Questions from June 2010
Just a note to thank you for your advice regarding buying a Hyundai i10 with £2000 swappage. I went for the style and the wife loves it. We ordered it on 6 February and got the car almost three months...
My car was out of warranty on 17/3/09 and has had three dealer services and my last service was at Kwik Fit. I had this problem diagnosed by Kwik Fit and got in touch with SEAT about a 'good will' gesture....
My girlfriend is in the market to replace a ratty old Metro with something with space enough to put a folded massage table (approx 3 feet 6 inches by 2 feet 6 inches folded up) in the back. Max budget...
If I need a UK address to change the ownership to my name, what is the criteria for this? And are there any other restrictions for a foreigner visiting the UK owning a vehicle? There are motorhome dealers...
You probably know that Volvo have issued a safety recall related to rising sump oil levels in their D5 Diesel engines with a DPF, which is caused by excess fuel entering the engine sump via cylinders during...
I've just started volunteering for a charity and can claim back my travel expenses, however I already submit my VAT petrol receipts to my company to reclaim business mileage. Can I provide the charity...
I am teacher, therefore I know very little about buying a car. I'm looking to buy a new car for around £15,000. Looking for car like the Golf or a Focus but do not which one to buy or where to start from...
What is the best method for cleaning the wheels on my new Volvo V70? I guess it's residue from the brake pads. My high pressure cleaner that will punch a hole through tarmac won't remove it.
Dear John, I am sure you're aware of the esp fault on Volkswagens and Audis. Here are the Common Failing Part Numbers: 1K0614517H, 1K0907379K, 1K0614517J, 1K0907379AA, 1K0614117A, 1K0614517, 1K0614117B,...
I wish to buy a small car/supermini that is not too noisy (in comparison to similar small cars) which has a high specification. Ideally with some of the specs as standard, unlike the Mini where nothing...
I have a 30,000 mile Land Rover Discovery 3. It's 30 months old and was supplied and serviced by the main dealer, the last time in November 2009. It recently developed a horrible squealing noise from the...
The MG TF model is known for its unforgiving ride. I changed the shock absdorbers to the MGOC Bilsteins which have made things a bit better. In your Telegraph column, you sometimes suggest alternative...
I am looking for a small MPV that provides a relatively high driving position. I have a C3 Picasso and like the driving position so am now looking for something similar for my wife, who has back issues....
We have tall children (6 feet 7 inches) and after six years and 90,000 miles of enjoying the luxury of an Amazon we are looking to replace it. We can fit into a Discovery, an LC4 (the only one we've test...
I bought two Bridgestone tyres two years ago. They have covered 12,000 miles and the side walls on both tyres have developed cracks in bands about 1.5cm wide around the circumference of both tyres. The...
I have a query about the size of my fuel tank (Volkswagen Touran 1.9TdiS 07). I filled my car up with diesel yesterday, and my tank was already 1/4 full. The Volkswagen owner's manual says it is a 60-litre...
Is it me, or are there an increasing number of drivers who flaunt the law on using mobile phones while driving? Every day I see car, van and truck drivers with a mobile stuck to their ears, negotiating...
We are about to change our Nissan Navara for a new one with the Renault 190 BHP engine. We use the vehicle to tow a fifth wheel caravan/motorhome and do no off-road driving other than some small sites...
I am to be prosecuted for speeding at 36mph in a 30mph limit in Norwich, while I was on holiday from Inverness. Norwich County Council have offered me a course in the National Speed Awareness Scheme for...
I recently had an accident with a fox. I drove the car back to my grandma's house on holiday where it was promptly taken by one of my insurance company's contractors with the CD player intact. A month...
I want to buy an Alfa Romeo 166 2.4JTD - what do you think?
I have a long term chronic back injury and yet need to do a fair bit of travel work-wise. I presently drive a Toyota RAV4 and have enjoyed its higher profile which makes it easier to get in and out of....
I bought a Mitsubishi FTO last year, it's an N-reg. Another driver went into the back of me. Now my FTO has been written off by the insurance saying its worth £1300, which seemed OK. Then I get told that...
My new Hyundai i20 stuck in reverse and won't shift. It is back at the dealer and they are repairing the gearbox. Should I accept this or should they be replacing it with a new car? Two weeks is not good.
