Streatham's red routes, parking zones and a Citroën that crawls
Between the Odeon Streatham and the Tate Library, the A23 moves at 20mph when it moves at all, with buses stopping every few hundred yards and crossings in between. A Citroën that spends most of its life there does a lot of low-speed, low-load running. On a BlueHDi, that makes it hard for the particulate filter to regenerate. On an automated EGS or ETG gearbox, every crawl is another clutch engagement, and wear shows up as jerky pull-aways.
Parking is its own consideration. Lambeth CPZ permits carry an extra surcharge for diesels, and some Streatham owners are weighing that against the running costs of a Euro 6 BlueHDi that is otherwise compliant with the ULEZ. We will not tell you which car to own, but we can tell you how healthy your diesel's DPF and AdBlue systems are, which is useful when you are deciding. A Euro 6 diesel with a tired filter and a failing AdBlue heater is a different proposition from one that is in good health.
In the Victorian streets around Telford Park and off Streatham Common North, cars often sit for days, then do a short trip. That is tough on batteries and on PureTech engine oil. At a service we test the battery and charging system, check the oil condition and level, and gauge the belt. A car that is started often and driven little can still need its belt sooner than the mileage suggests, because age counts too. Nothing beyond the scheduled service is done without a written quote you have approved.
Because we are one of the further trips from Streatham, collection and delivery is often the easier option than driving down Mitcham Lane yourself. If you do drive, the route via Mitcham Lane and Streatham Road to Mitcham is the simplest, avoiding the town centre. Repairs carry our 3-month workmanship warranty, and we are open until 8pm on weekdays and Saturdays.