Questions from June 2010
What crossover style vehicles are there with both 2WD and 4WD?
I have a 2005 Vauxhall Monaro (5.7-litre, 333bhp version) which needs new front brake pads. Do you know if there is a source other than Vauxhall for these?
I have paid the road tax for my car online and I will receive it in five working days - can I drive only with reference number until my disc arrives?
I have a 2004 A3 3.2 Quattro which has developed a fault which is really bugging me. My rear light cluster lens was slightly cracked and had let in some water and so I removed the cluster to seal the lens...
My step daughter has a Mazda 5 registered in June 2007. It has had an annoying squealing noise from the brakes. The noise comes of its own accord - touch the brake pedal and it goes away. The car has been...
A named driver on my private car insurance policy has an unspent Fixed Penalty speeding offence (Code SP30). Can I allow him to drive my car, given that I have not told my insurance company of the three...
I think I have found source of the creaking rattle noise heard in the cabin of my 2009 Ford Focus 1.6 'Style'. On the outside of the car, when very lightly pressing down on the bonnet with my fingers on...
We were looking to buy an old model of the Ford Fiesta, which was registered in 2008. We were trying to find a review on your website, however they all seem to be for the new version. Would you be able...
I may have option to purchase a silver Peugeot 206, 5-door, 2005, 1300cc engine with 17,000 miles on the clock for about £3000. Is this a good price? Mechanic says it's in good order, just done MoT, a...
I bought a new Ford Fiesta in November 2009. In March 2010 I noticed a bad steering vibration. This was checked at the Ford dealer who reported both front alloy wheels and one rear were buckled. Both front...
I bought a 2004 Audi A4 1.8t Avant S Line with 75,000 on the clock from a dealer in Doncaster. I paid £8500 which included six months' tax. After a couple of days I noticed a whining noise and have since...
I am buying a 1982 Mercedes-Benz W123 200E. It is in superb condition, having only covered 99,000 miles. Would it be better to run it with unleaded fuel and add lead-type additive, or is normal unleaded...
My car was recently hit from behind and I have a feeling it will be written off. Car is a Volkswagen Polo 1998 R-reg, in very good condition before the accident. Anyone know what a good settlement price...
I wondered if you were able to advise me on the best route to sell my Mercedes-Benz Vito. It's a 2005 white panel van with 109,000 miles, which has been upgraded with colour match paint, windows, smart...
My (June) '03-registered BMW M3 has developed several small bubbles on the paintwork of the boot lid (on the rear-facing surface). These appear to be early areas of rust. One area is associated with a...
Any idea how frequent the ABS/ESP module fault is which affects the Volkswagen Golf V, Mazda 3, Skoda Octavia and BMW 1 Series? Is it a problem that all cars fitted with this unit will definitely suffer...
I have a 57-plate SEAT Leon with a DPF filter fitted. I recently went to my local dealer as a warning light came on my dash. I left the car with them all day, and on my return they told me that as I had...
Why do anti-roll bar link rods/ball joints start to make a noise?
Can you recommend a good streak-free interior glass cleaner please? I like to keep the inside of my windscreen clean (condensation in winter especially leaves a film after it's dried).
My daughter's car has been on a SORN for a couple of years and is not covered by any insurance. She wants to take it for an MOT in order to trade-in on Nissan's extended scrappage scheme (worth £2000 off...
I visit the States twice a year for approx three months at a time. I have an old Lincoln town car there for which my insurance is reduced by half when the vehicle is not being used on public roads. I have...
I have a problem with my 2003 Peugeot 307 SW HDi. The fault is showing up as an anti-pollution fault. It comes on intermittently and the car is running very sluggish and losing power now and again. I have...
I’ve a second car with two years' NCD. The policy runs out at the end of June so I should now have three years' NCD at renewal. Last November, I’m driving home and a pedestrian runs off the road and clatters...
I crashed my Nissan Terrano 2.7TD 1999 model and now it won't start. It's got fuel at the filter, got good battery power, it's not immobilised and I can't find a fuel cut-off switch. It just won't start....
I have a 58-plate Honda Civic Type R GT and the clutch bite point seems to be almost at the floor. Is this where it should be?
