New car jitters - Anyone else get this?

[Dos_Box]

Following the write-off of my last car (which I sorely miss) I have finally taken delivery of my new wheels. A Ford Kuga Titanium X. Used of course as I don't see the value in a new car, especially at the moment.

I picked it up last Friday and by the time I had got it home it had blown the thermostat, not an uncommon issue with this generation of Fords (TDCI Euro 5\6 engines) by all accounts, and credit where credits due, the garage sent a recovery vehicle to my house straight away, and I had it back the very next day with a new (£250) genuine part fitted.

I have only done a couple of 20 mile runs in it so far, and like any other new car I've had, I'm yet to do a Big Run with it and until I do that there is always the nagging thought that stuff will go wrong, and because of this I don't yet have confidence in it.

Does anyone else get this kind of worry with getting used to a new vehicle, or is it just me?

[MartinT]

No, I do all my research beforehand and check the car over thoroughly. I tend to buy low volume rare cars like my current Subaru BRZ.

 

It's a long time since I had a Ford and I always formed the impression that they are built to fail parts soon after the warranty expires.

Sadly, in more recent times I have had the same experience with BMWs.

 

I'm pretty much only going to buy Japanese from this point on. I've never had a breakdown in one yet.

[Dos_Box]

No, I do all my research beforehand and check the car over thoroughly. I tend to buy low volume rare cars like my current Subaru BRZ.

 

It's a long time since I had a Ford and I always formed the impression that they are built to fail parts soon after the warranty expires.

Sadly, in more recent times I have had the same experience with BMWs.

 

I'm pretty much only going to buy Japanese from this point on. I've never had a breakdown in one yet.

 

Two cars back I had a Mondeo, and apart from time-worn parts (and a faulty O2 sensor) I found it to be very reliable, which is why I didn't have much of a problem going with this. I come from a mechanical background, so am quite happy with what I have.

My last two cars had been written off (not my fault) and I only had my Superb for 18 months. It was fully specced, and I really do miss it, especially the £35 a year road tax.

The state of the used car market at the moment is terrible, and prices are much higher than they were last time I looked for a new car.

The jitters is just that I've been through several cars in recent years and I think it's just the stress of having just got used to a new car, and all its foibles, more than one usually should.

[Davit2005]

I'm dredding going back to 2nd hand 10+ year old cars after having lease vehicles for last 8. Thought I'd had the last of been underneath a car in the winter/rain and or dark trying my best to keep knuckle skin realising I need the car the next day.

 

Sure research can help a lot, knowing a good reputable garage that won't rip you off, etc. I'm looking at a jap car (Honda, Toyota), the last car I bought was a 12 year old Volvo and that did me proud. Must be the only car that I never lost much money on even though I paid £500 for it as a near non runner.

[Norphy]

I think it's normal to an extent. When I got my last car (which I also wrote off!), it had a problem where it kept on cutting out when cruising. It turned out to be the high pressure fuel pump. Even after the thing was replaced, I was paranoid about it cutting out again and that paranoia carried over to my current car despite this one so far being relatively problem free.

 

I feel for you losing that Superb though, I've now got an Octavia which doesn't have all the bells and whistles, but it has enough for me to be sad if I lost it!

[Davit2005]

I think it's normal to an extent. When I got my last car (which I also wrote off!), it had a problem where it kept on cutting out when cruising. It turned out to be the high pressure fuel pump. Even after the thing was replaced, I was paranoid about it cutting out again and that paranoia carried over to my current car despite this one so far being relatively problem free.

 

Went through 2 pumps on my old XR3i. The fuel filter turned out to be blocked :-( . Car would run for 30mins but gradually would run for less and less then failing to start completely. Also the same issue I had on the Volvo as suspected from what the seller said I was joined to the AA so jus went and picked up the car and course it broke down and AA said the fuel pressure was down :-)

[Dos_Box]

Went through 2 pumps on my old XR3i. The fuel filter turned out to be blocked :-( . Car would run for 30mins but gradually would run for less and less then failing to start completely. Also the same issue I had on the Volvo as suspected from what the seller said I was joined to the AA so jus went and picked up the car and course it broke down and AA said the fuel pressure was down :-)

 

Very few of those left on the roads these days, and I still hanker after another 205 GTi, the prices for these, like most 80's hot hatches, are mad for decent examples.

I'll just have to keep waiting for that lottery win (and my new hips).

[Rob_D]

As only an occasional driver, I'm more worried about pranging a new (or new to me) car the first few of times I drive it.

 

A couple of years back, my parents took delivery of their new iD3 the day before they were due to head off on holiday 200 miles away. That was apparently a baptism by fire.

[Dos_Box]

As only an occasional driver, I'm more worried about pranging a new (or new to me) car the first few of times I drive it.

 

A couple of years back, my parents took delivery of their new iD3 the day before they were due to head off on holiday 200 miles away. That was apparently a baptism by fire.

 

Very much this. I hate having hire cars for that very reason. That and learning the handling and other idiosyncrasies of your new (or hired car).

They gave me a Qasqui hire car after the Skoda prang and took my son to the IMAX in central Manchester. To get in the car park next door you have to go up a spiral entrance ramp (which was very tight) to access each level and all you could see on the walls on the way up were the scratch marks of previous drivers who were not paying attention.

I was very, very careful!

[Norphy]

I've got to admit, after years of driving Golfs I found the length of my car difficult to get used to. I still park with its backside hanging out a lot of the time and I'm very glad for its reversing sensors!

