Questions from November 2013
I have just bought a new Volkswagen Golf, but noticed the ride is very hard and bumpy. The car is fitted with Conti premium contact 5 205/55/R16 Can you suggest a more compliant tyre?
My husband died recently and I have just sold his car. It was taxed and MOT'd for two weeks and the buyer gave me cash, without looking at or testing the vehicle. However, the buyer has now called me...
My son is thinking of selling his much loved 1975 Volkswagen Camper van. It’s taxed and MoT’d until the middle of next year. What would be the best way for him to sell it? And if he gets a buyer, what...
In July the main street through Milford-on-Sea was resurfaced, and the work was excellently carried out, resulting in one of the smoothest roads in Hampshire. Now, only a couple of months later, the council...
I took my Ford Focus (a very nice car) to a Ford dealer for its first service on 12 October 2012 with 4233 on the clock and everything was OK. This week I went to the same Ford dealer for the second Service...
One injector of my Audi A4 2.0TDI failed. Audi replaced all four injectors free of charge. However, after they were replaced, the car would not start and a fault was traced to the ECU. On reading the thread...
I had thoughts of getting a Suzuki SX4 and in a recent article you spoke well of it. However in a recent 'Which' motoring survey earlier this year the vehicle was not recommended due to non-availability...
We have had Warranty Direct cover on our Citroen C6 for two years now. During that time we have had cause to make, I think, three claims, the latest after a major coolant fault whilst in France. On each...
I am a reasonably keen driver and have always bought various older high performance BMWs, Audi's and even a Porsche Boxster over the last 20 years, and have whittled down my choice of next car to either...
I am pleased to say that APCOA has rather unwillingly agreed to drop its demands for me to pay a fine in respect of a parking charge I had already paid. Thank you for your help and advice in this matter,...
I purchased a 2009 Volkswagen Golf 1.4 16v at the end of February 2013. The salesman failed to mention that when it turned four years old we would need the cam belt / water pump replacing at a cost of...
In April this year I bought an Audi A4 Avant SE 2.0, first registered 29-09-2010. We then had a dry summer and it wasn't until heavy rain in early August that I found the floor mats on the drivers side...
I have seen a 1962 Singer Gazelle 4-door automatic saloon for sale for under £2000, which I would like to buy for my daughter's 18th birthday. We have both driven it and my daughter has fallen madly in...
I am having a few problems with my lower back due to the seating position in my 2008 Ford Ranger Thunder, which I'm very fond of. It is a hoot to drive, very reliable and looks good. If I were to change...
We have owned a 2007 Hyundai Santa Fe 2.2 CDI 7-seater for three years but recently it has displayed the engine management light. Our dealer carried out a diagnostic check and revealed it was a clogged...
We have found nicks taken out of the sunroof seal of our Volkswagen Touareg and also the windscreen wipers of both our Polo and Touareg. My son in law thinks it could be birds rather than mice. Have you...
Can you please tell me the best way to dispose of a car that I have inherited and which I unfortunately have no use for? Would it be considered a classic? I have no idea of its value. The car is a 1989G...
We need a small automatic. My nearest dealer is Mazda. Any views on the Mazda 2 Auto?
I am planning on buying a car for my partner and we were looking at 2008-2010 Hyundai i30 1.6 diesel with less than 40,000 miles. Any good and bad pointers or advice on this one? He will be mostly doing...
If I were looking to buy a camper van with a chain-cam engine while also seeking to avoid potential DPF problems, what makes / models should I be considering?
I am a second owner of a 2011 Nissan Note purchased in May 2012. During the annual waxing in June this year (as advised under the 3-year warranty) I noticed an inward bow below the edge of the driver's...
How is it possible for details of my insurance company to be identified by third parties? My insurance company contacted me in June to tell me that a claim had been made against my insurance for an incident,...
I am thinking of buying a 2012/62 Skoda Superb. It has the 170PS diesel engine. Please can you tell me if this engine has a timing chain or belt?
My wife has a 2005 Volkswagen Polo 3-door diesel, which she bought new. It has now done only 19,600 miles and is well cared for. We noticed a small area of rust on one of the front wheel arches with the...
We have recently acquired a new Chevrolet Spark 1.0. We are quite pleased with it, especially with the ride quality. It was a toss up between that and the Hyundai i10 1.2. I would have gone for the Hyundai,...
