Questions from July 2010
Could you please advise which is the most fuel efficient 4-wheel drive model of the Tiguan range? I currently drive a Volkswagen Driver and I need a vehicle which has a lot of space for my grandsons and...
We have owned our 2002 Volkswagen Passat since new. Following a heavy downpour with a driving sideways wind, I got in the car the next morning to find the drivers footwell waterlogged, as was the back...
I have a private number plate on a vehicle that I am going to trade in for a new car in September. What is the best way of transferring this to the new vehicle?
I understand the Vauxhall Corsa 1.7 CDTi has the new Vauxhall diesel engine. I am considering looking for one. Is it reliable and does it have a good DPF life with the 1.3 CDTi, which apparently has problems?
I have just purchased a Skoda Fabia 1.2 DSG and consider it a great car. I'm very happy with the performance for a small car and, compared to the small Toyota automatic, it is excellent. You recently said...
I run a 1997 BMW 323i Tourer that has done 150,000 miles (admittedly it had a factory replacement engine at 30,000 miles due to cylinder liner corrosion) and apart from the usual bushes, bearings, shock...
My Ford Mondeo mk2 2.0-litre estate 'splutters' when trying to accelerate in higher gears. It will sometimes take a while to start in mornings as if starved of fuel. Any ideas?
I live in Northern Ireland and Im thinking of buying a car in Scotland. The current owner can deliver it as far as Stranraer. I can have it towed away once it gets to Larne. Would I be able to drive it...
We are considering purchasing a new FIAT 500 1.2 Sport. Can we realistically expect any discount on list, or failing that what extras can be satisfactorily negotiated into the deal?
Do number plates with the wrong font or spacing or letters changed by screw position, eg C to E, and are therefore illegal, affect the insurance of the car? Is this something one should take note of in...
I bought a car from private buyer and drove home. Within 30 miles of starting the journey home (80 miles) a bearing collapsed and tore off the back wheel - it was only MoT'd on April 26 2010. Where do...
I'm thinking of buying an early MX-5. I remember you recommending a particular year as being the being the best bet, which was it? I like to work on my own vehicles and I think that you mentioned that...
I have an '04 plate Saab 95 2.2 turbo diesel that has started to run very rough. It has 55,000 miles on the clock and was serviced at 50,000. It starts without any problem and runs well until it gets up...
I am learning to drive. I would like to buy a eco-friendly car and I have around three thousand pounds to spend - could you advise me on what I could find for this outlay?
During the night some scumbag stole my Vauxhall Corsa SRI's door mirrors. I have now discovered that this was a limited edition and Vauxhall no longer manufactures door mirrors for this particular model....
I'm looking to replace my petrol car with a diesel and I quite like the Citroen C5. I've found an Oct 2007 plate 1.6HDi VTR+ saloon with 1500 miles for sale by a Citroen main dealer, as part of the Approved...
I'm not sure whether to trade in my 2002 52-reg 1.5 S model Nissan Almera or spend more on new tyres and brake pads. I visited a showroom and saw a basic Micra, brand new but now obsolete, and could change...
I am considering purchasing a device which is supposed to jam speeding laser device signals and doubles as a parking sensor. Is it legal and is it an effective way of avoiding laser gun speed traps ?
Why is it when talking Electric Vehicles so few people consider the Citroen Berlingo Electrique? This is a really good practical vehicle with relatively high performance – a genuine 60 mph and 500 kg payload....
We have a Ford Fiesta ST150 that was an ex-demonstration model and was bought 2 years ago. It had a service just before we bought it and as it's my husband's pride and joy doesn't go very far. Hence it...
Could you tell me if you think the new FIAT (I think it is called a Ventiguila or something like that) coming on the market in July with a 1,400cc engine might be a good idea? Would the Toyota Prius be...
My wife loves her Panda 1.1 Active. It is 5 years old and has been completely reliable, but the ride has become more jolty as the Dorset roads have deteriorated especially in the last year. Which small...
I am considering buying a 2007 Ford Focus C-Max Zetec 2.0 Automatic. The car has done 13k and the independent dealer is asking £6,999. I would have to trade in my ’53 Mondeo 2.0 six-speed diesel Ghia with...
In recent correspondence, CS suggested that 4x4 owners should assist "public authorities" delivering meals on wheels etc. when it snows. There are organisations that already do this, particularly COTAG...
