Trending topics in March 2011
Questions from March 2011
I'm looking at buying a Skoda. There is currently an offer whereby Skoda will pay the VAT on the model I am looking at.
What I need to know before negotiating is who pays the VAT. Does this come out...
I am thinking of buying a used car. I want a somewhat long car.
My budget is £5000. I would prefer a manual though automatic would be a last resort.
Based on information from friends/neighbours etc....
My brand new Mazda3 petrol has only done 5000 miles but has been clattering when cold since 800 miles.
A Mazda technician finally diagnosed piston slap and said he would make a report recommending a 'short...
I was born overseas but went to school (8-21) in the UK and passed my driving test in the UK 34 years ago.
Since then I have worked in a number of countries in between working in the UK. Total time living/working...
The air conditioning in my 2005 BMW 530i has stopped blowing cold air . I wonder if you could recommend a garage / specialist in South London I could go to who wont charge sky high BMW costs to fix it?
A heat shield at the back of my Vauxhall Astra H has fallen off.
I think it protects the fuel tank but I'm not 100% sure. How important is it to get it replaced?
I want to buy a small (1.4/1.6litre) true automatic, not CVT.
I have found the accelerator pedal to be exactly the same pedal as that fitted to three pedal cars on models I have looked at.
I want the...
Three weeks ago we bought a Renault Espace (2.2dci Privilege Y plate with 102,000 on the clock) from a trader working from home who advertised on Auto Trader.
He was up front about his status as a trader...
I have 12 year-old Maserati Ghibli with 46000 miles in very good condition, which has been garaged all the time. No accidents.
The official Maserati dealer says it is to old for them to sell. Can you...
My girlfriend would like to know how much it's gonna cost to get our 2003 Mondeo TDCi automatic fixed please?
It's recently developed a problem with the speedo and mileometer only intermittently working....
I was interested to read Andrew English bemoaning the fuel consumption of the Ford S-Max 2.0 diesel automatic compared to the quoted figures. He struggled to get 40mpg from a car supposed to achieve 47mpg...
It seems to me from reading your readers’ letters that many problems with modern cars these days are caused by unnecessary fancy electronics. Is it possible to find a reliable, economical basic car? I...
Regarding the possibility of the British Parking Association (BPA), or any other organisation, obtaining permission from the Government to have access to Automatic Number Plate Recognition, prompts me...
I am involved with a charity for young people. We are doing a lot of self-build and repair work ourselves on the charity’s club and recreational centre. We have to watch every penny, as you may understand....
I'm considering selling my beloved XJ6 auto Sport saloon 1996N. Three owners: Jaguar management, an elderly businessman for three years and me (now also elderly at 76). No rust, immaculate bodywork, always...
A colleague of my father's BMW 320d was recently hit in the rear by another driver, whilst he was stationary. The damage was a dented rear bumper and a cracked light cluster. I was very surprised to hear...
I recently purchased a 2006 Audi A3 with full Audi service history and 47,000 miles on the clock. The ESP light has appeared and I have had a diagnostic test done. The fault is the brake pressure sensor...
When I renewed my car insurance I also took out a specialist uninsured loss recovery insurance. Having recently damaged a tyre and wheel in a pothole I wondered if the specialist would pursue the council....
I have a 2005 Audi A3 Sportback with a 1.6 FSI engine. I recently heard a noise that I thought may have been a wheel bearing. A mechanic checked and found the bearings OK. He suggested that the noise was...
I recently bought a small car from a private individual who turned out to be a policewoman. After a few months I disposed of the car and the new purchaser has been in touch with me to inform me that in...
I was the no-fault front vehicle victim of a three-car shunt in October 2009. There were protracted delays to the repair of our car, leading to five weeks' hire of a courtesy car. I was nervous of the...
I am unable to drive at the moment as I have permanently hurt my anterior cruciate ligament and have no strength in my right knee. I obviously need a car that can be adapted. At the moment I have a Peugeot...
I am told that Mercedes-Benz is killing off the A-Class. Is this correct, or are they simply facelifting it and upgrading it?
I have a 4-year-old sports utility, a Nissan Murano, but running it is breaking the bank as it only does 20 miles to the gallon and road tax is a mind-boggling £445 a year. The size is perfect to the inch....
Your recent comment about trying to brake from 40mph in three seconds in a reply to JF, Monaco prompts me to ask what you think about traffic light countdown displays? We have had them here for years in...
