Questions from March 2010
Please could you recommend a medium sized, not too expensive, car for my daughter that has 7 seats, two being able to be used occasionally possibly in the boot area. She has three children and sometimes...
I have a 2001 Jaguar X-Type and recently it has become very reluctant to lock using the key fob. Fortunately, it opens the car with no problems. I assumed that after eight years it could do with a new...
I currently own an 04 plate Audi with 39,000 miles on the clock. I have yet to replace the cam-belt due to the relatively low mileage for the year of the car, however I am aware that the car is in its...
At 170,000 miles, my 2002/52 Fiesta 1.4 Diesel has developed a very intermittent problem with the speedo. Every few weeks the speedo stops working for a mile or so and then returns to normal. Sometimes...
I have a 2008/58 BMW 320d with pop-up washer jets. While washing the screen and lights on the M62 during a January snowfall both jets popped up a little too far and came out completely, last seen in lane...
I purchased ex-demo E Class 320 CDI WITH 4,500 miles in March this year from MB Direct, is 58 reg. It has now completed 9,500 miles. I had cause to return to dealer as a warning light appeared. The garage...
I have a 9 month old, 1.8 petrol Ford C-Max. I have done 5,500 miles and am generally pleased with it except that on 2 occasions in stop-start traffic conditions I have had an appalling stink fill the...
Travelling on an unfamiliar dark road recently I hit a deep pothole and immediately had a flat tyre. It was raining very heavily. A knight in shining armour came to my aid and put on my spare tyre, but...
I own a 2004 Mazda 3 diesel, bought from a Mazda dealer as an ex-demonstrator. During its warranty period it was serviced by the same dealer, and for its 72,000 mile service in July 2008 I asked if the...
Please will you recommend a really quiet car that costs less than £40,000 (used is fine), but is also economical. One of the car mags used to publish DBA figures, but stopped. By the way, I am also 6'...
I thought I would update you on the situation with my Hyundai i10 brake discs and pads that needed replacing at just 3,000 miles. A little over a week ago the ABS light stayed on while I was driving. I...
I have an August 2003 E270 CDI and have been quoted £440 by a main dealer for a D+ service at 85k miles including brake fluid change. The car has a full main dealer service history to date. I hope to sell,...
For past 12 years I have run BMW 325i convertibles and change every two years. I have noticed the cost to switch increasing every time I change. It was originally around £10k. Last time it crept up to...
My car has been in for repair. I received a hire car, for 4 days, the duration of the repair to my car. One week after returning hire car, I received a letter and claim form saying I had returned the hire...
My daughter wants to buy a car to keep in the garage of her house in France for use when she's there. It's likely to be parked for 3 months at a time then used for 2-4 weeks. We realise this isn't ideal,...
Please can I have your opinion on what I consider to be an absolutely farcical situation. I went along to a KIA dealer with my ex-wife to look at buying a new Rio and taking advantage of the scrappage...
I purchased a brand new Hyundai coupe from a Hyundai dealer. After only three thousand miles it is pulling to the left. I took it back to the dealer and he asked for nearly £90 to check it. Do you think...
I have a problem. The gasket seals on my engine have gone and my engine slowly but surely drips oil out quite rapidly leaving drips everywhere. Would my car fail its MoT for this or if there is no oil...
I will soon be changing my car and will have £25k-£30k to spend on a new or almost new vehicle. I live in a farmhouse that can only be approached by a single-track lane of about 1/3 mile. The nearest town...
On reflection, I think I will have a VW Polo as my "run-about" baby car now, but what particular model? Petrol or diesel? What colour?
Do they do an automatic version? Will it accommodate Cornelius - my...
We too were astounded by the £1,700 minimum quotes for learner and/or new drivers. We finally got L driver insurance for 6 weeks, after an initial 4 weeks with an instructor, with Collingwood for approx...
A few months ago I had 4 new tyres fitted on my KIA Sportage (05 plate) 2.0 litre diesel. Unfortunately, they needed balancing and the guy came back and did this. Again they still weren't right, especially...
I have a Rover 75 diesel estate auto. It has done 120,000 miles. The gearbox has failed and would cost about £2,000 to replace. It's a lovely car but I'm very worried about spending serious money when...
My daughter has asked me to advise her on the selection of a new car. She is not a car owner so has no vehicle to trade in. She has 4 children aged 11 to 19, husband no longer around. She needs a 5-seater...
We are planning to buy a car with a budget of around £5,000-£7,000. We will only be doing 4,000 miles a year and would like it to have low depreciation, top grade spec, good in mpg, diesel or petrol. Don't...
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