I am taking my right-hand drive car from England to Spain by ferry for a short holiday break. Do I have to make any amendments to my headlights? Do I need to take a road warning sign?
A friend recommended AB Motors of Fengate, Peterborough and to my delight I could see why they had been so highly recommended. The mechanic on the case was friendly, courteous and was very genuine. He...
I have owned diesel Peugeots (309/306) for around 25 years and found them brilliant, doing 18-20,000 miles a year. Having now retired, my mileage is down to about 6000 a year, most of which are 20-30 mile...
I have a BMW N-reg and the mileage display partly works, by which I mean you get half the display. If you hit the dash it works for a while, but has been getting worse. It is an electronic display. Any...
Our insurance company has told us they are writing off our car based on information supplied by my husband when we raised the claim. What is the process for buying back the car and getting it repaired...
I have a Golf 1.9 diesel DSG on an '05 plate. It has done 82,000 miles. We do between 15-18,000 miles a year. We get it serviced every year and it has just had new rear discs and pads, plus an oil change....
I bought a Fiat Ducato Maxi Van in 2007 through a specialist van dealer in Bolton, and was sold it with a 3-year 100,000-mile warranty. It's in its third year now and the slave cylinder has gone on the...
I have bought a used Volkswagen Polo on which the passenger side airbag was deactivated by the previous owner. Volkswagen is quoting £120.00 for this work. Could you recommend somewhere else who would...
I have been offered a Land Rover Freelander 2 GS, including metallic paint, for £23,000 on the road with £12,000 part exchange for a RAV4 '07-plate with 36,000 miles on the clock. I understand the Land...
I need a car that has rear folding seats to make a bed for occasional nights away with reasonable headroom, but not so tall that I can't easily get ladders on and off the roof. I have between £2000 and...
I am looking for a estate car. I am a part-time singer and am looking for the right car for me. It needs to be a good size for my music gear, reliable, good on fuel and cost around the £5000 mark. Should...
I have a 2002 Mercedes-Benz E320 CDI EST. I've owned the car for three years now and I bought the car with the view of keeping it for 5-7 years. The car is fantastic, as it has seven seats and gives me...
I am a qualified mechanic with 9 years' experience. I did a wee job for a guy from my local pub, fitting handbrake cables on an Isuzu Trooper. I torqued the wheels afterwards, took it for an MoT and back...
We're struggling to make a choice between a Ford S-Max and the new Peugeot 5008. We're trying hard not to be dazzled by the bells and whistles on the 5008, and do feel slightly nervous that with so much...
The Suzuki Ignis 1.3 engine pre-2003 was a chain cam I believe - do you know if the facelifted 1.3-litre model from 2003 is also chain cam?
I have a four-year-old Porsche Boxster which is about to end its extended warranty. Do I stick with Porsche for a mechanical breakdown cover at £904 or should I look for a cheaper alternative?
I have been told recently that it is illegal in the UK to hire cars to people over 75. Can this be true? I am 75, my wife 73. We both have cars and clean licences, and drive daily. We live in Aberdeen...
I've just bought a 2007 BMW 335i from a private seller - sold as seen. I took out a full BMW warranty on the car on the same date. I recently noticed a rattling noise coming from under the car. Thinking...
My son has just passed his test and wants a good secondhand vehicle for £1000-£1250. He is an adventurous lad and will probably drive it to the south of France and back. He is interested in a Peugeot 106...
I am considering buying a new Audi TT from my local main dealer. The deal on offer is: Purchase new Audi TT Coupe 2.0T FSi Quattro Sport S Tronic. List price £29,420, options: Metallic paint £500, Bluetooth...
After running two 3.0Tdi Phaetons, the lease deals that attracted me are no longer available. I have loved running the Phaetons but the time has come to change. I have considered leasing a Volkswagen Passat...
I am looking at the Skoda Yeti 4x4 diesel engines available and note that the 110bhp version uses more diesel and emits more Co2 than the 140bhp, which itself also uses more diesel and has higher emissions...
Our estate car was classed as a category D write-off. We have had it repaired at our own expense (two new N/S doors and the rear wheel arch repaired) and are now claiming off the third party's insurance....
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