Questions from May 2011
At speeds below 50mph I get a "rotational" noise, which I am told by Carr's of Bury St Edmunds is down to the run flats (It sounds like a wheel bearing going u/s on a 1960's car). I drive regularly on...
I have Nissan Almera 2.2D sport (52 reg 84,000 miles). But it failed its MOT and I had to spend £900 to fix it. It took 3 months to fix. I bought it for £1,200 and after that I changed the cam chain (used)...
I get really fed up and irate when prats (usually but not always driving BMWs or Audis) speed past me or generally drive inappropriately for the road conditions. Speed limits and so on are there for a...
Stupidly reversed into the sharp corner of a kerb that has resulted in a piece of rubber coming off the side wall of rear passenger run flat tyre. Tyre is not bulging or deflated and I have successfully...
Can we have decibel comparisons at 30 & 70MPH on all new cars? The extra noise in smaller cars is exhausting over longer journeys and with a radio at a level we can hear at speed I wonder just how high...
I am hoping to invest in a used car when Im 19 as I have a big drop in insurance. I was wondering what the fastest car I can get hold of for my age with the cheapest insurance? I'm 19. Has to be no more...
Can you recommend a product for removing pigeon droppings from a car?
I have always believe that, to have the enlarged tyres, especially in circumference, will give the more mileage. The tyre size of my car is 195/55 R15 and I would like to know if I am allowed to change...
We own a 1998 BMW Z3 2.8 and we've had it from new. It has 47,000 on the clock and is a brilliant car. We love it but we've treated it rather more like a fell pony than a thoroughbred and it has wintered...
I am 6'10" tall, aged 66 and currently have a 2-litre Xsara Picasso Exclusive HDI. I love the styling, size, driving position, mpg. etc. but it is seven years old at 75,000 miles. Should I be starting...
I am looking to buy a car with a chain-driven camshaft engine and auto gear box (preferably with torque converter). Recently when driving longer distances I have experienced pain in my upper leg and would...
I bought a 95 MX5 from a specialist garage 6 weeks ago. I have recently sent it to my local garage to get a few things looked at and asked them to do an inspection. They spotted a lot of faults with it,...
Looking for a diesel automatic that I can sleep in if I have to. I travel a lot abroad for work and a number of times have been stuck or reached somewhere too late to get a hotel, so I need a vehicle...
I will be averaging about 20,000 miles an year in the foreseeable future commuting to work on the M40(70 miles round trip). Preferably need an automatic as left knee is dodgy post surgery. Current car...
Sorry - got a 2 part question for you: Part 1 I've spent £1,000 on my 52 Reg 60,000 mile 307SW 1.6 SE in the last 12 months fixing electrical and suspension problems (BSR unit, washer pump, front wishbones...
I am looking for a used small estate car or square ended hatchback which has good mpg which will not depreciate massively. I will drive the car 110 miles a day for my work commute so it need to be economical,...
My daughter kept complaining about driving along a dual carriageway, approaching a roundabout and not being able to select any gears at all, works fine around town and short trips on Motorway / Dual carriageway. I...
I have a 1.6 C-MAX on a 55-plate and the gearbox selector is very stiff to change gears, as if trying to push through toffee. What is at fault?
I have a Modus 1.5Dci 106 which has 185/55/16 inch tyres , these are only available from a few manufactures . Is it possible to safely fit 195/50/16 inch tyres and if so what are the disadvantages?
I am buying a 2005 Fiesta 1.4 Zetec and I would like to know at what mileage/age the timing belt should be changed?
I'm recently retired after 25 years company car use now need to purchase a car (not new). Budget £10k. Five-year-old max, reasonable running costs, average or less than average mileage expected, economy/reliability...
Since the warranty expired I have been plagued by the failure of the airmatic suspension. The car is a Sept. 2005 model & I have now had to replace all four struts & other parts of the Airmatic system....
I was involved in an accident last weekend, when the car behind's brakes failed and ploughed into the back of me. The other party has accepted full liability (and is fully insured) and my insurance company...
My gearstick is struggling to get into gear, particularly first and reverse. What would be the likely cause and remedy? How much is likely to cost to sort out?
Can I park outside someone's drive if they are not in? Have they got the right to say its restricted parking?
