Showing results in  Forum [Show all channels]

Sort by: Relevance | Newest first | Oldest first

• MB C220 CDI - momentum warranties - the wear and tear scam 25 Sep 2012 (Forum)
  So wife calls me and says her car is making a screeching noise and blowing black smoke.  I tell her not to drive it one inch further and have it recovered - which she does.  The garage it was recovered to immediately diagnoses turbo failure. Wife thinks, I have an extended warranty, it covers turbo failure so all looks good.
• A year with the Jaaaaag 12 Aug 2012 (Forum)
  Everything works, started first time in sub zero temperatures and feels very solidly built. Driving wise its superb, it's so quiet you wouldn't know the engine is on and you feel completely detached from the outside world as you drive around. Put your foot down and it does growl and shift pretty quickly and the automatic gearbox is much more intuitive and sensible than offerings from French carmakers that I've experienced.
• Your thoughts on my possible car change 10 Feb 2012 (Forum)
  I now wish to hear your thoughts on the following scenario, especially if you are the owner of one of my proposed vehicles. I currently drive a Jaguar XJ 2.7TDVi sovereign. Had it from 20k miles and now has 65k miles on it. It is a great car but, within the next 12 months, I will be changing my car to something not quite as vast. I am sill after something as "nippy" as The Jaaaag but something the wife may drive also.
• First car buying advice 22 Dec 2011 (Forum)
  I'm looking at buying my first car in January, and I need some feedback on what I've decided to do so you can all tell me I'm nuts. I paid for all my driving expenses so far myself, and learning to drive drained me so much that I currently have very little money in savings (and it's xmas). I'd rather not go for a cheap motor, but something for £2000-3000 that's in slightly better shape with an AA warranty from a used car dealer.
• Ford Focus ST - brand new tyre with dangerous bulge 5 Mar 2011 (Forum)
  They put a new tyre on and I then drove home with my girlfriend the 230-odd miles back home. Used the car to drive a few miles the following day, then on the second day I made a point of looking at all my tryes and found an obvious bulge at least 50p-size in the outer tyre wall of the new tyre. It gives under pressure.
• Volvo XC90 (2002 - ) - I'm getting used to it! 9 Feb 2010 (Forum)
  Also the heavy steering is a bit of a bind although it gets easier as the car gets warmer. Not a car for city centre driving but then who wants to drive in city centres unless you have a Smart? On any form of slightly open road the car really comes into itself with a relaxed gait and excellent economy for the bulk. Very comfortable seats, excellent driving position partly marred by thick pillars, and easy to use controls on the steering wheel.
• Ford Focus II (2004 - 2007) - 07 1.8 DMF again and vehicle decision 12 Dec 2009 (Forum)
  Older ones are higher car tax, so I've moved up in vehicle size to Focus or Skoda Octavia. I'm waiting to have a test drive in an Octavia. I hope to try a manual, which I understand has a dual mass flywheel, and a DSG automatic, which I have been told does not. I am a bit worried about the DSG gearbox because of my drive, which involves backing out uphill through a 90 degree turn.
• Advice on my next car 28 Oct 2009 (Forum)
  I would like 5 doors, size not important but I have no kids, no need to lug anything around. No desire for a convertible, MPV or four wheel drive. I want to buy second hand as I don't really have a large budget to finance the replacement, maybe £2,000-£3,000 max. I really dislike mini-mpvs, especially a hire car Vauxhall that leaked oil over the new drive a couple of years ago.
• Toyota Prius III (2009 - ) - Impressions of the new Prius 29 Sep 2009 (Forum)
  It's a lot quieter than most diesels, and with the choice of modes available, economy is, I would expect, comparable with a diesel depending on how you drive it. The ultimate question - would I have one as my next car? It depends what's around in 2 to 3 years, but at the moment - probably.
• Involved in accident - Insurance may write-off 22 Jun 2009 (Forum)
  I also checked online to see if the other driver was insured and confirmed that he was. I contacted my insurance company and was put through to Drive Assist who took down all the details and said that it was likely the other driver was at fault since he pulled out on me. Today, Drive Assist called me up and said that my car might be a drivable write-off but will have the car accessed first before they do anything.