I drive a 65,000 mile 2007 Volvo C70 automatic in good condition. I'm thinking of changing it for a more practical car such as a Honda Jazz 1.4ES CVT-7, which is £15,995 on the road. The salesman says...
I have just put a deposit on a new Volkswagen Golf 1.4TSI SE, and intend to pay for it on delivery. On reading the brochure there is a section headed Volkswagen ENsurance, which says that, in the event...
My son just turned 17 and pestered me to get him a provisional licence. I Googled and the first site that came up was ‘provisionalicence.co.uk’ I clicked to order the licence and paid the £50, only to...
12 months ago I bought a three-year-old Corsa from my local Evans Halshaw in Horsforth, Leeds. At the time there were promotional offers, and I opted for a two year service and MoT package for approximately...
We have very limited width parking and have at present a Suzuki Jimny 4x4. We are interested in a small automatic car with sliding doors as this would ameliorate the parking problem. We cannot go any wider...
It was recently suggested to me that fuel obtained from supermarkets is inferior to that obtained from filling stations and service areas and is “diluted” in some way, resulting in lower performance and...
I've changed my mind and am now going for a new Skoda Citigo, 5-door Elegance, Greentech engine. I have a couple of questions: I've been told by the dealer that it'll be a three month wait; is this normal?...
I am thinking of buying a one-year-old Audi A5 Sportback diesel, but I only drive about 5000 miles a year, most of this in short journeys of about two miles. Am I likely to experience diesel particulate...
I visited St Ives in Cornwall last week. I entered a privately run car park (not council). The site was very busy. Only a relatively small space was free. Other cars had parked over the lines. I parked...
You recently advised somebody who was thinking of buying a diesel car to take in to account replacing the DPF after three years. I have a one-year-old diesel Qashqai and, although I am aware after reading...
In 2008 I went to a Fiat dealership and, with the help of the car salesman, configured a 500 Multijet diesel to my 'needs' and to a very high spec. Having spent my life savings on the car, I was told it...
I have noticed that you have rarely, if ever, mentioned or recommend the Mitsubishi ASX. I part exchanged my 2004 Freelander for an ASX earlier this year and I have been most impressed with the vehicle....
Having read your advice on three months' storage, could you say which of the points are really necessary for an 11-year-old Volvo auto that will be garaged for four weeks, please?
Mother in law has Peugeot 207 Auto 1.6 petrol. The gearbox is playing up and the overall finish of the car seems poor.
Whats the most suitable replacement? It will be used for short distances (10 miles)...
What would you recommend as a quiet , hard wearing tyres for a Yaris T-Spirit (2011).
I am 18 years old and have recently started driving a 2005 Yaris 1.0 Colour Collection. I bought it cheap with a few scrapes and dings and have now rectified these and am contemplating selling it on, hopefully...
I intend to downsize from my Jaguar XJ6 - very comfortable but expensive to tax, insure and service - to a small, second-hand car which will be our "second car".
Because of a bad back and dodgy hip I...
A friend has £12,000 to spend on a used car. Performance and handling are very important. Badge, status, and frivolities such as heated seats, sat-nav, electric mirrors etc are totally unimportant.
Both...
I am looking to buy a used estate and I am interested in the Hyundai i30 1.6CRDi and the Kia Cee'd SW 1.6CRDi . I am considering cars from between 2008 to 2010 and they range from £6k to £8K.
Are there...
I am considering buying a car from a private seller whose car's road tax has expired. Obviously, it is unwise to buy a car without inspecting and driving it first. What can you advise about how to test...
I recently bought a second hand Toyota Aygo Black 1.0L with air con. How often should it be used? Does it reduce mpg greatly if used in this small car?
I have a 2013 Mondeo 2.0 TDCI Titanium with 215/50 R17 tyres. If I put cold weather tyres on which is best?
1. 17" tyres which are changed over every Summer and Winter on the 17" wheels, or
2. Buy some...
I have recently topped up Halfords Opel Engine oil (petrol) into my Volkswagen Golf (diesel). This was for fill up, I topped up about 0.75 litre to 1 litre. It wasn't exactly the right oil.
I have noticed...
I own a 2003 Ford Focus 1.6LX which I have been very happy with. The car broke down two weeks ago and will not turn over (all the dash lights come on but the engine does not turnover).
The car has been...
Our car was vandalised when we were walking our dog. Came back to find the passenger window broken and hidden bags of shopping (under coats), the sat nav and other goods gone. We phoned the police and...
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