Well I have now swapped Vintage for Oldster, which reinstates Idler. Now I have Chicory (6) E _ S _ _ _
(the S of Oldster)
Destroyed or ruined (8) B _ N _ _ _ E _
And I have just realised that Oldster knocks out my answer to - Be of the same opinion as (5,4) . I had Great mind. The first letter of that would now be E
Ginge, your suggestion is certainly feasible. Used Car would indeed place the D in the correct place for Endive, which was my original thought too. It must be a mistake saying 7 letters instead of 4,3.
My grid is some mess now!!
I'll try and help if you repost as I can't follow much of what's gone before but similarly I'm struggling to post, keeps freezing and then being thrown off.