• Ford Fusion (USA) - mini road test 14 Sep 2008 (Forum)
  Would go back to it over a diesel if fuel costs weren't an issue, and I never thought I'd hear myself say that. Economy was surprising given I wasn't driving lightly, with 32mpg (imperial) overall, and that was about 60% freeway at 75mph, 30% singletrack road, and 10% town driving. Especially considering I climbed 7000ft on the motorway before dropping back down via the scenic roads.
• Renault Megane II (2002 - 2008) - Help me make sense of the range 12 Mar 2008 (Forum)
  Since it had 130bhp, I have listed anything with 130bhp or up above. Safety - I would want traction control (I spun off in the wet driving a 200SX turbo) and possibly even 4 wheel drive. Note the above are my priorities, but NOT in order of priority, just things I know matter to me. the 200SX had 200BHP and felt wonderful (until the back end lost it).
• Towing - common fail D or petrol v costs 19 Jun 2007 (Forum)
  I basically need something that I can buy nearly new, and keep for longer than the warranty.... Just off to test drive a Kia Sorento Diesel... Any advice gratefully received. Splodgeface
• Reported suspected drunken driver 27 Mar 2007 (Forum)
  Would I be prepared to act as a witness in court if it proceeded, of course I would. So from seeing some of the worst driving I have ever seen in 35 years of driving, and being my first time ever reporting a drunk driver, I feel as though the police do not want any help in catching drunk drivers. I did realise the chances of them having a car available locally on a Saturday afternoon were slim, but the driver would almost certainly have driven past the local police r&r house on the same road a few minutes later so they could have caught him if they acted fast.
• Multivalve engines - progress? 28 Nov 2006 (Forum)
  What do you think? Cheers DP PS - The StreetKa as a whole I thought was a pleasant surprise. A lot of fun to drive despite modest performance, and handles and steers beautifully. Too "girly" for me, but I really quite liked it.
• Am I an outside lane hogger - verdict? 11 Aug 2006 (Forum)
  It's just that any hand gesture can be easily mistaken for an insult. What is the best way to apologise? Look forward to hearing your honest verdicts on my driving......
• Pug 406 (2.0 16v Petrol) Engine Problem 6 Jan 2006 (Forum)
  It's sunday so it'll have to wait to be seen by a garage tomorrow (annoying getting a shoulder op on Tuesday, so garage will have to keep it for a while / deliver it home to me @ some point! but, on the plus side, i wont be in a state to drive for a month or so anyway...) I haven't restarted it, though i intend to drive it round to the garage (2 miles ish away) tomorrow morning. Meanwhile, i've now been directed to tesco.com to do the shopping online as i cant drive the misses to the supermarket, and she's gone off in a huff to do gardening!
• Driving on the Isle of Wight 22 Aug 2005 (Forum)
  As I have an 8 year old daughter we had to see most of the major attractions and beaches. This involved quite a lot of driving on the island as we were staying in Freshwater, close to the Needles. My observations might be of interest to other drivers. The Red Funnel service out of Southampton. We travelled on a Saturday (2.30 ferry) and found the final 2 miles to the terminal to be clogged with stop start traffic and took over 45 minutes.
• 18 seconds 1 Sep 2004 (Forum)
  Now I can't claim to have had a perfect view, but the chap in front seemed to be taking the mickey out of you a little by not letting you through. Not great driving, but understandable, given you were bullying. And so the journey wore on; eventually you squeezed past him, then aggressively swung from lane to lane in the traffic round Twyford Down. As the fraffic opened up, I could see you driving 3-4 feet behind every car you came up to.
• Finally got Her back behind the wheel! 10 Jun 2004 (Forum)
  Apparently an old chap tapped on the window and asked her if she was OK. This was some 3 years ago. The thing is she didn't mind driving the previous car, a Fiat Regata, the car that most people wouldn't be seen dead in! The problem is that all the driving was down to me. With my starting up a business and working on our house, my time was precious enough without having to be the only family taxi as well.