Questions from April 2011
I want to purchase a 4 seat convertible. I do not mind whether it is new or used, but I have a budget of around £15,000.
It needs to sit four adults in comfort. What do you recommend?
Thanks to your website, I have been able to narrow down my next choice of car to the Ford Focus and Seat Leon. You give the Focus 5 stars however and the Leon only 3 (although 5 for the quicker petrol...
I'm looking for a small four wheel drive.
I came across several ads for smart 4x4: Are any of the smart models 4x4 and if so which ones?
If not, why are they calling them 4x4 d'you think? I don't think...
My car suffers from a judder at about 1200 RPM when going through the auto gears or at low speeds in the 1200 to 1800 RPM range.
I've had the gearbox update, software upgrade and gearbox oil change. The...
I own a 2006 Nissan X-Trail.
The tread on my tyres is quite low and I would like to buy some new tyres that can cope with more off-roading than the original equipment tyres. I live outside the UK and...
My wife is planning to change her car this year. Can you recommend a short list of candidates to consider which will satisfy the following criteria please?
High seating position for easy access
Smaller...
I'm wondering, from reviews and personal experience, what good, small, economical first car would be best for me.
My commute is around 15 miles on A roads, with the occasional longer stint on the motorway....
My 03 Citroen Picasso exclusive has a problem with the light/indicator stalk; when operating the indicators the lights come on, I think the unit is at fault. Has anyone else had this problem? Any advise...
Can you tell me why the hose at the bottom of the radiator beneath the header tank has blown off twice?
Recently had a new radiator but the heater does not work fully, I only get heat out of two middle...
We hope to take delivery of a new relaunched Vauxhall Antara in about 8 weeks. Can you tell me if the non-factory fitted towbars which fitted the old Antara will fit the new model?
Due to poor fuel economy and rising fuel costs I'm changing my Suzuki Grand Vitara diesel (06 plate).
My budget is around £11-£12K for used car. I drive a short urban route to work (20 mile round trip/day);...
I own a 2007 A8 3.0 TDI, which I cherish.
It is main dealer serviced (variable) and I have never added a drop of additional oil. I have noticed that the dipstick indicates it is usually overfilled (ie...
Is it a good time to buy a 09 reg Kia Picanto, what with the new model Picanto coming out soon? Does the price of the old model drop a lot when the new model comes out?
We've got a 56-plate CR-V; recently we've noticed the screenwash reservoir has been emptying rather rapidly, and there's been a continual drip on the underside of the car.
We took it into a [non Honda]...
Our car is a Saab 93 Sportwagon Automatic 1.8t on a 55 plate and we average 32mpg (according to the on board computer).
We drive between 5,000 and 7,000 miles per year, so not enough to consider diesel....
I have a BMW Z4 on a 54-plate. The automatic roof recently stopped working. I Googled the problem and it appears that the most common fault for the roof is that the motor, which draws the roof back,...
I own a 2005 Ford Focus C-max 2.0-litre TDCI which is serviced regularly in line with the manufacturers recommendations.
My question is, is there any advantage in using semi synthetic or fully synthetic...
My car is less than a year old. I recently noticed the steel effect alloy wheels are starting to pit.
The garage state it is caused by brake dust and nothing can be done about it.
Their answer is wash...
Last year I insured my car with the AA. I was talked into their Breakdown cover, the renewal for which is due in May.
They say the money will be taken using a recurring payment method. I do not wish...
I have received an S172 Notice of Intended Prosecution for running a red light.
I have viewed the photos on the police website & it's like the they have been taken through a semi-opaque piece of blueish...
I need to get a Boxster out of my system, so I plan to only keep it for a summer or two.
Running costs are well documented so the question is price and condition - pay about £12k for a seven-year-old...
We are trying to change the pollen filter on our car (Volkwagen Passat) but we are having difficulty locating it. Could you please advise us where it is and how to change it?
How long should VW wiper blades last?
I had some fitted in August 2010 and they claim they need replacing again this week.
I have an Inforad v4e Speed camera warning device.
The AA website states that any form of radar detector is totally illegal in France. The Inforad is, in my opinion, simply a GPS unit with camera locations...
Please advise: When should we change an Octavia 2009 VRS CR estate with 25k miles, and for what? Superb estate, Passat, or an used A6?
Best quality, reliability a priority, petrol or diesel? We do lots...
I bought a car on 12 February 2011 from Turtles Peugeot in Ballymena, Co Antrim.
