Questions from July 2010
I have a Peugeot Partner Combi 2003 and have a knock when going onto a rough road and turning. There is only one knock but it happens every time I turn on rough roads. Just taken it for an MoT and it passed,...
We paid the deposit for a car over the phone and overnight had second thoughts about whether we wanted to go ahead. We told the dealer this the next morning, but they say we will lose the deposit. We haven't...
My 1994 Volkswagen Golf Cabriolet clicks in reverse gear. I want to take it to a garage but all the other gears are ok and I do not want to be pressured into a new gearbox. Can anybody give me an indication...
I purchased a classic car privately, based upon the description provided by the seller. Following the purchase, I had the car transferred to a specialist who has indicated that there is severe rust on...
We recently purchased a Ford Fiesta 1.4 diesel and had an AA check done on it. We now find that it needs a new fuel injector and two new alloy wheels, neither of which are apparently covered by the expensive...
Just noticed when pulling away and changing up the gears in my 2009 Hyundai i20 that, as I try to accelerate in second gear, there is a knock from the engine when driving up a gradient. Is this normal...
Myself and a colleague today received parking charge notices for exceeding a two hour limit at a motorway service station. We feel disgruntled on several fronts; we were paying for food and refreshments,...
I bought a 2004 car last week and it seems fine except that the written list of the car's features prepared by the dealer - and shown to me before before I bought it - said that the car had cruise control....
What are the quietest motorway cruisers that do 0-62mph in 8.5 sec and less? Is the Honda Accord 2.4 any good?
I am looking to replace our 57-plate Mercedes-Benz in the next six months. I would like a comfortable and economical estate which is also an enjoyable drive. We have been slightly disappointed with the...
I have a 2008 BMW 325i coupe with 19,000 miles. I told by Sytners that all four tyres have worn on the inside. The readings are O/S 5, middle 5, I/S 0. On questioning them they say this is a fault with...
Is this a good time to buy secondhand or new as a cash buyer? We want to buy a decent 7-seater and have narrowed it down to a Vauxhall Zafira or Ford S-Max. Ideally we want a high spec one (leather seats...
My partner is replacing her 5-year-old Skoda Fabia Classic with either a Volkswagen Golf 1.6 TDI Match 5-door or an Audi Sportback 1.6TDI SE. Both of these are similarly priced, however the Golf is more...
I'm not sure if I missed it, but you did a report on the KIA Sportage 2010 at their test track. I recall you also saying you would do a report on the KIA/Hyundai setup. As a potential Hyundai ix35/KIA...
I bought a 2004 Volkswagen Golf GT MkV 2004 with 42,000 miles on the clock. Volkswagen advises a cam belt change at 65,000 miles or four years, whichever is earlier. This car is six years old and has no...
Would the 2006 Audi A6 2.0 TDI SE have the refined oil pump? I am thinking of buying one with high mileage because of my budget and I'm going to use it as a taxi. Obviously it's got to be reliable and...
I'm looking at buying a 2003 Focus 1.6 Ghia with 79,000 miles on the clock. When should we change the cam belt, or should it have been changed by now?
I have a 2-litre petrol Hyundai Tucson due a 50,000-mile service. The schedule recommends replacement of the timing belt, which the main dealer will fit. However, a non-franchised dealer recommends a full...
I just bought a 2002 Peugeot 307 1.6 GLX petrol with service stamps in the book, but no record of a timing belt change. The car is coming up for 75,000 miles and I am unsure whether the belt has been changed....
I have had a tow bar fitted to my Corsa, and when I attach the cycle carrier base to the tow bar it partially obscures the bottom of the year of registration mark. When I am carrying my bicycle I have...
Is it possible to claim for an increase in premium as a result of non-fault accidents? My car was involved in two non-fault accidents, one in December 2008 and one in February 2009. In both situations...
Like many other law abiding drivers I'm often overtaken by other cars and, more often than not, LGVs, on motorways that have average speed cameras. Most of them are travelling at least 10 or 15 mph more...
Every year I try and buy my car insurance online. Problem is, when it comes to the specifics of my car it never appears on their drop-down list. Who creates this information, and how can I have my cars...
As a parent-to-be, I have found out that the boot of my BMW 320d Touring is not going to be big enough to accommodate anything other than a small pram. I'm therefore looking for something with more boot...
