Author Archives: Justin Smith

About Justin Smith

As the man at the helm of BreakerLink, it is no surprise that its Director, Justin Smith, has always had a keen interest in cars, bikes and most things wheeled. Having spent over two decades in the car parts industry, Justin combines his passion that since 2002, has successfully united those looking for new and used car parts with the breaker that supplies them. Follow Justin on LinkedIn.

Our Top 10 New Year’s Driving Resolutions

Christmas is out of the way and New Year is upon us. As you hold your dram of whiskey in the air and sing out your allusions to the great Robert Burns, the next thing on the seasonal list is making a resolution. Whilst most people like to make a commitment to personal change – we thought you might want to try something different this year, and look at the way you use your car and drive it around.

We have taken the top ten New Year’s resolutions that are commonly made by residents of the UK, and put our own automotive spin on these self-made promises. See if any of them take your fancy, and allow you to pile on the pies, whilst you put all the emphasis on a change in motoring.

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Peugeot 307 Common Problems

The Peugeot 307 is a top-notch production from this well-respected French manufacturer. It instantly turned heads on its release, catching the attention of the judges on the Car of the Year panel who awarded it with the top prize in 2002. Available with 7 different petrol engines, including 3 16-valve editions and a meaty 2.0 litre diesel variant, this car gives you a lot of choice when it comes to fuel economy and power.

Notable for its reliability and quality motoring, the Peugeot 307 tends to be a solid buy that’s hard to fault. However, many second-hand cars are plagued by a few issues that occur across the range. Make sure that you don’t fall fowl of a poor purchasing decision with our common problems list.

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Toyota Corolla Common Problems

If you want reliability, then you can always go for a Toyota. And one of the most steadfast vehicles in their entire range is the awesome Corolla. Compared to some of the cars we have profiled in our common problem articles, this one is a real legend with a history that stretches back all the way to 1966 with 11 generations to date.

Named after a small crown, the Corolla was named the best-selling car in the world in 1974 and has even surpassed the numbers produced by the ever-so popular Volkswagen Beetle. With an estimated 40 million cars in existence you should have no trouble tracking down a second-hand vehicle for your use. And even though faults on this car are few and far between, you can make double sure your purchase is a good one with another one of our winning guides.

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Suzuki Vitara Common Problems

Many manufacturers have jumped on the SUV bandwagon, but one car with a real legacy is the Suzuki Vitara. A mainstay of Suzuki’s range, this vehicle has been in production since 1988 across many different generations, with the latest release coming in 2015.

If you want a good second hand SUV then make the Suzuki Vitara one of your first options. There’s a reason why this vehicle has stayed in the public eye for so long – and that’s due to its strong on-road handling, attractive features and durability. However, it is not completely destruction-proof, so when you are checking out a potential purchase, use our common problems list to avoid any issues. Continue reading →

Peugeot 207 Common Problems

There are mini motors. Then there are super-minis. One of these, hailing from the continental construction factories of the French, is the awesome Peugeot 207. With a production run that started in 2006 and finished in 2014, this is a good value car that has what it takes to wear the big trousers created by the very popular 206.

Using a modified platform originally created for the Citroen C3, the 207 was built for city motoring with 3 engine sizes on offer, including 1.4 and 1.6 litre engines, with the option to go turbo-charged and inter-cooled if you want high end motoring in a short-frame car.

Even though this little car is very reliable, it doesn’t get away without any problems. Before you part with your money for a second-hand vehicle, consider our list of faults to ensure you don’t end up with a lemon. Continue reading →

Common Problems with the Chrysler Voyager

The Chrysler Voyager is a popular vehicle that’s great on the road and offers seven seats of passenger space with an ample boot at the rear. It’s not going to win any prizes for good looks, but when it comes to carrying power it’s up there with some of the best.

First introduced by Chrysler in 1984, this model became a stalwart of the range in the US before it was released in the EU in 1988 and has undergone a slight rebrand in recent years as the Grand Voyager. It is a well-engineered car that makes a great second-hand purchase. However, you should be aware of several known faults with the car. Continue reading →

Renault Laguna Common Problems

Large, relaxed, fit for a family. Spacious motoring is available in the form of the Renault Laguna, which gives you ample room for everything from hauling hardware from the DIY store to taking the dogs down to the forest for a day. This great French motor had facelifts in 2001 and 2008, giving you a choice of styles if you want a vintage or retro flavour.

Buying any second-hand car can be a process fraught with difficulty, especially if you have very little or no mechanical knowledge. Fortunately we have compiled a listing of the most common issues, giving you a suspect problems cheat sheet that you’ll want to avoid when looking for a decent buy. Continue reading →

Peugeot 206 common problems

Want something super quick and stylish to get you round town? The Peugeot 206 could be the very thing you need with its continental stylings, which was created as an evolution of the best-selling 205. It has been a continual hit with motorists, selling over 8,000,000 vehicles in a production run that lasted from 1998 to 2016.

Chances are that you can now pick up a 206 at a very attractive price and get yourself a quality car that’s good on the pocket and great for fuel economy straight off the web or the second-hand lot. But what are the dangers and pitfalls you need to watch out for? Continue reading →

Skoda Superb common problems

Go back 30 years and the thought of Skoda producing a luxury car would be beyond comprehension. Now the Superb has put all doubts to rest making a serious and affordable entry into the large family and executive car market. And to really silence all the critics, it has a great standard of engineering to back up its stylish and imposing profile.

However, as with all cars it is not immune to problems and faults and there are several danger signs that any buyer should watch out for when on the scout for a quality second hand vehicle. Use this list of issues to check you don’t get caught out. Continue reading →

Common Problems with the Renault Scénic

Are you ready to ride the urban strip? Want a car that gives you continental cool with a whole trunk-load of space and usability? Well you could do a whole lot worse than the Renault Scénic. This small French multi-purpose vehicle took the kingdom of the road by storm when it won the 1997 European Car of the Year on its release. And there’s been no stopping it ever since.

Even though it’s without question a great buy for a second family car or first car for a young motorist, you can still get caught out with a duff model if you don’t quite know what you’re looking out for on the test drive. That’s why we’ve put help at your fingertips with our common problems guide. Continue reading →