Trending topics in September 2009
Questions from September 2009
You stated that the cost of a new hybrid, such as a Toyota Prius, could be offset against tax. I am considering ordering a new Mk3 Prius as soon as they become available next month and would dearly like...
I am 71 years old and drive a 2003 Golf 100TDI PD that has done 34,000 miles and pulls a 1,000kg caravan very well at 30 mpg, but struggles a bit on the A30 over Exmoor and Bodmin on the way to and from...
I was wondering if you could advise me on a tricky question. My employer wants me to drive a company car that I know has faulty brakes. I have asked numerous times for them to be rectified and the response...
Recently my daughter was involved in a road traffic incident on a straight section of two-way traffic B road. The vehicle approaching my daughter veered on to her side carriageway and she had to take evasive...
Do you think that petrol 6-cylinders are still a viable option? I ask because, when returning from a recent holiday in the South-West of England, I managed to obtain 38.6 mpg on the trip computer of my...
Someone ran in to the back of my 11 year old Toyota Corolla, and put it ‘beyond economical repair’. I’ve had the car from new in 1998. The insurance company want to offer me book value, but my argument...
Further to recent correspondence, I have narrowed my choice down to a Smart or a FIAT 500C, the Nissan Micra C+C being no longer available. Do you know anything about the 500C as it is new? I imagine it...
I have bought Civics for the last 20 years. My present one is 6 years old and the only reason I haven’t traded it in yet is because of a review I read in the Which Car mag which didn’t rate the new Civic....
I have always wanted to buy a Q7 since they were launched but don’t want to spend more than £10K. I only will buy a one owner immaculate 3.0 Tdi sportline auto with the leather, satnav, FDSH. Given this...
It was interesting to see the comments from a reader about the new Honda Jazz and its automated manual gearbox. I have now had a Honda Jazz ES fitted with this gearbox for just over a month having traded...
In 2005 XXX fitted a runflat Bridgestone tyre to my SEAT Leon Cupra (can’t say a bad word about the car). I was sold it as a “special deal”. Having found the invoice it doesn’t appear to be special at...
I have a Lexus LS430 at the moment, which is just over three years old, and only completed 26,700 miles, I am contemplating changing it for the LS460, Last week a hired a Golf Plus with a diesel engine...
I filled up with 42 litres of Shell V-Power last Wednesday afternoon. The car initially continued to run well but by Thursday evening, after about 45 miles, it was running badly. On Friday I took it in...
Having read your response to the letter about battery problems with a Honda Civic you may be interested in the following. We have a Honda Civic EX I-VTEC S-A, bought new in March 2008. We were recently...
Despite requests for a 20mph speed limit or that chicanes be provided, the main artery of our estate has recently been ‘blessed’ with seven pairs of the dreaded speed cushions. In the main they have made...
Two years ago I accepted a job in the UK, moving myself and family from Belgium to the Midlands. I have been happy with our new life in the UK, but recently I have experienced a very frustrating and upsetting...
07/57 SEAT Leon TFSi FR for £12,495 or 07/57 Honda Civic Type R GT for £13,995. Which one would you choose?
When I come to sell my car and complete the “log book” How can I assure myself that the new owner will complete (correctly) their part of the logbook and send off to DVLA? The only foolproof way of doing...
My son recently had an accident with his first car. The other driver admitted liability and his insurance agreed to settle the claim. Unfortunately the car was deemed 'uneconomical to repair' and an offer...
I own a 2007 (new model) Volvo V70 D5 and had a detachable swan necked tow bar fitted before purchase in order to accommodate a 2 bicycle rack. I bought a Swedish Thule rack, which has an attachment that...
You recommended recently that a Hyundai i10 would be a good car for me - and I am due to get mine next week. I read your column every week and you often give good tips on how to look after a new car -...
After a few successful years in business, at the age of 41, I am treating myself to a Porsche Cayman. This is a step up in performance from anything I have owned before. Can you recommend some organisations...
Approximately 18 months ago Transport for London paid for a 20mph speed zone with speed humps/cushions to be set up in the Marshalls Park area of the London Borough of Havering. This system is supposed...
I have a 2002 Jaguar XJ8 3.2, automatic, which twice in the last 3 weeks has failed to engage the gears. The first time the car had been left standing for 4 weeks while we were away. When I went to back...
I purchased a new shape Vauxhall Corsa in December 2006 under a finance agreement. Two services have been carried out since and I had a free Visual Health Check carried out by the Vauxhall dealership...