I've recently deen the victim of a very nasty crime where the front bumper/skirt on my BMW was stolen (on the same night my nebighours car was broken into and one was stolen from down the road). I'm sure...
Please help, I live up a very rough farm track and don't really want the expense of fixing a 4x4. Can you tell me about any cars that have really good ground clearance that are economical to run? I also...
I have a BMW 330d Touring, March 2010. The car is a superb drive, but the combination of 18in wheels, run flats and potholed roads is driving me crazy. The recommended pressure for the run flats when...
I'm in the market for a new car to replace my 52-reg Ford Galaxy Ghia 1.9 TDI. I'm looking for something similar and I can't decide whether to go with diesel or petrol. I've noticed the Citroen C4 Grand...
I was recently involved in a accident that was not my fault and the other party has admitted liability. My car is now going to be written off as it is uneconomical to repair. I've been told the hire car...
We have a 2010 A-Class that is very uncomfortable on our country roads. Is there an alternative small car? Or have I got to move up to a medium size to get more comfort? Maybe a Focus/ C-MAX or a Mazda...
Last September I replaced my C220CDi Mercedes-Benz Estate (85,000 miles) with a Blue Efficiency C200 CDi Mercedes Estate – both diesel automatics. Over the life of my old car I averaged about 37mpg and...
I have a major problem with my insurance company following a "no fault" accident in October 2010. The company's mismanagement of the incident has left me significantly out of pocket. My formal complaint...
I have had occasion to use Addison Lee mini cabs recently. They run a fleet of Ford Galaxys and the drivetrain seems to be particularly smooth. Do you know which particular drive train they use?
I need an estate car. I play around with old cars such as Rover P4s, Triumph Spitfires and the Land Rover series. I considered that a Rover 75 (except the 1.8) would be a good fit, however the ones I have...
On reading your page on 1 May, I was shocked to read the item headed "Mourning campers" because I was totally unaware of the forthcoming ban on non-EU4 diesel engines within the LEZ, which drastically...
Our 53-plate V70 with 133,000 miles needs replacing with something similar, but I cannot decide what. I have read reviews on many sites, but especially yours and every car has major drawbacks. So far the...
With regard to your reply to the problem with the keyless entry system on the Toyota RAV4. This problem is because the car manufactures install these keyless systems which have key fobs that have virtually...
You ran an email on the usefulness and accuracy of official fuel economy figures, and mentioned you were adding the ability to log real life fuel consumption figures on your website. Like some of your...
I have a 2008 BMW 320d saloon and have found water in the boot. It has gathered in the plastic tray sunk in the floor on the left side. I took the tray out to empty it and found more water under boot floor....
I only occasionally drive in Europe, but I propose driving to south-west France in August with my family. I hold an old style paper UK driving licence. I understand that the DVLA website does not suggest...
I drive a Skoda Fabia 3 which has cruise control. My husband says that it is uneconomic to use. Is he right?
For once I have to write in praise of Nottinghamshire County Council. If you Google Nottinghamshire Potholes you'll find a map-based reporting system. You identify where the hole is and leave your contact...
After five years with an automatic Honda Jazz, I have switched to the new Jazz (also fully automatic) and I find the transmission quite a disappointment. Whereas my first Jazz was a wonderfully smooth...
I think you may be wrong about illegal transmitters stopping car keys from working. I believe that the keys work on a frequency of 433.92MHz and use a super-regenerative receiver. The general use of super-regens...
I own a 2005 Volvo V50 2.4i with 49,000 miles on the clock. The computer now shows me 'Anti-skid Service - Required'. Reading the blog on the Volvo Forum, apparently Volvo have known of this problem for...
I just wondered whether you could give me some advice on replacing our second car. We've only got about £1,500 to spend and need something that can seat two adults and three children. It also needs to...
My wife has a 5-year-old 1.6 petrol engined Fiat Sedici with 30,000 miles which has been an excellent buy with absolutely no running problems, just regular dealer servicing. It has proved to be economical...
I found the UK too hard on drivers with constantly rising costs, so I have moved to France. Yesterday I was offered a car by a French neighbour. He tells me the cam belt jumped the pulley, and he can't...
If you don't already know you'll be interested to learn that Swindon Borough Council are to install speed controlled lights which will be operational in the autumn. They will not operate in rush hours...
 

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