Trending topics in September 2010
Questions from September 2010
We are looking at buying a Nissan Qashqai or Hyundai ix35 - we have two young children and like the style and space provided by both vehicles, but we are somewhat flummoxed by the finance options. The...
I bought a 2007 Citroen C4 SX HDI automatic on 22 April 2010 for £10,495. Within the first week it was signalling that the engine management system was faulty. The garage agreed to have the car inspected...
I just bought a 2007 Volkswagen Polo today, which was stolen/recovered from an auction site that insurance companies give their cars to. The car's back brakes are locked for some reason. Any ideas why...
I have read that the new Volkswagen Polo is not a lot smaller than the Golf, but a fair bit cheaper. I was considering a Golf, but this buyer's guide recommends that I take a look at the Polo as well....
I'm thinking of buying a MINI D4 Countryman (and spare winter wheels/tyres) as I live in the Scottish Highlands, but most journeys will be only 15-20 miles each way and 6-7000 miles a year. Will this keep...
I'm told I may have a mass air flow meter problem on my Citroen C5, but don't want to go to unnecessary expense. The car is very flat, especially down at the bottom. It feels like something is holding...
I have a 2003 Volkswagen Golf 1.9 TDi. When I depress the accelerator, I get a kind of intermittent grinding noise coming from the front of the car. The noise stops as soon as I take my foot off the accelerator,...
I have a Volvo S70 SE 10v automatic 2435cc with a gas conversion which has been running great, until yesterday when the gas indicator went off. On my fascia I have a button that, when I press a blue light,...
I have a 1999 Volkswagen Golf IV cabriolet 2.0 and the electric roof doesn't work. This is because the hydraulic fluid has leaked out. It seems that the pipe has come off the hydraulic pump which is situated...
I'm looking to buy a secondhand BMW 530i of about seven to ten years old, and I've found some really cheap ones. One obvious reason for this is they have over 100,000 on the clock! I've always heard that...
My 71-year-old mother drives a six-month-old Suzuki Grand Vitara manual diesel and recently the clutch started slipping, so she took it back to the dealer. They diagnosed it completely burned out and refused...
I read your report on the Mitsubishi ASX. Can the stop-start system be switched off? I think it would be very frustrating in a stop and start situation, on a motorway for example.
I am currently on the look out to buy a secondhand car. I am looking to buy a BMW 1 Series 118d, up to 40,000 mileage and up to three years old. I had a look at the BCA site and see they often go for auction....
When do I need to change the cam belt on a Renault Laguna estate 2.2 diesel? I've just got the car and it's done 64,000 miles.
I have a Honda Civic Hybrid (07) and the car is due for it's three-year basic service very soon, and at £275 it seems a tad excessive. Anyway, the car has done 38,000 miles or so and Honda says the car...
I have a Yaris Verso GS 2001 model in beige. When I bought it in February this year it had only done 9980 miles. It was a Category D but was repaired, and I checked the MOT history to verify the mileage...
I have an 1998 Audi A6 quattro Avant which has done 142,000 miles, and is by far the best car I have owned. It has just had a new MOT, and an advisory item is that new tyres will be needed soon, and I...
Which car seats would I need to fit three children (four years old, two years old, newborn) across the back of a new BMW 5 Series Touring?
I have a 2001 BMW 330d. The other day the Mrs was driving it home from the gym and it overheated. A friend at a garage the next day confirmed all the belts etc were intact and bled the system, and the...
I bought a used 2003 Rover 75 two months ago from a car sales showroom. The head gasket blew last week and subsequently at the garage the block was found to be cracked on my car. If my warranty does not...
I'm thinking of buying a Mazda MX-5 Mk1. I would like to get the English version but how do you rate this against the import? Do you know the insurance groups for both cars?
I took delivery of a new Audi A3 Sportback 2.0 TDi 170 S Line on 1 September. This is my third A3 and in all I have been very happy with the model. When ordering the new car I decided to go for several...
What is the best car between the Audi A6, Mercedes-Benz E-Class and BMW 5 Series E60? I want my car to be spacious, reliable and as comfortable as possible, and it has to be automatic and preferably the...
