Questions from June 2015
I am wanting to but a new Mazda CX-3 and would like the AWD version but as is common with many makers now it only comes as top spec sport nav (many extras I neither need nor want). I need a car that can...
What would you consider as high mileage in a car? Are some marques likely to be capable of higher mileages than others?
I drive a 54-plate Honda Accord 2.2 diesel, which has covered 168,000 miles but now has a very rattly timing chain - apparently this is a known problem on diesel Accord, and Honda offered a free or subsidised...
You tell us we buy any car is in fact the old sure sell people. So presumably the we buy bods need to make a profit so where do they sell their cars? If at auction would the private punter be better off...
The cam belt is broken on my Peugeot 807. Is it a safe engine still?
I have a 2015 CLS 350 CDI. My concern is the DPF having read your column for a while. Even at speeds beyond legal limits, with the nine speed gearbox, it barely revs beyond 1750 rpm. As most of my mileage...
I am presently travelling from Surrey to London Monday to Friday (64 miles) in leased CR-V which will go back in October this year. I am in a need of the car that will be comfortable on motorway; I envisage...
A young driver with an insurance monitor fitted made a stupid mistake, considerably exceeding the speed limit. The insurance company cancelled his policy on him but he now lives abroad.Is he scarred for...
I am thinking of buying a second hand diesel for the first time, probably a Golf, as I need an automatic and a lot of auto cars seem to be diesel. I have heard that the government is planning changes...
My daughter and son in law have a 5 year old Toyota Prius which they bought 3 years ago. They have just been quoted £2700 to repair a brake actuator problem. Apparently it should last a lifetime. Is there...
I have 19 inch wheels on my Qashqai 2014. The tyres are Continental 225x45x19W. They came with the car when new, but are are wearing very quickly? Can you suggest an alternative tyre that has an harder...
I'm hiring a car in Spain. Full/Full I understand, but what is "pre-purchase, refunds given"? Until a week ago easyCar said pay for fuel on arrival "plus an admin charge for refuelling logistics", which...
Last Saturday I collect my used Honda S2000 2004 with 112k on the clock. The car was described as fully serviced with a recent service but with a few minor age related scuffs and scratches etc.
The dealer...
I am trying to get my stolen classic van back. The Police say it's a civil matter. I left it at a chaps land and he let scrap man take it. It looks like the scrap man sold it to present person who has...
I purchased an ex-demonstrator B-MAX from a Ford dealership in April 2015. Auto transmission 10,000 miles. Problem with seat belt chimes was fixed promptly but the local dealership has had three attempts...
My family and I are looking to buy a new car. We currently have a Ford C-MAX and would like something of a similar size. We want a British built car which would fit in five people, plus have some boot...
Might be worth mentioning to your readers that from June 30th it is illegal to drive in France with anything in your ear including bluetooth headsets.
http://www.frenchentree.com/living-in-france/driving/driving-in-france-hands-free-kit-ban-effective-june-30/
Honda are offering a 'premium service' package that includes an engine flush treatment on our 2007 170k Honda Civic. Is this worth doing as I assumed decent petrol, mainly Shell standard stuff, does this...
I would like to purchase a second hand vehicle for no more then £2500. I need something reliable but I look at your good and bad section on cars I like and cannot see any good ones. Is there a car/s you...
How long do you think the battery on a Mercedes C-Class should last? I've just had to have a second new one fitted (3 months outside warranty) Each one has lasted 18 months roughly. Mercedes refused...
I have a 2013 Mitsubishi Outlander GX4 manual and no matter how gently I drive the car (I drive the car extremely gently to try to get good economy) I can't get more than 40mpg - official figures 52.3mpg...
I find myself constantly battling to find parking space near work. I have a BMW 4 Series which is a huge leap forward from my Golf. What I'm after is any suggestions on the most refined small car that...
I purchased a BMW M6 but it now shows a category 'C' and i'm struggling to sell it at market value. Is there any means of removing this?
Do you know what ATF fluid I should use for a Subaru Legacy 2.0R 2007 162bhp normally aspirated 4 speed auto?
We are looking for a crossover/soft-roader. We also would like 6 or 7 seats for times when we have my in-laws with us (for short drives mostly).Our driving patterns tend to suit petrol better than diesel,...
