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• BMW 7 series? 12 Mar 2001 (Forum)
  However, when I return to the UK in six months or so I am tempted to treat myself to a BMW 7 series, as all the write up's I have read state what an amazing car it is and what great value they are second hand, except that is for the running costs which sound potentially horendous. I have a budget of around £12,000 - 15,000, which means that I would be looking at a car about five years old and also possiibly with high milage. Has anyone any experience of running a new shape BMW 7 series at this age and with plus 100,000 miles?
• Post-Apocalyptic Car Usage 11 Jul 2025 (Forum)
    Maybe the Scots could keep their cars running on whisky?  but what about the rest of us?  
• 2015 Astra 1.4 turbo - Replace engine or sc*** 28 Apr 2024 (Forum)
  He is currently using a (genuine) 40,000 mile Ford Ka which his brother was planning to sell, valued at £ 2500 - 3000,                 if I were him I'd buy the Ka and sell the non-running Astra.  ( He commutes 40 miles each way so the Ka would have lower running costs).      I would appreciate opinions as to which option is likely to be best.                                                                        
• Volvo C30 - Covered after warranty runs out? 6 Mar 2022 (Forum)
  Morning all, I picked up a Volvo C30 3 weeks ago with a 2 month warranty with it. It's been absolutely fine other than a 'grinding' sound from the...
• Is 55 stil the optimum speed..? 31 Mar 2021 (Forum)
  I’m sure some of you remember that driving at a constant 55mph was considered optimum efficiency, is this still the case with modern, fuel injected engines ( I’m talking about petrol cars) , or is there some new more efficient speed, or with computers in cars does this no longer apply, I also remember looking at the tailpipe after a longish run to see if it was a creamy brown colour indicating that the engine was running effectively, as I owned several BL cars, I couldn’t do this as they all seemed to burn a bit of oil, the only one I remember seeing this on was an alfasud I once had, other than that, I can’t remember another car I had that did it...
• Vauxhall Zafira Tourer 1.6cdti - Stop-Start batteries 1 Mar 2021 (Forum)
    I know the stop start works, but never really use the Stop-Start and actively switch it off before it kicks in.  I also note that once the car is running optimum after a long run the Start-Stop doesn't kick in anyway!  Should I stay clear of a Start-Stop battery if it needs replacing?
• Volvo V50 Diesel (2009) - Volvo Cold Weather Power Loss 2 Dec 2020 (Forum)
  The car has recently had a new map censor, a new intake temperature censor, new boost control solenoid and the EGR cleaned. all to no avail. It is also showing P0299 turbo under boost in the diagnostic faults. I have also run through 2 bottles of Forte Turbo cleaner. After all this the car still has no power in cold weather. Please note that this problem is specific to cold weather as if the temperate is above 3 degrees the car runs perfectly.
• Volvo V40 - Volvo V40 (2004) starting problem 9 Oct 2020 (Forum)
  '04 V40; has sat in driveway for a few years now. Started regularly but eventually the battery began to run down so I would jump start it every 10 days or so and leave running for half an hour; not ideal, I know (but life got in the way) - and I couldn't bear to part with it for sentimental reasons! Started firing on 3 cylinders approx 3 months ago.
• Daytime Running Lights 5 Sep 2020 (Forum)
  I have just been followed by a new Peugeot 2008, and found the 8 strips of DRL in my rear view mirror absolutely ridiculous, talk about distracting..it...
• Citroen relay - Citroen relay 2.2hdi nightmare with cutting out 7 Mar 2020 (Forum)
  Hi guys looking for a bit of help with my citroen relay 2.2hdi 2007 van it seems to cut out when doing city driving but will fire up straight away . Before it cuts out it will judder as if it's running out of fuel then when the speed/revs go low enough it just cuts out . Seems fine on the motorway , but when you come off the motorway it could do it in 1 mile or 10 mile . When it's not doing it the vans runs sweet .
