What's made you not grumpy but not smile either today?

[StevenRB45]

It is HPI'd yes, used the dealer before for my dad's Yaris.

That had an MOT advisory for front brake discs and a worn suspension bush it turned up with new brake discs and repaired front suspension.

This car has had an advisory on the MOT for
the suspension nearside front having a worn bush last 2 years + the tyre wearing on the edge same corner on this years so clearly it's a little bit on the skew. But repair the bush track it up...new tyres on be reet. Only MOT fail it's ever had was 1 headlight being too far right a few years ago. Which is an odd one so gonna check the front very carefully for signs of a crash.

Not seen the service history etc yet, a run down was posted with the Ad and matched up with the MOT history will give it a read once I get there.

 

[StevenRB45]

Breaking news...they've just re-mot'd it today.

Appears I'm expecting four new brake discs, new front tyres, repaired suspension if they do what they say they are going to do (supply the car with a clean MOT with no advisory items).

More to the point all of this should be verifiable by eye.

 

[bugsymike]

It is HPI'd yes, used the dealer before for my dad's Yaris.

That had an MOT advisory for front brake discs and a worn suspension bush it turned up with new brake discs and repaired front suspension.

This car has had an advisory on the MOT for
the suspension nearside front having a worn bush last 2 years + the tyre wearing on the edge same corner on this years so clearly it's a little bit on the skew. But repair the bush track it up...new tyres on be reet. Only MOT fail it's ever had was 1 headlight being too far right a few years ago. Which is an odd one so gonna check the front very carefully for signs of a crash.

Not seen the service history etc yet, a run down was posted with the Ad and matched up with the MOT history will give it a read once I get there.

You have just reminded me, at friend's last Toyota Mot the advisories were dust covers split on anti roll bar link and a bottom sus. joint.
Of course they priced it as new complete bottom arm and links, then found they didn't have any in the Country!
The price quoted for the job bearing in mind they were only "deteriorating dust covers " was way in excess of the two dust covers I would have replaced locally if not retired and would have been done the same day as Mot.
Probably why I didn't have a massive business empire, but good loyal customers for over 40 odd years

 

[StevenRB45]

You have just reminded me, at friend's last Toyota Mot the advisories were dust covers split on anti roll bar link and a bottom sus. joint.
Of course they priced it as new complete bottom arm and links, then found they didn't have any in the Country!
The price quoted for the job bearing in mind they were only "deteriorating dust covers " was way in excess of the two dust covers I would have replaced locally if not retired and would have been done the same day as Mot.
Probably why I didn't have a massive business empire, but good loyal customers for over 40 odd years

Well I've had a call from the garage... strangely enough they've said it went in for an MOT they found multiple advisory items so when I see it tomorrow it should have sorted front suspension, they've replaced all 4 discs and rear pads and the front tyres.

So if I don't buy it someone else is getting a pretty nicely sorted car...

 

[bugsymike]

Well I've had a call from the garage... strangely enough they've said it went in for an MOT they found multiple advisory items so when I see it tomorrow it should have sorted front suspension, they've replaced all 4 discs and rear pads and the front tyres.

So if I don't buy it someone else is getting a pretty nicely sorted car...

A short while ago I advised one of my daughters to sell her VW Tiguan as the rear 4x4 subframe was getting quite rusty and was mentioned on previous MOT advisory.
She sold the car to a trader with around 6 months MOT still left, very shortly after she was surprised to see it advertised at double the price she got (no surprise there as a trader) however when we checked the MOT online it showed a fail for things that were not actually faulty, no mention of the rusty subframe and then a retest for the cheap "faulty" parts and a clean pass.
One thing you can be sure of, the rear subframe was never replaced as it would have been a major expensive job.

 

[StevenRB45]

A short while ago I advised one of my daughters to sell her VW Tiguan as the rear 4x4 subframe was getting quite rusty and was mentioned on previous MOT advisory.
She sold the car to a trader with around 6 months MOT still left, very shortly after she was surprised to see it advertised at double the price she got (no surprise there as a trader) however when we checked the MOT online it showed a fail for things that were not actually faulty, no mention of the rusty subframe and then a retest for the cheap "faulty" parts and a clean pass.
One thing you can be sure of, the rear subframe was never replaced as it would have been a major expensive job.