I am changing my nice but very-expensive-to-run Saab 9-3 for a Panda Diesel. I've not owned or driven a diesel car before. I believe the Fiats are OK, but what should I look out for and do to keep it in...
What are the rear seat width measurements for a 51-reg Mercedes-Benz E320 CDi Avantgarde automatic (estate)? I would like to know if it's possible to fit three child seats across the rear (two forward-facing,...
I have ordered a Skoda 1.6 Octavia Elegance via an online dealer. The local Skoda dealer really slags the online dealer off, saying that I will not get a correctly-built new model etc. The supplier has...
We have a MINI Cooper S 07-plate with 35,000 miles that we love, but feel it can be expensive to run. Our local BMW MINI dealer has told us we can save money by swapping now, with various savings on the...
I own a 2001 TDDI Ford Mondeo. Driving in very heavy rain, I approached traffic lights which changed to red and I hit the brakes. The car stopped as normal but the pedal went down further than normal....
My Toyota Auris has done 21,000 miles. The front tyres are at 2mm and the rears at 4mm. Should the new tyres go on the front or the back?
I've been told by the garage from where I'm about to buy a 1999 Land Rover Freelander 1.8EXI that it has had a conversion kit fitted to stop the head gasket problems associated with them. Is this correct?...
I own a Jaguar 2.0 diesel Classic 04 reg with 90,000 on the clock. Recently the engine has started to splutter, as if the idling speed kicks in as you increase acceleration (up to 50 mph). It seems as...
My 1998 Volkswagen Polo 1.4 CL loses power in the wet. Any ideas why this might be? It started happening after driving through a particularly deep puddle in the road. Then, once again, following a down...
I have a SEAT Leon 150 TDI FR. Today I have noticed a squealing/grinding/squeaking noise coming from the front of the car when I turn the steering wheel hard to the left or right. This noise is only heard...
I have a 2000 Volkswagen Golf 1.6 and have problems with it holding back, and it has no power when changing up gears. It also judders. It's ok for a while, but gets worse and will hardly pull away. I've...
I am about to buy a used 2008 Audi A6 Saloon SE Special Edition from a local Audi dealer, who is suggesting that I should have the Autoglym Paint and Exterior Protection. I know that they are charging...
I'm looking for a car of up to one year old, automatic, of a similar size to my 10-year-old Vauxhall Omega or bit smaller, with a soft ride, quite good spec (ie cruise control, air conditioning etc), folding...
Which 4x4 would be the best for me? I need to be able to tow two horses in a trailer and would like a reliable, economical car that will be able to tow regularly and not burn out, costing me lots of money....
Friends of ours are staying in the UK for about 12 months with two small children, and want to buy a second hand seven-seat MPV and sell it when they depart. They have a budget of £3000. Can you suggest...
What is an acceptable delivery mileage on a brand-new car from a dealer? Is 500 miles ok?
I am looking for something which is able to cope with the odd long trip across Europe, and can fit a lot of stuff in the back (I'm a sculptor - think bulky and messy). I've thought about a 4x4/jeep type...
My Vauxhall Astra has just made a 'thud' sound when I tried to set off and now it will not drive. The car will go in gear and the clutch feels as normal, it just will not drive when a gear is selected.
I have a T-reg Volkswagen Golf. I would like to get my engine checked. Who can do this?
I have a 2007 BMW 318D E90 2007. When I engage the cruise control (70mph) it cuts out the engine and all kind of warning lights appear on the dashboard. I restart the car and it drives away without problems....
I have recently purchased a 2004 Toyota RAV4 2.0 auto from an Independent dealer. From the day after I purchased it the MAL VSC TRC warning lights have come on and had to be reset. The diagnostic errors...
Can you adjust the clutch free play on a Ford Focus 1.8 1998? If not, what roughly should i be looking at to replace it?
I have a 2000 W-reg Peugeot 306 diesel estate which produces a knocking from what seems to be the back of the car, although one witness believes the noise is from the front. Any suggestions please? The...
I am looking to cancel my car insurance policy as I am moving abroad. I am six months into a 12-month policy. I pay for the insurance by monthly direct debit. I have called the insurance company and they...
For at least six months I have had a coolant leak, but there are no signs of a leak anywhere. I am now putting in one litre as frequently as every two days, after mileage as low as six. On the other hand,...
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