Blog Archives — Page 4 of 9 — Sell Your Problem Car

5 reasons you should sell your damaged car to us

Posted on December 6, 2013 | by Sell Your Problem Car | 151 Comments

It’s hard enough trying to sell a car in perfect working order, never mind if the vehicle is plagued with faults. We know how difficult it can be to get rid of an unwanted car at Sell Your Problem Car ® so we decided to write this blog to outline the positives of our service.

You save money on advertising: Weigh up the cost of advertising your car in local papers, trade magazines or online sites. Bet your bottom dollar there’ll be fees involved at some stage of the process. You won’t find that at Sell Your Problem Car ®, all we do is give you a fair price for the vehicle and you don’t have to stump up any cash in advance.
You don’t have to deal with time wasters: One of the biggest pains of selling a car private is dealing with people that seem to want to make it their mission to waste as much of your time as possible. They’ll ring you to arrange viewings but never turn up on time, or if they do arrive at your home they’ll simply kick the tyres and walk away. Our service is fast, we won’t waste your time, give us a try and we’ll buy your car straight away.
You get a great price: People will try to knock you down on price when you sell your car privately. They’ll be cheeky, try their luck and test your patience, you’ll feel like you are giving your car away at times. We take a different approach at Sell Your Problem Car ®. Our offer gives you the true market value of the vehicle based on its condition.
It saves time: How long will you have to wait if you advertise your car privately? Our service is designed to get rid of your car in less than 48 hours. Don’t hang around, give us a call and we’ll soon take that car off your hands.
It removes a headache: The longer you are stuck with a car the more the headache builds. Find a fix for this by using our service, we’ll take any unwanted car as long as it’s under 10 years old.

Sell your damaged car in easy steps

Posted on November 29, 2013 | by Sell Your Problem Car | 237 Comments

We’ve covered a number of blogs about common faults found on specific makes of cars at Sell Your Problem Car ® and we have decided to give you extra support if you are experiencing problems with your vehicle. Our service is designed to be a customer-friendly as possible so we’ve written this guide to make it as easy as possible for you to get rid of your broken down car.

Get the car to a secure place: If the vehicle breaks down at the side of the road try to get it recovered as soon as you can. If you are a member of a breakdown association call them out, they’ll try to fix the vehicle at the roadside or if the fault is major, they’ll offer a relay service to take your car to a garage or your home address.
Get a quote for the work: See how much the repair is going cost, if the price is way above your budget or the car simply isn’t worth spending that type of money on, get in touch with our service.
Use our ‘Request a Quote’ form: Fill in our simple-to-use quote form and provide us with your details and the make, model and mileage of your car. Mention the fuel type, confirm the registration and ensure the car is under 10 years old. Give us an idea of the extent of the damage so we can give you the best quote for your car.
Email or call us: If you prefer an instant response why not call us instead? Speak to somebody in person and we’ll get the wheels moving right away.
Accept the quote: Our quotes are the best in the business and it’s the fastest way to get rid of your car, just accept our offer via email.
Have the money transferred: We can transfer cash straight into your account for the amount agreed.
Say goodbye to the car: We’ll collect your car the next day and you can start thinking about ways you are going to spend the money… Simple!

Mazda major issues

Posted on November 22, 2013 | by Sell Your Problem Car | 1,310 Comments

In this blog we’re going to look at common problems with Mazdas, in particular the 6 series and what types of issues they have had since their launch.

Age is important if you buy a Mazda 6

Most of the problems with Mazda 6’s seem to stem from the slightly earlier pre-facelift models and the diesels seemed to be the worst. So this is where we focused the research and found three major issues that would cost a fair amount of money to fix.

Turbos: Early Mazda 6’s have been known to blow their turbos and as you know, this isn’t going to be a cheap fix. Most drivers would be tempted to scrap an older Mazda if the turbo had blown but before you do that, get in touch with us and see the difference we can make to the price. If you do get a turbo failure on your Mazda weigh up the cost of fixing the car and compare that to the price we’ll give you for the vehicle.
Clutches: Older Mazda 6’s tended to suffer from frail clutches and in a high proportion of cases they needed to have a new dual-mass flywheel changed at the same time. Could you afford that level of repair if your Mazda developed such a major problem or would you rather cut your losses and get another car? We will buy your broken down car no matter how bad the mechanical damage is.
DPF: The diesel particulate filter (DPF) is another issue that can be fatal to a Mazda 6. If the DPF stops regenerating it can result in low oil pressure and the car will either go into limp home mode or the engine will go bang! The DPF was updated on later models so if you have a slightly older version it’s a cause for concern. Try not to panic if your engine fails though. We give top prices for Mazdas and are always by the phone.

