Trending topics in February 2010
Questions from February 2010
A friend is changing his 2006 BMW 330i SE Coupe. It is in pristine condition and he has offered it to me. However, it is on 19" wheels and in the last 2 years he has had 3 punctures and had cause to replace...
My wife's 2004/54 Ka with just 23,138 recorded miles has needed to have a Helicoil ftted because the drain hole disintegrated while in the Ford Dealership for its annual service. The charge was £60 plus...
I am due to change my company car in March 2010. I am currently on my 2nd Volvo S60, but the new S60 is not due in the UK until September 2010. I cover about 20,000 miles per year, some longer distance,...
I would like your advice as to were to go now? I damaged a tyre on my motor bike on a poorly maintained road at Edenbridge Kent in May I have only just received a reply from Kent County Council stating...
I have to drive every week to and back from South Devon to Twyford, Berks or one of our other sites that takes me through 3 long sets of SPEC average speed cameras on the M5 and M4. I can't find a good...
Recently, I had my 2000 Land Cruiser serviced by a small, independent garage with a good reputation. Following the service I was chatting with the mechanic who carried out the service. I mentioned that...
In a recent British ‘police reality’ TV show a driver was stopped, because his car came back as No Insurance. The police told him why they stopped him. The driver said I've got Comprehensive Insurance...
The oil light on my Golf keeps coming on even when the oil level is correct. What could this be?
Regarding your article on unintentional acceleration of automatics, the early Lexus LS400 was very prone to this problem where the accelerator pedal would suddenly floor itself and the car would be unstoppable...
My father has been given a £50 fine by a "parking control" company for overstaying in a car park he has never been in, in a town he has never been to. His name and address was passed on by the DVLA. The...
I have a Honda CRV, which is kept outside, and at times is not used that often. As the battery will be flat within three weeks I have recently purchased a solar-powered battery charger with a cigarette...
The ex-demo 1994 Citroen ZX Turbo D I purchased in 1995 is now in the hands of a daughter 150k+ miles. No problems apart from new radiator early on. Still on original exhaust system and remote key batteries....
I am a GP, mountain rescue doctor and am about to do blue light training to respond as a volunteer for the local ambulance service. I need something that covers all three bases, i.e. very fast, suitable...
In October I received a speeding ticket alleging that I was doing 38mph (at 14.31hrs on 12 Oct 2009) in Carnforth, Lancashire. Consulting my diary I realised that at the time quoted I would be leaving/departing...
My daughter’s diesel SAAB 9-3 has had a catastrophic failure after passing through shallow water on the road. The breakdown man seemed to think that this is not unusual as the air intakes are vulnerable...
I have a Sept 2006 Suzuki Grand Vitara 1.9DDIS which I bought about 18 months ago with 19k miles from a non-franchised dealer. In April of this year at 31k we discovered a problem with filings being deposited...
I bought my Ford S-Max a year or so ago with runflat tyres. Before people go for this option, I think they should bear in mind that they cost much more, they weigh (according to my local fitter) a third...
I've currently a W reg Nissan Micra that has been trouble free but wonder if I'm on borrowed time and should be looking to part exchange it either for a 2/3 year old car or a new Micra? It has to be an...
My brother has just telephoned to tell me that he had a cambelt replaced on his 10 yr old Mitsubishi 1.8 GDI Space Star by a main dealer three months ago but the car broke down Tuesday. The dealer is saying...
How do you go about dealing with poor workmanship? Our 2004/54 BMW 318i went in to the BMW dealer we bought it from for what we were told to be necessary work just before we took it to France and Spain...
Yesterday on a water-covered surface I braked but slid into the car in front. Damage to my car is to radiator and front bumper - the car In front had a towbar fixture. The garage says my car is a write...
I bought a car and it turned out to be a ringer. Is it not possible for me to keep it and get it insured legally? I’ve read some information on ringers on the Internet but it just says stay clear. Now...
I own a 2001 Nissan Micra 1.4SE (Mr Blobby body shape) and prior to this owned a 1996 Micra 1.3GX from new. I have been very happy with both cars, and am now looking for a replacement. I am looking for...
I want to change my car, a May 2005 Ford Mondeo GHIA Petrol 2.0 litre. In very good condition, it has done 71k miles with FSH and warranty to April 2010 and taxed to March. Having been really pleased with...
If I understand correctly, you have a house and farm in Thailand? I also have a house there and currently have a 2-year-old Toyota Vios. I'm considering changing it. However, car prices being so steep...
