Trending topics in July 2009
Questions from July 2009
We purchased a 2007/57 Mercedes A-Class demonstrator a year ago with 7,000 miles on the clock. We have had the car serviced by the main dealer on the due date, having completed only an additional 6,500...
I have a 2004 Alfa Romeo 147 diesel that has done 39,000 miles. Last week the cambelt failed and the local dealer says it needs an engine rebuild at a minimum of £3,000. The dealer said the cambelt should...
Can you help? I'm replacing my wife's X-Trail 2.5L Petrol Sport 04 Plate and handing it back on a balloon payment deal. I have a 52 plate VW Passat 1.9Tdi 130 at 112,000miles (new engine at 85,000 miles...
Placing objects on the highway is an offence under Highways Act 1980 s.148, and the remedy is found in s.149. The Highway Authority has a duty to assert and protect the highway under s.130. Subsection...
I am a loss to understand why the police and the government do not take a tougher line on overtinted driver and passenger windows. These windows should have a light transmission of 70% but it is not part...
During a holiday in France our Renault Megane Cabriolet Coupe was written off in an accident on June 23rd 2005. We never saw it again. This car had our private plate on it. T111 JSH. In November 2005 we...
Does the Jaguar XF 3.0i V6 diesel prominently advertised in yesterday's Telegraph have the new diesel engine or are they clearing stocks of the old one? Are the claims of high quality standing up to expectation?
1st June saw the re- opening of the Honda factory at Swindon, and if
the press are to be believed they are pinning great hopes on the production of the new Jazz. Now my wife has owned two of the old shape...
On Sunday I signed to purchase a new Hyundai i20 under the scrappage deal. I was dealing with a marketing person rather than a sales person and he had to hand the order to sales on the Monday morning....
My daughter recently started a new job in South London and rather then stay up there she wishes to commute. As we live in Southampton the commute is a 150-mile round trip per day, 5 days per week. She...
My mother (aged 70+) has received a letter from her local police containing an accusation of dangerous or careless driving at 7:15 on Saturday May 16th. Beyond that there is no other detail and apparently...
After living overseas for the past 6 years I have now returned to these shores to find a difference in the trade with car supermarkets and deals on new, etc. I used to work in sales for main dealers many...
I run a 2005 BMW 320 Cd with 48,000 miles. I was recently away for a week's holiday. On my return the air-con is not working. The fans come on but no cold air is emitted. I have had the vacuum and gas...
In April 2008 my son bought a 2005 Ford Focus 1.6, 5-door automatic from Car Giant. The car had a recorded mileage of 30,000 and was ex-Motability with a service history. Since then the car has been driven...
I would really value your advice on the following issue: My Skoda Octavia 1.6MPI (petrol) Combi Elegance (purchased new in May 2005) has been diagnosed by my local Skoda Dealership as requiring a new air-conditioning...
I for one will not be putting my hand into my pocket to change my car under this joke of a scrappage scheme. My fabulous Audi A4 Avant 1.9 TDI SE bought new in September 1999 for £22k still looks immaculate,...
At least three times a month I have to travel along a road both ways that has 13 speed cushions. I have taken your advice and drive one side over them. Two days ago when I tried to move the car out of...
I would appreciate your advice on the dispute my father has been having over several years with Mercedes Benz Blackpool. There have been many letters sent and several confrontations at the dealership,...
You stated in your answer that RO was liable as he hadn't received a DVLA acknowledgement letter (or chased them for it). There is no basis whatsoever in statute for the DVLA's acknowledgement letters,...
My son's child has been sick, today, over the back carpet of his Porsche. Have you any suggestions as to how to get rid of the smell?
Please can you help me? l would like to query the DVLA breaching the Data Protection Act by giving my personal details to a parking enforcement company, but the DVLA says it has done nothing wrong. Any...
A small problem to which I think I know the answer. We have two cars, both ‘57’ reg: a Toyota RAV-4 XT4 and a Hyundai Tucson CRDT Limited’. Both cars are leased, the Toyota by my wife, and the Hyundai...
I have been offered a new king cab Navarra, taxed, with towbar and tarpaulin cover for the pickup bed at £15,240 inc. VAT. I am told that the dealership (Donnelly Bros here in N.I.) has bought 1,000 assorted...
I would be grateful for your advice. I have an 11 year old Lexus 3.0i Sport in good condition with a recent MOT to get rid of and am thinking of scrappage and buying in its place a small run-around, reliable...
