Trending topics in December 2010
Questions from December 2010
My Bluemotion 1.2 diesel Polo has done 500 miles. Not once has it reached the advertised mpg. Between 3 and 7 Oc reaches just 53 mpg.
Is it better to leave a 10 year old Skoda frozen, as it has been for 4 days so far, or to start it and let it run for 30 minutes or so? If so, how frequently? I do not want to drive down our slippery...
I have been reading about snow shoes recently. Are they a good alternative to other forms of winter products?
I noticed that you have endorsed the use of snow tyres recently. I have been Michelin Alpin, M + S rated tyres in winter since 1997 and swear by them. However, I have seen reports in the press that some...
Please can you remind me the recommeded websites, and the relative advantages of tyre change, or complete wheel change for winter tyres?
Does anyone have an idea of the cost of replacing the water pump on an 09 plate Audi A5 3.2l V6 engine? Including labour if possible?
I think due to the cold weather, the coolant system has suddenly sprung...
Here in the UK I drive a 4X4 fitted with M+S rated tyres.
How do these compare with "winter" tyres as, for example, required by law to be fitted on all cars in Germany for the winter months beginning...
I am a low milage driver and need winter tyres.
Can I use winter tyres all year (not more than 5000 miles per year)?
I had Pirelli "Sottozero" winter tyres (Sotto means 'under' in Italian) fitted to my Vauxhall Vectra and found them so much better on lightly snowed roads.
However I became afflicted with overconfidence...
I live a few streets outside the boundary for the newly reduced congestion zone in central London. Two of my four children go to school in the congestion zone. I don't fancy paying £9 every time I want...
I have a BMW X5 35 diesel sport, 2010 model with run flat tyres which is not very good in snow. I have found some sensibly priced winter tyres which are not run flats. One tyre retailer tells me that I...
I am about to have snow tyres fitted to my Fiat 500 Abarth SS. I have been speaking to an ex AA patrolman and he informs me that I should lower the tyre pressure on my snowies by 7LB in each tyre. Is that...
I am very enthused by the concept you have promoted of winter tyres/steel wheels to cope better with the current conditions. I have looked at your recommended websites but here is my first problem - there...
I've lost my spare Astra key (2005). Where to get the cheapest replacement?
Tried Thimpsons key replacement store but could not do it.
I have a Peugeot 407SW 1.6 58 plate with 36000 miles on clock and the front tyres need replacing (Michelin Radial XSE 205/60 R16 92HG1). Main dealer says no-one can get these. What's the best replacements?...
I've seen a car I like being sold on Autoquake in Leeds and I live in North Devon.
Are they a reputable company?
The car is a Volvo V70 2008 at around £13500 with 60k miles and a full main dealer service...
Which axle should chains be fitted to on a Honda CR-V given that it has a unusual inter-diff?
When the last government reduced the rate of vat to 15% the duty on fuel was increased by 2.5% but when VAT returned to 17.5% the extra 2.5% tax was not removed. Is this just another way of ripping the...
I know that one is not supposed to mix summer and winter tyres. But how about summer and all season ones? I have a Citroen Xsara Picasso 2.0 HDI (excellent car by the way) with nearly new Continental EcoContact...
Winter tyres I shall certainly add to a car, which I anticipate buying this weekend. However, is there any benefit in having a separate set of wheels rather than just switching tyres on the rims?
I have just bought a 2008 Volvo V70 D5, and I am considering winter tyres. My previous car, a Volvo 850 had 205/50 R16 tyres and the handbook recommended 185/65 R15 on steel rims as a winter combination....
I have an old Toyota Corolla and want to fit some winter tyres (195/60 P15) - what would you recommend?
I don't do high speed/performance/off-road stuff but I do live out in the sticks and I do get...
Rather than buy extra wheels for snow tyres or have a garage changing them over every season what do think to this idea:
On a FWD car have the winter tyres on front in winter (as is normal) but in summer...
Thank you very much for your simple answer to our longstanding problem with our Clio RenaultSport 200 pulling to the left. As you suggested, we swapped the wheels front to back and immediately solved the...
The US fluid ounce is the same as the Imperial one - the amount of water that weighs an ounce. There are 20 fluid ounces to an Imperial pint, but only 16 in US; there are eight pints in a gallon in both...
