Any advice on cars?
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Any advice on cars?
Thought I would consult the oracle as whatever the topic there are always some on here whose topic it seems to be!
Planning to swap the car soon.
Looking at 5 door, automatic, 4wd, but without going into the Chelsea tractor range.
Any recommendations on what is good, bad, reliable, etc would gratefully received.
Planning to swap the car soon.
Looking at 5 door, automatic, 4wd, but without going into the Chelsea tractor range.
Any recommendations on what is good, bad, reliable, etc would gratefully received.
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Re: Any advice on cars?
Just take the shuttlecraftCaptainKirk wrote: ↑Mon Aug 18, 2025 9:26 pmThought I would consult the oracle as whatever the topic there are always some on here whose topic it seems to be!
Planning to swap the car soon.
Looking at 5 door, automatic, 4wd, but without going into the Chelsea tractor range.
Any recommendations on what is good, bad, reliable, etc would gratefully received.
Re: Any advice on cars?
Or the "transporter" maybe, Scottie will beam him where ever in Transporter range.
This user liked this post: Wokingclaret
Re: Any advice on cars?
Avoid Jags & Landrovers with "ingenium" 4 cylinder engines ... I've got a friend who works on them and thats why I got rid of my Jag E-Pace and went back to Citroen ...CaptainKirk wrote: ↑Mon Aug 18, 2025 9:26 pmThought I would consult the oracle as whatever the topic there are always some on here whose topic it seems to be!
Planning to swap the car soon.
Looking at 5 door, automatic, 4wd, but without going into the Chelsea tractor range.
Any recommendations on what is good, bad, reliable, etc would gratefully received.
Re: Any advice on cars?
Get a Claret or a blue one, or better still, a Claret and Blue one.
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Re: Any advice on cars?
Ive had a lot of cars in my job role, my favourite has been the BMW 4 series or Volkswagen Passat estates. Big cars, comfortable and no issues, had a couple of both and would probably go VW given a choice due to the space.
Re: Any advice on cars?
Uber - cheaper than driving
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Re: Any advice on cars?
You could buy the cheap as chips MG Electric 4 x 4 ,you can buy a 2021 for about £10,000 ,we’ve aMerc GLE 2017 that’s done 40,000 miles paid £27,000 for it in 2020 but if you bought one now it would still cost you over £22,000 ,Audi Q3’s registered 2020 are still fetching around £20k ,sod the car and use taxis ,they’re cheaper in the long run.CaptainKirk wrote: ↑Mon Aug 18, 2025 9:26 pmThought I would consult the oracle as whatever the topic there are always some on here whose topic it seems to be!
Planning to swap the car soon.
Looking at 5 door, automatic, 4wd, but without going into the Chelsea tractor range.
Any recommendations on what is good, bad, reliable, etc would gratefully received.
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Re: Any advice on cars?
Agree about the VW, never owned a BMW. Had a VW Passatt for 3 years , did 120,000 miles as a company lease car. Then had the choice of any other car and had another Passatt. Over 6 years just under a quarter of a million miles -the only thing that went wrong was the water pump which got sorted the same dayBurnley1989 wrote: ↑Mon Aug 18, 2025 9:45 pmIve had a lot of cars in my job role, my favourite has been the BMW 4 series or Volkswagen Passat estates. Big cars, comfortable and no issues, had a couple of both and would probably go VW given a choice due to the space.
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Re: Any advice on cars?
Don't worrry over 52's will soon be off the road so you'll be on the bus
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Re: Any advice on cars?
If I still had my Reliant 21E Van, I'd let you have it dead cheap.
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Re: Any advice on cars?
It's quite possibly one of the worst engines ever built
Biggest issue is it doesn't have an oil level sensor ....people don't bother checking their oil regularly and the engine craps itself
The Ford wet belt engine gives it a good run for its money though and probably just sneaks over the line as the worst engine ever
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Re: Any advice on cars?
Avoid the 1.0ltr Ford engines, they're utter toss, don't let anyone tell you any different either
Avoid the jlr ingenium, equally as toss
Unless you're regularly doing long journeys, don't bother getting a diesel as the exhaust dpf will just clog up
Go have a look round a car supermarket style place, have a sit in a few and see what feels best for you
Worth looking at the Kia range, Hyundai etc, they're generally reliable these days
Avoid the jlr ingenium, equally as toss
Unless you're regularly doing long journeys, don't bother getting a diesel as the exhaust dpf will just clog up
Go have a look round a car supermarket style place, have a sit in a few and see what feels best for you
Worth looking at the Kia range, Hyundai etc, they're generally reliable these days
Re: Any advice on cars?
The 4wd Cupra range are very good for the money
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Re: Any advice on cars?
Skoda Kodiaq 4x4 without a doubt.
Re: Any advice on cars?
I bought a Renault megane for 4K with a full years MOT. Got through its next MOT without a single issue. Due it’s next MOT in couple of months. If it gets through that that’s 3 years for 4K.
I tw*tted into a bollard at work yesterday whilst distracted by a wasp. Scratched the bumper. Not ar5ed
I tw*tted into a bollard at work yesterday whilst distracted by a wasp. Scratched the bumper. Not ar5ed

