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- Engineer Andy
Odd why the tyres on that gen-3 Mazda3 were 215/55 R16 and not 205/60 R16 as the spec says. Not much difference in price between those tyre sizes, though the 60 profile ones are between 5-10% cheaper, especially all-season tyres, probably because they appear to be becoming more popular as car manufacturers reduce the number of tyre specs in their ranges (to reduce the number of WLTP tests needed) and is a compromise between the 205/55 R16 and 195/55 R15 variants many of them used to use for their lower and mid-spec cars. Barely any difference otherwise.
- Furrybiker
Mirror Images.
If ever there was a solution in search of a problem, this is it. How expensive is it going to be when the camera is damaged in a car park, or when paased too close?
Honest John’s Motoring Agony Column 18-01-2020 Part 2 - glidermania
Mirror Images. If ever there was a solution in search of a problem, this is it. How expensive is it going to be when the camera is damaged in a car park, or when paased too close?

Yep, like all these completely digital instrument panels and touchscreen dashboard displays for radio, heating etc and doing away with physical switches and knobs now being fitted in many cars. When your all digital instrument panel stops working so you dont know what speed you're doing, have no warning lights or, the touch screen stops working so you cannot turn on the window demist, heating etc, I imagine it will be cheaper to scrap the car rather than fit a new display!

Honest John’s Motoring Agony Column 18-01-2020 Part 2 - Dorset123

I work in a bodyshop and had one of these Audi's in with these door mirrors what rubbish they are when the sun shines on the screen it was hard to see it and you have to look down to see the screens what idiot thought these were an improvement over a normal mirror. The best way to stop car companies fitting this to more cars is not to buy them in the first place.

- Arminius JP
Re Zoe Zoe? if the battery is leased, beware that second-hand dealers reportedly (I do not know for sure) shun such vehicles typically as they do not want to meet the monthly rental charges whilst awaiting a buyer with the consequence that only Renault dealers will bid for them and allegedly exploit their monopoly through quoting low prices to sellers.
Honest John’s Motoring Agony Column 18-01-2020 Part 2 - MoDo613

I think its more a case of many uninformed fossil fuel car dealers rightly shun EV's because they don't understand the first thing about them. However there is an ever growing specialist sector in EV's and you do have a few very large dealers that have employed people who understand EV's and have built a true EV friendly sub brand within the dealership group. It's certainly long passed the stage where values were affected by lack of knowledge - now prices are seemingly ever rising (just as much for 2nd hand as for new) or in some cases simply not falling - in great contrast to all other vehicles today.

Honest John’s Motoring Agony Column 18-01-2020 Part 2 - Captain-Cretin

I went wide on my Mitsubishi, the curvature of the tyre makes it slightly larger diameter/deeper profile than a standard width, so makes the speedo readings slightly more realistic.

In my case I also went for a deeper profile, having gone over all the calculations of how much it would alter the speedo readings.

My speedo now reads 74 when doing 70, and not the 82 it showed before.

I have checked it at all speed using a flat road and gps, and it still over reads slightly throughout the speed range, so all good (on brand new tyres)

Even better, every Mitsubishi dealer or specialist independent employee who has driven it comments on how much better the ride is than standard.

.

Just one reason you might fit wider tyres.

Honest John’s Motoring Agony Column 18-01-2020 Part 2 - Robar

As I understand it, it is necessary to inform your insurer of any modifications, including changes to the manufactures specified tyre sizes.

- Scot5

Q: If we buy a Skoda Karoq could this have the problems?

A: Skoda seems to be fitting DQ382 DSGs to all Karoqs rather than the weak DQ200.

How can such a vague question benefit from such an answer. Moreover, where does the DQ382 information come from?

The correct answer should have been the transmission depends on which engine you have fitted to the Karoq. The only Karoq currently on sale with the DQ200 is the 1.5tsi and 1.6tdi. If it's an older Karoq the questioner intends to buy then Skoda used to sell a 1.0tsi with the DQ200 which according to HJ himself, has little or no reports of any problem. So how can it be justified as being weak in that configuration?

I contacted Skoda UK to ask which gearbox was fitted to the 1.5tsi Karoq I purchased last month - the answer was DQ200.



- IrishNeil
Nursery tale

'She probably needs a 4/5 doors. She will require business use insurance cover. Alternatively, she wonders if she would do better to lease something like a new Fiesta.'

Similar to my role as Community Psychiatric Nurse in Derbyshire & I had a very good experience leasing 3 cars through this organisation:

nhsfleetsolutions.co.uk/

Your daughter can check with her own HR dept., to determine their prefered choice, if any, for an NHS lease car.
Her lease should cover everything, (I mean everything including wiper blades and regular tyes!) except her own personal fuel.

Be wary of Benefit In Kind tax contributon but all is explained on application and the after care service is 2nd to none.

On rare occasions I had phoned the Lease agents with car trouble and merely said 'YOUR car is broken and you'll need to get me to work in a replacement, pronto'.

I've now returned to the delights of a 2nd hand Mini Cooper, smiles per miles!