Questions from August 2011
I live on a hill and my drive is very steep. I did have a BMW X3 which was great, but I foolishly sold it last year for a 1 Series thinking I did not need such a big car. With the big freeze the 1 Series...
I was wondering what experiences you'd heard about of people using Cargiant? Looking at their website their cars all look very well presented and I would value your opinion.
Is the 2012 Civic to be a diesel-engined car only? Is there to be a petrol version? And an automatic one?
One of your readers couldn't get his 1962 Mini's master cylinder replaced. You suggested changing the anterior running gear with that from a later Mini series. An easy and safe way to repair an obsolete...
My American buddy asks if this British ‘Woody’ is a Triumph Dolomite?
During the 1960s I was studying metallurgy and one of our senior lecturers was called as an expert witness at an inquest of a mechanic who had been killed, when a fan blade of a car he was tuning up had...
After fitting a new battery, my little Morgan 4/4 started ok after hibernation. But it's not running sweetly and I put it down to tired petrol; 3/4 full and at least nine months old. What shall I do?
I have a 1973 Triumph Stag that is in need of some restoration work. Can you recommend anyone who specialises in restoring Stags, preferably in the Midlands?
12 years ago I bought the private registration plate 'PDF 25' for £2500. I now wish to sell it and have only been offered £1200. I do not know whether to advertise privately for a higher price, or if that...
My son recently sold his car and had trouble because the purchaser had discovered from a history check that the mileage was 70,000 more than on the odometer in the car. The odometer reading was correct....
I had been procrastinating over the disposal of my old BMW for some time, fearing DVLC bureaucracy, dodgy car breakers and other barriers to the whole operation. Having become exasperated by my lack of...
Each year the Road Safety team at Torbay Council organise a Seminar and Exhibition for senior drivers. This event has stands that include the Institute of Advanced Motorists, eyesight tests, reaction testing,...
James May's eulogistic comments about the late-lamented Renault 4 in July 9 Telegraph Motoring raised many nostalgic memories about this excellent little car, of which we owned five different examples...
Rover fitted a selectable free wheel device to its ‘Aunty’ models in the 1960s. I recollect my father using it for most of his driving. Why has something like it not been resurrected as fuel prices have...
I recently went to a local branch of a national tyre chain to have two front tyres replaced and the front alignment checked.
After a time the mechanic came to me and said they could not do the work...
Today I had to fold my rear seats down in my 2005 Vectra in order to transport a wardrobe but now I've put the seats back up the centre seat belt has no slack and you can't pull any out.
Also when I've...
Our parents have bought an A-Class Mercedes but mum is having trouble with engaging reverse gear. It's a 6-speed box with R in top left postion so the driver has to pull the stick up and push it away to...
I have recently visited BCA car Auctions to get the feel of the place with a view to buy soon, but some vehicles do not have a V5 document. Is it safe to buy such a vehicle at an auction especially as...
Yesterday in Lincoln I saw a 54 plate car wearing Bentley wheel inserts and a Bentley motif on it's rear number plate but with just a letter B on it's boot (could not see the front before it moved off)....
We currently run a second generation MINI Cooper with 16" wheels on 195/55 runflat tyres. What tyres would you recommend for good grip in wet, cold and icy conditions, better ride and more positive handling?...
I have a real heartache over my newly purchased 07 plate Berlingo van and really hope you could point me in the right direction!
On 6th of June this year I bought this van from a dealer near Sheffield....
I pulled out of a carpark and bumped the wing of a passing car. Their damage is slight and they do not wish to claim, but I have already reported it to my insurer and am awaiting an estimate for the work...
I have been told by Swiftcover that an accident I had was my fault, but they will not see my point of view and will pay out, then hit me with a premium increase at renewal.
It all stems from an accident...
At the end of June we bought a Jaguar XF 3-litre petrol on an 08 plate from a Jaguar main dealer.
When we reverse out of our garage and down the fairly steep slope of our drive, the brakes make a loud...
Just bought my wife a Fiat Grande Punto 57 plate, first reg Dec 2007 and it's an auto which you can also use as a manual (like a mini tiptronic).
Its done 29,00 miles. Wife loves it, nice to drive etc....
I've been trying to sort out car insurance for my Mum using internet insurance companies.
