Questions from October 2013
I find my new Volvo XC60 a very hard drive. When I was ordering it I suggested 17-inch wheels but I was assured they wouldn't make any difference so I opted for the standard 18-inch. Now, having read many...
I am considering a 2009 Subaru Forester Suretrac, which I have seen at a local 4x4 Independent Specialist who has a good reputation. The vehicle was previously driven by a company rep and has covered 101,000...
My daughter has been advised by the main dealer that the condenser and high pressure pipe of her 2009 Toyota Yaris TR 5dr 1.33 VVT-i are leaking at the joint and a new unit is required at a fitted price...
My 2.0-litre petrol auto Honda Accord is over 13 years old, has 76,000 miles on the clock and still goes really well. I do less than 3000 miles a year, a local mechanic does all the required servicing,...
I experienced alternator failures on two Chevrolet Matiz. The first was replaced under warranty. The second cost £211.51 to replace, the work done at a Green Flag Breakdown-appointed repair facility. That...
I wish to buy an inexpensive convertible and have been seduced by the cute looks of the Daihatsu Copen. However I understand that Daihatsu no longer markets cars in the UK. Will this mean servicing and...
Do you know of a Satnav (UK and Europe) with integral speed limit indication and speed camera warning or a Satnav with integral 'Road Angel Gem' facilities, please?
I have been reading the debate about lane hogs on motorways with interest. JB of Altrincham and the party bore in ‘Beef encounter’ don't realise the problem posed by lane hogs to trailer drivers such as...
Some many years ago I was employed in the ‘Met’ as a traffic officer and trained at Hendon Driving School where I attained certificates as advanced motorcyclist, car driver and vehicle examiner. I am incidentally...
We have just obtained a Ford Grand C-Max. The middle seat of the second row is narrower than the outer two. Is it correct/safe to fit a High Back Booster Group 2/3 child's seat to the middle of the row...
I wonder if you could possibly help with the problem of selling a 'Suzuki Life' wheelchair-driven petrol car. My friend is disabled and no longer fit enough to drive. The car is a 2005 Suzuki Wagon R adapted...
Apart from the issue of undertaking and multiple lane changing are we missing a more important point? Centre lane hoggers effectively turn a 3-lane motorway into a 2-lane motorway mainly because drivers...
My wife's Range Rover Evoque is only a few months old. We found some bird droppings on the car that, after attempted cleaning, did not remove the matted look. We took it back to the dealer who, to our...
The aircon on my 30-month-old (23,000 mile) Jaguar XF suddenly stopped working recently when on the M11. My local dealer (from whom I bought the car) tells me the aircon unit has become punctured, possibly...
I am speccing a Volkswagen Golf GT for my wife. It looks nicer with 18-inch wheels, but will it be appreciably more comfortable on the standard 17-inch?
I am considering the purchase of a 2004 MGF 1.8. In a recent reply you referred to the MGF as “worth considering”. Where can I find out more, in particular about the cylinder head gasket problem?
I'm the happy owner of a Volkswagen camper. What would make me even happier is being able to charge my Braun electric toothbrush via the cigarette-lighter type socket that runs off my leisure battery....
I am looking to replace my aging Suzuki Jeep, which I use in the Falklands. I have narrowed the list down to either a Nissan Terrano, a Toyota Hilux Surf or a Mitsubishi Shogun/Pajero, all diesel models....
Travelling home to Somerset from Heathrow along the M4 I was grateful to be warned, on numerous occasions, that there were long delays from J13 to J24 on the M5. However, these warnings did of course omit...
I have recently renewed my car insurance with a new provider (a reputable company with five star accreditation) for a very reasonable premium. However, I notice that the clause "Insured to only drive the...
A local company has offered to remove the DPF from my Golf estate, reprogram the ECU and leave it looking identical underneath. They claim better mpg and power and, obviously, no blockages caused by short...
I have a budget of £10,000 to £12,000 and am looking for a hatchback with room for two sets of golf clubs plus trolleys. I am single and travel to work three days a week, comprising a round trip of 50...
My car is a 10-year-old Saab 9-3 2.2TiD. On a recent journey it suddenly failed to accelerate and large clouds of smoke came out of the exhaust. I called the AA and they told me it looked as though the...
Will you please advise me on the most suitable replacement tyres for my 2004 Honda Stream SE Sport?Currently I have two Yokohama ASPEC and two Bridgestone Turanza fitted 195/65R 15 91V. Winter mileage...
