Questions from September 2011
Re: the new Renault 1.6 Diesel in the Nissan Qashqai. It's of great interest to me. I checked with Nissan and found that they are now taking orders, unfortunately they have no plans to introduce an auto...
I'm intrigued about real world economy and the rise of the so called eco models which do not seem to come close to their claimed figures. My five year old 1.9 Diesel Skoda Roomster regularly returns 53mpg...
I purchased a Micra Acenta 1.2 automatic, which is four years old with 4,500 miles on the clock. It seems to be running perfectly after a few hundred miles. Does this car have a chain-cam drive? Why am...
I’m nagging all my friends to use winter tyres. One is resisting, saying it’s a ruse put out by tyre manufactures. I counter by saying you’re using the same amount of rubber no matter which set of tyres...
I have a Skoda Yeti 1.2TSI 105 Elegance, which I unfortunately accepted with 17" wheels (having tried to order it unsuccessfully on 16s). I am unhappy with the ride, which I believe is not helped by the...
I'm awaiting the arrival of my new top-of-the-range Prius. Toyota offers its own insurance, and if I've read your replies to recent letters correctly, you reckon this is probably better value because it...
My wife has just purchased a FIAT 500. It was registered October 2010 but has only done 40 miles having been an unused, ex BSM car (no dual controls, etc. It really has been unused).
Whilst she loves...
I am about to retire and would like to reduce running costs on my 60,000mile Chrysler 300 CRD. I would like to improve the fuel economy, which at the moment averages 30mpg. I am considering an LPG conversion...
I have been looking at Hyundai Coupes around 2005 model 2 litre engine. Every car I have looked at has cream inside the oil filler cap. Is this normal? I was told many years ago never to buy a second hand...
I received a letter from Thames Valley Police Fixed Penalty Support Unit on 7th Sept 2011 to notify me that I was doing 36mph in a 30mph restriction on August 17th 2011.
I wrote back to them to suggest...
My stationery Audi A8 was hit by a bus while waiting to pull out at a roundabout. The police said because there was cctv fitted to the bus there should be no case to answer, and the bus company should...
You have advocated the use of winter tyres and I wish to purchase same for my son’s 2003 VW Polo 1.2 as he has no experience of driving in the winter. Would you recommend a particular tyre please?
I want to buy a used car capable of towing a four-berth caravan. Being a novice to this art, I would appreciate your advice. The car will have to cope with everyday use as well as extended periods of...
Last Thursday I took my 1-year-old Audi A3 (8,200 on the clock) for its first annual service at the Audi dealers where I bought it.
On Friday morning I drove it out of the garage and within minutes the...
With reference to PM's request to find someone to build buggies for National Trust properties, could I recommend Garmendale Engineering Ltd. of Ilkeston, Derbyshire? (www.garmendale.co.uk). Amongst other...
I recently received a parking summons from a local authority and it is clear that my vehicle number plate has been cloned. The vehicle was never at the location cited. I hope I have cleared up this matter...
I have run a Hyundai Coupe for the last two years. It has been a good car, well specified, tough and comfortable on long journeys. Age now dictates something easier to enter and exit and suitable for mild...
I am the second owner of a 1997 Vauxhall Astra 1.6, which is still a good car but has become very expensive to run, especially as I have reached my 80th year. I am unsure whether to go for old, like 12...
Regarding Mazda and a leaflet advising they will handle all aspects of accident repair claims for Mazda owners. We also have a Mazda and received one of these leaflets after a service. We chose to ignore...
I bought a new Honda Jazz in September 2010. It comes with Honda Happiness accident management cover. I am insured with Churchills. So if I have an accident, do I call Honda Happiness rather than Churchills....
l have received a PCN from Poole Council for exceeding my parking time. The ticket has my correct registration number on it but incorrectly states that my car is a Volvo when it is actually a VW Golf....
Please forward to all people you know who operate an older vehicle. This is a petition to reinstate the rolling tax exemption for vehicles over 25 years old: http://epetitions.direct.gov.uk/petitions/2622...
I am just about to start a new job with a 50-mile daily commute, mainly on dual carriageway. My daughter is also keen to start learning to drive when she is 17 in April, so I am looking for something economical...
Park Direct Ltd has now issued another Parking Charge Notice claiming a parking charge for £150. It seems my son parked for 2/3 minutes in a 'private' parking bay near Ealing Broadway station. Perhaps...
