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• Chrysler PT Cruiser (2000 - ) - Tried one in the USA. 19 Jul 2008 (Forum)
  TomTom worked a treat outside of Boston. Parking bays are excellently sized - if you want a job open up as a MINI dealer, bucket loads over there and apparently sales are rocketing on the back of petrol prices ( 2 quid a US Gallon !) NYT yesterday carried an article on it. Loads and loads of bikes in Maine - no helmet law seems very strange !!
• Can't make up me mind wot car to buy 30 Jul 2007 (Forum)
  However, reliability is very important because I get very annoyed indeed if my car breaks down and I'm late for work / appointments. I've also thought about a new(ish) Mini Cooper. I'm DEFINITELY NOT a tree hugger but don't fancy a 4x4; despite the attraction of putting 2 fingers up to the environmentalists. Does anyone have any suggestions, either for particular cars or for car-choosing strategies?
• The hypocrisy in road pricing 5 Dec 2006 (Forum)
  Mr Begg (if it were he) compared road pricing with using a telephone, the amount that it is used it effects the amount that is paid, his analogy was to the effect that in comparison with using a telephone roads are free at the point of use! However he completely neglected that fact that even drivers of 50mpg super minis / diesel cars pay around 6 to 7p a mile to the government in fuel duty alone! It was pleasing to hear that the matter of congestion being a cost to business is being acknowledged. Though how the hell does road pricing help?
• Driving test grief (need advice) 18 Jan 2006 (Forum)
  The second time he had 0 minor faults but at the end of the test at the ?reverse in to bay? he ended the manoeuvre with the front wheel of the Mini touching the white line but within the Bay!! Guess what the tester rewarded him with a failure again!! Is there anything else we don?t know (just badly paid testers?)? Now don't get me wrong I am not against a system where we produce good drivers but this look like an overkill in both cases, correct me if I'm wrong.
• Thoughts on replacing Polo 22 Mar 2005 (Forum)
  I like the being up high aspect of a 4x4, but the only one I like is the Toyota Rav4, which I suspect is way out of budget! Please don't suggest the MINI, or anything boring by Rover or Ford, but otherwise I'm open to ideas on anything else that's a year or two old as I don't want to buy new! Thanks!
• Hilarious - with dangerous undertones 3 Mar 2004 (Forum)
  Hi all, Seeing as I seem to be the one who has most accidents (and by that I mean things going wrong with the car - not crashes) I feel I should brighten up your day with this rather funny story. I was driving home yesterday from picking my mum up and on my way to work. Upon negotiatng a mini-roundabout there is this terrific bang and a horrible scraping noise. Look in the mirror and "hmmm - that looks like my spare wheel" It was. As I had turned right, the tyre had fallen out and the tray was dragging across the floor.
• nostalgia 10 Dec 2001 (Forum)
  I had left a Standard 10 and Morris Minor at home. At home you're talking about Vauxhall's new antirust Victor Mk2 and the Mini was getting established and there were various 1.5 litre British Leyland Wolseley and Riley shells on the Minor floorpan. I tried to buy a Beetle but the demand caused a 3 month wait so I went for a Rambler American 220.
• Nissan Leaf - First impressions of 2.5k Leaf 13 Sep 2025 (Forum)
  Smooth, quiet, a good turn of speed when needed, and the handling isn’t too soft and wobbly after driving my Mini. The seats are really comfortable. Ironically, I’d quite happily do a long journey in it!   
• Small/mid auto SUV - any recs? 10 Aug 2021 (Forum)
  We've looked at (online mostly), or thought about, any of the following, but are we missing others? And what do you think about the ones we've considered so far: Mini Countryman (my wife's preference!); Mazda CX3; Renault Captur; Honda H-RV (but only the petrol comes with an auto, and the reviews of the petrol engine performance aren't great); Suzuki Vitara (which rarely if ever have heated seats...).
• Ford Fiesta 2003 1.25 LX - EAC Fail 23 Apr 2016 (Forum)
  The day before good friday I was driving home and doing about 25mph when I lost power and had EAC fail flashing up repeatedly. I then had to slow down for a mini roundabout and then stop and as I did all the lights on the dash came up and it felt like it'd stalled. I restarted it and it still was flashing EAC Fail and was in what i now know is limp home mode, i got it home with it cutting out when stationary and turning right (what fun).
• High mileage & a recent revelation 21 Jul 2012 (Forum)
  given it'ts the wifes perk she gets the big say on the car (which is fair!) and the contender is a mini. Peversly though it'll be me that drives since she simply walks to work whilst I now do an average of 35,000 miles a year thanks to my new job (hence the purchase of a car back in March that was much more fuel efficient, 2010 Seat Ibiza Ecomotive, i've now done 10k allready.