I own an A6 Avant 2.7 diesel Tiptronic (purchased March 2008). I wish to change and want a vehicle which can take two bikes if necessary, and is comfortable and suitable for long distances, so quite similar...
My son, aged 25, is interested in buying a secondhand Golf TD GTi. His budget is about £14,000. Can you suggest any alternatives that would give him the same level of reliability and street cred?
I currently own a G-reg Nissan Micra which has done just over 60,000 miles. However, rust is taking hold and I now need to replace it. My budget is approx. £3500 - £4000. Most of my driving is local, with...
I have a car park to my office, this is off the highway. The man next door keeps putting cars in our way and making it hard to get to our car park. I have sent him two letters asking him to move his cars...
Hi. I am a Kiwi coming to the UK and will buy a motorhome. I don't have a UK address. Is it possible to have the log book in my name?
I am looking for a good, reliable secondhand car for my daughter to learn to drive in. She is 19 years old. I live in Kingston upon Thames and my budget is £5-6000. I was thinking of a Volkswagen Polo...
On a recent trip to USA I noticed loads of cars with dash top covers but of course nobody did RHD examples. Now we are back in "sunny season" I find that I am again plagued with blinding dash reflections...
I am looking to buy a secondhand car for my daughter (she will be 18 in July) who is presently having driving lessons. I am looking for good reliability, good visibility, economical, 5-door, low insurance...
Can you tell me why a buzzer is sounding and the clock has lost its digits?
I parked on yellow lines at a shopping mall car park which offers free parking throughout, when I returned to my car I had a ticket stuck to my windscreen. The ticket looks official enough, but people...
I have a 2007 Mitsubishi Grandis still under warranty. The car developed a wiring loom fault and, after several abortive attempts to replace it (wrong type sent from Japan twice), we finally got our car...
I am currently in the process of buying an Astra 1.8 SRI on a 56 plate that has only 26,500 miles on the clock. I cannot get the car checked because the (private) seller has a private plate and says that...
Is September or October the best time to buy a convertible or is it more dependent on the weather at the time? I'm looking at a BMW 3.0 Z4 but I'm a little put off by what I've read about the steering...
I'm driving my 5th Saab (currently an old 95 auto estate) and I drive up to 15,000 miles a year. I'm thinking about changing my car for a small diesel automatic and I like the Mercedes-Benz A-Class, but...
I just purchased a secondhand 2006 Toyota RAV4 5 door 2.2 diesel. Does it have a timing chain or belt, and what is the price of the parts.
I have been spoilt and been able to own mostly new cars in my motoring life. However, due to present circumstances, I require to purchase the best possible car, ie the most reliable, cheapest to run and...
I will soon graduate from university, and will be starting work at the end of the summer. Before I do so, I am looking to purchase a car that is both economical to run and insure but that is also quirky...
I bought a brand new Fiat 500 in March and it was delivered on 30 April. The Fiat 500s were upgraded in January 2010 to have Start-Stop fitted as standard. I have a spec sheet and order form from the dealer...
I've seen a vehicle advertised for £5000 and I believe it's worth more. What is the law relating to items or goods shown at a particular price for sale? Would I have any legal standing if I contacted the...
I have a budget of around £16,000 and would like a car which is comfortable over long distances. I am thinking secondhand. I really want heated leather seats, a cup holder and the capability of doing in...
My Volvo V50 2.0DSE estate, painted metallic blue with grey leather, has covered 30,000 miles and was registered on 24 November 2006. It has various extras, including the ESR and Xenon headlamps. What's...
On the A12 last Saturday a car violently braked in the outside lane in front of me at about 70mph. I managed to stop in time, but the car behind hit me and pushed me into the car in front that had caused...
I have an X-Type Jaguar and have been quoted £1500 to have it vinyl wrapped with a Union flag. Do you think it will devalue the car? Is it a waste of money?
I own a FIAT Grande Punto 57-reg, and have just been quoted £440 for a 36,000 mile service from my local FIAT dealer in Slough. This seems a bit excessive to me. Should I opt to get the service done elsewhere...
I currently drive a Citroen 1.9 TD on a 'P' plate and marital pressure is pushing for a change. The current car has no value. I only do less than 7000 per annum, mostly on short journeys, but need to be...
I am in the process of buying a car UK registered car currently in Spain. The owner moved there some months ago and is arranging the sale via a shipping company. I have received an email with an eight-stage...