Questions from October 2011
My 2005 Jaguar XJ 3-litre petrol is wonderfully quiet, smooth and comfortable on long journeys, especially for my wife, who has a bad back. It has also been totally reliable and is reasonably economical...
I have a Mercedes B-180 CDI automatic, which I bought new in January 2009. It is my third Mercedes and was chosen over a saloon because of its compactness and flexibility that were convenient when transporting...
I recently moved to Chiang Mai in Thailand from Kenya and Ethiopia where I drove a RAV-4 that was ideal for my needs and the prevailing conditions. In Thailand, I am torn between a second-hand RAV-4 and...
I have looked at the British Parking Association website and examined the appeal. As far as I can see the process is simply decorative, designed to show BPA’s 'caring' side, which we all know it does not...
Due to an expanding family it is time to get a larger car, preferably 7 seater. The current 0% finance offer from Toyota seems attractive on the Verso range and the car looks very attractive in the 2.0D...
The plastic back to the side mirror (near side + colour of jean blue) on a 06 plate Ford Focus needs replacing. I am willing to bet that a main dealer will charge extortionately for this bit of plastic...
My Audi A5 is 6-months old and has done 6,000 miles. On recent 150 mile run I had black soot in my exhausts and an oil usage of half litre /600 miles. I am told by Audi this is normal!! How can this be...
How can I find original list prices of Audi RS2 and 911 3.2 (1986) as i want to compare + or - of having as a company car.
Bought a 2007 Freelander 2, diesel, manual with 57,000 on clock from Evans Halshaw, Sheffield on July 12 2011. I live 250 miles from dealer near Poole, Dorset!
Everything seemed fine at first. Car now...
A friend and her husband have just been followed home and told they had driven into the back of this persons car whilst in town and that they had 100s of witnesses.
They are claiming whiplash but there...
Randomly a warning light appears on the dash. It's the orange one that means a bulb has gone. It's usually the drivers side indicator. If you keep the indicator on for a minute, constantly it fixes itself...
My car is 07 registration. I purchased it from a garage in 2009. The car had been traded in.
While it was still in warranty I had it in a Peugeot garage on numerous occasions as it wasn't running smoothly...
Just realised (after 2 years!?) that I hadn't changed my address on my licence or log book. I got re-direction for 1 year from the previous address - so I simply failed to notice when renewing my car tax...
Can you suggest any makes and models of small panel vans that have fold down passenger seats in the back so that it can seat four people if needed.
I am looking at buying a Honda Accord Estate.
Ideally I want a diesel for the economy, but having read many issues on DPF (diesel particulate filters) effecting many manufacturers I want to go for the...
I bought this car new and since then learnt that the engine has a design fault around burning oil. It has a TPI completed on it but still is burning a large amount of oil.
The car has 8k miles on it...
When I start up the car the idle speed is high, around about 1300 rpm.
Also, when I go around a corner in 2nd gear if I slightly press the brake the car wants to speed up.
I have a 2006 56 model BMW 520 d SE Auto which I plan to keep for two winters. They are now on 225/50 run flats on 17 inch alloys.
1. Do I just fit same size and profile winter tyres on the same alloys?...
My daughter has been given a ticket for overstaying by 6 minutes in a car park in Exeter "policed" by Premier Parking solutions. It is for £100 reduced to £75 if paid within 7 days.
Personally I believe...
My wife has got a new job which will involve a 60 mile round trip, mainly motorway driving. She currently has a 2004, 1.4l Fiesta and we are wondering if she would be better replacing the Fiesta with...
I am thinking of selling my 2007/57 Porsche 911 Carrera Coupe. It has done around 14,000 miles and am wondering what is the best and easiest way to sell it, and to whom?
In the week that Philip Hammond, the Transport Secretary, announced plans to raise the speed limit on motorways to 80mph, I received a Police summons for 80mph on the M4 at. For this offence, I may be...
As I've recently moved to the Yorkshire Dales I'm interested in purchasing some winter tyres for my Mazda 6 2.0 TS. It's currently shod with 205/55 R16 Pirelli P6000s. Please could you suggest some suitable...
I took your advice and went for Mondeo 2006 2.0 Zetec Diesel 130. I’ve owned it for four and a half years and have covered 70k trouble free miles. I have a query on a warning light, GLOW PLUG INDICATOR...
