Questions from June 2009
My wife bought a 2000W Clio that came with two keys. One starts the car ok + locks via remote, no problem. The other locks via remote but will not start it the engine. It appears that the 2nd key is not...
On 20 December 2008, I part-exchanged my wife’s car at a dealership. I sent the V5C section 9 form to DVLA notifying them that I had disposed of it. I received a form from DVLA on 1 April 2009 (continuous...
I am just renewing my AA roadside Roadside/Recovery Cover and I was wondering whether the AA Breakdown Repair cover for parts and labour is worth taking out. It’s not expensive for what’s covered, about...
I'm currently helping my mum chose her next Motability car. She has arthritis and needs a high driving position, an automatic gearbox and ideally she would like to keep the keyless ignition she has with...
I have a Volvo V70 (new shape), but, as with the old model, I and other owners are only getting 10k-12k miles from the front tyres. I do not drive like a lunatic, nor do I accelerate harshly except for...
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...
I have a 2006 Chevrolet and there is smelly smoke coming out near the radiator. I have since had problems with my engine management light. It went off after a couple of days and has never come on since....
You have covered the subject of spring failures through unfinished
ends many times. Most of my working life was spent in the spring-making industry producing large hot-rolled springs with diameters that...
As the proud owner of a 19-year-old Renault 5 1.7 I was interested in the new initiative that might tempt me to sell our old car. I have read that the Citroen C1 is quite a good, cheap city car so checked...
My daughter is about to get a company car to replace her beloved C4. She can have a Ford Focus 1.8D or a Toyota Auris 2.0D. Her company miles are around the A1, A10, M11 and M25. For private use she often...
As I am now retired and only drive about 8,000-10,000 miles a year I would like to spoil myself with a second hand Luxury or Classic Car. I have been very impressed with the understated style and price...
Due to an unexpected inheritance I find myself being able to buy the car I want. However, I would like to buy a convertible with an automatic gearbox and be able to carry my cocker spaniel. I did look...
I would like to replace my current car but want to keep within the low emissions band and also have a limited budget. I have been looking at the Hyundai i10 and KIA Picanto Chill, and would be grateful...
My father in law, who is now 84, drives a twenty-year-old Renault 5 which he is planning to use in the newly announced government scrappage scheme. He wants to replace it with a new car that must be easy...
I have seen a June 2001 Range Rover Bordeaux 2.5 diesel with 99k miles on the clock and full service history (14 stamps) from Land Rover service centres or dealers. Looks to be a tidy car. Please can you...
Regarding the e-mail headed 'Higher Cars', my brother in law has a Golf and cannot fit clubs and trolley in the boot. Yet my wife's Astra Twintop will accept both easily in the boot. It seems that most...
I had new discs and pads fitted to the front of my 3 year old Subaru Forester at 20k miles in December 2008. Despite taking the car back they are still poor. They don't have that instant response they...
My daughter, currently driving an Audi A3, has a daughter who is almost two, she has now been advised that she is pregnant, and will have twins in September. This will mean that, for the foreseeable future,...
A few weeks ago you published a letter from a reader that gave details of a company that could supply runflat tyres for his BMW at less cost than a BMW dealer would charge. I cut the letter out for future...
I read your response to G.M. of Thornbury (25th April) with interest. In Slough we are saturated with speed humps and cushions but, in fairness, on my road there are some that are actually acceptable....
A few weeks ago my wife, when exiting a dual carriageway, 'nudged' a stationary car in front of her on the slip road. There was no visible damage to the other car, and the only damage to our car was a...
Last October I bought a nearly new 2008 Ford Fiesta ST150. The car at the time seemed a good deal, had an extended years warranty and was classed as a Ford Direct car, which it had been owned by Ford....
I am contemplating the purchase of a used 5 Series BMW with a budget of £20,000 - £22,000. Looking on the Autotrader website I notice that there are a number of companies offering new, high specification...
My wife, who is in her 50s, has decided she would like to learn to drive. I would welcome your suggestions as to a suitable car to buy for her. It should be reasonable to insure and run. My budget is between...
My local garage is a small, family-run business. It is just two and a half miles away. They have looked after a succession of cars owned either by me or by members of my family for almost thirty years...
My wife and I are thinking of using one car instead of two. It would mean me scrapping my reliable old Peugeot and be the second driver on my wife's insurance policy. What would happen a few years down...
Question: What's the UK's least-used stretch of road? Answer: The inside lane of any of its motorways. Why am I paying for the widening of many of our motorways, and suffering the attendant delays and...
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