Refine by channel:  Forum (9291)    Ask HJ (5914)    News (1310)    Article (126)    productReview (65)    FAQs (16)  

Sort by: Relevance | Newest first | Oldest first

• Polo 1.4 TDi or Corsa 1.7DTi 3 Apr 2004 (Forum)
  We have been looking at these two cars to buy at about 12 months old. SWMBO likes the Corsa, I prefer the build quality of the VW. Probably not much between them in terms of reliability or mpg. Both quite nice to drive, given limitations of a small car.
• High mileage estates 30 Mar 2004 (Forum)
  Advice please: Had an offer to buy old camry estate 1989 with 100k on for £500. Very good shape for year. Do these engines and cars last as don't see many on road today. I also considered an older volvo estate maybe 740 or 940 around H, or J reg.
• Gearbox / clutch prob. Mitsubishi Galant 13 Mar 2004 (Forum)
  Have noticed that when cold, my car (which I bought yesterday, 16 months old / 17,000 miles) judders badly when releasing the clutch in 1st gear. Also, occasionally, when selecting 3rd gear (from 2nd) it feels, what I can only describe as \'crunchy\' (as though the clutch isn\'t engaged properly).
• Punto - seat belt not retracting 10 Feb 2004 (Forum)
  This is annoying, because I don't notice this has happened and end up trapping the seat belt in the door when I get out the car. It's also a concern - if the belt isn't retracting in 'normal use', what's the effect in the event of an accident? The car is just under two-years old and therefore still has its manufacturer's warranty.
• Oil consumption ? why? 4 Feb 2004 (Forum)
  I have noticed that correspondents on this forum often quote oil consumption rates for modern engines. In the past, only old bangers used oil ? a measure of an engine in good condition was that it did not need the oil topping up between changes. My first car, a Triumph Mayflower which cost £10 of carefully saved pocket money, left a smokescreen behind when it pulled away, because the piston rings were worn.
• 2.0HDi Xsara Camshaft timing belt 2 Feb 2004 (Forum)
  I own a Citroen Xsara 2.0HDi which is nearly 4 years old and has approx. 36000 miles on the clock. I intend to keep the car for another 2 years or 50,000 miles before I sell it. I would like to ask the experts 2 questions:- 1. When would you recommend I have the camshaft timing belt changed?
• Renaut Diesel V 3 litre petrol 20 Sep 2003 (Forum)
  Backroomers, I am looking for a 3 year old Renualt Grand Espace. Renualt espace diesels get a v bad press - engines fall to bits - see HJ in DT today, plus HJ car by car breakdown etc etc etc Has anyone any exp of the renault 3.0 petrol as in the Espace?
• ford warranty still valid ? 10 Mar 2003 (Forum)
  I just bought a 18 month old Ford Focus Zetec 1.6, seems like a nice car, pleased with it, you may have already read about it under thread 'auction prices'. I'm wondering if the warranty is still valid, not that there is a problem, I'm just trying to decide whether to get a main dealer service or take it to a local non independant 'spit and sawdust' place.
• Insurance anomalies 27 Nov 2002 (Forum)
  But with excesses of £300 on one and £275 on another. I went to Egg who also do motor insurance. Their price, for the same cover, is £513.55, for both cars and a promise to keep the rate the same for next year. This is with excesses of £100. I think the AA tv advertisement is a load of old toffee. It does make sense to shop around. Bye for now
• Reclaiming Contaminated Friction Linings 20 Aug 2002 (Forum)
  Before you throw your arms up in horror, the car is 73 years old, covers about 250 miles per year, has a top-speed of 35 mph and was braking pretty well before the discovery anyway. I'm sure I read somewhere that it is possible to boil a shoe in water to remove the oil/grease, and that this wasn't uncommon practice years ago as the leather/felt hub-seal were not completely reliable.
• Fiat Punto - Leaking camshaft cover 16 Jun 2002 (Forum)
  Closer inspection revealed that the front nearside camshaft cover mounting bolt was loose. I tightened it up and checked the oil level, which was full. I don't know that much about cars ( which is why I get the car serviced by a garage) but I wonder whether any damage is likely to have been done by this leak? Can anyone advise?
• Update - Undriveable Astra 1.8 CDX 8 May 2002 (Forum)
  The Vauxhall technical rep has driven my friends car and it is to be swapped for a new car. Edit by David [Mod]...Here is Godfrey\'s post that started this topic on the old forum...... New Astra 1.8 CDX problems - Godfrey H Mon 29 Apr 02 22:41 A friend of mine has a new Astra which has had driveability problems from new.
• Headlight colours. 12 Nov 2001 (Forum)
  There's been a few threads regarding new brighter headlights etc, but l haven't seen any mention of the perculiar colours new car headlamps seem to be chucking out. I was under the impression that lamps had to be white to yellow. Now many new cars (and those owned by grill fiddling boy racers) appear to have some tasteful hue added in for good measure.
• Stench from Aircon 16 May 2001 (Forum)
  I have noticed a rather unpleasant smell which seems to be coming from my car's vents when the aircon is operating, which has been neccesary more than usual in the last few weeks. although I use the aircon all year and have not noticed it before. The car is a Peugeot 406 Estate with a HDI engine, it is fitted with an electronic climate control in place of usual controls for the heater ( which I still haven't worked out ) and is only a year old.
• Honda Civic Sport 1.5 - Electric brake failure 22 Nov 2021 (Forum)
  I've got a 68 plate Honda Civic. A week ago I was parked in a local car park with 2 12 year old girls sat in the back. I left the keys in the ignition and left for 5 minutes to go to the shop. I was parked on quite a slope! As I walked back to the car 5 minutes later, I witnessed it rolling down and hit a low brick wall, causing £3400 of damage to the car!
• What is the most badge-engineered car ever? 21 Mar 2021 (Forum)
  Prompted by the recent thread about badge snobbery, I was wondering which car design has been subject to the most extensive badge-engineering. By badge-engineering I mean selling cars of identical or near-identical designs under different brands. My contender for the most extensively badge-engineered car of all time is that BMC ADO16 - the old 1100/1300.
• Choosing new car due to coming clean air zone 18 Mar 2019 (Forum)
  The new legislation would mean I pay £8 a day to drive through the city centre tunnels, the best route for me to the M6. diesel cars from 2015 (euro6) and petrol cars from 2005 (euro4) are exempt from this tax. My commute to my place of work is 150 miles round trip so for a long time I've had diesel cars, however I was thinking of possibly getting an old 05/06 car and getting it converted to LPG.
• 
  What automatic car would you suggest for an elderly couple? 9 Jan 2017 (Ask HJ)
  We have decided to swap our 2003 automatic Honda Jazz for an automatic car that has high seats and is suitable for low mileage. What would you recommend...
• Buying my first car - need advice 6 Jan 2010 (Forum)
  The car will be insured under my 30 year old girlfriends name so its not going to cost much to insure. I'm currently looking at 2005 1.6L honda civics and vw golfs - 3 door preferably, with under 100000km on the clock.
• How much to spend on a car - how to decide? 10 Sep 2007 (Forum)
  I'm just intrigued by how people decide how much to spend on a motor car. I am reminded by the old chestnut of the man who goes into a car showroom for an Astra; he has £2,000 to spend. Salesman says 'I've one coming in tomorrow at £1,500'; man says 'too cheap'. Later in the week he receives a call offering him an Astra for £2,000 which he acepts.