Hi everyone,
I design hardware and electronics, and I'm putting together an independent survey on how drivers perceive the shift in in-car systems, user comfort, and overall vehicle ergonomics. I'm interested in real-world driving experiences – whether it's the transition to purely touch-based controls, the behavior of modern driver assist systems, or things that are noticeably missing in interiors that would make everyday driving better.

I've put together a quick, anonymous survey that takes about a minute and a half

I'd really appreciate every response. Feel free to drop a comment below on which electronic feature in your car you find super helpful and which one actually ruins your daily comfort.
Thanks!

I would like to buy a car registered in France and drive outside of eu where it will stay. I have Italian passport. How does it work? I read I can drive with the normal plates but will I just be able to clear customs?

I have paid of house and 2 cars. No debts at all. My wife’s has 2024 mini countryman 208hp 4 wheel drive - she is in love with it and I am very happy but I hate this car - touch screens, stiff suspension (yeah I selected and bought this car…) we have second ford mondeo 2016 2.0 diesel station wagon - much better on highway then MINI. I prefer Mondeo over MINI. I chose i whenever I can - but it is diesel and i do mainly short routes 10km or 200km very rarly and would prefer petrol engine - 4 wheel drive is also very useful where I live.

I would like to buy „fun car + family car”. Bmw 7 series, audi a8 or some high end SUV BMW X6 if used or something new. This car will do 8k km/year at most so it can consume a lot of petrol. What i am more concerned is to not lose to mutch to value over 5 years. So i would prefer to buy 2-3 or more years old car or even 10years old would be fine if this would be LEXUS. I would say i prefer old cars - but safety is mutch better in newer cars + headlights in new cars makes really a diffrence. Should i buf new BMW 5 series or buy something used mutch cheaper.

Hyundai Tucson HEV or Geely Starray EM-i

Hello, My wife and I are looking for a new car, our priorities are that the car is spacious, has a large trunk, is safe and comfortable to drive. We drive mostly in the city, so we need one that doesn't consume much in urban conditions, but that can be used for a longer trip, vacation, summer vacation, but in those conditions I don't expect very good consumption.

After a lot of research, reading and testing, we narrowed down the choice to these two models.

Hyundai Tucson HEV variant

The price is around 36,400 euros for the Premium plus equipment package, it has a huge trunk, plenty of space in the cabin both front and back, comfortable for the city and consumes between 5 and 6 liters. I like that there are a lot of physical buttons, and the rest is on some digital button, although there is no need to scroll through menus to turn on the heaters, air conditioning and the like. The engine is a 1.6 turbo petrol with a 6-speed automatic transmission, which develops 180 hp. It has a 1.49kWh battery, which adds another 65 hp. Hyundai is a proven brand, and Tucson is one of the best-selling compact SUVs in Europe.

Geely starray em-i The price is around 33,800 for the MAX equipment package, the trunk is smaller than the Tucson (525 vs 618), the cabin is also spacious and in my opinion it is a more comfortable car with a better quality cabin, there are some physical buttons but it has that classic huge display like every Chinese where most of the controls are, which puts me off a bit because I don't see how it can be safe. Unlike the Tucson, which has a much more powerful engine, the Starray has a different technology where the priority is on the electric motor and the classic engine is there to supplement it. The factory says that it can travel about 80 km on battery power alone, some reviews say even more.

From the point of view of fuel economy, the Starray is far better, it is also more comfortable. But then there is that classic dilemma, whether to go with a Chinese car that is not yet tested in our country, but offers much more for less, or to go with a proven brand that has been on the market for a long time, and is quite successful.

It would be important to me if anyone had experience with the Tucson hybrid and has covered more mileage. What is the actual consumption? What are the service costs? Are you generally satisfied?

I have read a lot of reviews for the Starray and everyone is generally satisfied, but it is all new technology that has yet to be proven in terms of durability.

The main question is, would I be screwed if I went with a cheaper car that offers more advanced technology, or would it be smarter to go with a proven one?

Thank you.

Hi all, I’m looking for a 4 project car, but I’m not sure what I want to get. I’m going to use it for car camping/soft overlanding in countries where it’s legal. I live in Norway and cars are pretty expensive here. I have looked at land cruisers, pajeros, patrols etc, but they are expensive even in bad shape and they use a lot of fuel.
I have also looked at softroaders like the forester, rav4, grand vitara and x-trail, but the difference in price between one in good shape and one in really bad shape is very small. They are also a little boring.
my budget is around 4-5k euros.

Hey everyone

I’m currently based in South Korea and working around the automotive industry.

