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• Rumbling Citroen AX 6 May 2003 (Forum)
  Anyone come across the same problem on AXs before? I don't want to start changing major components at random, but I'm running out of other ideas... Richard Hall http://bangernomics.tripod.com
• Spanner-How to survive your local garage 6 Oct 2002 (Forum)
  It's a shame you seek to trivialise the thermodynamics involved in air conditioning, a bit like saying an internal combustion engine only needs a bit of fuel and a spark, to justify your claim to be championing the consumer. I trust you will now be issuing a correction, as you have had to do already regarding the running costs of the Volvo, and the 0-60 time of a 1969 Ford RS1600?
• Old Habits die hard 1 Apr 2002 (Forum)
  There was an interesting thread a couple of months ago wondering if we worry unduly about frequency of oil changes, type of oil, running in etc. ? a subject that is still aired frequently in the Backroom. The consensus of opinion was that following the manufacturer?s service schedule was sufficient. Modern engines are inherently reliable and rarely gave trouble even with huge mileages.
• Toyota Yaris D-4D Testdrive. 10 Mar 2002 (Forum)
  In my current car a non turbo 1.8 Escort Diesel I would have needed to change down and it would have run out of puff quite early on. I found it to be well behaved in traffic and a relaxing car to drive. Although my driving is mainly in and around town, I do need a car capable of the long haul to Cornwall on a regular basis.
• Cyclist Rant 7 Jan 2002 (Forum)
  In London Last Fall, cyclists are widely regarded as on a par with pigeons, given that they routinely run red lights as if they didn't exist, go up one way streets in the wrong direction, swerve out in front of cars with no attempt to check if anyone is there first and ride around after dark with no lights.I'm not talking of the odd one; I'm talking of the vast majority !
• Mercedes-Benz GLA - DPF regeneration problems... reject car? 24 Jun 2021 (Forum)
  Should mention that we normally average around 56-60mpg on the school run but on both those days the average was around 40-42mpg. When I got to school it was 61mpg so the return trip I got only 23mpg! I called the dealer and he told me to bring it in for a diagnostics.
• Used versus Reconditioned Engines 7 Apr 2021 (Forum)
  On the other hand, a warranted low mileage used engine with provenance will always trump the reconditioned engine, firstly it arrives complete, secondly it was in its donor vehicle running and checked prior to you purchasing it. Unfortunately, this analogy isn’t a perfect scenario, it only works in high percentage rates for vehicles less than eight years old and without design faults.
• ABI category C and D writeoffs explained 20 Oct 2016 (Forum)
  I know it’s a no brainer, but make sure everything works! When you first turn the ignition on the car runs a self diagnosis test on all of its major systems the abs, airbag and engine management light will be on and then go off, make sure you have seen them illuminated, removing diodes or bulbs help bad cars accident damaged or not get through MOTs.
• Citroen Xantia 1.9 TD (Bosch pump) - Simple glow plug change gone wrong! Wont idle now! 11 Feb 2014 (Forum)
  He's planning a trip out with the girlfriend on Friday so he'll be very happy if it's running ASAP.  
• Ford Focus 1.6 TDCI - What are my rights after buying a car privately? 15 Oct 2013 (Forum)
  Upon arrival the car looked in great condition body work apart from the scratch which was stated in the add, four good tyres, underneath looked solid and no rush at all that I could see. we where then greated by an older gentleman (about 65ish) who immediately told us to go into the house to do paperwork. I was at first hesitant because we hadn't even seen the car running yet or even looked inside it, he assured me that the vehicle was 110% mechanically sound and has no issues and explained he was a mechanic. I then made the fatal mistake of chatting to the old boy about the vehicle as he told me how great it was etc etc and we counted the money out and he got me to sign the logbook.
• My Toyota Prius Review 7 Sep 2011 (Forum)
  Its a very good car at what it sets out to do, which is to give you the easiest drive (auto) in the biggest car possible with the lowest running costs possible. With £20 tax, congestion charge exemption (although i believe hybrids exemption will be withdrawn in 2013), excellent reliability, low insurance costs (i did a dummy quote and got quoted £284 to insure this car), excellent economy for this size of car (a diesel Fiesta will do better but thats a small car, manual, less room etc).