[nicholab]

Yes I went from a VW Golf to a Volvo V90.

[DalekSec]

Fellow Kuga driver (2018 plate)

 

Had mine a year with 80k on the clock, only issues i've had so far have been wear and tear and driven it 12k in that time

[Dos_Box]

Fellow Kuga driver (2018 plate)

 

Had mine a year with 80k on the clock, only issues i've had so far have been wear and tear and driven it 12k in that time

 

Took it for its first run out early yesterday evening. Just up the motorway to the Kendal M6 junction and back (80 miles) and it didn't miss a beat, make any funny noises, or show any other problems, so happy with it so far.

I got it with a years (advisory free) MoT, new timing belt and water pump and service. It's the fear of the unknown with any new vehicle I suppose.

[southhamster]

Took it for its first run out early yesterday evening. Just up the motorway to the Kendal M6 junction and back (80 miles) and it didn't miss a beat, make any funny noises, or show any other problems, so happy with it so far.

I got it with a years (advisory free) MoT, new timing belt and water pump and service. It's the fear of the unknown with any new vehicle I suppose.

 

New Kuga's may have dodgy discs, my mate has just had to have all his replaced after just 600 miles from the showroom! Made from some very weird metal there...

[Dos_Box]

Oof, that does look like it's been badly manufactured. Could well be that some badly composed metal has got through the system!

Has flashbacks to IBM Deathstar and Fujitsu hard drives a long time ago.

[3s-gtech]

Yup, looks like the finest quality steel was used in that disc.

[MartinT]

I commute 80 miles a day on the M3 (J7 to J0 and back) at motorway speeds. That has put 116,000 miles on my modified (supercharged) 2017 Subaru. It has never missed a beat. I need that kind of reliability as I simply couldn't suffer from worrying about whether it would make the journey or not.

 

So, you see, I might have a 'fun' car with performance in mind, but I never lost sight of reliability and I have it serviced twice a year with the best oil, filters, tyres and parts money can buy at Abbey Motorsport.

[Dos_Box]

I commute 80 miles a day on the M3 (J7 to J0 and back) at motorway speeds. That has put 116,000 miles on my modified (supercharged) 2017 Subaru. It has never missed a beat. I need that kind of reliability as I simply couldn't suffer from worrying about whether it would make the journey or not.

 

So, you see, I might have a 'fun' car with performance in mind, but I never lost sight of reliability and I have it serviced twice a year with the best oil, filters, tyres and parts money can buy at Abbey Motorsport.

 

Your car also gets a decent run out each day, which counts for quite a bit, so the engine gets up to temp and all the bits get oil\coolant and other fluids circulated very regularly. It's cars that just do a 10-20 mile daily commute, mainly in stop-start traffic that suffer most.

And good servicing parts are essential (I always buy the best ones I can)

And Subaru's are awesome!

[nicholab]

I do need to say that my old golf never really missed a beat. It was a 2008 model and I owned it from 2014 to 2023. I did have it fully serviced every year did have an ignition coil go once. The full service is important on all cars.

[Jaan]

If it makes you feel better...... i had my golf (59 plate) from new and it got written off at the end of the year (on its way in for an MOT!) Paid £12500 for it new as i got the government scrappage scheme at the time. Never missed a beat and did 60+ MPG....... 15 years i had it!

 

...... So naturally i bought a 24 year old rover 400! until i decide to jump on the tesla bandwagon later this year.

 

2nd owner 78k miles, HG+belts done, well look after get loads of comments when fueling up, It's literally the last year 2000 white 416is on the road

 

Bought as my dad used to work for Rover back in the day and had a very similar version...... and was bought from the dealer he worked at!...... those were the days.

 

Parts are easy to source, its the same car as;

 

Rover 45

Mg ZS

Civic M series

 

And shares parts with:

Honda Domani

Honda Civic eg

 

[Dos_Box]

I was at a funeral yesterday afternoon (a friends dad) and the guy had been a lifelong Jaguar driver.

His last car was a beast. A fully specced 2006 4.2l Sovereign, which they used to drive themselves to the crematorium. It's an epic car, and even had LED side lights. Not bad for 2006.

He was the second owner, the first was Robin Barr, of Barr drinks fame.

It's for sale if anyone is interested and is in amazing condition. Just be warned, road tax is £700 a year!

 

*One of the attendees was the chief mechanic from the Jag dealer he used to use. Not sure what that said about its reliability!

 

Edited October 14, 2024 by Dos_Box

[DalekSec]

Life goal is to own a Jag at one point, purely to say i own a Jaaaagggg

[Jaan]

Best mod to any Jaaaaaagg:

 

[davinderkundi]

I totally get the stress with a new car, especially when something goes wrong right away, like your thermostat! At least the garage fixed it fast. You might still feel nervous until you take it on a long drive without any problems, so maybe try a weekend trip to chill out a bit.

 

Also, I found this cool article about how new cars get transported, and they really take good care of them. Same should go for used cars if you bought from a good place. It’s worth checking how your car was handled to avoid issues. Here's the link if you're curious: https://www.a1autotransport.com/how-are-brand-new-cars-transported/

Edited October 12, 2024 by davinderkundi

[dapaulio]

Fellow kuga drivers. I have a 17 plate and it has three washer jets on the front windscreen. For some reason these keep blocking or failing.

 

Anyone experienced this and know if there is a cheaper way of fixing them with out replacing them each time

Other than that I have no problems with it. I love it