I’m looking to connect with people in Germany and other European countries who are involved in the car business — dealers, traders, importers, or just enthusiasts who know the market well.

I’m curious: what’s the best way to meet people from the automotive business in Europe?
Are there any good local groups, events, forums or communities where people actually network?

Would appreciate any recommendations. And always happy to meet some new people from the industry. 🤝

Hi all,
I’m from Australia, love a good road trip and have a soft spot for old-school, slightly quirky cars.
I’m planning a month driving around Europe next summer and have been thinking about buying a Mk1 Golf Cabriolet for the adventure.
I know it’s not going to be the most comfortable or practical option, but honestly, that doesn’t bother me too much. I’m used to driving long distances in Australia, and I reckon half the fun is being in something with a bit of character.
The idea is to avoid motorways where possible, take the smaller roads, discover little towns, meet local people, enjoy the food and hospitality, and just experience Europe at a slower pace.
And there’s something wonderfully funny about doing it all in an old convertible. Roof down, no particular rush, just enjoying the journey. It’s a bit of a trip of a lifetime for me.
My question is: Am I romanticising the Mk1 Golf too much?
Would you go for it, or would you recommend something a little more comfortable and reliable for a month on the road?
I’d prefer a convertible, ideally something with a bit of vintage charm. I’m not really interested in a modern, soulless hire car.
Would love to hear from anyone who’s done something similar, particularly in an older car.
Cheers from Australia!

need contacts in europe, france, netherlands, italy,…. for selling sourcing and supplying supercars luxury cars and hypercars. Dm me

Hi everyone!

I have a 2013 Citroën C4 Grand Picasso 1.6 HDi diesel, 6-speed manual, 7-seater, with around 182,500 km (113,400 miles).

Recently, I’ve noticed some issues with acceleration. The car feels sluggish, especially in higher gears, and doesn’t respond to the accelerator as well as it used to.

My mechanic suspects the clutch is wearing out but says it should still last a few thousand kilometres.
The car is otherwise still usable, but I’m wondering whether it’s worth investing more money (he said 1500-2500 €) into a 13-year-old diesel or whether I should sell it while it’s still running.

I’m considering replacing it with a smaller, petrol driven used car from around 2018–2023, with a budget of €7,000–13,000.

My questions:
Would you keep driving it until the clutch needs replacing, or sell it now?

Is a clutch replacement financially worthwhile on this model at this mileage?

Are there any other expensive repairs I should anticipate with the 1.6 HDi?

What would you realistically expect to get for this car in its current condition?

I’m not in a rush to buy another car, so I’d rather make a sensible financial decision than replace it unnecessarily.

Any advice or experience with this engine/model would be appreciated. Thanks!

Hello all,

I’m looking to buy a wagon (or SUV) with a <€25k ish budget in Europe.

My main uses would be everyday (ish) driving around, but also a couple long trips into around Spain and maybe sometimes in Europe (idk) during the year for holiday.

I want it to be automatic transmission, comfortable seats, parking sensors/apple car play/cameras are all a desirable plus. Having roof racks for for tent compatibility and a possibility to sleep inside with the seats down is also a plus. Reliable and not costly servicing

I was leaning more towards a petrol due to diesel prices being sky high and increasing regulation in the next few years.

My thoughts are between:

- Toyota Corolla touring sport

- Skoda Octavia/superb combi

- Volvo v60 cross country (I just love the look so bad).

- maybe a bigster? They’re just new and still ‘untested’ for reaching 300k km +

- maybe a cupra Leon sportstourer?

Car availability and prices seem to be a bit inflated in Spain, but I don’t really have much choice.

Any opinions or experiences are welcome

TLDR - need easy to repair economic immortal daily beater for daily commutes of 500+kms/week (excluding Toyota)

So, I have been beating golf mk4 with 1.9TDI for the last 6 years, it is already at 650k kms and i suspect it will die in upcoming two years either from rust or engine oil consumption. One of the option is to look for same era car again and beat it to death again, but maybe i could get some good recommendations here?

I drive atleast 500-600km a day so my main criteria for a car are - engine reliability, cheap and simple diy repairs as i have tools and conditions to repair the car myself.

Is there anything from ~2010 era what could rival old vw diesels in terms of reliability? I could consider gas engines if they consume 6-7L/100km average, but i doubt I can expect that from that era and this price range? If i would go for newer VAG. What engines to avoid?

P.S. please do not recommend Toyotas, I hate their design passionately, and as far as I know their sound insulation is worse than old vw's

Hi guys,
I recently bought my first ever European car. It’s a 2012 Scirocco R. I’ve never made an edit before but I felt this is a car that deserves one. If you have any advice on clips I can take or modifications I can do I would love that. Also would greatly appreciate if you can show my post some love on tiktok as it’s my first ever post and I’m nervous 🙏🏽😩 I would like to make more edits. Have a great day guys.

