Questions from June 2011
I was recently stopped by an unmarked police car and accused of exceeding a temporary 40mph speed limit on a dual carriageway at 9.45am. I maintained 40mph throughout the road works and accelerated to...
The new requirement for continuous registration seems to be very a very unjust regulation biased in favour of extracting even more money from the hard-pressed motorist. This prompts me to enquire how the...
I have an old motorbike registered in 1994 but not taxed since 1999 (I think that was the last date it was taxed). I bought it in 1999 to do track days on and have never used it on the road since. I don’t...
I purchased a Honda CR-V ES 2.2iDTEC in May 2011. I am pleased with it but hope you can answer two questions. I understood that the road tax for this vehicle was £165 per year as compared with £140 for...
What, if anything, is the difference between a "pre-registered" car and a "nearly new" one?
We purchased a Hyundai i10 1.2 Auto Comfort in September of last year and last week my wife, when passing parked cars, drifted in a little and clipped a mirror. Our mirror shattered instantly and a second...
From time to time on my travels here in Kent, Surrey and Sussex I have seen a tree surgeon who has a Lamborghini four-wheel-drive. It’s an ugly brute of a car. The Lamborghini is signwritten and the guy...
I was interested to read that you are currently running a Mazda 5 1.6 diesel. I sold my 5-year-old 63,000 mile Mazda 5 1.9d Sport prior to going on a long trip to New Zealand and am now looking to replace...
I have a Mercedes-Benz E280CDI, which I bought new in November 2005 and which has patches of corrosion on all four of the alloy wheels. My local dealer has sent photographs of the corrosion to Mercedes-Benz...
Some time ago you recommended a source for car breakdown cover. At the time I was able to locate the appropriate website but, as my current RAC cover had some time to go, I filed away the information in...
I have a Volkswagen Passat diesel with DSG gearbox. I believe that you have suggested that there is less likelihood of damage to a DMF with an automatic gearbox. Does this apply also to a DSG? You have...
When my wife's 12-year-old BMW needed replacing she was delighted to acquire an 18-month-old Jaguar X-Type diesel. The car joined my own 9-year-old petrol X-Type, which is still going strong after 120,000...
I have just been quoted £3,600 by a BMW dealer to fit a tow hitch to my BMW 530D GT. I was told the car would have to reprogrammed for towing and electrical work would have to carried out. A local tow...
Do you know whether a "service bulletin" regarding suspension geometry has been sent to Skoda dealers? I have owned a new Skoda Octavia 1.4 TSI Estate auto for a year and the road noise is really bad....
I've had a VW Polo 05-reg for 2yrs. I'm lucky if I get 25mpg urban and 32mpg maximum on a decent run at 60mph. It's always been same.
I live on the Isle of Man and I wanted a new Focus RS. No one had one here so I found one in England.
I came to an agreement on a deal over the phone with a main Ford dealer and payed for it, trading...
Is it safe to pay the full amount for a new car before having seen it & before delivery (as asked by www.discount-new-cars.com) - they want the monies cleared and in their bank account before delivery...
I recently bought a Mini Cooper S (R53 2005) and had some work done on the brakes.
On inspection the technician queried whether the car is a cut and shut as he saw what looked like a weld on the underside...
If I buy a 2wd drive petrol version of a crossover e.g. Skoda Yeti & Nisan Quashai, will the residual value hold up as well as the 4wd diesel?
We are taking my wife's 6 year old VW Beetle cabriolet touring through France this summer.
From your experience, which company gives the best breakdown cover - just in case?
Should I get the optional Dynamic Handling Package for the C-Class Estate? I'm in the process of buying the latest model - working in NZ but will be back home in the UK for delivery.
I recently bought a Golf TDI auto second hand from a dealer.
I had continuous problems with it breaking down, so I looked into the history of the car and found it had been written off in an accident,...
My girlfriend’s car was recently hit up the rear, whilst stopped at lights by a closely following car.