My wife owns a 1971 Morris Minor Traveller with just over 100,000 miles on the clock, which she has enjoyed over many years. However, with ageing bones (mine too), she feels she needs something slightly...
I have a 2007 1.8 petrol Saab 9-3 Sportwagon. I'm keeping it for the foreseeable future. I have just had it serviced by Kwik Fit (great value and service by the way), and they flagged that the timing belt...
I am thinking of replacing my Peugeot 206 with a Citroen DS3 and had been intending to purchase a petrol model. However, the salesman is recommending a diesel on the basis that fuel consumption is more...
Driving frequently on motorways I am faced with delays and queues with stop, start and slow progress. Is there any research to suggest that either the inside or outside lanes might on average offer quicker...
I have a 2008 Mercedes-Benz ML 420CDI, which has had an intermittent satnav function for several months. After prolonged diagnostic testing at the local MB dealer they replaced the antenna at considerable...
We recently took a holiday in France with our cocker spaniel. We experienced a problem with the car, which had to be left there for repatriation later, but the RAC cover worked very well for getting us...
I am looking to replace my six-year old Skoda Octavia 4x4 Estate with a fairly new (1-2 years old max) family estate, still with 4x4. I need 4x4 for a difficult drive and local access road in the Lake...
My auntie is looking to spend around £6000 on a car. Reliability and low running cost are important. What would you suggest?
We have a 61,000 miles 5-year-old Ford C-Max Style MPV and want to replace it with a new MPV. We appreciate the easy access, the roominess of cabin and boot and the economy of the C-Max (I need to be able...
We currently have a Renault Kangoo and are very impressed with the wide and high loadspace it has. We now wish to replace it with something similar, but with four-wheel drive. It appears that none of...
I'm in the process of buying a new Ford Mondeo Zetec Business Edition. However, the 16-inch alloys are a no-cost option against the standard fit 17-inch - which is likely to be the better bet?
We have bought a new Honda Jazz, which includes an optional rear view camera at a cost of £765. However, we’re very unhappy with the camera as we cannot see anything due to its position. We emailed Honda...
I own a 2013 Land Rover Freelander 2 and am concerned with what looks like a Haldex rear-drive issue. I’ve been told by a mechanic that this could become a mechanical nightmare as parts of the transmission,...
I want to sell my 2006 Ford Mondeo, but cannot work out if it is worth fixing. It runs really well and has 80,000 on the clock. Problems are some scratches, chips and a 'keying' mark. Would you recommend...
Can you tell me if van tyres are worth the extra cash? They are more expensive than car tyres, but look the same.
My wife needs to replace her 1998 Renault Clio, which similar sized car could you recommend that can easily take golf clubs and small electric trolley in the boot?
I have 20-inch wheels on my new Audi Q5 and am looking to purchase winter tyres. Do I have to stick with the 20s or can I fit smaller wheels?
My mother needs a replacement for her old 2006 Ford Focus. She is looking for a used small to medium MPV with about the same footprint as the Focus. My father suffers from Alzheimers and needs a lot of...
A friend of mine has been sent a speeding ticket relating to an incident in France, last year. He has been quoted 190 Euros fine, whilst he was driving a minibus in the Paris, Alsace region. I understand...
I'm in the market for a new Toyota Auris, but can't decide between a diesel or hybrid. Which will have depreciated the most after three years?
I have just bought a new petrol Nissan Qashqai, can you tell me the best method for 'running it in'?
I bought a 2010 Audi A8 last year, but have always felt that something was not quite right with it. The problems started under light acceleration, with a lag in power then a sudden surge. I initially put...
I'm having problems with the gear selector on my 2007 Vauxhall Corsa: it sticks in park and can take five minutes of wiggling to free it. Is this a common fault on this model?
I'm looking to upgrade my 200,000 mile Volkswagen Golf GTi to a more sensible family estate/MPV, I have around £20,000 to spend. I will be doing around 12 - 14,000 miles a year and the new Renault Megane...
Can you tell me what the dealer percentage profit is on the new Mazda 6? I'm planning to buy one, but want to do my homework so I can haggle hard!
I have a leased Nissan Qashqai 1.6 dci. It has been in the garage for seven weeks due to a blown injector causing the lubrication on cylinder No 1 to wash away and wreck the engine (according to the Nissan...
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