Sometimes though it is MOT testers opinion.

My Mazda would regularly get corrosion advisories in its later years at my local garage... but it's still on the road and the last 3 mots have no mention of the dreaded rot.

We'll see when we get there I'll barely have to bend down to check the brakes and tyres so you expect it'll be as described.

Also if you were paying them for a clean ticket you'd not be getting your money's worth with that one

 

[bugsymike]

I agree re opinion of tester, I used to be one many years ago, but I suspect they were treading a bit near the mark shall we say.

 

[StevenRB45]

I agree re opinion of tester, I used to be one many years ago, but I suspect they were treading a bit near the mark shall we say.

I suppose the question is, is it still on the road and has it ever failed an MOT for that rear sub frame?

Obviously if it's less than a year ago...then doesn't prove much.

 

[vexorg]

There are a few new Toyotas or Hondas that will be a bit less dull, and fit all my requirements

 

[Pugglt Auld Jock]

There are a few new Toyotas or Hondas that will be a bit less dull, and fit all my requirements

View attachment 452881

The Toyota particularly attracts me. The Honda, unfortunately - because I'm generally impressed by Honda for everyday cars - looks like a less interesting Porsche copy?

 

[PuntoHowTo]

The Honda is a hybrid with no option for a manual gear box. In terms of “dull” it looks like they got teslas designers to draw the exterior they’ve basically designed a 2 door Prius

The celica won’t look like that for one very good reason…. That’s the Toyota supra with some photo shopping done, the Toyota supra already exists and is available now, but then again so is the BMW it’s built on.


After a little over 9 years I have just clocked over the 100k miles on the golf.

It’s been extremely reliable over that time, am really happy with it but have to accept at some point I might have to start looking for a replacement… the biggest down side to this is I’m never going to get another diesel convertible ever again as they just don’t make them any more.

no one makes any proper ev cabriolets, so I am stuck looking at a limited range of petrol cars of which I am not a fan….

Perhaps I’ll just look at an L405 Range Rover?

 

[Pugglt Auld Jock]

The Honda is a hybrid with no option for a manual gear box. In terms of “dull” it looks like they got teslas designers to draw the exterior they’ve basically designed a 2 door Prius

The celica won’t look like that for one very good reason…. That’s the Toyota supra with some photo shopping done, the Toyota supra already exists and is available now, but then again so is the BMW it’s built on.


After a little over 9 years I have just clocked over the 100k miles on the golf.

It’s been extremely reliable over that time, am really happy with it but have to accept at some point I might have to start looking for a replacement… the biggest down side to this is I’m never going to get another diesel convertible ever again as they just don’t make them any more.

no one makes any proper ev cabriolets, so I am stuck looking at a limited range of petrol cars of which I am not a fan….

Perhaps I’ll just look at an L405 Range Rover?

Hi Andy. So your golf was a diesel? did it have the 1.9 or was it the 1.6? If the 1.9 I can understand your enthusiasm. However, a Range Rover as your daily driver? I'm a big fan of the older Series Landy but wouldn't so recommend one for daily use, but a Range Rover? You'd need lots of patience and deep pockets I fear?

 

[vexorg]

we can live in hope that cars will get better again, the golf has become one of the blandest boxes the road, cars need character, and electric cars don't have that either.

 

[PuntoHowTo]

Hi Andy. So your golf was a diesel? did it have the 1.9 or was it the 1.6? If the 1.9 I can understand your enthusiasm. However, a Range Rover as your daily driver? I'm a big fan of the older Series Landy but wouldn't so recommend one for daily use, but a Range Rover? You'd need lots of patience and deep pockets I fear?

2.0 TDI bluemotion tech I forget the exact engine code.

Not the old PDI though that was a good engine.

