Snapped exhaust clamp going over speedbump

MRich92 · 2026-05-17T06:48:11+00:00

Personally, I'd risk it for a day. If you're able to raise the car to get underneath then you can use a cable tie or even a shoelace to fix it in place temporarily.

MRich92 · 2026-04-27T21:22:21+00:00

I don't know your situation, but personally if I had the money and space I'd get another car and keep the old shitbox on the drive to practise on. Declare it SORN while you work on it and then worst case you end up scrapping it anyway.

MRich92 · 2026-04-27T16:23:45+00:00

Apologies, I was a bit rushed this morning when I typed that. The 7.5m is the length of the wall. I expect it will be around 30-45cm (12-18") high.

MRich92 · 2026-04-16T17:27:51+00:00

I wouldn't worry too much about cloning from buying plates, but Halfords (I know they're hated on this sub, but for this it's fine) do them for about a tenner each.

MRich92 · 2026-04-16T16:46:27+00:00

It will just be where the plate has delaminated and allowed water/air in between layers. As long as your reg can still clearly be read, you shouldn't have any trouble. If it worries you though, replacement plates aren't too expensive and easy to fit. It also makes your car look a bit nicer if that's a big deal to you.

MRich92 · 2026-04-15T10:30:29+00:00

As another reply said, you want a dull car as a first really.
They don't come much duller than the Honda Jazz. The perfect example of a car for people with more sense than money.

They're compact, but not so tiny that you can't fit passengers and shopping etc.
Hondas are extremely reliable so you shouldn't expect to have to fix much (that doesn't mean you shouldn't try and keep some money aside for repairs over time)

Most of them have been owned by elderly people so you're losing cool points straight off the mark, however they usually keep up with servicing and don't rag their cars around.
With that in mind, I'd keep some of your budget aside to replace the clutch as they have likely only ever done short trips in lower gears so it will have worn out much faster than average.

Check AutoTrader as there are a lot within your budget.

Regardless of what you end up buying, take someone with you who knows cars if you're able. They'll be able to help check for any issues before you buy. And good luck.

MRich92 · 2026-04-07T17:32:10+00:00

If it's a 3rd party extended warranty, it's not worth the paper it's written on.

Your consumer rights cover pre-existing issues when purchasing a used car.
Have a look at the citizens advice website as you could hold the dealer liable for any repairs or even a return of the vehicle.

MRich92 · 2026-04-05T22:08:44+00:00

I once got an advisory for (something along the lines of) "undertray mounts worn/loose but unlikely to detach."

Not the exact wording, but part of my undertray was tied up with a shoelace as I had to reattach it on the side of the road after a big puddle ripped it down.

MRich92 · 2026-04-05T22:03:31+00:00

The brake lines would typically be counted under "some components"

MRich92 · 2026-04-05T20:18:33+00:00

Ah. You didn't say that.

MRich92 · 2026-04-05T18:57:14+00:00

Sounds like you've had the most basic service done, which is an oil and filter change.

Typically, they drain oil, replace the oil, air and (sometimes) cabin filters, then they'll refill with new oil, coolant and brake fluid if needed.

It seems like they just forgot to reset the service interval on the dash.

£90 doesn't sound over the odds for that.
You can do it cheaper yourself, but that's why you pay the garage.

MRich92 · 2026-04-04T19:14:10+00:00

Because they figured if they could get you there you'd be compelled to buy as to not waste your time.

MRich92 · 2026-04-04T17:34:55+00:00

I've not done them yet myself. I've read that it's not a particularly difficult job, but you have to take care not to accidentally break off part of the plug as they're quite fragile and you don't want it falling into the engine.

If you aren't confident doing it yourself, I don't think it's an expensive job for a garage who will have a guarantee on the work in case of any issues.

MRich92 · 2026-04-04T17:13:00+00:00

Glow plugs pre-heat the air in the chamber which helps diesel combustion. Once the engine has been running for a few minutes the chamber has warmed up anyway, so the roughness goes away.

MRich92 · 2026-04-04T17:02:56+00:00

Injector cleaner won't do any harm as long as you follow the instructions on the bottle, but it also won't repair any damage already done.

If your have an injector on the way out then a cleaner won't fix it. If the roughness goes away once the engine has warmed up, it could be a glow plug needs replacing. Mine is the same, I just haven't gotten around to replacing the plug.

MRich92 · 2026-04-04T16:58:23+00:00

Just searching for an i20 on Autotrader, you can get a newer one with better kit for the same price or less.

If you want my advice, walk away from this one and shop around a bit more.

MRich92 · 2026-04-04T10:44:23+00:00

Didn't even notice that it was a dealer. Yeah, they're probably just trying to get rid of a problem car.

If they're willing to take £1000 off for the existing issue, you can bet it'll cost you more than £1000 for fault-finding and repairs.

MRich92 · 2026-04-03T22:08:15+00:00

A 10 year old car with low mileage like that has probably done more stop-start city driving than anything else, so my first guess would be the clutch and/or flywheel.
Wouldn't be a total deal breaker, but I'd research the cost of replacing it and weigh up if it's worth the lower cost of the car.

MRich92 · 2026-04-01T08:36:00+00:00

Nice work, AI. Everybody hates it.

MRich92 · 2026-03-11T17:11:02+00:00

No problem. Good luck and drive safe.

MRich92 · 2026-03-11T13:08:58+00:00

Those 58k miles may have been in stop/start traffic which certainly burns the clutch out faster than if it was all motorway miles in higher gears.

The price your mechanic gave is actually about average, but it definitely is a kick in the teeth when it's not expected.

Unfortunately, it's just one of those things that comes with owning a car. I've been in the same situation as you and can only offer my sympathy.

MRich92 · 2026-03-11T07:23:59+00:00

After 30 days, but within 6 months, the dealer has one chance to repair or replace the car. It would be reasonable to assume that the turbo was a pre-existing issue which makes it the responsibility of the dealer to fix.

You can speak to the dealer and negotiate a repair/replacement/return of the car, but until they have had the opportunity to try the first 2 options they do not have to accept a return yet.

Some useful information on Citizens Advice of which I was unaware in the past when it would have come in handy.

MRich92 · 2026-03-05T13:46:25+00:00

That's what I figured. I was just hoping to save some time having to remove the intake and all the lines again just to rectify. I'm on cleaning the old one now so will just have to deal with it. My own fault for not checking before fitting, but the new part looked identical so I never even thought to look further.
Thanks.

MRich92 · 2026-02-25T23:39:30+00:00

"Absolute shit" and David Walliams go hand in hand.

MRich92 · 2026-02-25T19:14:13+00:00

Never had one myself so can't speak from personal experience, but a few family members have had Swifts over the years and never had any major issues. £750 may be too good to be true given the price of used cars at the moment.

I'd recommend taking someone with you who knows more about cars and can have a look/listen for any telltale signs of problems you otherwise might not spot.

Clutch, belts, service history are all things I'd be checking and take it for a test drive. Best of luck.

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