Many cars (Golf, Audi TT) have no spare tyres. The can of sealant costs £45 (or £3 from cpc.co.uk) and once used, the tyres cannot be repaired, needing new replacement(s). What progress? Can Golf Mk4 emergency...
I noted your recent comment on the time lag with VW DSG gearboxes when starting at junctions. My three-year-old Passat 2.0TDi DSG suffers from this to such an extent I am considering changing it for a...
I have an 03-plate Hyundai Trajet 2.0CRTDi with approx 80,000 miles on the clock. When I change from first to second gear there is a very unhealthy crunching noise. From talking to Hyundai dealers and...
On a PCP, if I pay a higher deposit it reduces the monthly payments, I think. When is it a good idea to pay the higher deposit on a PCP?
I've heard that the Peugeot 107, Citroen C1 and Toyota Aygo were made identical, with a few changes. Do all three cars have the same clutch kit?
I am considering buying either a Volvo V70 or Ford Mondeo estate. We need a diesel to do two long journeys abroad a year and modest mileage in the UK, possibly to pull a medium-sized horse trailer with...
I would like you to make all your Vauxhall purchasers aware that if they do not have their cars serviced by Vauxhall dealers then any goodwill gestures regarding warranty will not be forthcoming, although...
Could you tell me if there are any changes being made to the Note, September onwards. My dealer said he thought they might alter the engines, but said they would be the last to know. Anything you can find...
I am looking to buy a '57 or '08 plate Nissan X-Trail and just come across some information that seems to indicate that the turbo has been a real problem. Can you offer any advice on this? I understand...
We bought our Volkswagen Fox used about nine months ago. It's a 2006 which has covered 35,000 miles, and the last two services were performed outside the Volkswagen network. Four weeks ago the engine management...
Why does my 2002 Vauxhall Astra's alarm keep going off for no reason at all?
We are using a Citroen Xsara Picasso but I have just had a right hip change and the next one is due later. My wife has rheumatoid arthritis and cannot drive a manual, but is happy with an automatic. Our...
I recently made a ferry crossing to France with my new Volvo V70 2.0D which, incidentally, I’m really happy with. When I returned to my car on the outward trip I realised that the alarm had gone off. I...
My Suzuki Jimny is an '04 model and the back hood has shrunk. It won't stretch over to pop shut on the door gate, plus the majority of poppers have corroded. Do I have to go to a main dealer or are there...
I was told recently that you reported an incident where someone's car was towed away for blocking off their own driveway. Is this so or was someone winding me up?
My Renault Megane 1.5DCi won't turn over. It's had a new ECU and has been coded and still won't turn over. I press the brake and the clutch, and press the start button, then it beeps twice and the fan...
Please can you advise where I put clutch fluid into my 2003 Toyota Yaris? I can't see on the diagram in the manual. First and second gear are hard to engage.
I'm looking for a new car. I live in the country and whilst my current mileage is around 1000 miles per month I'm expecting it to drop to around 500 per month when I move house in a few weeks, and will...
My wife has a 56-plate Honda CR-V with the CDTI engine. It has 56,000 miles on the clock and a main dealer service history. The last service was in February 2010. Yesterday it suffered a terminal failure...
I own a two-year-old BMW X3 3.0 Diesel Automatic. The 'birth certificate' for this car states it has CO2 emissions of 226g/km, which just puts it into the £405 tax band. Several websites quote a much lower...
A recent discussion with some friends concerning left foot braking in an automatic prompted me to write this e-mail. I have driven automatics for around 25 years and when I hire a car, I always hire an...
With reference to the letter from SS of Prenton, I used to work for an Insurance Company defending credit hire claims. Quite often an innocent if somewhat naive third party would find themselves in Court...
I was considering buying a 2.0 litre petrol Qashqai and then someone suggested the 1.5 diesel as it was more frugal on both fuel and road tax. I was a little concerned as to whether the 1.5 diesel might...
My daughter in law has just had her car badly damaged. Someone ran into the back of it, it cannot be driven, and it is clearly going to be the subject of an insurance claim. Her insurance includes the...
I like the looks of the Audi A5 sportback. I see the BMW 5 Series GT as an alternative, but it lacks style. The Porsche Panamera is too expensive. I need the hatchback (dog) and want 4 doors with style...
I trying to purchase a new van I have narrowed it down to two; VW Transporter or Renault Traffic / Vauxhall version. Which would you recommend? Both seem good vans.
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