Questions from November 2011
You write often about how DMFs don't last, and are expensive to replace.
My Alhambra has now done 127,000 miles with (so far) no clutch or DMF problems.
Is it because A) I'm lucky B) I am a super smooth...
I'm in the process of changing jobs. My new job will require quite a lot of business milage. I get a car allowance to purchase my own car then I can claim back milage. I'm looking for something that is...
Is it worth buying an extended warranty @ £445 for 2 years when buying a new Mazda 2 diesel? I plan to keep it for about 5 years. My annual mileage is 20,000.
What is best mileage for a diesel Yaris to change its oil? I normally do it after 5000 miles? What you think?
Is there a way of checking that the DVLA has received and actioned a change of car ownership? I know that I will remain responsible for any parking or speeding offences involving my previous car until...
I purchased an 04 reg Golf second hand in 2009. I have had it regularly serviced, although not by a VW dealer. Two weeks ago, having parked it overnight, and having no previous noted faults, in the morning...
In the past you recommended changing injectors on VW diesel engines to prevent cylinder bore wear being caused by a degraded spray pattern. Should I replace the injectors on my 70,000 mile 2006 Skoda Octavia...
I am on my own and need to trade in my Galaxy for something smaller and economical but safe and reliable, but not sure if I should go as small as Peugeot 208 as I have three children and two are like adults....
I see that the Volvo S40 and V50 have been withdrawn for sale in the USA. Do you know of any plan for their withdrawal in Europe?
I bought a diesel car two-years ago because I like the high torque/low rev style of driving and the fuel economy (54 mpg average). I now realise that this may have been a bad decision and poor purchase...
My new Skoda Yeti 1.2 automatic keeps shudderring when travelling under 30 mph and indicates that it is in 6th or 7th gear. The dealership says there is nothing wrong with it. Has anyone else had this...
Looking at the Seat Ibiza brochure it appears that the Ecomotive CO2 level has been reduced to 89 gms and the max torque figure has been reduced to 1500. Is this correct as I tried this engine in a Polo...
I have, as you suggested, just bought and had fitted a set of winter tyres on my Mercedes Benz C220 Estate.
Can you let me know how to store the summer set? Should they be stored inflated or should I...
Am thinking of changing my 56 X-Trail which I have had from new. Except for having to have two new brake calipers, I have been very pleased with it. Am considering another X-Trail, but have looked at...
I can get a spacesaver from a scrap yard from a recent Polo - will it suit my Audi A1?
My wife's 2002 renault clio will next year be ten years old. The car has only done 21,000 miles and is immaculate, so we wish to keep it.
However, in the service maintenance book there is a statement...
March 07 Matiz SE 1.0 10K miles. Engine management light came on and it's firing intermittently. Coil failure diagnosed - replaced. Still firing unevenly but less so and warning light not on.
New coil...
I have a Volkswagen Eos 1.4 160 BHP 2009. Have persistent flat spot on takeoff, VW acknowledge it is there but have not come up with a modification. Have you had similar complaints?
A car was stored in a barn I rent out. It was paid for a few weeks but then it was left for months and no payment has been received. The owner has moved - can I find out who the owner is?
There is an small oil leak through the joint at the bottom of the rear of the gearbox on my 2.5 year old Fiesta purchased new May 2009 with 16000 miles on the clock (1.4 petrol). Obviously this is a warranty...
Picked up a new Meriva SE on 1st november. One of the reasons I purchased the SE model was it had a 7 function computer which included a digital speedometer, this was featured in its brochure, and was...
After reading your reviews (and discarding What Car's views - can't believe Corolla Verso only gets 3 stars and is not in their any top ten mpv list) I have pretty much made up my mind to buy a used Toyota...
I am looking to purchase an Audi Avant 2.0 TDi SE in January. An Audi dealer has a Jan 10 car with 11500 miles for sale at £19,990 and is willing to hold the car on deposit until my funds are available...
I have a 2009 Z4 2.3 auto with 4,000 miles on the clock. Last week I zero'd the average fuel consumption readout, and since then I have only been in town, and the MPG reads 14.1! Yes, it is set to imperial.
I...
Ambulance chasers combined with insurance companies that prefer to raise premiums rather than combat fraud are resulting in the legal robbery of honest motorists. Unusually, the company I insure with,...
