Hello,

I’m looking to buy my first car at 24 years old. And my dad’s old mechanic is selling a Vauxhall Corsa for just under £2,000. The mileage on this car is 106,000 and is a 2009 year old car, still has its MOT till next year.

There are a few issues with the car such as there is a quite a long scratch for not that noticeable, few marks to the pain here and there, the Vauxhall badge is a bit nipped at the front, passenger side sun visor missing mirror and the lights not working inside. Overall, the interior does need a deep clean too.

Is this car worth it? The price is cheap for what I’m looking around and all the problems looks quite fixable…

Please let me know your thoughts! I’d appreciate any help!

I have a 2019 Mazda CX-5 with the original battery.

Recently, I’ve noticed that it takes about three times longer to start the car in the morning, and I’ve been experiencing some mild shifting issues. The i-Stop function still works, but the battery voltage drops below 12 volts overnight.

Is this battery due for a replacement? I’m comfortable changing it myself, but is there a specific procedure I need to follow?

Thanks!

I’m going to need to make a serious upgrade soon from the old Fabia vrs! I’ve never had a “nice” car before.

I’m loving the look & sound of the 340i’s

What would your thoughts be to doing 1000 miles a month in a car like this? Does anybody do similar in one of these or similar car?

Interested in your options!

I was rear ended the other day. A car 2 in front of me slowed and was pulling into a layby opposite side.

A van went into the back of me. So hard knocked me into the car in front and then into the car in front of that. Could this be put down as my fault if I braked sharply. I don't believe I did.

The headlights won't turn off on my toyota yaris 2013. I've had the car for 8 months. No problems at all until the other day after work I noticed the headlights were still on when I got home. I thought I had just forgot to turn them off. When I went to turn them off, the lights were switched off but the headlights were still on.

The car is completely turned off. The light beam switch Is turned off yet the headlamps won't turn off. The only time they will go off is when the car is put into reverse. I tried parking the car in reverse to keep them off but as soon as I turn the key to turn off the car, the headlights come back on.

As of tonight the lights have started flickering on and off instead of staying on the whole time but most of the time they have been staying on fully.

I have had to disconnect the battery to stop the car from dying so I can still drive it to and from work. Any ideas what the issue could be? So far ive been told it could either be to do with the indicator stock needing a replacement or else to do with the relay. This close to Christmas it's hard to find someone to look at the car..

Test drove the car and all seems well, though when they wouldn't let me pay any money with a credit card I said I needed some time to assess my options. Hoping someone here can offer some advice if they have had experience (good or bad) with them. Thanks!

Hi there, I live in Glasgow, UK and have a very bad credit score. Two years ago I signed a HP for a 2011 BMW118d for £8k but the car value was £4k. I know it was a bad APR but I had no choice as I had no money and needed a car because of my family. Now I have paid half of it and can voluntary terminate the contract, but I am unsure what to do. I have managed to save £3k and could use to buy an used car and get rid of the previous one. In the other hand this is all the money I have saved now. I could save for another year but then would keep paying for the HP? Any advice is very appreciated! Thanks! Btw the car is a Diesel one and not ULEZ compliant and I can’t drive into any city centre arround here and it starting to show some mechanical issues on the suspension and brakes.

So, I am ashamed to say I never check the oil and coolant etc! I just follow service schedule. I’m doing 550 miles on Monday.

The manual says check the oil when engine is running temp and turned off. Never had a car not want oil read cold - have I got that right?

It mentions nothing about checking coolant or any other levels.

Also, I know where the coolant is but is do you have to open the radiator or is it a min/max in reservoir?

Anything else worth checking for a very long trip? It’s reasonably close to a service so just want to make sure nothing goes wrong.

Thank you!

Absolute bafoon when it comes to car stuff but wanting to learn as it all fascinates me. Starting with the small questions. I’ve seen some say 1.25, some 1.2 and even 1L!

Budget of £16,000. Looking at around 2020/2021 models with sub 25k mileage.

Currently own a seat ibiza and looking to upsize slightly but not significantly. Looking for a more refined experience and a bit more space for dog and (maybe) a baby soon, and good economy too.