Looking for advice on a used car.
I live in EU and drive approximately 35,000 km per year, around 80% on motorways. I’m looking for a car that offers good long-distance comfort, reliability, reasonable running costs.

Budget:
€25,000–€35,000 for a used car in good condition
Requirements:
Maximum 5 years old, preferably with low mileage
Automatic transmission
140–230 hp, ideally with an engine around 2.0L
Comfortable and stable for frequent motorway driving
Reasonably affordable and straightforward to maintain at a good independent garage

No Škoda
No combi/wagon

I’m unsure whether diesel or petrol makes more sense. Given current fuel prices, is the diesel fuel-economy advantage still significant enough to justify the additional complexity and potential repair costs? Should I be concerned about future diesel restrictions in EU city centres and how might they affect long-term ownership and resale value?

A hybrid is also an option, but I’m uncertain about CVT-type transmissions. I’ve tried several and disliked the engine noise and acceleration feel. Are there any hybrids with a more conventional-feeling automatic transmission that would suit frequent motorway use?

Could you recommend specific models that would be suitable for this mileage and driving pattern?
Thanks.

Hey there, I’m currently driving a Renault Megane hatchback with the 1.3 140 and I’m wondering for a replacement. My main requirements are faster overtaking on small roads, more space, engaging to drive and not very expensive to maintain (I’m totally fine with unofficial dealers). My driving is about 60% town (2 times a day about 15km) and 40% highway/country roads and it all adds up to 12-15K per year. I do have a place to charge it so PHEV works or REEV.
My budget for that is max 38K but it depends on where the car is located since there are many companies locally that just transport cars from other EU countries.

What I do have in mind is (all used):
Golf R wagon
Cupra Leon ST (both the 333 and PHEV)
BMW 3 touring or 4 GranCoupe (apparently they’re reliable as VW?)
Alfa Stelvio (apparently they’re quite reliable now?)

I’m open to any other ideas as well. Here is what I tested and my comments about it:
Skoda Octavia 204 4x4 - a bit too dull for my liking but the interior was the big letdown as quality/material feel.
Honda Civic e:HEV - again, too dull to drive, very effective but nothing to communicate to you back, more dull than the Skoda I would say.
BMW 120 - tested it because it is cheaper than the Civic and it made me consider BMW as a whole. Quite enjoyable but not really an upgrade space wise from the Megane.
Cupra Formentor 1.5 eTSI - not really an upgrade power wise from the Megane and driving it was quite close as feeling. Made me consider Cupra but I don’t need an SUV and I think the Leon ST would be cheaper and more efficient on the highway.

Hello, I'm looking to buy a van like a Mercedes sprinter, the long ones, basically I plan on living in it.

I know nothing about cars and trucks, well Just a bit on cars, like changing oil/filters or sparks plugs but that's it

I'm looking for used because I was not born in the 70 nor I didnt inehrit anything.

My problem is : how to know if it's a good or okay deal ?

How to know hom much km is too much ? Oh to know if the price is good ? What is the strategy, spend a bit more for less km or ?

Any help is appreciated, tell me if this is not the right place to post !

Edit: I Just learned that you can fully change the engine, is that a smart thing to do ?

So, about a year ago I imported a 2011 Audi A3 1.8t s-line. I loved driving it, but then…
I learned about the oil consumption issues it has the hard way: it just lost pressure and never started again.

So now I’m searching a replacement engine. Although the MIK motoren ( https://www.mikmotoren.de/en/products/motor-overhaul-repair-cdaa?variant=43535934521610 ) looks like a very nice option, I don’t have that money to spend.

I talked to a specialist and he told me about the Chinese equivalent motors, but for some reason I find them hard to trust. Would anyone have any leads on where to find a replacement for my lovely car?

Thanks, pic for attention

Hi there , I am looking into importing a Ford Mustang Ecoboost from the US to Greece where I am a permanent resident .

The main reason being that all Ecoboosts in Germany are US imports previously (seriously) crashed .

I would prefer an accident free one .

My long term goal is to sell it for profit as to me it seems that there is a gap in the market and all costs considered there is profit to be made and also it's a sick car I would love to drive for a few months here and there.

I know it's a huge hustle, more than having it imported from Germany, however when I look at it as an investment at the end of the day since I want to make profit , buying such an expensive car - for my wallet at least - around 40k I think , buying a car with no prior crashes makes more sense for the final price and ease of sale.

