 (Forum)
  Latest thing to go wrong is a reluctance to start - I've changed leads, dizzy cap and plugs and hoped that it would now burst into life at the merest hint of the key being turned in the ignition (as my old corolla used to), but to no avail - I still have to crank it for several seconds before it catches and finally explodes into action. The only thing I can think of is that the oil may be a little on the thick side (and rather old by the look of it - I've not had the car long but it doesn't look like it's been changed in a while) ie. 20w50, could this be a contributing factor ?
• Audi Paintwork 15 Aug 2006 (Forum)
  However, the Manager was sure that the car had had paintwork on it as the car "was to clean" for a 5 year old car with 49k on clock (Surely that is no reason to say that a car has had work undertaken?). Therefore, the car would not be covered by Audi's 12 year Anti Corrosion Warranty.
• Renault Clio II - Sold a "not fit for purpose" 16 year old clio 24 Sep 2014 (Forum)
    When she bought the car she stated that she hadn't driven for a while as she was restricted due to medication but she couldn't do without a car so decided to stop taking the meds so she could drive, obviously against her gp's instructions.
• Used Estate Recommendation 1 Jul 2024 (Forum)
  Currently got my eye on something like these: https://www.cinch.co.uk/used-cars/make/model/details/8f6f1aba-317b-446c-b399-252b1762e8e3? https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202406261128806 https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202405209887351 Should I be avoiding any engines in particular?