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Re: Any advice on cars?
Who’s gonna drive you home tonight was a good but slightly overrated single.
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Re: Any advice on cars?
Hilman Hunter 1500 in the late 70s , could do all the servicing myself (never touched the brakes or steering as if you make a mistake may not be good) went from 0 to 60 within the hr and would cruise at 80 down hill and could fill the tank on less than a £5.
Currently have a Vauxhall grand land 1.2 turbo 6 yrs old mot yesterday cleared with no notifications good around town and easily reaches 70 on the motorway with loads left average 40 miles per gallon all driving very rarely go on a long run but sits 5 adults and nice boot .
Have had BMW s and must say never had one more than 3 yrs old but every time got in them was like a new car
Currently have a Vauxhall grand land 1.2 turbo 6 yrs old mot yesterday cleared with no notifications good around town and easily reaches 70 on the motorway with loads left average 40 miles per gallon all driving very rarely go on a long run but sits 5 adults and nice boot .
Have had BMW s and must say never had one more than 3 yrs old but every time got in them was like a new car
Re: Any advice on cars?
Happy with my Volvo XC60.
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Re: Any advice on cars?
Not their best song.CharlieinNewMexico wrote: ↑Tue Aug 19, 2025 8:34 amWho’s gonna drive you home tonight was a good but slightly overrated single.
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Re: Any advice on cars?
Agreed!
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Re: Any advice on cars?
I wanted something similar to what you're looking for. 4WD, auto, 5 doors and not a big SUV. I settled on a VW Arteon Shooting brake. Very sleek design and very spacious inside. The 4WD system from VAG has been around for ages so is tried and tested. I did find an "R" which has a 2.0 litre 320 BHP engine which might not suit everyone in terms of fuel economy, road tax or insurance but it's great to drive. So far so good.
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Re: Any advice on cars?
Sid, what are your thoughts on the more recent BEV offerings? I'm looking to finally park the Diesel Civic in the car park in the sky and I have done so much analysis on the most cost effective way for me to get a new(er) car and for my requirements a new BEV on a lease is looking really tempting. Models I've looked at are Cupra Born VZ (fast and comfortable, but the regen braking would take a lot of getting used to); Renault Scenic E-Tech (current favourite for selection, cant fault the drive or comfort, only sticking point is the warranty and being a Renault that's a concern); Skoda Elroq (nice motor, but more expensive than the others). None of these offer enough range for the 400 mile round trip to Burnley on a match day, but then show me a BEV that can (I know the Mercedes CLA is quoted at 484 miles, but that's out of my price range unfortunately!)GodIsADeeJay81 wrote: ↑Mon Aug 18, 2025 11:03 pmIt's quite possibly one of the worst engines ever built
Biggest issue is it doesn't have an oil level sensor ....people don't bother checking their oil regularly and the engine craps itself
The Ford wet belt engine gives it a good run for its money though and probably just sneaks over the line as the worst engine ever
Ideally some feedback on warranty issues etc from someone in the trade would be useful - is there anywhere that we can find stats on warranty issues for cars?
thanks mate

Re: Any advice on cars?
the regen braking would take a lot of getting used
My car has pretty robust regen (you can run in D or B modes - the latter being closer to one pedal driving).
Re 400 mile range - it's becoming less of an issue every day, as the quality/reliability/availability of high-speed chargers is improving rapidly.
Having switched back to EV this year after 3 years in a diesel, I've been really impressed with how easy/quick it is now to get some juice and get back on the road.
My car has pretty robust regen (you can run in D or B modes - the latter being closer to one pedal driving).
Re 400 mile range - it's becoming less of an issue every day, as the quality/reliability/availability of high-speed chargers is improving rapidly.
Having switched back to EV this year after 3 years in a diesel, I've been really impressed with how easy/quick it is now to get some juice and get back on the road.
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Re: Any advice on cars?
Just sold my L551 D180 Evoque First Edition that I’ve owned from new.GodIsADeeJay81 wrote: ↑Mon Aug 18, 2025 11:03 pmIt's quite possibly one of the worst engines ever built
Biggest issue is it doesn't have an oil level sensor ....people don't bother checking their oil regularly and the engine craps itself
The Ford wet belt engine gives it a good run for its money though and probably just sneaks over the line as the worst engine ever
It had the balance shafts replaced under warranty and other than needing a particulate matter sensor out of warranty gave me 76,000 miles of trouble free motoring.
I still got rid of it because they’re known for being a ticking time bomb.
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Re: Any advice on cars?
My A6 Avant quattro has all the room you would ever need but as I get older I'm definitely struggling to climb in and out of it.
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Re: Any advice on cars?
He said he doesn't want to go to Chelsea.
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Re: Any advice on cars?
They aren't, more estate like.
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Re: Any advice on cars?
indeed, the Cupra regen braking was significantly different to the braking on the other BEVs I've tried and I dont think it was adjustable either. For example, on approach to a roundabout in Milton Keynes (where 70mph is normal around the city) when you brake as if it was an ICE car with normal brakes, you get what feels like nothing slowing you down until the mechanical brakes also kick in. It is a little unnerving and I was told by the sales chap that you quickly get used to it. I'm not so sure myself, but over time perhaps - doesn't feel safe though especially when the car can go as quick as it does. Whereas on the Scenic, there were 4 different levels (I believe) and it felt "safe" if that makes sense.Leon_C wrote: ↑Tue Aug 19, 2025 9:02 amthe regen braking would take a lot of getting used
My car has pretty robust regen (you can run in D or B modes - the latter being closer to one pedal driving).
Re 400 mile range - it's becoming less of an issue every day, as the quality/reliability/availability of high-speed chargers is improving rapidly.
Having switched back to EV this year after 3 years in a diesel, I've been really impressed with how easy/quick it is now to get some juice and get back on the road.
Re: Any advice on cars?
Get a motorcycle instead. Far cheaper to run and far more exhilarating. No passengers to annoy you and no stereo needed. Just the sound of the engine and head for the twistys.
This user liked this post: Bosscat
Re: Any advice on cars?
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Re: Any advice on cars?
Bring back SAAB’s.


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