- Have test driven the kamiq and liked it, but it's pretty bland and not much difference from my ibiza.

- Have test driven the cx30 2.0l skyactiv G, liked it a lot and liked the extra equipment it comes with (love the HUD) but concerns over visibility and rust in future (would likely own for around 5 years). Also the breaks and steering felt quite a bit heavier than my ibiza but maybe i'd just need to get used to it. Felt nice a quiet though.

- Not test driven a golf or leon but have sat in both as a passenger and expect them to be pretty similar except better refinement in golf but higher purchase price (but also better residual value).

Can any owners comment or advise pros/cons?

TIA

My VW Passat Estate b8 from 2016 was rear ended so it's in the body shop, as courtesy I have had a 2024 Hyundia Tuscon and a 2023 Audi A3 S Line, both are very modern but they seem so cold and plastic-y inside, my car feels much more welcoming and just a nicer place to be overall. I was worried that getting nice, new cars while my car is in would ruin the experience of my car but now I'm feeling the exact opposite. Is this just me preferring my own car or is there something to this?

I drive approx 80-90 miles a day. 5 days a week. With 80% of it being motorway driving. For a petrol car with automatic transmission, how frequently should I be checking the tire pressure, tread depth, oil, coolant etc?

Hi, I need a new car to drive 20miles a day on A road to work and a bi weekly 150 mile motorway drive.

I had a Volvo V40 which was getting around 65mpg going to work and around 80-90 mpg on motorway. Which was amazing on fuel.

It doesn’t need to be ULEZ compliant and isn’t afraid of poor road surfaces. Can be petrol or diesel. Not ridiculous repair costs

As per title. I had a focus with a 1.6 many years ago, not a bad car. However kids are getting bigger and without all the baby stuff, I can probably downsize a bit. I like the idea of a small hot hatch again, so the 1.5 ST fiesta seems good. From what I understand very tunable making birth of 250bhp with bolt ones and a map.

This brings us to reliability. The old unit seemed to have a wet belt and would clog the sump and blow up. Then it had issues with overheating as coolant bottles were cracking and leaking. Are the 1.5 units better?

So I have a car that I barely use and I am still thinking what to do about it when time works better for a change (trade in for an other car, Webuyanycar etc…), the point is to avoid costs meantime, I have it in my garage and I’m happy to not use it at all for the next 5-6 months however now in a January it’s time to renew my insurance, what options do it have? Can I pause the insurance or go with some cheap approach given I won’t move the car?, if not can I get insurance for a month or similar? In terms of MOT is up to date and road tax paid monthly.

In terms of why not just to sale or trade right now is because at the moment I’m between jobs so I rather to know how all will workout that way, from income to how much I might drive + the current car is a roadster so would sell better with better weather.

Thanks!

I’m looking for a car with the following criteria:

•0-60 in 6 seconds or under •At least 40 mpg (45 - 55 or higher desirable)

Thus far I’ve discovered the following examples:

BMW 640d: 5.3s, 55 combined Audi A6 BiTdi: 5.1s, 44 combined Audi A5 3.0 Tdi: 5.7s, 40 combined Jaguar XF 3.0d: 5.7s, 49 combined

However, recently I’ve come to discover insurance seems to have gone crazy since last year and I’m being quoted 3-4K on my 2.5 year of driving (last year was quoted 1.5K roughly)

Any ideas for cars with similar stats but lower insurance bracket? Seeing as all my examples are 3 litres, perhaps a tuned up 2 litre?? Any advice helpful, thanks.

It’s all gone wrong, you live in the UK, you and your family are on your own, you now have a choice of picking up any car in people’s drive way.

What models / car generations would be the sweet spot in terms of fuel accessibility, technology and reliability?

Do you select an older car with less electronics to go wrong in the long term? Is it going to be a diesel, given you may produce your own fuel? Are electric cars even worth considering?

Anyone got experience of both? I've heard people advocating estates but the thought of parking or turning tight multistory carpark turns in such a long vehicle makes me nervous, not many I've looked at seem to have cameras. Suv seems nice boot space, height nice to not injure my back when lifting kids in. not sure if not space is enough though.
Assuming hatchback eg focus is simply too small for 2 toddlers.