I just bought a 2011, 2 litre diesel Toyota Verso to use for journeys of approximately 50 miles round trip and needing a low loading area for my parents mobility scooter. I use my wife's petrol Yaris for...
My parents, both 89, want to replace their 56 plate Honda Jazz that they have never enjoyed driving (nor me). The brakes are over assisted and the throttle seems to have a lag on it. They want a new, ...
As a retired former senior executive in the car industry, the most refreshing aspect of your column is the even-handed way you dispense advice on customer and manufacturer complaint resolution. Since retiring...
I should be grateful for your advice in purchasing a new/nearly new car. I own a 3-door 54 plate RAV4 with 90,000 on the clock. My partner suffers with Osteo-arthritis with a particular problem at the...
I will shortly be changing my Motability car from a Citroen Grand C4 Picasso 1.6 VTR+ diesel, and would appreciate your advice. It needs to be roomy, preferably diesel, manual, and have: Cruise control,...
FIAT has withdrawn the Panda 4x4. Are they due to replace it soon? If not, are there any small 4x4's you could recommend? I spend all winter in the Alps in the present Panda is fantastic in snow.
My Morris Minor 1000 celebrated its 50th birthday at the beginning of September by passing it's MoT. I have used it regularly for the last 40 years and it continues its daily jaunts to the shops. Now a...
We have ordered, but have yet to take delivery a new KIA Picanto. I note it comes with a tyre inflation kit rather than a spare wheel. I'm a little concerned as we may do several long journeys. Do you...
I have just returned a Mazda at the end of a 3-year PCP with 75,000 miles against a contracted 90,000 miles. The dealer principal signed the car off as “no issues”, but due to his circling of a '3' against...
My son was at traffic lights in Hertfordshire when a van ploughed into the back of his car. At the first inspection it was considered to a write off. However, the insurance company ordered a further inspection...
You mentioned in your column last week that the insurer of a motor vehicle should be made aware of any change, however small, that is made to a car as it may affect the validity of the policy held. Does...
Please could you recommend a firm to refurbish the 16in alloy wheels (one of them badly "kerbed") on my 07 Audi A3 TDI? Preferably in Oxfordshire or a neighbouring county and ideally which would collect...
I have a Focus 1.6 diesel that has just had its 3rd major service at a Ford main dealer at 33,000 miles. The paperwork indicates that a DPF service is “urgently required” at an additional cost of £150....
My 2005 V/W Golf Plus has been serviced fully by my local VAG garage and was in for service + MOT 3 weeks ago, however last week the ESP light came on and diagnostics showed the ABS failure. I was quoted...
For your information, below is the reply that I got from my MP Ann Coffey regarding clause 56 of the Protection of Freedoms Bill that allows parking enforcement firms to pursue registered keepers of cars...
My BMW 318 is over 7 years old. The annual Tax is now over £200 and the annual insurance is quite steep, due to my age. The car has never let me down and is very comfortable to handle. But I feel the time...
I have recently purchased a 15 year old 1996 P Jaguar XJ Executive from an elderly gent who has decided to hang up his driving gloves. The car has full service history and is in excellent condition (a...
We have been a three-car, but two-driver, family for years now, but age is creeping in and the hassle of taxing, MoTing, insuring and servicing three cars every year is too much. Also, two of the cars...
I have recently finished studying my doctorate. I currently have a 2002 Citroen Saxo Furio 1.4 and feel that I have out grown this car. I'm looking to spend around £4,500 plus part-exchange value of the...
We live in rural Devon and, after the last two winters and based on your advice, I am looking to get a set of winter wheels and tyres. Both my wife and I drive diesel automatics; she has a rear wheel...
Could you please expand on your apparently disparaging reference to supermarket petrol as a contributory cause of lambda sensor failure?
In your reply to WS on 8/10, you warn of the need to be careful with automated manual gearboxes but do not specify the problems. I intend to replace my 2010 Astra auto with a Yaris auto/manual next year,...
The rule I have always used when driving in the left hand lane of a motorway is No 167 of my Highway Code otherwise it would mean braking when nothing is in front of me if lanes to the right of me slow...
My car was written off in no fault claim and I was given £2,000 by my insurance company (LV) to which I can add £3,000 - £4,000. That won’t buy a new car so I have decided to go for a used Audi A3. My...
About 3 years ago I took your advice and chose the FIAT 500 1.4 Sport as my lease car. I have been very pleased with it. The lease is now nearly up and I have to decide which car to get for the next 3...
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