paul1966

was listening to her at lunch, she has a very selective memory, thought Jason Beers questioning was very good.

I really could do with not digging out behind the existing wall, would building a new wall about a metre away from the old and back filling be an option?

We're ok in that respect as it's over 6M from our property and a lot further from neighbours

Looking at options for what to do with this retaining wall, it’s 6.3M long and 0.9M high, we’ve been here 20 years and it was leaning slightly when we moved in, the top is now leaning about 2 inches, it's a split level garden and it's holding back the upper level. Option’s I’m looking at are leaving the wall as is and then building in front of it either Gabion baskets or concrete block’s laid flat then back filling with pea gravel. I think I’ll need to add drainage to the old wall as well as the new blocks. I’m thinking concrete blocks possibly rendered is the preferred option at the minute but open to any other suggestions.

Thanks I'll keep an eye on the tyre's , at the minute they look ok. I purposely went for the 1.6 engine as it's not a turbo so less to go wrong, along with the basic no frills torque convertor auto box. There are a couple of things that are annoying, the auto stop engine feature which I have remember to switch off every time I start the car, plus the fact that the mirrors don't auto fold when you lock the car, although there is a adaptor you can buy to do it. Agree with you about the colours, they are a bit marmite but having had our's for a week you do get used to them.

Sold pending Payment...

Gave up clays years ago and just come across these, no use to me.

Just as an up date we decided on a Vitara 1.6 Auto, it's 2016 with 49K on the clock, very pleased with it, still getting used to the autobox, Had to compromise on the colour as auto's are like hens teeth but it's not too bad in the flesh, I've left the side steps on for now as they will come in use getting to the roof box when we go away.

I think the thing I like about the Suzuki is that there's nothing too complicated to go wrong, the 1.6 engine which is what i'm looking at is normally aspirated, it has a cam chain so no changing belts, in the engine bay there is nothing fancy and plenty of space should anything need working on. It needs to last me about 10 years with no unexpected big bills which I think the Vitara will do.

a bit of an update, we went to view a few cars and at the minute the suzuki vitara is looking favourite with the dacia duster second, not sure about the long term reliability of the dacia, need to get a test drive in a vitara before making final decision.

Having had diesels in the past I am thinking of buying a petrol engine due to only have a 4 mile drive to work, would a high milage petrol car put people off buying? the ones i have looked at are all around 100K , I'm aiming to keep it for at least 6 years. All the diesels I've had were fine up to 160K before I changed cars but are petrol engines as hard wearing?

Having always had manual gears is there any reason not to go for an auto box. providing they have been serviced on a ten year old car they should be just as reliable as a manual shouldn't they?

Thanks so is it just the Mazda 3 between those years or all Mazda's at the minute the Mazda is top of the list.

Bit of a broad subject this one. After some ideas as to what used car to get next, currently I have a Ford cmax so looking for something about the same size, budget is 5K so looking at something about 10 years old with hopefully below average milage as I tend to hang onto my cars for several years. Main things are obviously something reliable but if it does need repair that the spares are reasonable and readily available and also I could do the basics myself. Had lots of Fords in the past with mixed luck regarding reliability. Had a Passat that was bomb proof and nice to drive, never had anything made in Asia. I’m open to any suggestions really so go ahead.

thanks all sorted