I am after a 4x4 and I've got around £4000 to spend. I've being doing a lot of research on the net and have looked at, and test driven, a few, including the Nissan Patrol, Daihatsu Fourtrak and Mitshubshi...
I recently almost bought a silver 2006 BMW 330i M Sport coupe for £9400, but I pulled out because of the mileage - it had covered 91,000 miles. What do you think of such a purchase, of a fairly young car...
When my daughter took her N-reg Fiesta to university I put an extra gloss protection on the bonnet expecting her (correctly!) to never wash the car. She is now home for the summer and the bonnet is a mess!...
I note that Volvo have announced their 2011 range and have made their 2.0 and 2.4 diesel engines Euro 5 compliant, ie D3 (2.0), D4 (163bhp) and D5 (205bhp), but have left their 1.6D Drive as Euro 4 compliant....
Could you repeat for me the position re being fined for overstaying on a supermarket carpark?
I was parked in a local retail park but overstayed. A notice was left on my car to advise but I have now received a parking notice for £70.00 to be paid in the next 28 days, but if I pay earlier the fee...
My Golf 1.4 TSI (09) is an excellent car, with only one flaw - the steering. Your website review identifies its lack of enthusiasm in turning corners and failure to track a straight line accurately. My...
I have an old Mercedes-Benz ML 270 with alloy wheels taking tyres size 255/60 R17. I use it in the winter to pull a little trailer with the horse manure from a very muddy park. Last winter, I planted it...
I recently had an accident in a works van so my boss accordingly made a claim to cover the cost of the damage. Do I have to declare this when I renew my own private insurance, as the claim was made on...
At 31,907 miles on the clock, the clutch on my Alfa Romeo 147 JTD 1.9 seems to have failed. The dealer has said that if, on examination, it is clutch failure, then I am responsible. The car is within manufacturers'...
Five weeks ago I bought a 2009 Volvo XC70 from a Volvo garage. I was told it had two years of Volvo guarantee. However I found, after a week, that the service had not been done on time. Today I heard from...
A thrown-up stone caused a chip on the base of my Honda CR-V's windscreen and apparently it's too small to be repaired. Would say clear nail varnish provide an adequate repair?
I was thinking of having my 1998 2-litre petrol Mazda Bongo converted to LPG to save money. Is this one of my better ideas?
I'm looking for a 1991-1999 W140 Mercedes-Benz S-Class. I've seen two 1997 models, both of which had rust problems around the wheel arches. Can you tell me in which year Mercedes-Benz started producing...
I need to replace a timing belt on my Peugeot TUD5 and have a few questions. When the timing belt broke would it be possible that the valves got bent at the same time the belt broke? Is there some diagram...
I drive about 20,000 miles each year including about three trips to France, during which time I tow a light caravan for no more than three weeks. I look for economical, reliable and comfortable motoring....
My brother bought a brand new Renault Megane from a Renault dealership in March 2008. Unbeknown to him this car was first registered on 1 August 2007 in Cyprus and was brought back to the UK, then sold...
Can you recommend a first car for my son please? We have a budget of up to £2000, but are trying to match low insurance with street cred.
I bought a Ford S-Max 1.8 TDCi from Ford Direct. I have done 80,000 miles in the car and the dual mass flywheel has failed. It is just out of the Ford Direct warranty but still in the manufacturer 3-year...
My wife is disabled, and we use a Motability car. She is due to change her car early next year, and must order later this year. We have shortlisted two cars as being very suitable for her needs; the Skoda...
How often does an HGV driver have to take a medical?
I was notified of a fault with the DSG system on my BMW 118d (77,000 miles), by a warning light on the dashboard. I had this checked by a local BMW specialist who diagnosed the problem as a faulty hydraulic...
I am thinking of buying a Honda Civic Hybrid or a Volvo C30. Why is the Honda so cheap (and with this week's offers even cheaper)? A local Honda dealer is offering me a Civic Hybrid 2009 SE with 4700 miles...
I want to export cars from your country to Lithuania. The cars have to be without tax and I want to find a dealer who can to sell to me.
On my 2004 Ford Galaxy's air conditioning setting 'AUTO', the lowest ambient temp (ambient) is 18 degrees Centigrade. Is there a way of lowering the temp settings?
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