I wrote to you about a year ago querying why diesel in the UK was about 10p per litre more expensive than most places I had travelled to In Europe and North and South America. Your answer was that it...
As a retired couple we are looking for something to buy in France that will comfortably and economically tour the country, negotiate the odd mountain track in winter, last ten years, take 2 bikes and dogs...
I had an accident a few weeks ago now, where someone pulled out of a minor road and pranged into me. It was all amicable, I put it through my insurers (peace of mind) and they put me in touch with a company...
My partner has received a NIP dated 13.07.09 regarding an alleged offence of her car travelling at 35mph in a 30mph limit, committed on 05.06.09. I understand that that the Police have 14 days to issue...
I like to keep my car clean. It gets a wash at least every other weekend and a wax maybe twice a year. But washing it on a hot day is a real challenge. This weekend the sun was drying the water before...
I think you recently wrote on BMW 3 Coupe and Audi A5, your recommendation was the BMW due to rear seat space and you made some comments to avoid deep low profile tyres; could you elaborate on all the...
My partner owns a 52 plate Mercedes A Class which has done 120,000 miles. A bit of rust is appearing and she is getting itchy feet, hence us looking at new cars around £10k (ie: Mazda 2, Seat Ibiza, plus...
I would like some advice as to if there are recognised standards that apply to the height and shape of kerb stones. I recently drove along the beach car park and caravan park access road in the north...
We have a 52 plate 61,000 mile RAV-4 D-4D. The car has been owned by us for the last two years. Earlier this year, at 55,000 miles, we lost the use of 5th gear and also the water pumped started to leak....
I have a 2005 BMW X5 4.4 petrol LHD, bought and registered by its first owner, an English ex-pat, in France. We bought in England in 2006 whence it was brought to sell and we, having a place in Mallorca,...
I write as a great admirer of your journalism, and seemingly encyclopaedic knowledge of automotive matters. So it was with some disappointment and mystification that, turning to same, this Sunday morning,...
Now that summer is upon us and holiday traffic is building up, can anyone give me one sound reason why caravans should not be subject to road tax. They slow traffic flow, clog up country lanes and abuse...
Can you clarify your recent point about European road springs, and does this affect all European car manufacturers. Your recommendation to replace a broken spring with a matching new pair has also been...
I note your support for the scrappage scheme. Is this the whole story? MoT service centres are immediately losing out on £4 million (30,000 cars times £45 times 3 years) income. Secondly the statement,...
Your site and immediate replies to emails have been a godsend in the selection of a suitable small automatic for my wife. We narrowed it down to a choice of five: Fiesta/Colt/Jazz/Swift/Ibiza. Then road...
I am considering a purchase of a Hyundai i20 for my wife. Partly on
recommendations you have made in your columns. As my wife does not do an excessive amount of driving the plan is to go for a petrol...
I am a motor insurance claims investigator and have noticed a sharp increase in spurious personal injury claims arising from minor road traffic incidents (particularly from Asian and Eastern European...
Like me, my T reg. Mazda 626 2.0i petrol Estate is getting a bit long in the tooth and will soon need replacing. I do about 10,000 miles a year and it delivers 40-42mpg. I'm looking for another estate...
I thought the following sorry tale may be of interest to your readers. A Czech lorry unfortunately changed lanes on the motorway and smeared along the nearside of my car. He stopped and I pulled up behind...
Both Motorpoint and Bob Gerard admit that their “new” S2000s were manufactured 9 months or so ago. Motorpoint’s are registered from Nov 2008, which is when the 36 month Honda warranty started, whereas...
I am considering buying a car to keep at my holiday home in France. I know I could continue renting but I’m spending about £2,500 pa on that, plus what the rest of the family spend when they go there....
We have a 53 plate 307 2.0HDI and recently every journey was enhanced by the ‘anti-pollution fault’ appearing - and an accompanying rev cut to 2,200rpm. This was tolerable because we found that switching...
I have taken advantage of the scrappage scheme and ordered a Toyota IQ. High list price, but with the £2k off it seems more palatable. Also very green and costs less to run and insure than my current barge....
Us cyclists see all the broken parts of cars as we cycle along. The rarely swept gutters have all sorts of bolts, rubber grommets and other pieces that have fallen off cars. I had wondered where these...
I am being pressured into buying a satnav but I can't find out whether any will let you determine your own route - I usually plan my routes using Goggle maps where you can 'drag' the route they suggest...
Elsewhere on 