Maserati mess-ups

Posted on November 15, 2013 | by Sell Your Problem Car | 174 Comments

Continuing with our ‘common faults’ blogs we have picked the Maserati marque this time around. Maseratis are beautiful cars to look at but they are also known to have a few faults so it just goes to show, even the most expensive cars can let you down from time to time. Let’s look at the problems that are associated with these cars. Remember, if you own a Maserati and it’s having major issues we are simply a phone call away at Sell Your Problem Car ®!

In 2009 the Maserati Gran Turismo was recalled due to electrical system failure. The instrument panel was the main problem but there have been other niggles with the car. Steering linkages tie rod assemblies and issues with the rear lighting system have resulted in the vehicle being recalled. We love Maseratis though, especially the Gran Turismo, so whatever the problem is remember to give us a call.
In 2005 the Maserati Coupe was recalled due to faults with the fuel lines. It would seem the issue stemmed from the fuel line delivery and the hoses and pipes that were part of the system were at fault. If you have any fuel-related niggles with your Maserati and are facing an expensive repair bill why not speak to us first?
Also in 2005 a large quantity of Maserati Quattroportes were recalled due to problems with their front suspension. The upper and lower ball joint nuts weren’t torqued correctly and this could result in the nuts on the ball joint jarring loose at some point and potentially freeing the suspension arm. Hopefully your car had this problem fixed at the time, but if you bought the car second hand you’ll never know for sure. Still, at least you’ll get an honest price for the Maserati if you contact us about the problem vehicle.

Common faults to look for with a Dacia Duster

Posted on November 8, 2013 | by Sell Your Problem Car | 1,955 Comments

One of our earlier blogs looked at potential problems to look for when you drive an Alfa 156 so we thought we’d continue in a similar fashion at Sell Your Problem Car ® with a sneak peak at issues that are known to affect the Dacia Duster. We’ve trawled car forums, read reviews from real owners and found a few niggles you should look for. If your car is suffering from something major, try to stay calm, we’d be more than happy to provide you with a great quote for the vehicle.

Bad tracking and alignment: Rather worryingly a few owners of the Duster have reported their car’s pulling to the left. There seems to be a problem with the rear axle and it would appear the car suffers from poor tracking which isn’t great news. We’re not bothered about this problem though, we’ll still give you a great price for the car.
Catalytic convertor faults: A number of owners have experienced cat failure with their Dusters which usually starts with a warning light in the dash. A new cat isn’t cheap but it’s essential to reduce the exhaust gases from the engine, if your Duster’s exhaust system is a problem and you simply want shut of the car, give us a call and we’ll set the wheels in motion.
ECU faults: Even more worrying is a fault on the engine management system, owners get a warning light on the dashboard and the car goes into limp home mode. The car displays a number of error codes and according to owner’s forums dealers are at a loss as to what’s causing the problem. Does your Duster act this this? If so, maybe it’s time to get rid of the car so speak to one of our team at Sell Your Problem Car ®.

Common faults to look for if you drive an Alfa Romeo 156

Posted on November 1, 2013 | by Sell Your Problem Car | 2,278 Comments

There are some makes and models of cars that are renowned for reliability issues and sadly, if you own an Alfa there’s a good chance your little slice of Italian pedigree will let you down at some point in the future. Don’t worry though, we’ll give you the best price possible for your car and if you are experiencing any of the following issues with your Alfa 156 we’d love to take the car off your hands.