I like the look of the L405, though I agree they are not renowned for their reliability or being cost effective, on the plus side they are stolen so often if it did break down it would probably get stolen before I’d noticed. Joking aside I just have a hankering for a diesel V8

the golf has become one of the blandest boxes the road

Which is why I wouldn’t buy one if it had a roof. Well maybe mk7.5 3dr Golf R or a mk7 estate R

New cars seem to be stripping any detail or features from the exterior.

 

[Pugglt Auld Jock]

New cars seem to be stripping any detail or features from the exterior.

Running an "anonymous" looking car as your everyday driver has many advantages. I doubt if anyone looks twice at my Scala? Nice to have something unusual or "special" as a toy though.

 

[porta]

The Toyota particularly attracts me. The Honda, unfortunately - because I'm generally impressed by Honda for everyday cars - looks like a less interesting Porsche copy?

That’s weird as I was going to say the Toyota looked like a Porsche

 

[Pugglt Auld Jock]

On the not grumpy but not smile either front, The Scala was in for it's first service Wednesday just passed. Bring it in for 1.30 and you'll have it back by 3.30 I was told. I just waited for it and they were as good as their word. The "service" consists of an oil and filter change and general look over. I was told they remove the wheels and check brakes etc but honestly I can't imagine why you'd need to as it's all easily visible with the wheels fitted. I might just be a "jobs worth" and see if I can see any witness marks on the plastic wheel nut covers - but why would you Jock? I ask myself. The experience was very pleasant with hospitality - quite nice coffee actually - and comfy seats to sit on. I took a wander around this large multifranchised dealership and didn't see anything I'd prefer more than my Scala. Whole section devoted to BYD but they didn't attract me and I notice this dealership has just bought out the Vauxhall dealership almost next door and stocked it with MG. I had a very interesting chat with a salesman but I won't repeat some of the contentious things we talked about. So, all in all, a pretty pleasant experience.

The grumpy bit is that one of their chaps sat in the car with me to try to stop the car's infotainment system greeting me with "Hello Arnold" everytime I switch the ignition on. I don't think he understood what to do with it any more than I do but I noticed on the way home that he seems to have reset the things I'd customized - like making all the doors unlock with just one blip of the key fob - to factory default. Which is annoying and means I'll have to try to find them and reset them to my preference again!

Edit. Wouldn't it be a good idea if the dealerships could offer a wee familiarization course for "old idiots" like me - and others I'm sure - who don't have the first idea what to do with an "Infotainment" setup.

 

[vexorg]

When we have the juke in for a service, I find the walk round videos that local garages now send a bit annoying

 

[PuntoHowTo]

Running an "anonymous" looking car as your everyday driver has many advantages. I doubt if anyone looks twice at my Scala? Nice to have something unusual or "special" as a toy though.

That’s partly why I went with the golf, I wanted something that people would not look twice at, something that blended in and didn’t scream for someone to run a key down the side of.

I just put my golf though a service with my VW specialist and I won’t say how much it was but let’s just say it wasn’t cheap. I dread to think what main dealer prices would be now.

 

[StevenRB45]

Speaking of dull cars...

Drives very nice, the sort of drive where after 40yds of acclimatisation you can drive it cos it's just a car there's nothing odd or weird about it. Sat nav is as terrible as expected, 1.2 turbo is good enough and managed 40mpg on a test drive that was largely 2 large hills.

I've not said I'll buy it for 2 reasons...first this..which is to be fair to it exactly like my Mazda looked after 8 years.

98% of the underside is covered in plastic so it's just the rear suspension and subframe in the salt spray. They have agreed to tidy it up and underseal.

Other is crimp for the drivers side jacking point has been bent over towards the outside of the car. So the wing no longer sits flush because it's bolted to the same crimp which has moved.

They are going to refer it to the bodyshop and see what can be done about that as I don't want a car with 3 jacking points. To my eye it could be bent back fairly easily.

Other wise bit of lacquer lift on the rear of the roof...again body shop who don't work Saturdays so I'll find out the score Monday.

My lad is furious as he loved it...and asked me why we still have the green car whole way home.