Questions from April 2009
I bought a 2005 Alfa Romeo 156 2.4 JTD Sportwagon last June from an Alfa franchise. Since then the front tyres have had to be replaced due to excessive wear on the inside edges. I am informed by the dealership...
What sort of percentage reduction would you expect on a car pre-registered by a dealer? For example, I am currently looking at a Mazda R-8 and a Honda Type R, both of which are ‘new’ but have been registered...
I would appreciate your wisdom and advice, as I am a first time buyer. I am interested in a 2003 Toyota Yaris 1.0 T-Spirit with aircon, sunroof and alloys for £3,995. The car has done only 6,900 miles...
I bought a 48k mile 2002 FIAT Punto from a second-hand dealer two weeks ago for £2,200. I also bought 3-month warranty. After one week I needed to put engine coolant in. I checked the oil and it was fine....
I contacted you earlier in the week about changing our company car. We had decided on either a Ford Mondeo or a Ford Focus. However, our Head Office thinks we should go greener and have a Honda Hybrid....
I was caught on Speed Camera driving at 63mph on the M20 when the outside lane had been cordoned off for road works and a speed limit of 50 was in force. My fine was the statutory £60 plus 3 points. This...
I always understood that if it was necessary to stop on the hard shoulder that it was advisable to point the steering towards the kerb. This would help to prevent that car being pushed into the moving...
My father in law (75 and a disabled badge holder) is struggling to get into his old Escort, which is on its last legs (his aren't much better). We have a Zafira which he finds easy to get into as the doors...
I recently wrote to you about a buying experience at a large car showroom when my sister bought a 2003/03 BMW 320d SE. I recommended she get her local garage, which has looked after her decently in the...
I have always believed that speed cushions are an ineffective means of ‘kerbing’ speeding motorists although I agree the vast majority of careful drivers do comply by slowing down when traversing them....
Our daughter, who is about to return to the UK after a number of years abroad, is considering buying either a MINI convertible, Audi TT roadster, or an MX5. She has a budget of around £12K. Which would...
My name is Pramod and I'm mailing you from Mumbai (India) and keep visiting your site to read reviews. I'm doing a project on exports of cars from India to the European markets by players like Suzuki and...
I am considering buying a new car as my aged mother is finding my aged Corsa increasingly difficult to get into and out of. Are you able to suggest some suitable vehicles at which we could look? I "shan't...
My 22 year old daughter is hoping to change her car and has been looking for a Ford Fiesta. She has found three on the Internet that seem to be amazing value, with prices between £2,600 and £3,200. All...
After my stroke two years ago, my husband purchased a Renault Kangoo 1.6 petrol, automatic, Lewis Reed conversion with ramp to transport me in my electric wheelchair. The conversion necessitates the halving...
I recently changed my car and the dealer set me up with a very good insurance quotation for the new car. When I contacted my current insurer to enquire about cancellation (3 months remaining), as well...
In British Columbia, the provincial government has passed what is called Grant's Law. A few years ago Grant DePatie was employed at a gas station and tried to stop a "gas & dash". He was trapped under...
I am getting increasingly annoyed at the growing number of dangerous objects I see placed by private individuals in order to keep motorists off their verges - the more dangerous the better, it would...
I have seen a 2004/54 BMW 525d M Sport Touring Auto. Would mileage of 87,000 put you off? The car is immaculate, originally cost £45k including £12k of extras. Extended BMW warranty/assistance expires...
We are currently running a 2001/51 Nissan Primera and thinking of downsizing. Purely an armchair exercise so far, but as a result of reading your articles, a Nissan Note, KIA Cee’d and Hyundai i30 are...
Can you explain why a VW Caravelle falls into a Car taxation bracket and therefore high VED banding when they are a derivative of the Transporter that is a PLG class and has the much lower road tax. Incidentally...
A few months back my neighbour asked me if I would be willing to store his teenage son's car in my side passage. I spoke to my neighbour on the other side, with whom I jointly own the passage, she said...
I had a problem with my car. On the garage receipt was noted,
“This vehicle has a faulty gearbox which has caused front oil seal failure. Although the seal has been replaced the gearbox repair has been...
We are looking to buy a 2002/52 Mercedes E270 CDI Classic with 62,000 miles, or we have sourced an 04 E270 CDI Elegance. Do we need to look for any particular faults with these models? We have been told...
