Not trying to compare a Crown Victoria to a Polo here. Like to like, there seem to be big differences:Originally Posted by Ben
French Civic: one engine option with 140 hp
US Civic: 160 hp, 180 hp, and 200 hp options
Don't get me wrong, I love small cars (own an Abarth [] myself), but even then the differences are there, just like the Miata example above
Is there a reason not to buy a diesel hybrid that I'm missing?
Does anyone other than Mercedes make one these days?
A fair few Hyundai Tucsons with them in around here for sale and I previously had a normal diesel Tucson I was happy with.
Petrol gang.
I'm a twit
I'd always personally buy a petrol because I like driving but work are only allowed pay for diesel so I'm stuck in tractors these days.
My mate has one and he really likes it.
I hope you appreciate that in-depth input.
Picked up a 70 plate 1.6 Petrol N Line Tucson today, pretty happy with it as being from a main dealer under three and a half years old they've given it a full 5 year warranty.
Is it worth getting Gap insurance?
Also is anyone claiming their past vehicle finance on the back of this Martin Lewis stuff?
Yes and yes.
Rule of thumb is always reject the paid add-ons apart from GAP. If you write it off three years down the line, you still get paid what you bought it for. No brainer. Although with the FCA investigation into the finance thing, most deals have been pulled at the moment, as it sounds like they've fleeced a shit load of commission on everything they can, so if this is ruled in the consumer's favour then it'll be massive payouts all round.
As alluded to by Lofty above, this is worth looking at by anyone who had PCP or HP car finance between 2007-2021. Just put your details in and it drafts a letter to send to the finance company. Takes a few minutes and when the FCA reports in September you might get a few grand back.
What car air freshener does everyone use?
Obviously I have a Pokéscents Charizard one but I’m open to add something else.
After consulting Reddit I’ve ordered one from Smul but didn’t realise delivery is 30 days so it’s probably gonna be some Chinese shite I could have got off Temu.
Are those aerosol ones long lasting? I’ve just ordered some Autosmart Blast Bubblegum spray with the intention to unload the full can and leave the aircon going (on ‘recycle’) for 10 mins to get it smelling fresh.
Probably should have asked before ordering two different kinds.
I'm a twit
Yankee jar Black Coconut.
Had my MOT and service done today, which highlighted I’ve only done 2998 miles in exactly 12 months.
Admittedly it’s ‘my car’ whereas the other is the ‘family car’ but that’s still ridiculously few.
I'm a twit
Fucking hell, I do that in about 3 weeks.
I used to too.
Definitely much prefer a cushy office job.
I'm a twit
Saw some old idiot on a trike type thing weaving around in traffic today. I could tell he was old because I could see his stupid bald head and grey side bits as he wasn't wearing a helmet. Is that a thing? Death's winged chariot drawing near.
Motorized? Like one of these?
Nah, what I would call a normal wheel configuration, like this:
Ah yes. Lots of those around here for the Harley badboys who are too old/weak to handle a Harley.
Just been very lightly roasted by my mechanic for letting the car run nearly dry on oil. I've literally never checked the oil on this car in the 4 years we've had it, and I assume the mechanic always fills it up at our pre-MOT service. I suppose we possibly drove it a bit further last year. It went through the MOT in May last year.
Anyway, my question is: how often should I be checking the oil? Car is a 2009 Vauxhall Meriva so I don't think there are any system indicators for it.
Is there not an oil warning light that comes on?
Right enough there is a little oil lamp light on the dashboard, but it's never been on.
Probably just a mechanic being a twat then. They are some of the world's most arrogant people.
If you're a car nut then you check the oil regularly; if you're not then you have some of the right oil spare and apply it when the light comes on. Car nuts will abuse me rotten for this post. Screw them.
Maybe the warning light or the sensor that detects the oil being low is broken.
I'd still check mine once a month out of habit from when I owned my own.
That was my assumption but he didn’t think it had got that low yet but warned me I couldn’t rely on the light as it was too late if that came on, which makes absolutely no sense as a feature. Another one of his mechanics came in while I was paying and had a go at me for it too. I just gave it the old Partridge shrug and moved on with my life. Forgotten about it already in fact.
Mechanics are very much the IT technicians of the blue-collar world. They think that having a modicum of knowledge about one topic that affects most people's lives gives them a free pass to sneer ceaselessly at the stupid laymen. Absolutely never accept when they're wrong either, even when the evidence is laid out in front of them.
Change oil once a year and be done with it.
Was told my service would be £309 but turns out I had one service left on the service plan so feels like I’ve had a small windfall.Includes wash and vac as well, hope it’s as shiny as last time.
I'm a twit
Been an expensive month for me with cars. Both MOTs and one service paid for (plus the free one above) done already and then today I tootled past a mobile camera at 28mph and felt proud to have spotted it, to get home and find a letter saying LAST REMINDER TO TAX YOUR CAR and it expired on 1st March. Paid it straight away but is that van gonna have scanned me and got me a nice fine lined up?
I'm a twit
I don't think so. As far as I know they still use the lasers to ping your car so if you don't clock a speed they not happy with, they won't bother logging the plate.
Having done more miles than [insert intended target username here]'s mum without insurance or tax across a variety of roads and motorways, I can confirm the authorities do not give anywhere near the sort of fuck that the technology should enable them to enforce. I was going through all manner of cameras around Heathrow as well as mobile van cameras parked up on motorways.
I've been done twice for a lack of MOT (I forgot and didn't have a reminded set).
The first time I was doing 90 on the motorway and the Police pulled me over, he let me off for speeding but said he couldn't for the MOT as it flagged automatically when my reg was put into the computer.
Second time, I was on the motorway again and got caught by Police doing random MOT/Insurance checks.
Although, when I was younger I went like 18 months with no insurance, MOT or tax because I didn't want to spend the money. Changed my tune when a taxi reversed into me in a car park, went home and instantly got it all sorted. Taxi driver's firm offered £20 cash if we didn't get insurance companies involved which I accepted immediately.
How embarrassing.
I can't imagine anything more pointless than owning a car like that in the United Kingdom. Just have a wank, it's a lot cheaper and achieves the same effect.
Take it to the track, at least.
Should be changed every single year. Only exception is high mileage, then more often. Crazy people don't know this.
Never checking the oil in 4 years?
I don't think I ever 'checked the oil' on my old C3 Picasso. Stuck a bottle of it into the top of the engine one time some light came on and the internet suggested that was a good idea. Seemed brilliantly low tech to me. Just literally poured it into what I would call the engine. Satisfied the warning light. Think it was serviced twice in about 10 years, and after the second time they told me, having changed the oil, that there was a leak 'in the sump' or some such but because they'd already put the new oil in it could wait until the next service, which never came. My uncle has it now and it still runs fine. Diesel beast. Apart from the electrics, but at least you could bodge them yourself and lol at the French whilst doing it. Ah, the MARRON cable.
+1 for never checking. That's what the Service is for.
The Fiesta is well adapted to run on no oil for 5-figure mileages. Girth like that and no lubrication. Mad.
Remind me never to buy a car from any of you.
Car is in for its MOT and service, it’s just passed its MOT, so fingers crossed on a cheap service.
Currently driving this around America's wang:
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Bit of a switch up from the Yaris city runabout. Handles like an ocean going liner. Woah Canyonero!
Top of the line in utility sports, unexplained fires are a matter for the courts
No problems at all!
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