Questions from June 2009
I recently purchased a Mercedes 1995 SL500 Cat D due to front bumper cosmetic damage, I have presented my car at an approved body repairer in Kettering Northants for corrective repairs as I like the car...
What should I buy? I need enough room for a pair of oars and outboard engine. Good fuel economy. Ability to tow 2 laser dinghies. Lowish road tax. Cruise at 80, i.e., not a slug for its weight. 3 or 5...
In my opinion, it is motorists who choose to drive over privately owned grass verges, thereby obliging owners to make good the damage they cause, who are selfish. The placing of obstacles to prevent this...
You extol the virtues of the i10, i20 and i30 regularly in your column. I bought a new Honda Jazz in 2007 after reading your comments on it but I would now like something a little less staid. Would the...
My car was stolen from outside my house. The community police visited and asked me twice if I wanted victim support (no thank you). I spoke to the police several times on the phone, but they were not...
I've driven manual shift cars all of my driving life, more than 30 years so far. I'm 52. I'm thinking about exchanging my mid-sized manual for two cars, a runabout for everyday use, perhaps a Toyota Yaris...
I’m moving to Belgium and will need to buy a car. How big are the benefits of having a left hand drive car when living in the EU and would it be best to buy before I go or in Belgium? I am planning on...
I would be very grateful for your advice with what I regard as an injustice with regard to the insurer’s manner of dealing with my daughter-in-law's car insurance. 8 weeks ago, her car was stolen from...
Is it me or have recent emissions laws resulted in the motorist being lined up for a nasty surprise? I refer to the EGR valve setup on many Euro IV engines. This allows spent gases to be recycled back...
It was interesting to read the problem A.H. of Plymouth had with cancellation of his car insurance. I recently bought my wife a new FIAT Panda Mamy. Great, till she tried to get it insured. Despite having...
I think I may have forgotten to thank you for your help. You recommend that I try the Hyundai i10 and I am now the proud and very please owner of one. I didn't manage to get a deal as my old car died...
We are considering buying a new car and scrapping our 11-year-old Peugeot 406 to take advantage of the Government's Scrappage deal. We are looking to buy a much smaller car, preferably with 5 doors, must...
I currently own a 1996 Golf GTI 16v with 100,000 miles on the clock. The car is great, pretty much bomb proof and a great mix of comfort and speed. The economy isn’t terrible especially as I’m a little...
I have followed your suggestions on using Shell V Power fuel, high revs, and petrol cleaners (3 times). However I am still having problems as the engine sometimes cuts out when I stop at a junction. It...
Having read with interest the various recent articles on the recent crop of electric cars. One common thing strikes you about all of them, their huge purchase cost. The Citroen C1 Evie is a prime example...
Just a short note to see how you are getting on with the Alcosense Elite breathalyser we sent you for trial? Do you need any more information?
The engine in my un-thrashed 2004 2.7 Boxster, 23k miles, FSH (Porsche main dealer), has just suffered a catastrophic "bag of spanners” breakdown, whilst doing nothing more exotic than driving to the shops....
Thank you for your column. Much needed. May I make a pertinent point about speed humps? It is not their height that is the problem, it is the ramp angle. The law covering their usage is quite vague as...
I am hoping you could help me with this problem I am having with my Ford Focus 1.6 Zetec automatic, which I purchased on 16th of April from a local dealer. The car had only 2,266 miles on the clock, and...
I don't know about you, but this would slow me down. (visit www.illusionking.com/pioneer-car-suspension-advert) People slow
down and try to 'straddle' the hole, then breath a sigh of relief when they clear...
On 2nd April 2009 I had to have my 2005 Fiesta Ghia with just under 5,000 miles on clock towed away because of a broken front offside road spring. My Granddaughter phoned to say the same problem happened...
My wife has a 10-year-old Mercedes SLK, in mint condition, having done only 38,500 miles from new. The retractable roof is the problem. It sticks half-way when closing, but after 10mins it usually closes...
It was unusual and interesting to see a question on Morgan cars. As always your response got to the point. I have owned, at various times three Morgans since 1959. In addition to your comments, lubrication...
I am working on a business plan to form a personal tour company based on luxury SUVs for the better view they afford. So comfort, safety, reliability and to a degree economy are main considerations. Max...
My husband and I are expecting our first child in June and are looking to buy our first family car. We are completely baffled. After 3 weeks of test driving and searching the Internet we are no closer...