I can agree with your answer to the gentleman who wanted a comfortable car for his wife. We have a Citroen C3 1.6VTI Executive automatic that is very comfortable and easy to get into as it is a bit higher...
I have a Volkswagen Jetta with ‘Atlanta’ alloy wheels that are part painted and part lacquered alloy. The handbook states that car polish should not be used on the wheels but that an acid-free detergent...
We regularly read at the launch of a new car ‘largest in class’. Am I being cynical or is the car simply not the smallest in the class above? Does the motor industry have standards for this or is this...
I have recently been dunned for £60 for speeding by an unmanned camera, all, apparently, in the interests of road safety. This raises the question of who audits the money? I feel that it merely goes to...
I'm going to follow your advice and use one of the firms you recommended for a set of rims and cold-weather tyres for next winter. But I am confused about sizes and speed ratings. Clearly I have to use...
My daughter-in-law needs to sell her Porsche 911 Carerra 3.2 1988. Without male support she doesn’t want to advertise in the local papers etc. with all the hassle that that could involve, yet she wants...
I'm still reviewing my options regarding the purchase of a used Toyota Prius (approximately two years old) for private use and work as a 'Private Hire' taxi. Unfortunately I can't afford the current model,...
My wife and I, both in our 70s, are considering buying a second vehicle in order to revitalise our motoring pleasure and provide an investment over the next five to ten years that should match or better...
It’s time to replace my noble BMW 520iSE manual saloon, now with 96,000 on the clock and it has not missed a beat. The big question is whether anything has arrived to rival the new model? I’m tempted to...
I wish to sell my Y-reg 2001 BMW 330i Touring, mileage 106,000. Reasonable condition outside, excellent interior. Reason for sale: although the handling is superb, the harsh suspension and low profile...
I have just purchased an XF premium luxury diesel. I let the dealer convince me that the 19-inch wheels and Dunlop Sport tyres as standard were great (they did not seem bad on the test drive after my very...
If you take a look at Volvo's main website, the whole focus is where you could travel on a tank of fuel (800+ miles). Surely this is almost an issue for the Trading Standards office? I like the car but...
I should be grateful for your advice on the following issue. My daughter bought a secondhand Volkswagen Golf 1.6 SE 2003 60,000 miles for £4,000 from a small car sales company in Devizes in December. It...
Tunbridge Wells Borough Council (TWBC) owns and manages a multi storey car park opposite the train station. On the top two floors of the car park, there are about 50 designated car park spaces for rail...
Your column has correctly picked up on one of the fallacies of electric cars and you are the only writer that I can find that has told the truth about the disastrous effects on range that heating an electric...
I currently drive an X-reg Fiesta Finesse and have a commute around around a 100 miles a day (motorway).
Its currently costing me in excess of £300 per month just in fuel. My fiesta has almost 100,000...
I have just bought a new Honda Jazz. The garage wanted to charge £300 for applying Auto Autoshine. I can get it done for £204. Is it worth doing or would it be better to do myself?
I bought a new mitsubishi 'i' (petrol, not electric) and took delivery in March 2008. It has had three services by Mitsubishi (covered by a service pack purchased with the car) and have recently extended...
We intend buying a new car in the Autumn (Toyota Auris Hybrid T Spirit).
Our son-in-law would like to buy our present car; a Citroen C5 Exclusive 2.2 diesel automatic with leather interior. We bought...
The cam sensor went on my Vectra and backfired through the air filter.
I've changed the cam sensor and I've got a spark but no fuel to the engine. Is there a reset for fuel pump?
My 1996 Ford Fiesta Encore keeps cutting out!
As I approach a junction or set of traffic lights, I slow down, go down into 1st or 2nd gear and then once I've stopped the engine cuts out. I know for definite...
Hello, do you know which estate cars can take extra childrens seats in the boot, like the 307 SW?
I have a Renault Clio, 51 reg, which has done 130,000 miles.
The clutch failed in January 2011 which cost me approx £600 to get repaired. I meant to sell it shortly afterwards but didn't get around to...
I have a 53 plate Renault Megane and it keeps showing 'Check Injection' on the screen, along with the service light.
It revs at the slightest touch and drives much quicker. When I stop the car and turn...
I have a 2009 KIA Cee'd 2.0litre diesel with 17” alloy wheels.
It has done a little less than 17,000 miles from new. I have a couple of problems that I would like your opinion on.
The car was fitted...
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