Questions from March 2010
I have just been reading what happened to A.L., of Sevenoaks. In November 2008 I received my car renewal from the AA who I had been with for over 15 years. Considering that at the time I had 20 years NCD,...
I've recently retired and am looking to buy a new or nearly new car. Ideally an automatic with cruise control; reliable, comfortable and reasonably fast (0-60 in 10 seconds or so). As the kids have flown...
My granddaughter (a vet) asked me when she could expect to have to renew the clutch on her car as it was still on the original - her 1996 Peugeot 306 DT, previously owned by her father and in which she...
I have a 2005 Toyota Corolla T2 D-4D with 61,000 miles. The engine management system recently failed and I was quoted £1,060 to replace it by my local Toyota dealer. Fortunately I had taken out extended...
You referred in the past to people being able to reclaim money back from cheques that they have issued, even after the cheques have cleared. My mother-in-law is selling her car and wonders how she can...
Like A.L. of Sevenoaks, any motorists must have found that, although their NCD is protected, their base premium has risen following a claim. Those over 50 could try Saga Insurance, which offer a guaranteed...
I have had a Toyota Yaris Verso for eight years, but it was discontinued about three years ago. It has proved to be the perfect car with a Tardis like ability to hold so much within it, low rear loading...
Please can you tell me why alloy wheel paints and lacquers seem not to last nowadays? I've always handwashed mine, never used a power hose or those dreadful wheel cleaner products and after 5 years on...
I'm desperate to track down the yellow Triumph Spitfire ‘CAP 151T’ that I owned as an 18 year old. The DVLA website can confirm it is still on the road but is there anyway I can find out where it is and...
Swansea City Council has recently fitted a red-light camera to a 40mph section of road. The time that the lights are on amber seems very short, especially if you are travelling at the speed limit. Recently,...
There was a time when car sidelights were not very bright but adequate: headlights dazzled on full beam and but not when dipped. Lower lights were classed as fog lights and usually pointed to the near...
I once lived in Norway and I am sure there was an additive to put in diesel to lower its freezing point. Do you know if it can be bought here?
I have sympathy for your correspondent RM of Worthing (DT Motoring Saturday 9 January) who is waiting for an ABS sensor. I feel you could explain why main dealers, who do not have the spare that would...
I wondered if you could nudge me in the right direction for choosing a good 2-3 year old van that could not only be used for transporting my rubbish around, but also be comfortable enough to act as a 'car'...
We have a problem with my husband's Citroen van. It sometimes will not start. Our mechanic has looked over it and feels it something to do with the fuel pump. It does start sometimes, there seems to be...
At present I own a 206 plate Nissan X-Trail Aventura DCI, 4WD, six-speed gearbox. This is my private car and as I own my own limited company. I now wish to change to a company vehicle. I really enjoy the...
In Southend the council has installed speed cushions on a number of side roads, yet parking is allowed on both sides of the road so you have to straddle two pothills to pass. On one street passing a school...
I know your evaluation of Golf Mark IVs is based on reader feedback, but may I put in a good word for this car? I've had my 2002 Golf 1.9 PD TDI since new and, apart from the odd light bulb, etc. obviously,...
A family friend has recently replaced a much-loved last generation Toyota Corolla automatic with a new Yaris MMT. She is extremely disappointed with her new car due to the driving traits previously mentioned...
I have a six-year-old Audi A4, which is a super car. Unfortunately I have a major problem with the paintwork. For some reason the lacquer is peeling away and not just from one area. It is flaking off the...
I purchased a Skoda Octavia 1.4 TSI DSG in October 09. Performance is surprisingly good for such a small engine and economy 39-40 mpg. What bothers me is that, after the car has been left out in the rain,...
Another insurance con is that if someone hits your car and you are fully comp then the other driver turns out to be uninsured it is counted as a "your fault" accident at renewal time if you claimed on...
I am starting to wonder where the logic is in the current car tax band system. My understanding of the government's stance on this is to get older, heavier polluting vehicles off the road. If this is the...
I wonder if you can offer some advice, please? I've got a 1997R reg VW Polo and in the current freezing weather I'm having issues with sticking door locks (although WD40 appears to have sorted this),...
Regarding A.L. of Sevenoaks’ unfortunate rear end shunt on the M25, I have some advice to all readers. If you are confronted by stationary traffic on a motorway (or other fast road), rather than stopping...
The warranty is about to run out on my 2007/57 Octavia, which has been a taxi since new. So far the DMF has been replaced under warranty once at 30,000mls and more recently at 55,000 miles. My current...