I drive a 1995 Hyundai H100 diesel. I would like to know if I can run it on used falafel cooking oil instead of (or as well as) diesel fuel? Can the oil damage the engine or fuel pump? Can I mix oil with...
3 months ago, I sold a 55-year-old car to an acquaintance of mine in Northern Ireland. (I am in Sussex.) The car has a valid MoT until August 2009 and there is, in fact, an article on the car, proving...
I have owned a 1995N BMW 840CI for eight years. The car has a full BMW service history and I have no intention of selling it as I think it is a great car and although I have spent some considerable amount...
The letter (25 April) about feeling ill in the back (or the front) of any car can usually be solved by sitting the passenger on newspaper, preferably covered with plain paper. This might save your correspondent...
I own a Z4, 2 yrs old and only 6,000 miles. It needs a new catalytic converter and luckily the warranty will replace it but I realise that I've probably contributed to its demise by doing mainly short...
I read an article last year about accident claim settlement companies in which you highlighted the undisclosed aspects of their ‘service’ that can lead to significant liabilities for car hire. I had a...
There is a person in the UK who advertises on the Costa del Sol in one of the local English language newspapers, from a UK address (email and tel. no.) offering MoT certificates. There are an awful lot...
Can you tell me please whether the VW Eos is about to be revised or facelifted. I have seen an approx £4,500 discount quoted via Drivethedeal, which sounds extraordinary for a car on which I thought discounts...
I'd like some advice please regarding the servicing of my car. I have 2005/55 BMW 320D Touring. The mileage is approximately 37,000 and my local BMW dealer (from whom I purchased the car) tells me it will...
I took delivery of my new company car, a red Lexus IS220D SE, one month ago and have been suffering from constant backache, which I did not have with my previous car, a 2006 Toyota Avensis T4 estate, or...
Is there any evidence metallic grey is going out of fashion, or likely to go out of fashion, causing vehicles of this colour to become harder to sell?
My question arises out of the discrepancy revealed by all road tests I have seen between official fuel consumption figures of hybrid cars and those found by road testers. These appear to be far larger...
I have owned a 2003 Vectra from new. All of the springs front and rear have failed in the last two years not to mention the shock absorbers. It is obvious that inferior materials have been used to save...
Early this morning, on a thankfully very quiet M25, my 1993 Renault Safrane cut out and would not restart. No prior sign of distress in running, or any forewarning from the audio diagnostic. Since being...
A recent problem with a 2003 Renault Clio. I left the house, drove 100 yards, heard a big bang from one of the tyres. I fitted the spare, drove 2 miles, heard a second big bang and found that the replacement...
When I first announced my intention to write ‘50 Years of Motorsport Marshalling’, you were kind enough to give it a plug and, indeed, I received a few letters from marshals from the early days who had...
Having read you letters column in last Saturday's Telegraph about pre-paying for fuel before you fill up at fuel stations, I thought you might be interested in my experience of this. It was in 1981 in...
It has been suggested by many that I contact you to see if you assist with a dispute, over a well-documented fault, that I am having with Mercedes-Benz and MB’s Nottingham dealership. I have a Brabus Smart...
With reference to your reply to A Z. (‘Virgin Terrritory’), I was a Highways Maintenance Engineer and was involved with such problems during my time. May I offer my experience on such matters? The verge...
I 'speak' as a 46year experienced driver (66 years old), never caused an accident, never committed a crime, paid all taxes on time, but nevertheless I have managed 3 points due to a hidden camera. I wonder...
My pensioner friend needs to replace her Nissan Micra for a car that is more comfortable. She has mobility problems (severe back pain) and it would need to be quite a high seat and easy to get in and out...
I have a 2007 BMW 525D M Sport with Goodyear Eagle 245 40 R18 93Y runflat tyres, on 18" alloys. One tyre has developed a small distortion in the sidewall (I kissed a kerb) and needs replacing. I don't...
I've moved to Javea in Spain and need to buy a reasonable used car. I'm having trouble locating anything that resembles a reputable, fixed price, UK car supermarket, which is where I would buy a car in...
My wife and I are around retirement ages. We live in WC1, but drive frequently to Devon, sometimes with loads: either family or furniture. Either way the load tends to be bulky and, sometimes heavy. We...
I'd be grateful if you would recommend a model of sport car in the region £55,000-£60,000. I wonder what your views are regarding the Merc SL500/350, Porsche 911, Jaguar XKR, Aston Martin Vantage/DB9 or...
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