I get a surprising number of messages asking the same question: “Which used hybrid battery pack in a Toyota Prius will last the longest, and how much should I expect to pay to replace it?” I’ve worked on dozens of hybrids in my own garage and coordinated repairs with shops, so here’s the...
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Buying Guides
I tow a lot — boats, trailers, sometimes a load that pushes my SUV closer to...
Maintenance
I had one of those maddening shakes once — a pronounced shimmy starting right...
Maintenance
I had a stubborn Renault Clio with a badly corroded exhaust flange and, like a...
Buying Guides
I’ve spent years cutting through marketing hype and making practical...
I had a stubborn Renault Clio with a badly corroded exhaust flange and, like a lot of DIYers, I wanted to fix it using only basic tools. If you’re reading this, you probably want the same: a straightforward, realistic walkthrough that doesn’t...
I’ve spent years cutting through marketing hype and making practical recommendations in the world of tools and machinery — and choosing a padel racket for play in the UK deserves the same clear, experience-based approach. Whether you’re...
I recently changed the pads on my daily driver and, as usual, opted to bleed the brakes myself rather than take the car to a shop. Bleeding brakes alone after a pad change can be done reliably with basic tools and a bit of patience — you don’t...
I’ve lost count of how many times a concerned driver called me to say their car had gone into limp mode and a dreaded “check engine” light was glowing. The panic is real: limp mode makes you feel like your car is dying mid-journey, and the...
When I traded SUVs in the past, I learned the hard way that the number a dealer offers often reflects a different math than the one that matters to you. Dealers think in terms of reconditioning costs, auction margins, and what they can get for the...
I remember the first time my ABS light came on: I was running errands, pulling into a grocery store, and the little amber icon winked at me like a mischievous gremlin. It was easy to ignore—until I stomped on the brakes later that week and felt...
Selling a car privately is as much about perception as it is about facts. Over the years I’ve flipped a few of my own cars and helped friends get more at sale time by focusing on small, targeted fixes that buyers notice — and are willing to pay...
I’m often asked by readers with older petrol cars how to squeeze more miles out of a tank without spending on costly engine work or electrification. Over the years, between my garage experiments and coordinating repairs, I’ve found a set of...
I live and work in cities where traffic, tight parking and sudden incidents are part of the daily routine. Over the years I’ve learned that a good dashcam isn’t a luxury — it’s a practical tool that can save hours of paperwork, protect you...
I remember the first time I nearly bought a used SUV that looked flawless in photos and on the lot — until I drove it and everything felt slightly off. The steering tugged, the car pulled to one side, and the doors closed like they belonged to...