• Operation of Electronic Handbrake Question 15 Feb 2020 (Forum)
  My walk to the local library this afternoon took me past the Primary school. About 3/4 of an hour before kicking out time so plenty of cars parked up, engines running, parent/grandparent on smartphone. Moan over. One car was a 19reg Mercedes A Class. Engine running, DLRs on, reversing lights on, image on reversing camera. Thought maybe only just parked up - although mum was on phone. 10 minutes later on my way back, the car was still there as previously described.
• Ford S-MAX - Dual Mass Flywheels - what causes them to go? 11 Jan 2020 (Forum)
  Purchased 6 months ago. Runs fine, very slight occasional miss around 2k rpm. Clutch went week before Christmas and DMF and Clutch replaced. Christmas even the car runs like a Tractor / Narrow boat chugging away with the car vibrating.
• Any - Do you drop your tyre pressures 14 Sep 2019 (Forum)
  Running tyres consistently below the vehicle & tyre manufacturer’s recommendation will only cause the tyres to wear more rapidly and possibly have an adverse effect on the road-holding.  
• Astra Twintop 1.9 - Astra 1.9 tdci engine fault 16 Jan 2019 (Forum)
  I let the throttle go but the engine speed went up to maximum, I pulled over and turned the ignition key to off but the engine kept running at maximum , still blowing out white smoke for about 5 mins. the coolant was blown out but there were no signs of oil in the water or vice versa. The car start with reluctance and seems to lack power as if it is only running on 3 cylinders.
• Zafira B 1.9CDTI - 1.9cdti Engine Oil increasing 10 Sep 2018 (Forum)
  I send to garage and drain 0.5 lit of engine oil, after that, the oil level is around MAX level. After 200KM running, check oil level again, the level is again at 1cm above MAX level. I have no idea what is happening to my car. The car is running smoothly without any abnormality like knocking sound, smoke and etc.
• bargain banger for many motorway miles 10 Oct 2017 (Forum)
  new job is going to result in about 20k miles pa -  I don't want to use my family car as its too expensive to run like that and not what we bought it for - so looking for: Something that does real world 45mpg plus costs about £1k only needs to last 2yrs - anything after that bonus or can go to the scrappy reliable cheap to insure and running costs don't care if petrol or diesel prefer mid size (focus, Leon, etc) but will settle for small (Fiesta, Ibiza) if that best option   Any thoughts besides that I'm looking for the impossible?
• Insurance/NCB query 28 Sep 2017 (Forum)
  Wonder if somebody can advise. 2 years ago I went from running my own car to a company car. For the sake of a couple of months I just let my own insurance run to its expiry (Dec 2015). I had 10 yrs NCB at that point. I have had no claims since (touch wood!!)
• Used car for family - £7-8k budget 5 Jan 2017 (Forum)
  Hi everyone, I had my Ford Focus written off this week and need to buy a car which is going to be used mostly for school runs with our two kids within London, and the occasional trip further afield (we probably average 9000 miles a year).   Finding something which is cheap to run is important and my wife is keen to get an suv so she has a better view of the road - she has been talking about a Nissan Qashquai.
• Honest John's Motoring Agony Column 19-11-2016 Part 1 18 Nov 2016 (Forum)
  My wife has a 24,000 miles, 2013 Audi A3 1.8 TFSI, and the 'Thermo-management' unit (thermostat to most people) has failed. - Just after the warranty expired. This gives an engine warning light. The car runs fine it just runs cooler than it should. Audi and my local specialist have diagnosed that the system needs to be replaced, Audi want £800.00 and the local specialist £550.00. A normal thermostat would not fail after 24,000 miles and if it did the cost would be minimal.
• Most battered car you've seen running 16 Nov 2016 (Forum)
  Just returned from a few weeks work in Tunisia, and you can imagine the state of the cars over there. One of note was an early mk3 Escort, bonnet held...