I've just updated my owner review of the Citroen Xsara Picasso 2.0 HDi. My dilemma comes from what to replace it with: The Peugeot Partner Tepee & Ford Tourneo Connect are currently on the shortlist. I...
Most reviews of the new Mazda MX-5 praise and recommend the 1.5 engine, but the most recent review I have seen advises going for the 2.0 engine especially as this only costs an extra £850 including an...
I'm looking for a petrol manual car. Needs to be quite large, comfortable on occasional long motorway trips and strong enough engine for easy overtaking. Reliable and good looking would be a nice. Economy...
The http://usedcars-shop.com/vehicles website seems to have numerous bargains is it a scam? Although it requires you to pay for a vehicle unseen, it promises free delivery and 3 days in which to reject...
We live in a rural area with poor roads and occasionally take the dog up a forestry track. We need a new small hatchback with upright seats that will cope with less than perfect roads. What can you recommend?...
I am looking for a automatic car which should be reliable and safe. My budget is about £9000. What would you recommend?
I am thinking of buying a convertible and am leaning towards an Audi A4 or BMW 3 series. What would be your pick taking into account reliability, service costs, driving enjoyment and major repair risks?
I own a May 2010 Audi A5 which I have maintained and serviced since new. About 83K miles on clock. Just had a call from Audi who said i needed a new cam belt now and when I questioned them they said at...
You've written a lot about speedometers over-reading a car's true speed. I recently hired a car, an i30, and was driving through a village with a speed indicator sign and the sign indicated the exact speed...
I had a DPF filter regeneration last week at an authorised dealer garage and I have noticed increase of fuel consumption from around 11 l/100 miles to 17 l/100 miles. Is that normal? If not what they could...
My 2007 Picasso has done 120,000 miles. Every couple of months there is a problem with the oil. The mechanic says that due to the injectors possibly being faulty the oil container gets blocked and he needs...
I parked over night on steep gravel driveway. The front wheels spun and though the electronic brake was switched off as normal for this car the brake refused to release until loads of gravel had been sent...
I'm trading cars from my home and am looking at getting trade plates. I've been on the DVLA website in regards to applying. It seams they send you the tax disc but what I want to know is will they send...
Recently power is lost when driving my BM3 at around 2000 revs to return normally shortly after. My independent garage diagnosed and fitted faulty air control valve without success. A new diagnostic test...
My girlfriend is about to start a new job 30 miles from home driving on the M25 then M23. Not being the most secure driver I wanted to get her something with a little road presence and also something that...
I have recently bought a 2012 Mercedes b18 which is wired for sat nav, I wish to purchase a used Becker sat nav and have spoken to both Syntner (main dealer) and Mercedes head office in Milton Keynes....
I have a June 2009 Volvo V70 2.0D. It has just done 103000 miles. At the next service I have been advised by the garage to have the drive belt changed and the waterpump. I know this is the case for VWG...
I am having an issue with my brake lights. The just do not work as of yesterday. All the other lights in the rear cluster do work except the brake lights including the central brake lights at the top of...
Back in May you had this article which revealed a problem with potentially exploding airbags affecting certain Toyota, Honda and Nissan cars. http://www.honestjohn.co.uk/news/miscellaneous/2015-05/huge-number-of-uk-cars-involved-in-exploding-airbag-recall/
That...
I'm thinking of buying a 2009 plate Meriva - was the power steering problem on this model ever resolved? Or are Vauxhall still replacing steering columns on these cars and is there an age limit at which...
I test drove a Toyota RAV4 and everything was fine except the headrest. We want an upright driving position, but the angle of that headrest forces a sofa driving position. It's not good for the back, especially...
My next door neighbour has a Jaguar S-Type which hasn't moved in 18 months. Would you consider this to be a future classic? It has done 53000 mls with main dealer stamped up book. Future mileage would...
Over the past few months, when starting from cold, my 2012 Skoda Octavia estate DSG diesel struggles to move through the gears. As a result, I end up bunny hopping down the road. The problem usually clears...
Please be aware of a scam, it is linked to the search engine so if you are looking for a specific model as I was - a Fiat 500, red, leather, glass roof etc. you will be directed to the car of your dreams....
We recently bought a Volkswagen Scirocco from a dealer in Birmingham. Before completing the sale we employed the AA to carry out a so called 'Comprehensive vehicle Inspection'. Although I had no understanding...
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