• Volkswagen Golf IV (1998 - 2004) - 2002 GT TDI 130 - first impressions. 18 Jul 2010 (Forum)
  Just thought I'd post some initial impressions of the Golf after doing 120 miles or so in it yesterday, plus some odd running around over the weekend. What we ended up buying was an apparently well cared for, 52 plate GT TDI 130 5dr in reflex silver. A two owner car, with 85,000 miles, and the rare combination of climate control and an electric tilt / slide sunroof.
• Volkswagen Passat (1997 - 2000) - 200k mile mark reached 14 Dec 2009 (Forum)
  It is currently reliable & covers 20k miles a year. On the other hand, it is due a service (the more major 20k one) and needs four new tyres (I've run Kumho's throughout my ownership of it).... I've managed to partly satisfy my probably irrational need to have a 'new' car by running an MGF as a weekend toy for the past year. So I'm leaning to stick with what I know but would welcome input from the backroom.
• Mk9 Honda Civic 2013 1.8 i-VTEC - Mk9 Civic Clutch Biting Point Very Small, Replace? 23 Aug 2025 (Forum)
    Its a great car, only had 37,000 miles when I got it, just over 50K now.  Bought it from a Honda dealer with a view to running it into the ground as it has no rust and I've rust proofed it.  It wasn't cheap for what it was but have zero interest in newer cars as think that the vast majority of them are more complex and not as reliable as a 12 year old Civic (that's just in my humble opinion though).
• Used family car - CX5? 3 Feb 2024 (Forum)
     Having had the Golf since new, would like a car that's not just functional, but also with some interest. Something "nice".  The journeys are usually very short school / nursery runs during the week, and a drive of no more than an hour or so to a place of interest on weekends. On that basis diesels are out, and i wouldn't be averse to a hybrid given journey types, but the budget unlikely to allow.
• Ford Focus misfire after rebuild 18 Dec 2023 (Forum)
  (they also replaced the timing belt at this point) Anyway, so I have it back and it seems to be running very smoothly at speed, but there is a problem at idle.  To me the engine feels like it's stuttering.  When I tried to show the mechanic he said it was "misfiring slightly".  Unfortunately, it's intermittent and one of those problems that goes away when you're trying to demonstrate it to a mechanic...
• Personal buying habits 22 Nov 2023 (Forum)
  By the 1980s, BL cars had lost their appeal, kids had become teenagers, and I swapped our fifth Maxi for a Cavalier estate and later a Nissan Prairie, before the 205 got headlines and we switched to the Peugeot brand. That Prairie, as an ex-demo run-out car from a Nissan dealership, was the newest car I have owned, and it served as a bulk carrier while the 'kids' went away to uni. Only one car has ever cost me a 5-figure sum - an impulse buy 20 years ago.
• Keep Mother sweet 1 Oct 2023 (Forum)
  It’s been a reliable little car, but as with older Honda’s (especially in sunny Scotland) the rust has gotten hold and mother dear decided she didn’t have confidence in running about in a car which had been welded underneath. When my dad was alive they always had newish cars. It was just a patch required but finding someone locally was a challenge and we were looking at 3/4 weeks wait to get the job done as no one seems interested in welding anymore.
• VW MK6 Golf 1.6 TDI 2010 - Mk6 1.6 TDI coolant/oil temperature increase 11 Jul 2023 (Forum)
  Particularly when car is hot and idling, exhaust gas flow/pressure would be lower and less likely to interupt flow Radiator - if radiator was fully blocked I'd expect there to be no flow and cold but struggle to see how it would fail so quickly Thermostat - everywhere I read online people say thermostats fail open, i.e. car runs cold rather than hot. However the thermostat failing closed is the only thing i can think of that could be leading to no flow through radiator Conclusion: Replacing the thermostat is relatively inexpensive, I've had quotes for around £100 + VAT.
• New driver - new driver paranoia 20 Apr 2023 (Forum)
    I feel like this could easily happen with alot of people out there.  That said, I don't speed, infact I'm very careful with this and I will never run a red light or drive recklessly, obviously but the thought or slipping up and being caught is causing this tension.  It is a disruptive feeling because my driving itself is fine, I'm feeling very confident in my actual ability and skill and I do believe I drive well, it's just worrying about the odd mistake here or there and I guess being at the wrong time and wrong place.