Cambelt: Originally the service schedule from Alfa Romeo advised the cam belt on a 156 should be replaced at 70, 000 miles. This has since change to 36, 000 miles so if your car has gone over that figure think about getting the belt, tensioners and variator replaced as soon as you can or could be facing a monster repair bill. If the belt snaps that’s the engine gone, don’t worry though, we’ll still buy a non-running car.
Electrics: Another niggle on Alfas nearing their 10^th birthday, owners have reported intermittent faults with the electrics on Alfas and that can include faults with the wipers. If the electrics are playing up with your Alfa and you simply haven’t got the time or the money to spend fixing the problem gives us a call, we’d love to help.
Front wishbone suspension: Squeaking from the front suspension is normally a sign that all is not well with the car. It transpires the upper front wishbone bushes are the main culprits and the noise becomes more noticeable when you drive over speed bumps. The chances are you’ll have to get the parts replaced or you can simply sell the car to us as it is and walk away with the cash. That’s the good thing about our service, we’ll buy any problem car and with Alfa’s track record for reliability that could be sooner rather than later!

In the news this week…

Posted on October 16, 2013 | by Sell Your Problem Car

Next-gen SUVs from Mitsubishi

All at once, Mitsubishi have unveiled three new concept cars, teasing us with a few very dark and mysterious promo shots.

The new SUVs show the latest direction Mitsubishi will be taking in their future vehicle designs, with a more prominent front grille, sleek headlights and low front end (and that’s really all we can make out!).

Mitsubishi have said that the larger concept model, the GC-PHEV, will be an environmentally-friendly yet fun-to-drive SUV, although emission or MPG figures have been released as yet.

The XR-PHEV is a smaller, more compact vehicle that’s said to rival the Honda CR-V with its lightweight hybrid system, and the smallest concept, the AR (which is short for Active Runabout)has been described by the company as having ‘both the mobility of an SUV and the occupant space of an MPV’, and comes with a turbocharged petrol engine.

We expect Mitsubishi to release further detail about their trio of SUVs over the coming weeks in the run-up to their public unveiling at the Tokyo Motor Show next month.

Things not looking so bright for UK in ‘World Solar Challenge’

38 teams from around the world are set to compete in the biennial World Solar Challenge in Australia this year, racing their solar-powered vehicles 1,864 miles right across the country, from Darwin to Adelaide.

But things haven’t turned out so well for the UK, and unfortunately our hopes for winning the title have already been dashed, just five days before the competition was set to start.

Built by a team from Cambridge University, the UK’s solar vehicle entry rolled onto its side during testing, slid 50 meters, came off the road and stopped, looking more than a little worse for wear at the bottom of an embankment.

The driver managed to escape unharmed, but the vehicle was withdrawn from the competition after it suffered what the team described as ‘dynamic instabilities’ too difficult to fix in time before the race.

Oh well. There’s always 2015’s race to look forward to.

In the news this week…

Posted on September 24, 2013 | by Sell Your Problem Car

Ford’s Facebook Car

Ford has launched a limited edition version of its EcoSport, with orders for the vehicle being taken through the social networking site, Facebook.

It costs £16,995 and only 500 units have been made, with just 120 reserved for the UK market -but what’s so special about it, apart from its Facebook-blue paint job?
Well, it looks like Ford are pushing their in-car app functionality with a new, more advanced version of Ford’s Sync AppLink infotainment system.

Upgrades to the system include the addition of Autoread (currently available on android and iOS devices) which allows the driver to dictate text messages and emails and have the responses read back to them completely hands-free.

The EcoSport also features Hotels.com’s app for booking hotel rooms, and Wcities Eventseeker’s popular app for spotting nearby events, which are displayed on the in-car Sat-Nav.

Ford have embraced all-new in-car technology this year, with the app-ready EcoSport launching just a few weeks after we first heard about the Ford S-Max Concept’s intuitive road safety and traffic flow ‘car-to-car’ communication features.

But Ford differs from other manufacturers in its willingness to make its software (which is completely open source) available to other developers and manufacturers to improve and add new functionality.

So will Fords be the smartest, most practical cars on UK roads in a few years?

Conkers or bonkers?

Three car parks in Leeds and Manchester city centre have devised a way to offset the release of emissions caused by drivers travelling to them.
Their solution? To pay with conkers.

A conker is valued at 20p each, so it only takes a handful to secure a couple of hours parking in the busy centres (with £10 worth of conkers being the maximum redeemable amount).

All the conkers collected by Town Centre Car Parks (TCCP) – the parking chain responsible for the scheme – will be donated to Hetchell Wood Nature Reserve in Leeds, where they hope money will be raised to help increase the profile of the Yorkshire Wildlife Trust’s woodlands.