So I have had a minor accident with damage to the wing panel and wing mirror but my Ford fiesta still works fine. Myself and the other party amicably exchanged details and made our respective claims, mine being to aviva zero. The next step I believe will be for aviva zero to give me a garage to bring the car to, and for me to get a courtesy car. The Calum’s system is online and they only have emergency numbers. How long will this take roughly before I hear back from them?

my '07 fiesta is dead so its time to upgrade. my girlfriend is also learning to drive so she'll be sharing this car too once she passes. We've been looking at the citroen DS3 2014 as its reasonably priced and we think it looks good. I remember many years ago hearing it was a really girly car, is this a common viewpoint? I think its hardly a fiat 500 and even that isnt girly tbh, why is any car gendered D:

i also dont really want to get a fiesta or corsa or something like that

Hi guys.

I just passed by practical test a month ago. I have been driving a manual back home for 10+ years.

I got an offer for a 2014 Nissan Juke for £2500. Automatic.

I just want to know if getting a 10 yr old car is advisable for a first car as its going to be my first car here in the UK and have no clue how to check if its a good car or not. Back home, I had my dad check this. What do I need to check for MOT history and other stuff?

I have also another option to lease a car which will be under salary sacrifice.

Please be nice!

Does anyone else get anxious for 2-3 weeks post a long drive waiting for the NIP to come through the post?

I’ve recently moved from London to Scotland for work and do the drive once a month roughly. I must pass 50-100 different cameras on the way up and even though I’m religiously following the speed limit I can’t help but think it’s the law of averages I’m going to get done by one of them. Especially with the M6 where the speed limit is constantly changing on the gantry with the variable bollocks.

I live in Aberdeen and once I’m up here the anxiety goes because there are pretty much no cameras around.

currently living around epsom

my first cars insurance starts on boxing day and ill have a whole week of doing nothing but driving (rest of family going on holiday)

100% want to go box hill and do the zig zag lane hill climb, any other suggestions?

i also got a black box, so ideally twisty roads where i wont get flagged for "hard cornering"

My car is a bit over 12 years old, a 2012 fiat 500, purchased in 2019 for £3k.

Has had a lot of repairs in the last couple of years, totalling £2200 - about £350 of that is external causes (wing mirror and windscreen) otherwise all just faults with the car. Lots of brakes, suspension issues, a very expensive clutch repair and more.

Handbrake broke on Thursday, probably not an expensive repair in itself, but considering it also broke two years ago and was replaced, I fear it is part of a bigger problem. Car also is due a new cambelt. I rely on the car to get to work but lately it is not very reliable.

Purchase cost of another used car though would be very high (my requirements would be small car, but at least 1.2 engine, and new enough that it'll last a significant amount of time) and I guess spending £1k/y is cheaper than that but... How do you know when to give up on a car?

Hi

Recently bought a garmin mini dashcam and the suggested method of installing that on my Mercedes 2019 E class is to use the cigarette port in the front.

However I think works but doesn’t look very nice and I was thinking if I can in some way hardwire the garmin cables directly to the fuse box next to the passenger seats.

Also saw that Halfords does one of these cables to I guess do exactly this.

https://www.halfords.com/technology/dash-cam-accessories/garmin-parking-mode-cable-563582.html

However I am not sure which fuse to install this and is it even worth DIY’ing or simply get someone ( don’t know who? ) to have it installed.

Main reason is purely the aesthetic as the cigarette port is hidden underneath another push to open box and using that would mean that box remains open all the time and that kind of looks way too hacks to me.

Any suggestions?

Any one has done something like this before?

So I have had a minor accident with damage to the wing panel and wing mirror but my Ford fiesta still works fine. Myself and the other party amicably exchanged details and made our respective claims, mine being to aviva zero. The next step I believe will be for aviva zero to give me a garage to bring the car to, and for me to get a courtesy car. The claims system is online and they only have emergency numbers. How long will this take roughly before I hear back from them?

Mainly I am concerned about sorting out how to get back home for Xmas. Complicating matters further, I live in Leeds and am returning to London where I will stay until around the 2nd of January.