I completed the information with my Mum present, but when I went to buy a policy the site (Swift Cover) said...
I have trawled the topic thread already and tried numerous solutions thus far to no avail.
My car which i have had for a few years has developed this problem as described by many others.
The key fob...
Our Nissan X-Trail (02) may be on the way out. We have 2 children and a dog and live in the Brecon Beacons. We need a good reliable car that does more mpg than our current X-Trail Sport. We need something...
Concerning Clause 56 of the Protection of Freedoms Bill, this is the letter I have written to my MP: I understand that Parliament is shortly to pass the Protection of Freedoms Bill. Under the Bill it seems...
In response to my letter to my MP, David Burrowes, I received this letter:
"I am writing on behalf of David Burrowes, who has asked me to thank you for your email of yesterday about proposals in the...
According to a news report, Mr. Allen Swift (of Springfield, MA.) received this Rolls-Royce Phantom 1 Piccadilly Roadster from his father, brand new, as a graduation gift, in 1928. He drove it up until...
Firstly let me tell you that I always read your letters page and have gained a lot from it. I think you actually dealt with my problem some months ago but of course I didn’t keep the information. My daughter...
Recent interest in the Highway Code raises the question of the clauses that begin with the words DO NOT, which are only advisory, and can be ignored without penalty, especially parking situations. One...
Several weeks ago my daughter skidded into the side of a lorry on a bend. She had to be cut out of her car (which was a write off) by the Fire Service and was treated at the scene by paramedics before...
I understand that some classic/vintage car drivers when proceeding at about 40mph on an unrestricted single carriageway with a queue of traffic behind them have been stopped by the police and either cautioned...
For over 50 years I have been driving conventionally geared cars I am now 81 and considering moving to a slightly smaller car, an automatic Fiesta in place of my Toyota Auris. I drive about 14,000 miles...
I agreed with my local SAAB dealer that they would come to my home, collect my car and carry out the year 2 service for the agreed price of £336 including VAT.
Later on in the morning I received a phone...
I am considering investing in winter tyres for the coming season. Clearly the driving wheels are critical, but as it is much more costly, is it important to fit them all round? If so, can you please explain...
After exchanging my wonderful Volvo 940 Celebration for a 2008/58 V70 diesel estate last November, I took your advice and have always run it on BP Ultimate diesel (as also my wife’s Golf), and both cars...
I recently bought a 2009 BMW X5 from an independent dealer. The car still has 16 months left of warranty. I noticed I was losing air in one of the front tyres, so went to a local garage. He diagnosed a...
We are looking for a small 'starter' car for my daughter, 18 years old, but to be used by us occasionally as well, so we want something in good nick. My wife and two daughters are smitten with the 'trendy'...
Can you please help? The MoT on one of my cars, parked off road on our driveway, runs out on the 19th October. I will be out of the country from the 13th September until the 26th October. The car will...
I currently have a 2005 Skoda Octavia Estate 2.0 Litre diesel with DSG gearbox. Car has been faultless and I have experienced none of the reported "hesitation" with the 6-speed wet DSG box. Now time to...
I am exploring the possibility of replacing my son's current VW Golf 1800 (purchased April 2001) with either a VW Polo or Skoda Fabia. My son who lives in Islington at the side of the Congestion Zone is...
My Mercedes ML320CDI has covered a relatively trouble free 165,000 miles. At its last service my local MB dealer says that there is a judder in second gear (it is the 7 speed model) that is likely to prove...
We need to replace our 16-year-old Mercedes C180. Can you suggest a replacement saloon car that would have a decent amount of legroom as my son is 6' 10” and I am 6' 6” and we would also need room in the...
I have a 2005 Jaguar S-Type 2.7 diesel. Can you tell me if it has a cambelt or chain?
According to your website, my annual road tax is £260 for my 2007 KIA Sedona 2.9 CRDi TS Auto but the DVLA charges me £445. I guess I'm not going to be lucky and the DVLA has got it wrong so I think there...
I have been given the chance to buy, from an elderly lady neighbour who is giving up driving, a Vauxhall Astra 1.6 115 Elite and I should like to know whether it would be a good buy, and, if so, what would...
The GPS units (e.g. Garmin) which are fitted in private light aircraft are required to record their journey details so that, like the Black Box in commercial aircraft, they can be interrogated after an...
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