An aircon company has more knowledge of AC than a garage + their hourly rates are al ot less than an Audi dealer.

Get a recommendation & an estimate.

Sorry, I've only just seen this.

I bought a 2004 2.0d SE saloon with 132k miles for £2,700 in 2013. It's now up to 189k. I went against all the rules when buying it. I didn't even see it properly 'in the metal' when I got it because of a blizzard. It had no service history. But it's black with black leather and I really fancied it.

It gets mostly local use on rural (crappy) roads with usually at least one annual round trip to Andorra (2,500+ miles). I find it comfortable and fairly effortless driving and it copes well with everything, including sustained 130kph cruising and tortuous mountain roads.

It is, as people like to tell me, a Mondeo underneath and IMHO that's a good thing. Parts are common and reasonably priced and my trusted indy is able to keep it going at a reasonable cost. It's had to be recovered three times. Two could and should have been fixed roadside (turbo pipe had become detached), the other was for an expired water pump (I think it was the original as the splines had worn round). Other items have been a steering pump, a coil spring and top mount, a wheel bearing, none cripplingly expensive. Had no problems at MOT time. I need to change a parking sensor but that's a cheap job once I get at it.

A lot of them seem to suffer from bubbling in the rubber trim strips at the bottom of the side windows. When I first saw it I thought the door tops were rusting, but in fact it's the metal strip in the rubbers which corrodes. New ones are available but at £50 a door I won't bother.

Recently did a 1,000 mile round trip from W Wales to Suffolk and a brief visit to Belgium. Mixed driving returned about 56mpg (per trip computer but seems reasonably accurate). Local driving usually sees mid 40s mpg. Doesn''t use any oil.

I'm running on 225x45x17s at present but I prefer the 205x55x16s for ride quality and will change back at next tyre change.

Headlights were improved by fitting Nightbreaker bulbs when they were on offer at ECP (indy fitted them FOC) and remedial work on the plastic lenses with which modern cars are cursed.

Overall I have been very satisfied with it. I hope to run it to 200k.

I had an X type diesel for about 6 months. It was an 07 plate and I ran it to the end of the lease as a favour to the company before I ditched the company car and went privately. I enjoyed the car; very comfortable and lots of bells and whistles. A bit tight for room inside and in the boot. It drove very well, returned good economy and proved trouble free during the preceding period and thought he period I had it. Gave it back with about 80K on the clock. I know JLR are not the most reliable and it is a lottery if you get a good one or not, but this one should be well sorted by now. If the price is right it must be worth a punt.

Cheers Concrete

PS It was an automatic gearbox which was very good too.

Thank you SLO.

I have decided to let the Jaguar go.

You have focussed my mind and i will carry on with the Audi until something a bit newer turns up.

You caught me just in time.

Many many thanks.