• 1.8 versus 1.6 - car buying advice please 4 Dec 2008 (Forum)
  Problem is, all the cars I look at in the Bravo class I am unable to get comfortable in the driving seat or, in some case, unable to fit in at all - can't get my legs under the steering wheel. This includes the Golf, the C4, the Focus, Corolla/Auris, the new Bravo, etc, etc. Super-minis such as the Yaris, Jazz, etc, I have also tried and I can't even get into most of them. As I say, I didn't want to go up to a bigger car but now I find myself looking at 1.8 engine sized cars as they are usually 1.8 engines on bigger models.
• Daihatsu Charade (2003 - 2006) - 2000 mile report 29 Aug 2008 (Forum)
  Engine is gruff but it is a nice sound, far better than any 4 cyl unit( and very refined for a 3 cyl ), accompanied with some gearbix whine, but in a way, its akin to driving a 3cyl Austin Mini, however with a very slick gearbox. Its generally a pleasent car to drive, happy on the motorway at 75 or buzzing around town. Needless to say, due to size and great visability, its a doddle to park.
• Physical degeneration and the motor Car 12 Nov 2007 (Forum)
  As a youth i was never bothered much about heaters, even in those much colder winters. I had a Bond mini car 3 wheeler ( no heater) aged 16yrs and motorbikes. in fact I can remember getting my first bike, a Honda C90 on my 16th birthday and that winter riding it through the night in sub zero conditions 200 miles to London. standing on the old london bridge (never been far before) and thinking, `Wow` hub of the world.
• Please advise - New car up2 17k 27 Apr 2007 (Forum)
  - Currently drive 2003 T3 1.6 petrol toyota corolla - Thinking of changing for something more sporty and thrilling - But i do 15k annual mileage and thats just for work (if had something more thrilling would probably do more) - Thinking fast diesel, something sporty looking, under £500 to insure cheapish road tax (if there is such a thing :) ) Cars i would love given my 17k budget and maybe taking out a little finance - 2ndH Audi RS4 (dream car) very impractical on fuel, tax and insurance :( - 2ndH Audi S3 : same deal as above :( - Ariel Atom : hah shall we move on - Honda s2000, love this but probably similar to run as S3 Cars on my shortlist - with my mini review - Toyota Auris T180 : Can get it new, goes like absolute stink, prob fastest hatchback diesel, hothatch type performance and cheap to buy and run in comparison to other; however not really as sporty as the rest - Audi A3 170ps (not sure what trim) : Would pay extra for Audi (not keen on VW's) but i couldn't get this new and 2ndH 170ps' are as rare as rocking horse poo.
• New Toyota Hi-Lux 3 Dec 2005 (Forum)
  However, I did manage one, along with a very anxious Toyota legs-firmly-crossed saleslady. Doubtless the hand she kept down beside ther seat firmly her clutched her mini stun-gun! The big diesel is very quiet given what it is and pulls right off the mark, unlike (it appears) the 2.5l. I would have liked to see a 6 cyl at this capacity but couldn?t complain about the smoothness of the 3.0.
• Indirectly related to Susan's post 2 May 2005 (Forum)
  My pal's father was then apparently granted a licence to assemble Austin cars in the Philippines from imported parts to aid the rebirth of the country's auto industry, and his factory produced for a number of years Austins: Devons, A30's, Cambridges, Minis and the like, which sold in moderate numbers to people who could afford them. This he told me survived till the early 1960's when the Marcos dictatorship wanted economic ties cut with countries which did not support it and to rebuild ties with Japan.
• C3 Opinions 8 Jul 2002 (Forum)
  Given a bit of time, and Citroens agressive pricing I think the C3 is worthy of serious consideration having the flair and technology to match and surpass most cars in the same bracket, IMHO. And it might just be enough to talk me out of the MINI Diesel when it comes to buying a knackered old car (to replace a knackered old car) in 6 years time. Lee http://communities.msn.com/honestjohn ...Takes corners beautifully
• BMW I3 - I bought a used BMW I3- a story to be updated . 13 Sep 2025 (Forum)
  First impressions: same length as Jazz, same width as Jazz, about 10cms higher - but sit MUCH higher in car like mini SUV. Great handling, RWD, like a sophisticated go kart, cruised happily at  70mh, VERY quiet except tyre noise, rise better than Jazz,  Superb acceleration. Great progress until hit M6 Southbound- 10 to 40 mph crawl for 20 miles.. easy peasy driving with regen braking recovering lots of energy in stop start.
• Seat Ibiza FR 1.0 (115) TSI - 3 Years and 46000 miles On 4 Nov 2023 (Forum)
  Really has a good powerful engine and nice gear change. Clutch has a nice action. A very spacious car for its Super Mini class. I paid extra to have it fitted with Michelin Cross Climate+ all season tyres (215/45 R17). They lasted for 35000 miles. Latterly these tyres started to make a droning noise (have had good year all season tyres on a previous car and they did this too).