I have been back and forth to the dealer approximately 10 times since I bought the car, so far they have replaced a pressure...
My daughter has used Lucas upper cylinder lubricant as a fuel additive with her Honda Civic 2.2 cdi and experienced much better mpg figures. Would this be OK to use with my Audi A6 3.0 se TDI quattro automatic...
Will Honda ever sell a Jazz with a 1.5l engine in the UK or are they terminally convinced the only people who buy the Jazz in the UK are OAP's?
My 2003 Ford Fiesta 1.6 Ghia has covered 65,000 miles and is due for a service.
Would you recommend changing the timing belt at this stage? Furthermore where can I get a set of winter tyres and steel...
Last November I was hit in the rear while waiting to turn right.
The driver admitted liability, an independent witness confirmed my non-liability, my insurance company accepted my no-fault status, and...
My car which is a 2003 1.9 TDI Passat manual.
It was hit on the passenger front wheel and wing. My car was stationary at the time(parked) waiting for the wife. My car was pushed against the kerb and...
I've seen a Peugeot 206 from 2005, It's a Zest 1.1l with 10,400 on the clock.
The condition is excellent, but I'm worried about the mileage, what problems might exist with 'low town mile' usage over...
A couple of months ago, at around 57,000 miles, I started to notice what I assumed was bearing noise from the rear of my 56-plate VW Passat Tdi 140.
I took it into the local VW dealer who diagnosed stepped...
I'm not a car buff and have had Fords for the last 30 years. I've had Mondeos for the last 18 years.
Very, very happy with them and there's local servicing etc, but my family think another Mondeo would...
Had my Saab 93 for 12 years and love it.I'm now at the stage where I spend more on it than its value or replace it.
After 20 years of Diesels, like to go back to a quiet petrol engine.
Requirements: automatic,...
I am self employed (bringing manufacturers and buyers together in any industry internationally) but also buying and selling cars sometimes when I have time.
When I buy a car I put my company's name on...
I purchased a car off eBay recently from a private seller with good feedback. I asked the seller via email if it was HPI clear and he replied yes, HPI is ALL FINE.
I also did a basic HPI check which revealed...
The dual zone climate control has started to blow permanently hot on the passenger side in my Peugeot 407 Coupe. The Peugeot dealer says a control rod arm has broken.
Peugeot have a repair kit for £60,...
My 21 year old son has a Clio Campus.
11 months ago the bonnet catch was checked in line with Renault requirements by a Renault dealer. A few weeks ago the bonnet opened whilst he was driving, destroying...
I have dispute with a garage in Peterborough from which I bought an MG TF on the 1st of April and I would appreciate your advice.
Within hours of picking up the car a split appeared in the back screen...
I am looking to purchase a three or four-year-old E-Class diesel automatic (Avantgarde preferred).
From the many 'expert' reviews that are around, am I right in believing that there are fewer mechanical...
My daughter bought a Focus Zetec 1.6 from a dealer in Oct 2010 with 62,000 miles for £4500.
We had written on the purchase agreement that the full service history which was quoted in the advert would...
I am looking to buy a small-medium size car. I currently drive an automatic Corsa (07 plate) but I am finding it only does 40 mpg.
The car needs to have room for an average size wheelchair in the boot...
My W211 Mercedes-Benz Estate (2007, 48,000 miles) has gone BANG quite suddenly.
The RAC engineer (35 minutes from call to arrival) immediately diagnosed a broken front coil spring.
Apparently an increasingly...
This was late on a Saturday, so I waited until Monday morning and taxed at the Post Office, so now I'm all legal - but: Where do I stand with recourse to the dealer?
I bought the vehicle in good faith...
I have a problem with my car speedometer light. It's not working.
All interior lights are fine, all dashboard lights are showing all symbols, only the sppedometer numbers don't light up and I cant see...
I have a Suburu Forester Turbo, which I have owned from new in 1993.
I love everything about it, particularly the acceleration, the room for two big dogs and the comfort.
It is time to replace it, even...
Stuck between the choice of a top of the range Peugeot 207 and a 1.4 Volkswagen Polo SE. Both have different plus points; the 207 more gadgets, and the polo better resale value.
Which would you recommend?...
What recovery action would you recommend having found metallic debris in the low pressure fuel filter of a 100,000 mile Peugeot 406 2-litre diesel? It's not exhibiting any other symptoms. Would you recommend...
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