Questions from July 2010
I am looking at buying a 2003 Mazda 6 with around 100,000 miles on it. She is a 1.8-litre touring petrol model in good condition - what should I look out for?
My manual Vauxhall Astra pops out of gear when I put it into second or reverse. It occasionally happens in fourth as well, and it's getting worse. What could it be?
I have an old car which has a loan secured against it. The engine has blown up and the car is really only fit for scrap. However the outstanding loan amount is greater than the car is worth as scrap, and...
I would like to know what is the most reliable middle class car with a petrol engine since 2004? Is there any reliable research?
I am bewilderd by the choice of small MPVs (capable of carrying five plus two). I'm considering the Ford S-Max, Citroen C4 Grand Picasso, Peugeot 5008 or Volkswagen Touran. All seem to fit in the £20-25,000...
What do you think the UK market's perception is about electronic component remanufacturing in general? Do you think there is an understanding of its benefits?
I bought a 58-plate Ford Fiesta Zetec S (new shape) in May 2010. It has been great, however I've noticed that when I'm braking there is an odd whirring-type sound when speed gets below 15mph or so. It...
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...
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 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....
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 a 2003 Renault Clio 1.5 DCi with 70,000 miles. When starting from cold, the engine turns and fires but does not pick up. On the third attempt the engine starts and runs slowly. It hunts, and after...
I have a 2006 Volkswagen Passat 2.0 TDI automatic. Recently it staring jumping or jerking in low gears when the engine is cold. It has been in the Volkswagen dealer for over a week as they cannot find...
My car has the Peugeot TUD5 diesel engine. Whenever I start my car, when the engine is cold it makes a rattling sound and it fades as the engine starts gaining temperature. After a hot start it doesn't...
Please could you tell me if its normal to have 2-3mm of free play in the clutch pedal of my petrol Toyota Auris 2008? I can push it down about this distance before I meet any resistance. I had it in at...
I have just purchased a Hyundai ix35 CRDi 4x4 Premium which, according to the warranty booklet, must be serviced every 12 months or 12,500 miles. In your review of this car you said that the service interval...
I have had a Mondeo Zetec Estate 2.0 for three years. It's done 90,000 miles and is never any trouble. The lease is up soon and my employer/lease firm has stopped us having Fords - shame. We have the choice...
Have you got the Fiat 500 Air in the pipeline? Sounds just up your street. Hope you get a long term jobbie.
After reading your generally positive review, I bought an 07 Skoda Octavia 4x4 1.9 diesel estate in January. It's a great drive and very economical; however, I'd like to reinforce your comments on the...
I was driving my boyfriend's car legitimately and I parked in a disabled bay in a leisure car park in Manchester for about 20 minutes. When I came out I received a ticket for £40. I know I should not have...
Which 3.5-tonne panel van, new or old (preferred), has the greatest payload? The van will have to carry a lot of weight occasionally, so front-wheel drive would be more convenient, but would a bigger engine...
I tried to buy a car from an online broker. They quoted a very good price, but with an 8-week delivery. My lease car went back after six weeks but I thought it was worth the hassle of being without a car...
My business bought a pre-registered (July 2007) BMW 3 Series estate with 10 miles on the clock from a BMW dealership in December 2007. At the same time we purchased a BMW 5-year service package starting...
I remember you wrote recently about huge repair bills on early Mercedes-Benz A-Class models and wonder if you could advise which parts/years/mileages to avoid? My son has been recommended an A-Class for...
Does my 2004 Ford 2-litre TDCI C-Max engine have a timing belt or chain?
My Renault Clio 1.4 is backfiring. What could it be, and where can I get hold of engine layout for it?
Until I jump-started my Ford Mondeo diesel to get the battery up to performance, all sorts of crazy things happened on the dash board. Once fixed with a fully recharged battery, all the faults were gone.
I recently took my car for a drive and, by the end of it, my front driver's side brakes were screeching and red hot. I let them cool down and on the return journey there was no problem. Could any one suggest...
I have an N-reg Saab 9000 CSE turbo automatic. When the engine is running it knocks on the right hand side and gets louder while driving. I have asked a few people about it and have had different replies,...
I'm looking at a Ford C-Max Zetec 2.0-litre petrol automatic on a 56 plate (2007 trim) for £6695, with 18,500 miles. I can't find anything specific about 2-litre petrol automatics. Are they ok and is this...
My 2008 Toyota Avensis 2.0 D 4D TR was purchased in February and, due to a 'whoop' noise every time the clutch was used on start off, the Toyota dealership diagnosed a problem with the turbo and replaced...
Please could you tell me if you would touch this 2002 Mercedes-Benz 320 CLK open top car which my husband is considering? One owner, full Mercedes-Benz service history from new, immaculate condition but...
Hope you can help. There is an auction with BCA (BMW open group) and the car that I am looking at is a BMW E92 320D M Sport with 23,000 miles, satellite navigation and a few other extras. I've spoken with...
My Skoda Roomster Scout's standard wheels and tyres are 16-inch with 205/45/R16 87W. They have an option of 17-inch wheels and 205/40 R17 84W tyres. Which is the best choice?
My wife bought a new Fiat Panda in November 2008. In November 2009, it was apparent that water was leaking into the car and soaking the passenger side carpet. The local Fiat agent adjusted the door seal,...
I'm thinking of buying a 2009 Peugeot 207 SW but I have a couple of questions. Does it have a dual mass flywheel and are there any known problems? Does it have a diesel particulate filter, and if so what...
What is your take on the speed limits applicable to the Peugeot Bipper van? It appears to fit into the 'car-based light van' category, given the existence of the Bipper Tepee MPV and a maximum weight of...
I'm looking for a considered opinion regarding the best value soft top sports car with a meagre £3750 budget. I do a lot of home maintenance but can't do bodywork or rust repairs. In-depth research so...
My 3-week-old Ford Ka was hit from the rear at around 30mph whilst we were waiting to turn right. The car has gone to my insurer's 'approved' repairer and there is £3600 of repair work with over 40hrs...
I have recently purchased a 2006 Volvo V50 D5 automatic with a high mileage at 118,000. It runs ok but the service transmission light and engine system service light keep coming on. The car runs great...
We bought a 2009 Jeep Patriot in January this year. Each time we switch the engine on we get a warning light to check the engine oil. After taking it back to the garage to have the oil looked at, and further...
Does a Toyota Corolla Verso 2005 2.0 d4d 114 bhp have a timing belt or chain? Does it need replacing after five years?
I have a 2005 Subaru Forester 25 XTEn auto with SVDC. Do I need to change all four tyres at once to prevent damage to the transmission/4-wheel drive? I can see nothing in the hand book, but this does seem...
I'd be grateful if you are able to de-mystify some queries I have with wheels and tyres. My car is a P-reg Peugeot 405 estate 1.9td 1996. Its current tyres are 185.65.14 R and I need to replace these....
I purchased an ex-demonstrator 2009 Fiat Doblo Dynamic Multijet earlier this year from a Fiat main dealer, expecting it to have the rake and reach steering column adjustment, but it has only the rake movement....
I currently run a 2005 Mazda 3 2-litre Sport saloon, but a new baby, labrador and broody wife mean it's time to look for an estate. With the part-ex I would get for mine (full service history, good condition...
A friend of mine recently purchased a brand new 2009 Mini One as her first car. The car was fine until a couple of months ago, when it started to cut out. The car's electrics would periodically fail at...
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