I wonder if you could reply to this snag we have, please. Two weeks ago we helped our son out to buy a used 2004/54 VW Golf 1.6FSI, 33,000 miles on the clock, great condition, FSH, bought from a non VAG...
Having been made redundant last month, my company car has to go back when I start another job. I have very fortunately found an office job with no car for the 13 week initial trial. My question to you...
My Toyota Yaris T3 D-4D, purchased new in July 2003, has now covered 37,300 miles. It has developed a ticking noise when on full lock which a Toyota main dealer has diagnosed as driveshaft wear. They...
A local dealer has a bunch of 07 and 57 reg Peugeot 307CC 2.0 automatics. How do you rate the deal? It seems you weren’t too impressed with the auto in your road test, but at £8,000 for summer sunshine...
I recently had a reminder from DVLA to renew my driving licence which was due to expire in June. Enclosed with the reminder was a leaflet suggesting that the renewal could be made online at www.direct.gov.uk/renewalat70....
I had a motoring accident on 31st. January. I have now been told by the police that I am going to be prosecuted for driving without due care and attention. The statement from the police says the accident...
I took my 33,000 mile 2003 Rover 75 2.5 litre V6 in to my garage, which has serviced the car from new, for another annual service. I was advised that the 6-year service was a "big one" and that in addition...
I have a BMW 320d Tourer with runflat tyres. Has any reputable motoring magazine done a pros and cons article on these tyres. I would like to know please. Not ever having had a car with no spare wheel...
I have owned a Jaguar XKR from new in 2004. It has been driven approximately 14,000 miles and recently (at Gatwick Jaguar) I was charged £850.00 for its 60,000-mile service. Jaguar knocked off around £100.00...
Like P.T., we too have received details of an alleged traffic offence; in our case via Hertz who promptly charged my credit card 18 Euros for providing my name and address to the Italian authorities. I...
One week after the 3-year warranty expired on my 2006 SAAB 9-3, the clutch failed. The authorised SAAB garage in Derby said they would try to recoup some good-will remuneration but couldn't guarantee it...
We have a really annoying problem with tenacious condensation on the inside of the glass of our 5k mile 2 year old Fabia in some winter conditions. Internal condensation in winter isn't surprising, but...
I am in my 80th year, my husband has recently died, and I must for reasons of economy and size change my Volvo V70, 2004 automatic Estate, 28,000 miles, for something very much smaller. I have in mind...
All too often I get frustrated when, on paper, a car meets my perceived requirements only to find the seating is uncomfortable and the back seats are like "a park bench" as my wife puts it. Over the years...
My 17-year-old son hopes to pass his driving test soon and we plan to buy him a car out of his savings. We have a budget of about £2,000 and are looking for a smallish car of 1.2 litres. The biggest problem...
My daughter returns from a lengthy stay in Bangkok with her family, as her husband now has a job in Luton. He will have a company car and she needs one for herself. She has 3 boys, 10, 7 and 8 months....
My next-door neighbour, a widow, wants to buy a new Supemini. She is worried that a car may have been stored for a year or more, possibly in the open. I seem to remember that, in your column, there is...
I have a Skoda Octavia and a friend has a Fabia. We have been informed by our dealer that Skoda recommend that cambelts should be changed every four years, regardless of mileage. I would question the need...
As a regular user of the M1 I am intrigued by the 50 mph speed limit monitoring in the 20 miles of roadworks in Nottinghamshire. I religiously adhere to this limit (not easy in an XJR) but other drivers...
I have been recommended to write to you by a friend who reads the Telegraph. In short, we bought a brand new Grand Cherokee 3.0 CRD in July 2005. It went back to the dealer with gearbox problems at 1 month...
I was hoping you could advise me on what car I should buy to a budget of about £1,500. I have looked at things like a Land Rover Series 3, but they seem to a bit more expensive than I can afford, I also...
Why is it that the majority of vehicles display speed in analogue format, viewed down a dark tunnel between steering wheel hub and rim, requiring maximum deviation of eyeline from the road ahead? A particularly...
My wife and I are in our 80s. She is partially disabled and uses an electric scooter for mobility. Our automatic Honda Jazz has served us very well for five years, but lifting the scooter in and out of...
Regarding the recent e-mail about drivers not using bus lanes. I recently got done by a bus lane camera on a Sunday in South London. I had tried for about 20 miles in crawling traffic to keep to the rules,...
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