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• FIAT Punto (1994 - 1999) - Garage stripped engine - do I have to pay 12 Dec 2008 (Forum)
  They say, we didn't get time to put it back together yesterday, we've got your number and will call you when it?s ready, the guy working on it has had to go out for parts, and inform me that there are labour costs to pay, yes, I appreciate you had to diagnose the fault, how much is it. They tell me it is 2 hours labour.
• Hideous Insurance Renewal problem 7 Nov 2008 (Forum)
  and would not listen to my argument that this was not actually choice since the first was based on an erroneous belief that au pairs are employees which drove the premium to an unrealistic rate or the second where I get the money back but will face hideous problems on renewal of trying to insure a young driver with a record of insurance refused. I have spoken to the insurer?s customer complaints department who tell me that they have voided the original policy and they are investigating. I have asked them to make it clear to me that they have taken this decision of their own volition.
• Honda Accord Tourer Diesel: 20k report 13 Sep 2006 (Forum)
  Anyway, I don't really like them getting below 3 mm. I've replaced them with Pirelli P6000 Powergy?s, and the new tires have completely cured the mild tramlining that I was experiencing with the 17 inch alloys. I never found it annoying, but now it's simply not there. It's also marginally reduced the road noise, which is nice.
• 10k in an 'ugly duckling' ? 28 Jul 2005 (Forum)
  I'm now averaging just under 40MPG (28/29 in my old 1.8T Golf) in mixed driving conditions from the trip computer and this rises into the 40's if I do significant motorway mileage. Others will probably do better than this as I consider myself pretty heavy footed. The engine is an absolute stonker and is starting pull strongly from even lower down now in 3,4 and 5 .
• 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!.
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  Hyundai Tucson actuator failure, just out of warranty - will I have to pay in full? 10 Dec 2021 (Ask HJ)
  Just over two months ago my Hyundai Tucson diesel had its final service within its five year warranty, having done just under 26,000 miles and received...
• 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.
• 
  How do black boxes work? 20 Dec 2018 (Ask HJ)
  Can you please tell me how black box insurance works? I understand it records your driving but I have the feeling it could come back to haunt you? I am...
• 
  A random car has been parked on my driveway and the owner refuses to move it - can I get it removed? 26 Nov 2018 (Ask HJ)
  A random car has parked on my property and the owner refuses to move it. I don't know if it's roadworthy, but it looks in decent condition. What are my...
• 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.