BBC Radio 4 ‘In Business’ drew attention to postcode loading by insurance companies, due to huge increases in "crash for cash" insurance fraud scams, very popular in some areas. As you have previously...
In November 2009, holes were drilled, at night, in the fuel tanks of a number of cars in Kingston, Surrey. On 04 November 2010, a person was convicted in Court 8 at Kingston Crown Court for the same theft...
I noticed advice in a recent article on ‘green’ driving to keep in as high a gear as possible (or comfortable). On my recent IAM course I was told not to go above third gear wherever there was a 30mph...
Sitting behind the wheel of my stationary car, I watched in my mirror, with less than eager anticipation, a car sliding downhill on an icy, ungritted, side road towards me. Luckily, he slid across the...
Your advice would be most welcome particularly perhaps in view of the current weather conditions. I am celebrating the end of my 60 year working life with a round-the-world tour visiting family and friends...
I wrote the following letter to: The RT Honourable Phillip HAMMOND MP, Norman BAKER MP, Mike PENNING MP, Theresa VILLIERS MP and Tim LOUGHTON MP: “I am writing to you as I understand that the British Parking...
I am a long-term expat, and recently drove a hired car in England for the first time for a number of years.
Not only was there no handbook or even minimal instructions in the unfamiliar car, there was...
I bought my BMW X3 new on 29 April 2006. It has done 63,000 miles and been serviced in accordance with BMWs recommendations by a BMW garage. I have a BMW fully comprehensive extended warranty that cost...
Perhaps you can help clarify something that Phillip Hammond, the Transport Secretary, said in the House of Commons? He was asked why winter tyres were not made compulsory, or at least encouraged, in this...
My wife's car is insured with myself named as the insured and the main driver. My wife, son, daughter and son-in-law are also named as drivers.
We are planning to lend the car to my daughter for an extended...
I work for the Ambulance Service and will be shortly looking to update my current lease car. The organisation imposes some restrictions upon my choice of car but it still needs to possess a number of qualities...
One: I don't suppose I'm the first to tell you this but I've just realised it. The main road on my Mother's estate has not seen the snow plough... and never will. Why? It's got speed cushions on it, which...
Ours is one of those villages built around a single road about half a mile from the main road. During last winter's snow chaos, the village was cut off for three days because the county council 'did not...
In your experience is there any evidence to suggest that vehicles having multiple previous owners has a negative effect on valuation for trade or private sellers to take into account in price setting?...
I can't believe how much better winter tyres are. This year I don't have to dig out the drive so I can get the car off the road and into the garage - it just goes straight in up the steep and narrow slope....
I recently parked in a NCP car park in Bolton in a bay marked for vehicles with young children. My child was not with me at the time, although I was collecting him in the area later in the day. The child...
I have checked my wife's Fiesta’s wheels. They are 17" diameter and the tyres are 195/45 R17 Eagle FI. Why would a local Ford dealer fit 17" wheels? Not asked for by us? Why when I asked them was I told...
I took your advice and bought a Nissan Juke that I am very pleased with. I have been looking at winter tyres. Do I just buy tyres? You mentioned rims. Do I have to buy those as well? I found Mytyres people...
I have a Prius series three and we will be away for about four weeks. I am concerned about the battery holding up for that period of time as I do know there is a continuous drain. What would your recommendations...
We are retired and have a 2003/53 Toyota Corolla T3D-4D with 87,000 miles on the clock and are interested to read your view that a modern car has a design life of about 7 years. Our annual mileage is now...
What is Ford Direct? I have been looking for a particular car with a particular spec through main dealers and they are coming back with offers such as a blue one 5 months old with 2,800mls on the clock...
I believe that you recently published an article on staged accidents that included how the incidents should be dealt with in legal terms and who they should be reported to. I have tried to find the article...
For years we have been a 2-car family - currently with a 6 yr old Toyota Verso and a Honda Civic that is 9 yrs old. My husband died in August and I need a car that can carry small grandchildren, a large...
My September 2010 Citroen C5 Tourer was recalled by Citroen and VOSA, in November for rectification of handbrake problem. I was instructed to take it to any authorised dealer. The work involved removing...
I wrote to you several weeks ago regarding trading in my 5 year old X-Type Jaguar 2.0 diesel estate for a smaller car. You helpfully suggested a Mazda and I am currently looking at a Mazda 3. Doing a...
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