Trending topics in November 2014
automatics
buying
buying a new car
buying a used car
buying and selling
classic cars
diesel engines
diesel particulate filter
estates
family cars
first cars
fuel economy
legal and consumer advice
maintenance and servicing
mpvs
petrol or diesel?
ride comfort
technical issues
wheels and tyres
winter tyres
Questions from November 2014
I am looking to replace my Audi A6 Avant diesel as I want to upgrade my racing car trailer, which would have a weight of 2000 to 2200kg when fully loaded. This is outside the towing capacity of the A6.
I...
My parents purchased a Citroen C3 Picasso 1.6 HDi (DV6D) Exclusive back in September 2014 based on your review of the vehicle. My parents love the car however I have two questions to ask in regards to...
My father is 80 and completely fit and able. However, he does find getting in and out of his current car increasingly tricky. I have suggested that we swap it for something smaller, bit higher and with...
We are about to have our first child and are looking at a 2008 Audi A4 Avant 2.0 TDI priced at £6450. However, it has 130,000 miles on the clock and we're worried we might be buying into trouble. What...
My sister requires a small automatic car for her work. It will be used for visiting clients, most of whom live within four miles of her work. She would prefer five-door, second hand up to £9000. What do...
My son is 25 and thinking of buying a 2009 Ford Fiesta 1.3 Zetec with 28,000 miles on the clock as his first car. He passed his test seven years ago but has not owned a car and so has no no claims discount....
In the 1950s my father drove an English sports car, convertible with a small "jump seat" in back in which my sister and I could sit. I seem to recall it had semaphores. I always thought it was an Austin...
I have a new Fiat Panda 1.2 Easy. Within two miles of collection, I found gear changes to be difficult, with the clutch bite getting nearer and nearer the floor and eventually, with pedal hard down to...
I'm after a cheap family estate or hatchback to get a dog, kids and and pram into. Ideally, I'd like a diesel Ford Mondeo, but only cover 24 miles a day. What do you suggest I buy? I have £3000 to spend.
Is The Fiat Panda 1.3 Multijet diesel a good choice for a new small car?
I bought a second hand car a few weeks ago and booked it in to my local garage to have it checked over. The garage has since given me a list as long as my arm with problems the car. They have said it is...
My daughter's Seat Ibiza has continual problems starting after standing unused for only 2-3 days. We've been told repeatedly that the battery's fine and the current drain with ignition off is within acceptable...
I have imported a classic vehicle to the UK and it has arrived at Felixstowe. I expected to be able to easily rent a car trailer along with tow vehicle and bring it to my home in Leicester. However, after...
I have bought a six month old Kia Ceed 3 diesel from a well known car retail organisation in Burnley. The car has covered 6000 miles and has been HPI checked. All appears ok on the HPI and the V5 document...
Have you tried the A3 etron and what is your first impressions. I am looking to change my A5 sportback. What will I lose or gain if I went the electric hybrid route?
My Citroen C4 (2004) makes a mechanical clatter noise when idling. Slight throttle opening gets rid of it, but the noise starts as soon as you return to idle. I have also tried switching off the ventilation...
My Vauxhall Corsa 1.3 diesel has stated blowing blue smoke on start up. The exhaust usually clears after a few minutes, under acceleration, and the car drive fine. I've also had the injectors checked,...
Against my better judgement, I bought a new diesel-engined car; a Peugeot Partner Tepee 1.6 HDI (115), as I needed the torque to tow a small caravan. As this is not my only car, it will be used mainly...
My Volkswagen Golf Plus was recently recalled to have gearbox oil changed. It has covered about 18,000 miles from when new in March 2011. However, the gearbox stalls or stutters when starting to drive...
I am looking to buy a used small car for around £5000 that will last me for some years to come. I would like the best value for money and would be much more interested in reliability, fuel efficiency,...
I'm the new Service Manager at Humphris in Oxford and have just noticed a bad review from before my time and wanted to know if I could have the opportunity to reply to it and explain?
We are selling our beloved Citroen Berlingo (great MPV, but a stiff clutch and terrible economy around town) and want to buy a new family car that is better for my wife (recently passed her test) to drive....
I was thinking of going for a car. I have no trade in so I am a "cash buyer". Should I buy now or wait until January?
Also, Hyundai have a three year service plan for £349.I know these get mixed reviews...
What newish car would you recommend that is like the Wagon R? I need one that's small, efficient, low road tax but that you could fit a wheelchair into the back of.