I drive to and from Southern Spain twice a year in November and February and regularly experience snow. The Spanish authorities have built lorry parks along the motorway and the police direct lorries into...
There are some 2-year-old, low mileage, Lexus GS 450h 3.5 SE Saloons available within my max price of £22,500. I don't do big mileage (7,500 miles pa) but I do like a bit of stylish metal around me, and...
My elderly wife has a chronic bad back, which severely limits her ability to sit for any prolonged period of time. Our trips are limited to a 50-mile radius of home. She drives a SAAB 9-5 automatic, which...
My sons were booked into the Winter Driving Experience at Mercedes-Benz World in December. We travelled up from Dorset and were greeted by the team with the bad news that it was not possible to run the...
The ongoing saga of private parking companies is a regular in your column. Your advice to pay a small amount in full fair and reasonable settlement is good advice. You also recently advised RR of Liverpool...
I am a driving instructor and I do about 700 to 800 miles per week. My question is, would a diesel car be better for me? At first glance at my weekly mileage the answer would seem obvious, but here are...
Unsurprisingly, I am again finding that summer tyres and ice don't mix. However, I am too lazy to want to swap between summer and winter tyres twice a year. If I were in North America, I would have options...
I have just taken delivery of a Peugeot 308 1.6 Diesel Feline Automatic. I ordered it with an autobox, expecting the Techtronic box from my old 307SW. Far from being a smooth cat, it is a dog. I have renamed...
I have been around and measured the loading bay height of just about every estate there is, comparing them with my present Vauxhall Vectra's size, which is 79cm high x 108cm wide x 177cm to rear of back...
Recently the spare wheel was stolen from under my Nissan Pathfinder. I was surprised to discover from Nissan Customer Care that it is a) easy to steal and b) not protected by the car alarm. Given the emphasis...
I have recently received a Parking Contravention Enforcement notice through the post due to overstaying 10 mins in a 1-hour car park. The fine is £45 within 14 days and £90 thereafter and the last day...
My car is insured with National Farmers Union Mutual. The renewal is due and the price is up by 50 per cent with no change at all in my circumstances. I have queried this and they say all insurers have...
I purchased 2 pairs of snow socks, one pair for my Skoda Octavia (front) and the other pair for my wife’s Mercedes-Benz C200 estate (rear). After approximately 30 miles over four days the Skoda socks have...
In January this year we bought a new 3-door Polo SEL 1.6 TDI, downsizing from our long-lived, and immensely practical, Saab. In most respects the Polo fits our present needs very well indeed and we have...
My wife and I (in our late 50s) want a 'fun' car. We have £8,000 to spend and we're looking at either a Nissan 350Z or a Honda S2000. Your recommendation would be appreciated.
What is your opinion of plug-in diesel upgrades kits for increased mpg? Bearing in mind the high cost of diesel, are they worthwhile? How many miles would it take to recoup the initial layout cost? If...
I own a 52-reg Peugeot 307 Hdi Rapier with 120,000 miles on the clock. I am looking to upgrade and have seen a few cars. The one I am looking at is a 2004 54-reg Audi A3 1.9 TDI Sport 6-speed with 63,000...
My Third Party, Fire and Theft car insurance renewal just came through with a significant addition for legal expenses insurance. Is this something I should take? Or is it just the insurance company "selling...
I have a budget of around £17,500 and I'm looking at the Audi A5 or BMW M Sport 3 Series coupe. Fuel economy and cost of insurance is important as well as looks. Which would you recommend?
Your readers should beware of what has become of a certain big name motor insurer. In my experience they are friendly and helpful when they are taking the money but when you have a claim they will screw...
I can't agree with your suggestion that speeding fines should be raised, but no points should be applied to licences. There are a large number of drivers with very high incomes who are able to shrug off...
I bought a 2-year-old BMW 118d last May from the local BMW dealer. It is a fantastic car, but the stop-start function didn't work from day one. I reported it and waited until now to make sure there were...
I read with great interest RH's letter regarding the answer to the intimidatory practices of Private Parking Companies. I also agree with your view that their threats should not simply be ignored, and...
Would it not be possible for anyone receiving letters from PPCs to go to their local county court and take out an injunction against the PPC forcing them to stop sending the letters and harassing the owner...
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