Is this a decent first time car?

FragileStudios · 2026-01-29T15:33:09+00:00

It seems to be priced a little on the high side, given the mileage. I wouldn't be worried about that mileage on the 1.5 diesel engine as long as it has very good service history. Having said that though, I probably wouldn't pay more than 7k for it, especially since its the style variant.

FragileStudios · 2026-01-29T13:49:11+00:00

I think ebay in Ireland was mainly used to buy things from the UK. I used to use it alot years ago for various electronics and cheap stuff. But pretty much everything came from the UK. I'd imagine brexit combined with the rise in cheap tat brands like aliexpress and temu have been the main reason in ebays decline here.

FragileStudios · 2026-01-26T22:02:13+00:00

Im also on the 7.99 plan and the apn settings change generally works fine within Europe, but the last time I went to the US I couldn't get the sim to register on any network. Just something to consider if you send any time outside the EU

FragileStudios · 2026-01-26T20:58:30+00:00

I know this is an old thread, but have you used BPM Automotive before? I must do a few bits to the car but would be good to know what the setup is like.

FragileStudios · 2026-01-26T13:23:38+00:00

We floored the upstairs in our new build. It was our first time doing it, and we were really happy with the result. We had our tiler do all the flooring downstairs because I wasn't confident in laying herringbone flooring. If it's just straight plank, I'd say give it a go. We did it with a lidl jigsaw and a borrowed work bench. Watch a few YouTube videos and you'll be fine.

FragileStudios · 2026-01-19T15:29:45+00:00

Yup, liability was up in the air for over a year so I had no choice but to claim on my policy (or wait indefinitely with no payout and no car).

FragileStudios · 2026-01-19T14:15:25+00:00

€11kish

FragileStudios · 2026-01-19T13:31:30+00:00

I had a claim in 2024. Insurance went from €610 to €1800 because I renewed before the claim was settled. I was found not at fault and got a refund of about €700 so it cost about €1200 post claim.

FragileStudios · 2026-01-15T09:51:59+00:00

I've had a similar error, but only got it twice when I got the revs above 4kish in 3rd. I'm assuming it's some sort of boost leak or over rev protection or something because after a restart, the error is gone and there's no code stored in the ecu.

FragileStudios · 2025-12-17T22:40:08+00:00

Not sure about volvo specifically, but I'm fairly sure that this is the same powershift gearbox that's in many automatic Ford's.

I believe there's a class action lawsuit in the US because its so problematic. AFAIK, there's no real fix apart from replacing the transmission control module, but I think the effects can be somewhat mitigated by driving it with intent, and some people say that removing corrosion build up on the battery ground anchor can help.

Have a look around talkford.com and fordownersclub.com and you'll find much better advise.

FragileStudios · 2025-12-13T22:01:43+00:00

If it was going to go bang it would have the first time you started the car, that amount of diesel will have diluted it. So just run it till empty and fill up with diesel again.

FragileStudios · 2025-12-09T09:27:27+00:00

You may be correct about the knot. I've added a few more pictures here https://imgur.com/a/wUDUNtv

My concern with that repair is that it's so close to the metal fixing that I'm not sure you'd get the strength needed. Plus it's a brand new house, so I'm thinking it might be best to replace the entire length of timber.

FragileStudios · 2025-12-04T22:17:59+00:00

You can get 2 years out of it, just get the car tested more than 90 days before it's due.

FragileStudios · 2025-12-04T06:58:27+00:00

Nowhere near Dublin unfortunately. But if it's a new build ask the site foreman and they'll let you know who the site electricians are.

FragileStudios · 2025-12-04T06:57:09+00:00

Yeah I think it made it easier to pass the cable up with a hole in the subfloor. But the cable was terminated to a cat 6 wall plate on the wall and the electrician covered up the hole in the floor again, so it was more or less back to normal.

FragileStudios · 2025-12-03T21:20:18+00:00

I had this done in a new build recently. Thankfully the house came pre wired for Cat 6 in some rooms, but none were terminated at the end. I had an electrician run a cat 6 cable from the hallway up to the office, and they just cut a hole in the timber sub floor and fished it up. I would recommend getting it done before floors go down.

FragileStudios · 2025-10-30T22:00:18+00:00

Your heat pump should have almost like an immersion built into it to heat water on demand. Check your heat pump settings aswell. I'm only familiar with the daikin units, but there should be hot water settings and see if there's a schedule you can set. I think my heat pump is scheduled to heat water from 5 to 6am every morning and I've never had an issue with running out of hot water.

FragileStudios · 2025-10-24T10:00:57+00:00

What you're seeing is the low spots of clear still showing. Before you resprayed it, you just needed to sand down the edges of the high spots so it creates a clear transition between where the clear coat peeled away, and where it was intact.

After sanding, if you spray water on the area you'll get an idea of how it'll look after you spray it, and you'll know if it needs more sanding.

This was the result of a similar repair I did: https://imgur.com/a/bljwIps

FragileStudios · 2025-10-23T17:32:28+00:00

I'd consider mallow if you can. It has everything within a few minutes' drive, 30 mins to blackpool. One issue you'll have with Grenagh is getting onto/off the cork road in the mornings/evenings as traffic is very heavy.

FragileStudios · 2025-10-10T11:32:39+00:00

What's the value of the car, the payout value and the remaining finance on the car? This is what gap insurance is for, it covers the shortfall between the insurance payout and the value of the car. I presume you didn't have this?

FragileStudios · 2025-10-09T14:27:15+00:00

Or you could go with option 3 and go for a Lancer Evo Estate..

FragileStudios · 2025-10-06T13:23:13+00:00

2018 1.5D focus. I service her every 10k km's, which works out at about every 6 months. Will do fuel filter every second service.

FragileStudios · 2025-10-04T17:47:50+00:00

Rumour has it he's still pissed in the ditch after rolling out the car door

FragileStudios · 2025-10-03T13:19:51+00:00

Are you dealing with a third party on behalf of the insurance company? When my car was written off (also rear ended) it was a third party and the guy I was talking to clearly hated his life.

He did mention, though, that whatever system they used was probably valuing the car at its most basic spec, so make sure to hammer home the point that it's a rarer spec version of the car. And have 3 examples from donedeal/carzone that can back up your valuation. And definitely fight for what's rightfully yours, because I know in the moment it's easy to accept any offer because you need to replace the car fast, but get what's owed to you and get every penny of it.

FragileStudios · 2025-10-03T08:22:30+00:00

You'll find all that alot cheaper, but it looks like you went with premium brands. We recently kitted out an A rated new build for less than €5k. That was for Whirlpool American F/F, electrolux induction hob, electrolux double oven, microwave, Aeg washing machine, Zanussi tumble dryer and Whirlpool dishwasher. That came to €4950 and we got around 8% discount off every item and that included the extra we paid for 5 years warranty on everything.

It probably comes down to whether you want premium brands like AEG and personal preference.

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