A follow up to the speed hump situation at Ellington, Morpeth. Although the public response to the questionnaire was poor (the council requires 70% in favour of removal and only 50.6% was attained), the...
I would be greatly obliged if you could tell me what is the current amount of road tax due annually on a Peugeot 307 year 2007 1589cc petrol hatchback. The reason I ask is my renewal cost is £245 per annum...
This is slightly left field of your normal motoring advice but I would like your opinion on how to tackle this problem. In brief I bought a Raclet trailer tent 14 years ago from new and on average I take...
I recieved a parking fine of £90 for a 16 minute overstay in a 'euro car parks' car park on the 27/06/11. I followed Honest John's advice to appeal the fine as I had been shopping in the retail park in...
Royal Sun Alliance insurance have been heavily criticised today in court for over charging for accident repairs. It seems they use thier own in house accident management company who simply ramp up the...
I have the Grande Punto from new back in 2009 and it did not come with a spare wheel only this can of sealant which I've never been too happy about.
The wheels are 195/55 R16.
Can you recommend anywhere...
I have bought winter tyres mounted on steel wheels for an' 03 Audi TT Quattro and an '06 BMW 3 Series Coupe (E46). I have asked the parts departments at local Audi and BMW franchisees and both say there...
My daughter needs advice about replacing her ancient and increasingly unreliable Freelander.
As an equine vet she drives about 30,000 miles a year on main roads, country lanes and rough farm tracks,...
I have a Nissan Micra 1998.
I changed the clutch cable a few weeks ago and since then I have a problem moving the gearstick into gear. There is no gear grinding or anything like that, the gear stick just...
I have a low mileage Toyota Aygo (34,500 miles) having covered approximately 6,500 miles each year, bought nearly new from a Toyota dealer 5 years ago.
The clutch plate rivets failed a week ago. I took...
I have spent 12 months at my BMW dealer trying to get a problem cured on a new car. The engine resonates at about 1750 rpm in all gears. 1750 is about 70mph in top gear so motorway driving has to be done...
I am in the process of buying a VW Touran and was wondering if they are any good and if they are reliable (electrics as well)? It has a lot of extras that could go wrong. The engine is a 1.9 TDI diesel....
Buying MB CLK 220 CDI. Should I get it chipped? Is there a downside to chipping? What should I expect by way of consumption and performance improvements?
Who, if anybody, would you recommend?
Hi
In the past month I have been 'surprised' by Prisuses.
On the first occasion I had filled my car at a local petrol station and was walking out of the shop, busy putting my credit card back in my wallet....
I purchased this car on 16/7/11 for £5500. Last week I had occasion to adjust the drivers seat. The mechanism had failed. I feel this defect had been present when I purchased the vehicle.
The dealer will...
We are interested in a new Golf Cabriolet S 1.2 and have an Astra Cabriolet 1.8i 16v 2Dr with leather seats to PE.
The Astra has about 50k on the clock and was registered in Oct 2002. It is in pretty...
I have just bought a 2001 (51 reg) Ford Fiesta.
It came with 2 keys, both have the red insert in the top of the key, but it doesn’t have a remote key. I am hoping the previous owner lost it and just...
We have bought a house in France with a garage and wish to keep a small car (about 1200cc) there which can take four adults.
We thought left-hand drive would be useful. With a budget of about £4000 what...
You recommended Shell V-Power. I have no Shell garages near me only BP, Total & Esso. Do they do an equivalent high grade petrol?
What would you recommend as a replacement for our aging Nissan Primera. A large boot is important.
We've driven automatics for 20 years but are considering, for economic reasons, changing to manual -...
I'm feeling very sick. I've had the car just over 3 months. A few days ago the car suffered dramatic power loss and was running like a tractor. Towed in to a local garage and at first the chap thought...
I have long disagreed with your assertion that the left foot should be used to brake when driving an automatic, mainly because the distance ones foot is moved is pretty much the same for both feet, and...
I have been reading through the good and bad reviews regarding the BMW Coupe 320 Diesel year 2007-2009.
I noticed that it has been advised that there has been turbo failures on this particular model reported...
I will shortly be picking up a brand new Skoda Fabia vRS. Is there any risk filling it up with Shell V-Power right from its near-empty state upon collection?
A couple of Fabias ago I did this and within...
I'm a 22 year old man who can finally afford to splurge on a new or nearly new small car after getting a few years of NCB under my belt.
It's a toss up between a Ford Fiesta 1.25 Zetec and a VW Polo...
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