My 2007 BMW Z4 is due its first service (as indicated on the dash board) and having had a couple of warranty claims, I have had to visit my local BMW dealer twice. Each time they slid my key into a reader...
My BMW 335i still goes like stink. It’s great fun. But despite weekly car and wheel washing the front wheels are pockmarked from brake pad and disc dust. Dealership valeters couldn't shift them. The car...
As someone who resides in the country I wonder if you could remind and warn your other rural readers of the emergence from hibernation of Snakes Head Inconsiderate People (SHIPs). So called because, if...
I very much enjoy your column. I am a retired Superintendent from the Hong Kong Police. My last 5 years service was spent in charge of a large traffic police unit covering half the territory. Having come...
This email comes all the way from Tasmania, which is the little island below mainland Australia where you sent your convicts. In 2002 I bought a Holden (Vauxhall) Vectra (new) and ever since have had...
I wonder if you can help me. On 13th May, a black labrador dog suddenly leapt in front of my car, to chase another dog on the opposite side of the road .The dog was on a lead held by a young girl of about...
I noticed a car I didn't recognise at the local branch of Arnold Clark yesterday, and stopped to take a look. It was a Nissan Tiida hatchback, of whose existence I was previously unaware. The car looked...
What do I have to do to put a British registered car onto a Spanish registration? I want to take it to Spain and keep it there for my use when I go to my second home there. Any help would be greatly appreciated.
Back in March 2003 I brought a 1400cc Honda Jazz SE Sport, (on your recommendation) it has now done 96,000 miles, average 46 mpg, original exhaust, it is still a great car. I tend to keep my cars for 6...
We are looking for a glove compartment road atlas that is not spiral bound nor paperback, unless it is laminated. I cannot find anything suitable on the web and wondered if you know where to go.
I would like to become a used car dealer but I do not know what I need to do to register myself. I have bought a car from the sales recently and they automatically send the V5 away and that puts another...
After years of manual driving, we are now living in the USA and the car we have is automatic. Sitting at traffic lights with a foot on the brake and the car in drive seems unnatural. My car is usually...
I am interested in buying a Honda CR-V, but am unwilling to do so while it still retains the obsolescent diesel engine instead of the new design, as now offered in the Accord. I understand that the Accord...
I have a 2005 Vauxhall Zafira 1.8 16v. The heating system in the car is working, but when you turn the dial to cool air it doesn't blow cool. It’s warm. When you turn on the air con it stays the same and...
I read in last weeks Saturday motoring section, your reply to a motorist who complained about having to replace brake discs and pads after only 19,000 miles. I understand your reply and know about the...
Driving north up the M11, I spotted a car transporter carrying eight brand new unregistered Peugeot Partner Origins. They looked very similar to the Citroen Berlingo Firsts; they had side windows (and...
Please could you give me some advice on what car to buy? Ideally, I'd like a new or pre-registered either BMW 520d, or an Audi A4/A6 diesel. I've got £24k + trade in to play with. Or, reading that you've...
Further to the correspondence from S.S. of Chester "Security Blanket" I would like to share my experience driving home to Birmingham from Poole after being on holiday to France. The return trip in the...
I have an excellent Volvo 480 but it is 15 years old, and I am thinking of buying under the "scrappage" scheme a new "Volvo C30 DRIVe". However, advertising from Volvo proclaims: “It also uses our brand...
With reference to my e-mail about my alleged Italian traffic violation, I
thought you and your readers might be interested to read this from the Italian Consulate. “According to the Italian Law, a fine...
My Fiesta becomes 10 years old in December 2009. At that point will it be eligible for the £2k Government backed scrappage scheme?
Just to say a quick thank you. Your recommendation of BCA Suresell to offload my Vauxhall Signum was faultless. I found the BCA people at Manchester very helpful. My car was a 2003/53 2.2 petrol Design...
I am yet another Meriva owner with this dangerous fault, I have an 05 plate 1.4 life model and I am the 2nd owner having bought the car just under a year ago. Initially I had no problems for the first...
After many years of reading your interesting and informative column, I have a question that needs your help. Our aging 1998 Rover 200 is getting near to needing replacement. While this car has served...
My son has a car that qualifies for the government scrap scheme. He is looking to spend after the allowance £4,000. He has looked at Kia Percanto, Renault Twingo, Fiat Panda and Chevrolet Matiz. He does...
I'm a regular reader of your column for years. I've recently retired and
need to downsize from a 1992 VW Passat 1.6 TD estate. I would appreciate a bit of advice on what to look at for a replacement with...
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