I have a 2003 Ford Tourneo Connect. When applying for insurance the insurance company or broker can find my vehicle on their database but as soon as they find out it has seats and windows they decline...
I have recently changed my car from a Nissan Note to a Hyundai i30. However, doesn't have a sat nav. Can you recommend a decent navigation unit?
I have driven many different autos for over 20 years, but can't master control of my Skoda Yeti. When wanting to pull away, I gently depress the accelerator, ease my foot off the brake and nothing happens....
I have a 2011 Peugeot Partner Teepee 1600 diesel. The DPF was recently changed (108,000 miles) but the warning light has just come on saying chance of blocked filter.
I have just driven the car for...
I spend a lot of time doing motorway driving with my job. Given that I have a wife, three teenage children and a dog, what family/compact exec car would you recommend?
Whilst I appreciate I will have...
Last September I was considering buying a new automatic petrol Tourneo Connect and a local Ford Main Dealership told me the earliest Ford could deliver an auto was January, a five month delivery.
I declined...
My 2000 plate Volkswagen Polo is struggling to start. It sounds and feels like a flat battery, but I have replaced it and the problem persists. Any ideas?
I own a 2012 Vauxhall Astra 2.0 diesel. On cold mornings, I cannot select first gear and I have to take off in second, before I am then able to select first.
The vehicle has been inspected by my local...
I'm looking to own a diesel estate for the long term. But I can not decide between a Volvo V50 2.0d SE 2004 or a Volkswagen Passat 1.9 Trendline diesel 130 2005. What do you recommend ?
The window winder on the driver's door of my Rover 400 (1997) opens correctly and closes, but when it reaches the top there is a loud bang. Could you advise what would cause this? If it is the control...
I have a problem with my Volvo V70 (2002). The car keeps misting up on journeys and the only way to keep the screen clear is to use the air con demist.
However on these colder days, heating is needed...
I purchased a used (2008) Audi A4 Avant 2.0TDI from an independent dealer seven weeks ago, which is 150 miles away from home. The clutch has failed within the last week and I am not able to return the...
I have a 2000 Vauxhall Vectra and the ABS and traction control warning lights have come on. Both these systems do not work and I have been told it may be a faulty ECU. Any ideas?
Why do all the new Korean cars (Kia, Hyundai) have such appalling CO2 and fuel consumption figures when an automatic 'box is fitted?
I wrongly thought that when they progressed to dual-clutch boxes CO2...
I'm interested in buying a Suzuki Splash and wanted to find out if there are any common faults? I want to use it for commuting 30 miles to work and need something reliable.
I have a couple of problems with my 2003 Suzuki Carry. The engine has started to overheat. My local garage did a test for a blown head gasket which showed that the head gasket is ok, so they changed the...
I had the ‘Engine Malfunction’ warning light on my Ford Mondeo (2008) recently. I took the car to my local dealer and they said it was down to a faulty sensor and reset it. However, the car has now died...
I have just sold my Hyundai ix35 Premium 1.7D 2WD for £7250 less than I paid for it new in December 2011. It had a full main dealer service history and was in good condition with 34,550 on the clock. What...
The ventilation on my 2009 Volkswagen Golf (1.4 TSI) has always seemed poor (mist takes ages to clear in the mornings) but this evening when driving home the problem suddenly got worse. In fact, I had...
I am about to buy a used Volvo V7 D5 Auto from our local Volvo dealer. I only drive about 5,000 miles per year, almost always on long trips (I ride a bike 90% of the time).
It was first registered 2008,...
Can you recommend a practical and economical second hand seven-seater? I have £8000 to spend and want to buy a manual car with a petrol engine. I have a 2005 Ford C-Max (59,000 miles/lPG converted) to...
Are there any problems with automatics Toyota RAV4a? I will not be going off road but do live in rural North Wales so do get snow in the winter.
My elderly parents need a new car. They have £7000 to spend and want a decent car that will do 60mpg. They do mostly short journeys, so only an older diesel without a DPF may work.
Or a newer petrol...
What could be the problem with my 2002 Toyota Corolla? The oil sensor keeps showing when I am doing very low speeds, even though the oil levels are good.
We have a 2006 Audi A3 S line. Recently, there was a noise coming from the rear left wheel. We were advised that a new diff was needed, which the Audi garage completed, but the noise is still there.
The...
I have a repetitive problem with my 2002 Ford Mondeo 2.0 TDCi - the car stalls in cold weather
It only happens for the first few hundred metres and only when I stop accelerating and it drops to idle...
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