Her insurers Quinn direct are having difficulty defending her as she is only third party fire &...
I'm looking for a Mondeo Estate. I currently only do 3000k per year, I have approx £15,000 to spend and would like a top spec, with road tax, insurance, etc. Would you go for petrol or diesel, manual or...
I have a 2006 Volvo XC70 D5 SE with the safety package which included the built in phone and the Volvo "on call" system.
The car was in fabulous condition and had only about 29,000 miles on the clock,...
Shortly going to change my 2007 SLK 200 with 29,000 miles, I'm too old for the low driving position, getting thigh ache.
Will have a budget of £20,000 including trade in so should be able to get 2007...
Recently the speedo has been dropping to zero for a while. Occasionally it jerks and then restarts again later.
The vehicle as been owned from new but is now a second car mostly in good working order,...
I have a CR-V 2.2 i-DTEC EX March 2010. From new, creaking at all speeds and road surfaces was apparent which became worse as the weather became hotter.
It was tolerated for 5 months but became unbearable...
I drive a SAAB 9-5 Aerodeck 04-Reg and I am fed up with the tight squeeze in and out of my garage. I would like to buy a smaller car with all or more of the comfort and gadgets that the SAAB has.
I agreed to buy a Fabia 2 from a main dealer in September 2008. The agreement said that the vehicle was first registered on 2nd August 2008. In fact the car was registered in February 2008 and is now out...
Last November (2010) a car skidded into the back of me on a wet road. The driver admitted responsibility and we exchange insurance details. My son who was in the car with me witnessed the whole thing.
The...
Do you know of any forthcoming changes to VAG diesels, such as chain cam and/or less problematic DPF?
Are DMFs used on automatics/DSGs by VAG or Hyundai? Will VAG be introducing the more efficient 7-speed...
You say on your review section about the Kia Sorento that 'by January 2011 the fuel tank delamination problem was becoming more widespread. KIA will pay for the replacement tank fitted at a KIA dealer,...
Our Jag has low profile tyres (225/40 ZR18 (92Y) Pirellis) on alloys. We have had all sorts of problems, tyre splits/rips/puntures on bad road surfaces, plus a very hard/firm ride.
I would like to change...
I am looking to change my car in the next month or so.
I have one child of 2yrs and looking to add another to the brood. I currently have a BMW 320d Saloon, but I find the boot space is restrictive in...
My grandson has recently bought a 2005 Vauxhall diesel van - ex post office. He was told it had a cam chain, not cam belt. Is this true?
I recently purchased a used car from a trader, the advert stated that the car only had one owner, however when I got my V5 I realised that it had 3 previous owners. I would never have purchased the car...
My 2004 Saab 9-5 estate has started displaying the engine warning light intermittently (illuminated but not flashing) it has had a recent annual service and been plugged in twice for engine diagnostics...
I have a Skoda Yeti 2.0 Diesel with DSG. 5,000 miles a year, 40% of my journeys less than 5miles. Would a fuel additive reduce the chance of clogging and, if so, how often should I use it?
I have a quandry. I live 1 mile down a rutted farm track. I commute 250 (motorway) miles to work each week but the 10 miles at each end of the journey are on rough windy country lanes.
I have long legs...
I am interested in buying a new BMW 3 Series Touring and have heard rumours that a new model is to be introduced later this year.
My local BMW dealer says not, but I'm reluctant to commit and find out...
I would like to know where I stand legally with a manufacturing issue outside warranty.
The 2005 Swift had issues with a certain batch of rear axles which had a rear toe angle about +3 degrees more than...
Please explain why Mazda 6 2.2L diesels do not have the same DPF problems as the Mazda 6 2.0L diesel (where the sump can fill up with diesel oil)?
Would you please advise which is the most economical 7-seater in terms of fuel consumption, insurance and running cost?
Would you recommend Qashqai+2? I need one with an inbuilt sat-nav, air-con and...
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