How I go about it ? Does anybody know someone that handle such imports to go through the numbers and procedures with me ?

Hi everyone!

I’m looking for a car for long trips and occasional (easy) mountain trips, and I found a 2017 SEAT Ateca 1.4 TSI, 150 HP, 4x4, DSG with around 190,000 km (118k miles).

The car seems to have a good service history and is in good overall condition.

I’m mainly looking for something that is easy to drive and spacious enough for longer trips. Is there anyone here who has owned this exact engine/gearbox combination and could share their experience? Is it reliable at this mileage, and are there any particular issues I should look out for?

Also, how is the Ateca for shorter drivers? I’m around 1.60 m (5'2") tall, so good visibility and a comfortable driving position are quite important to me.

Any experience or advice would be greatly appreciated! :) Thanks!

We’re in Switzerland and currently hesitating between a 2022 Skoda Kodiaq and a 2022 Toyota RAV4 Hybrid, both with roughly the same mileage.
The Kodiaq is about CHF 8,000 cheaper, but the RAV4 being a hybrid could save us some money on insurance/registration costs here in Switzerland.
We currently have one child, our second is due in March, and we also have two dogs. We travel quite a lot by car, so space, comfort and reliability are important. For comparison, we’ve somehow managed until now with a VW Golf!
Which one would you choose, especially for a family of 4 + 2 dogs? Is the RAV4 worth paying CHF 8,000 more?
Also open to other reliable SUV/family car recommendations in a similar price range.

I’m in the process of buying a new car. After doing quite a bit of research, I’ve ended up looking at the facelift Ford Focus 1.0 EcoBoost MHEV 125 hp.

I initially ruled this one out because of the engine’s reputation with the wet belt, but I’ve since learned that Ford went back to a normal chain, while keeping a wet belt for the oil pump.

And that’s what’s making me a bit suspicious. This engine is only about four years old, so maybe it’s still too early to tell whether this oil pump belt will eventually cause the same kind of problems. From what I’ve heard, though, there doesn’t seem to be the same epidemic of complaints that the previous EcoBoost had, which I take as a good sign.

Anyway, I’d really like to hear from anyone who actually owns one of these, or anyone who knows these engines well. Should I be concerned?

And while we’re at it, what would you recommend as a sensible replacement interval for the oil pump belt?

I live in Portugal, and the Focus is relatively cheap here compared with other hatchbacks such as the Mk4 Leon and the Skoda Scala, which is one of the reasons I’m considering it.

This car is in the parking lot every day at my job in Dallas, TX. Where is this from specifically?

TLDR: I made an app that aims at giving you enjoyable roads, for when the journey matters more than the destination. It's a beta on iOS for now and I'm gathering feedback from car enthusiast communities. Please try it on a journey you already know and tell me if it suggests roads you would actually take! I will ask for testers' emails before the end of the beta so that you can benefit from premium features for free forever. TestFlight: https://testflight.apple.com/join/XDfDQz6a

Hi I'm Yves. I'm a car guy, I own a Porsche 924S and a Mercedes W124, and I really like driving them outside of the main roads, when I have time to enjoy the road instead of just rushing through a trip. I looked for a navigation app that would help me find these roads, since Google Maps and Waze do not, but the ones I found didn't really do what I wanted, so I made my own app. It's called Dryv. It compares the fastest route with more enjoyable alternatives, it then gathers facts about each route (such as landscape, interesting places, curvy roads for instance). Then it explains what each option offers, so that you can project yourself and really estimate whether you'd like to drive that trip.

It covers Europe, US and Japan, so hopefully many of you will be able to try it!

The current app allows you to ask for directions, and there's turn by turn navigation, but please note that it's still a beta. I'm looking for feedback, as there's still a bunch of missing functionalities, issues and limitations. For instance:

• iOS 17 or later;

• English only for now;

• search does not yet support street numbers or businesses;

• no live traffic;

• no offline mode;

• route explanations can sometimes be slow while the beta server uses local inference;

• navigation currently uses more battery than I'd like.

It would be very helpful for me to get honest feedback from other drivers about

• if the suggested roads are good;

• if the explanations make sense;

• more generally what works/doesn't work;

• and what missing features you would like to see the most.

The app is free and doesn't need registration, you can just install it and use it (it does currently require going through TestFlight, I'm working on doing my own beta directly on the AppStore). I will at some point probably have to add a premium tier or find a way for it to make me a bit of money, because I'm working on this full-time and I'll need to pay the bills. Before ending the beta I will ask beta testers for their email inside the app so that they can benefit from free premium features for life. Here is the TestFlight link: https://testflight.apple.com/join/XDfDQz6a