Driving home recently in my wife's 2009 Vauxhall Tigra 1.8 Exclusive, after a 40 mile round trip, we traversed a particularly nasty speed hump at 5mph in second gear. There was an immediate strong smell...
Please advise if the use of cruise control on my 1.9SE TDI VW Passat Estate gives a better fuel consumption over and above normal accelerator use on long and motorway journeys.
Further to M.B.'s recent letter and your reply re Octavia/Yeti I am also thinking of changing my Octavia TDI estate for a 4x4 to cope with Scottish winters next year. Whilst the new Yeti looks good I have...
Despite the multi million pound taxation system that motorists endure, British roads are a nightmare of dangerous potholes. Our local authority has come up with a cash saving idea. Instead of carrying...
I own a 1999V Peugeot 406 executive automatic; a car which is a delight to drive. Last Sunday, driving from London on the M4 back to Reading, the airbag dashboard light started to flash. On arrival at...
Just recently (in this cold weather) I have had great difficulty starting my Skoda Octavia 1.9 TDI. When it eventually has started a cloud of back particulates belches out of the exhaust. I have normally...
As a regular subscriber to "The Daily Telegraph" I am rather confused this week. In the Saturday issue dated 9th January 2010 on page M13 of the motoring section is an advertisement for a Battery Jump...
Having driven Vauxhalls for years and currently driving a 1.6 Meriva Design except being snowbound for the last 2 weeks, I now would like to buy a car that is reliable in the snow, i.e a 4 x 4. I have...
My second point revolves around the new breed of electric plug in cars. I read a little while ago that GM is to bring a number of Ampera to the UK for testing and the same can now be said of the Prius...
I have a Peugeot 206 SW that offers wide, low loading access. Please can you suggest a similar vehicle that has a similar good rear access?
My daughter lives and works in Sinai, Egypt and has asked me to suggest a replacement for her old Suzuki Grand Vitara automatic, a car that has given her very good service. She requires a 4-wheel drive...
I am having to sue Ford for an apparently known fault on an engine.
The car was stopping and going into limp mode, black smoke, and stalling. I sent it to a local workshop that had serviced the car regularly,...
My daughter who lives in Scotland has a 2007 Toyota Corolla. As a teacher she is committed to travelling every weekday whatever the weather. Please could you advise as to whether she would gain any merit...
I kept looking for a SEAT Leon 20VT, with little success, but then a Cupra R came up only a few miles from home. Although 02, it was lowish mileage and in exceptionally good condition. I loved it so much...
Audi assist recently hired me a vehicle whilst a faulty handbrake on mine was repaired. Scratches to bumpers and alloys were apparent on the hire car. I had it for just over 24 hours before re-parking...
I can only walk 50 metres or so and have a Brigaid Hoist fitted in my car and a powered wheel chair. I went to a Mobility Centre to get advice on cars, chairs, etc. 3 years ago. I do not qualify for Motability...
I bought a brand new Skoda Octavia Elegance Estate costing £15,665 after a total Scrappage/Dealer/Manufacturer allowance of £3,500. This will bring a gleam into the eyes of the Dealer, the Manufacturer,...
I am campaigning to get bi-xenon lights set to a lower angle as not to dazzle other drivers. I have been on TV, radio and various papers and magazines and have a petition at number 10. Support has come...
Yesterday I signed for a recorded delivery letter. When I opened it
there was a document, all in Spanish, of what looked like a Spanish road speed fine for 140 euros (with 30% discount for payment within...
I recently purchased a very nice Aston Martin DB7. It was my wish to then have the car thoroughly serviced and Waxoyled as required, and this was undertaken by a specialist I know. During his work he found...
I have been looking at some smallish cars (so they fit into my garage) and have narrowed the choice down to the FIAT Punto Evo or FIAT 500 (which may be a bit small, although fun and stylish) or the MINI....
In their short-term efforts to stop the planet warming, more and more manufacturers are introducing small capacity pressurised petrol engines. Renault, VW Group and the new Astra all offer turbos of 1.2...
My wife is changing her 1994 Rover 214 for a new KIA Cee'd 1.4 1 hatchback under the scrappage scheme and KIA's very generous contribution. The list price for the KIA is £11,895 and with the allowances...
There has been a lot of discussion recently about alloy wheels developing cracks that necessitate replacing the wheels at considerable cost. The cracks have been variously attributed to either faulty manufacture...
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