I wonder if you could advise me please. On 17the October I delivered my daughter to our local Driving Theory Test centre and because she was very nervous I had to take her inside. I parked in the car park...
I have a VW Tiguan SE and find that I get a hard-core jiggerly ride. I remember you suggesting in your column a particular tyre that would give a softer more comfortable ride - what were they? The current...
My wife and I set out on a trip from London to Lyon last Saturday (14 November) in our new BMW 320 Touring to have a birthday dinner with friends. Whilst on the autoroute between Calais and Reims, we...
What is the advantage and disadvantage of speed/revs gauge/dial being centralised in a car, for example the Yaris, opposed to the normal placement, i.e. directly in front of the steering wheel? I’m asking...
The DVLA has finally summonsed me to court to answer the charge of failure to notify change of keepership. In the DVLA’s submission to the court is the buyer's signed statement that he saw me post the...
I had my timing belt replaced 3 months ago, but it snapped. The garage says that the water pump broke and that caused the belt to break. The garage that recovered my car said that the waterpump should...
The tyres for my car should be 225/55/16 95W. Unfortunately the tyre supplier has fitted 225/55/16 95V. Would this affect my insurance?
I am considering purchasing a car in the USA (Florida) rather than paying car hire charges for lengthy stays (2-3) months twice a year. I would preferably like something the size of say a Freelander and...
I am thinking of changing my 2006 Focus 1.6 (113) Zetec for a new Octavia with the 1.4 turbo petrol engine. I would appreciate your view on small turbo petrol engines in general and this one in particular....
Back in August we were returning from a holiday in Derbyshire with our daughter and our two granddaughters, when I was caught in a speed-trap in the village of Grindleford by an officer with a hand held...
I am taking delivery of a new car at the end of December and I am considering having the Supagard Plus treatment by the supplying dealer. Would you please advise if you think the treatment is beneficial...
Is it true that it is no longer recommended to rotate the wheels (i.e. front to back opposite corners, etc.) to even out the wear of the tyres? I use to do it relatively regularly in the "old days" but...
My Golf was nearly 5 years old when it suffered the well-known G201/MK60 Teves ABS/ESP fault. Basically I have been told that VW is offering 100% goodwill for Touran owners who have had their cars exclusively...
Eight months after the warranty ran out on my 2006 Skoda Octavia 4x4 1.9 TDI estate, I started it one morning to find that the ESP button light was permanently on, as was the warning light on the dashboard...
I need to buy a new car after not having driven for 8-9 years. Using buses has become hopeless with so many services closing. I'm thinking of a diesel Skoda Yeti. I watched your video review and you seemed...
I hired a car in Faro 3 weeks ago from www.myalgarvecars.com. The rental company took a swipe of my credit card as deposit. When we returned the car intact a week later, there was no one to check it in...
We ordered a nearly-new Ford Fiesta from our local Ford dealer on the Ford-direct scheme (7 months old 2,500 miles – decent price - £10,400 for a Zetec silver, with Bluetooth fitted). That was two weeks...
I have a 2008 reg manual Ford Fiesta Titanium. I am very pleased with it. It's a great car. The car was supplied with low profile tyres. Pirelli P-ZERO Mero 205/40R17. I have had bad experiences of low...
I have ordered a new car from a franchised dealer, only to find his quotas have been exceeded for the next few months. Am I entitled to my deposit back so I can find a dealer who can process my order?...
I bought a new Mazda 2 1.3 TS2 last year and just could not get on with it - too much road and suspension noise and rattles in the dashboard area. I decided to get something else and tried Jazz, Yaris...
I have a 2006 Volvo S40 with 1.6 diesel engine. You suggested this engine in preference to 2.0 litres. It has been economical (average of 48mpg for mixed motoring) and very satisfying to drive. In the...
Our 2005 Astra 1.8 Auto has just become a near write-off. The auto gearchange stopped working and when we took it to two Vauxhall garages both said that fluid had leaked from the radiator into the gearbox...
I am looking to replace a 1996 Ford Escort Cabriolet 16v Ghia, with a FIAT 500C. I had terrific service out of my Ford, but after 13 years living in the open air (no garage), the roof started to leak because...
For your information, I recently bought a car through Drivethedeal. Everything went fine. Good communication from all parties involved, especially the supplying dealership. I collected the car ten days...
I am going to soon purchase a second-hand car from a Vauxhall main dealer. He says the car has been HPI checked as are all the second hand cars they sell. Do I need to make any more checks before purchasing...
Elsewhere on 