Six tips for safe winter driving

Posted on September 24, 2013 | by Sell Your Problem Car

Earlier this year we covered how to stay safe when driving during the summer months. Well, it’s now the middle of September and the weather’s taken a turn for the worse. The days have been getting darker, the night’s longer, and things are set to get much colder, wetter and more miserable in the coming weeks.
So it’s probably about time we went through our top winter driving tips to help you stay safe on the roads in difficult conditions.

1. Plan your journeys

Pay attention to the local news and travel bulletins. That way you’ll be alerted to any disruptions before you encounter them on the road, giving you time to plan out an alternative and faster route.

And if the weather is particularly bad, it’s advised that you rearrange your plans to avoid driving if at all possible.

2. Stay seen, and see others

In winter it’s especially important to see what’s on the road, and to make sure that you yourself can be seen easily.

There’s a lot of mud, slush and snow around that can reduce your visibility though the front and rear windscreens, and the brightness of your headlights may also be reduced, which will limit how far you can see.

And if your windscreen is frozen over, you should avoid using hot water or using your wipers to clear it, as this could cause damage – arm yourself with a window scraper and a bottle of de-icer instead.

3. Check your tyres

With rain and snow on the roads you’ll have much less traction than normal, so it’s important to make sure that your tyres are kept in a good condition, with enough tread depth.

Tyre tread should be no less than 2mm for winter driving, with at least 3mm being the optimum treat depth.

Despite what a lot of motorists might tell you, reducing the pressure in your tyres won’t give you any more grip, and it can be dangerous.

4. Ensure a healthy car battery
Using your headlights, removing condensation and trying to stay warm mean that there’s a higher demand on your car’s battery when making trips in winters.
So try to avoid running these electrical systems for longer than needed, and preserve your battery’s life.

5. Drive smoothly

Driving on snow-covered roads or in icy conditions means that you need to change the way you drive. You don’t have the same kind of responsiveness as you do on dry roads, so you need to pay close attention to your speed – reduce it to increase your stopping ability and to reduce the changes of skidding.
You should also apply the brakes in good time and avoid using them harshly – especially on bends, where the centrifugal force can cause you to spin off the road.

6. Always be prepared for the worst

Always take your mobile phone with you, and make sure that you’ve got the essentials with you in your car at all times.
We’d recommend keeping a torch, blanket, jump leads, di-icer and a shovel to help you out of some sticky situations, and it’s also a good idea to let someone know that you’re travelling in difficult conditions. That way, if you happen to find yourself in trouble and don’t turn up when expected, there’s someone ready to get help to you as quickly as possible.
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In the news this week…

Posted on September 24, 2013 | by Sell Your Problem Car

Discovery Facelift

Land Rover’s ever popular and ever reliable practical off-roader, the Discovery, has been given a new lease of life.

The redesigned front bumper, updated headlights and new grille give the classic Disco design a subtle but effective shake up, further heightened by the brand new alloy wheel designs.

And those who prefer the sportier look will appreciate the optional Discovery ‘Black Design Pack’, which includes black alloys and extra black trim for a more sleek and stylish overall look.

But it’s not all about the revised exterior; there are some crucial new modifications made under the bonnet as well with an efficient new SDV6 engine.
The 3 litre diesel engine offers up 252bhp, and features a stop/start system which improves fuel economy and reduces CO2 emission to 213g/km from 230g/km.

Things going well for Audi

Less than 5 months after hiring Nick Ratcliffe as the new marketing director, Audi looks to be on the up and up in the UK.

The German car manufacturer is expected to break the UK sales record of 140,000 at the end of this year, making it the country’s leading prestige German brand.

Last year Audi closed just behind BMW’s total of 127,500 with 123,622 registered vehicles, but with a strong range of vehicles, and with more new models to come, the company are expected to surpass their native rivals.

‘Test Drive’ car theft

A young couple turn up at a car showroom, ask to take a desirable BMW convertible for a test drive and never return. Sounds like the plot of a B grade movie, doesn’t it?

But it’s actually happened, in Barrow In Furness, Cumbria.

The convertible – which is worth £19,000 – was reportedly stolen after the showroom allowed the couple (who’re said to be in their 30s) to take the car on an unaccompanied test drive.

The dealership has since released CCTV images in an effort to locate and bring back the missing car.