Questions from November 2011
Looking for a new fun car for my wife and have been looking at the Mini One Covertable or Fiat 500c. Both similar prices. Which would you recommend, or would you suggest an alternative?
Recently bought new Honda Jazz. Honda agent recommends using 'Honda Happiness' in the event of an accident. Is this more beneficial than dealing only with my insurance company (RIAS).
We currently run a 59 plate SEAT Leon 1.9 tdi S and a Volvo V50 company car which is being withdrawn at the end of February.
The Leon has an intermittent reluctance to start, seems to be mostly cooler...
I own a BMW 320 Touring and will soon need to buy new tyres. Runflats are fitted at present and to replace all 4 it looks like I will be paying £1,000+. Friend recommended changing from runflats and buyng...
I have a budget of around £4-5k and am looking to buy a sports convertible from a choice of the following:
1. Porsche Boxster - Which would be my ideal choice really, but your engine block comments scare...
I want a used diesel estate or pickup, up to 5-years old. I would keep it for approx 7 years.
I have a Skoda Octavia 1.6. It has 170,000 km in good condition but it has problems - black smoke from the tail pipe and a high fuel consumption. I changed the spark plug, timing belt, water temp sensor,...
I need to buy a used small estate, petrol or diesel. I would appreciate your opinion.
My husband is obsessed with classic cars, which are quirky and fun, but I am tired of having to drive at 50mph, never having the right seat belts or mirrors, being too hot or cold, not being able to adjust...
1st November my Golf GTI, which I have owned from new, cut out without any warning and would not restart.
It was recovered to the local Volkswagen dealer who have said that the exhaust camshaft has snapped,...
I'm looking to buy a an Audi A4 S-line (B7). Is it best to go for the 1.9 TDI or the 2.0 TDI? I've noticed you can get both engines on the B7.
I've read comments on problems with the 2.0 TDI, but not...
My Hyundai dealer is unable to answer my query about the appropriate winter tyre to fit to my 2007 Tucson, but alarmingly has advised me that Hyundai will only recommend fitting the original alloy rims...
I own a Ford Focus 05 1.6 90bhp, I recently changed the battery and mpg has risen via EMC can I get it back to the lower figure by reconecting battery again, or is it a dealer issue. Also do you know if...
I have seen a Mazda 2 1.3 TS (2010) with just 2,600k on the clock and an asking price of £8,000. Do you think this is good value? This model doesn't appear to have ABS. What alternative make & model would...
Have up to £16K for next car, looking at Saab 93, Mazda 6 (185bhp), Honda Accord & C class saloon.
Cover about 20,000 miles PA, like a good "cockpit", economy is pretty important.
Currently own 57...
I needed a jump start on my car recently, and now the 2 rear doors wont open or lock with the key (only manually) and the 2 front electric windows wont work, do you know why?
The traction control system on my Seat Leon 03 turns itself off and can't be switched back on via switch. It comes back on after the car has been switch off sometimes.
I've just picked up my Nissan Juke and have placed my Tax Disc on the left hand windscreen top corner.
As I am not tall, the high position gives the best option for me, where it doesn't interfere at...
Last winter the car was covered in snow and ice from time to time as it stood outside our house in London. When the weather had warmed up in the Spring and I washed the car I noticed the imprints of hands...
Having followed your excellent advice over the years we bought an economical Honda Jazz a year ago. Since then we have been plagued by condensation on all windows which can be eliminated by use of the...
We've just bought a Skoda Felicia 1.3mpi 2000 (V) for my wife. It has a genuine 30k on the clock despite its age - but does it have a cam belt that I need to change - or does it have a chain? I find different...
I don't feel that I need winter tyres as the car has coped well with the snow we've had in the last couple of years.
The roads where I live (Kent) haven't been too bad. But there have been one or two...
I have a BMW 320d Touring new in Sept '08 & dealer maintained throughout its 62,000 miles. It's the best car I've ever owned (great to drive, never let me down and averaged 45.5 mpg since new). But I've...
Recently I was caught by a speed camera in Switzerland whilst driving a German hire car. The Swiss police tracked me through the hire company and sent me a ticket demanding 100 euro fine. I learnt that...
I saw a Sept 2010 used approved Mercedes E-Class 350 CDI estate, 11,000 miles with panoramic roof and many extras for sale for £34,900 on the web.
I phoned the dealer and put £1,000 deposit down over...
Can you please advise if Drive The Deal is a legitimate and reputable company to do business with, I found their details on one of your forums. It appears to be to good to be true (the discounts offered)...
I am looking to buy a 57 plate Focus C-Max. Auto, Titanium, Petrol 2.0 with 14,000 on the clock. It is up for £7,450. Is this a good price and what faults should I look out for? It is ex motability....
The electric folding wing mirror on my car was damaged by a waste collection wagon and will cost about £300 to replace.
I witnessed this from a first floor window and someone arriving for work in the...
My wife and I are OAPs living in mid Wales and trying to make our car safer for limited winter driving and we know from FAQ that you advocate fitting four all season tyres but we can only afford to buy...
My wife owns a Honda Jazz 1.4 2002 and there are pools of water leaking from somewhere into the well which houses the spare wheel. There does not appear to be any wetness from above. I was wondering if...
I am looking to buy a large excecutive saloon to keep for 7- 10 years, which you would recommend? Volvo S80 D5, Mecedes-Benz E220D, BMW 520d?
It would need to be high spec and auto diesel.
I was driving car last night, an OFF light came on on the dashboard then the car and all lights shutdown? Any idea what it could be?
I'm looking to fit winter tyres on my BMW 3 Series Touring. It's had 225/45R17s run flats from new. Kwik-Fit do a Goodyear Eagle UltraGrip GW3 runflat in that size. My local BMW garage, however, are suggesting...
I have topped up oil twice in 5 months on my Peugeot 207 1.6gt. There is no visible leak or anything so is it normal to top up so often?
I'm new to this site and must apologise if my question has been answered. I need to buy a family saloon car as we are expecting our first child. The car needs to be reliable, solid and provide good miles...
My car is showing a P0172 error code - Fuel System Too Rich.
I have taken it to a independent garage and dealership, but none seem to be able to fix and speculatively say we can do this for £x. No one...
I purchased a 2007 Corsa 1.2 Club in the UK, which I subsequently exported to South Africa two years later. Here the base model is a 1.4. As we (I won't say who in the family!) ran the engine with a dry...
I bought a Citroen DS3 Racing brand new in May 2011 on finance. Within a few weeks it developed an issue where the car misfired and lost power on acceleration.
I notified the supplying dealer and they...
The engine management light came on about 6 months ago and says emissions workshop.
I took it to the garage and they plugged into diagnostics machine, but said it just came up with random misfire.
All...
My Vauxhall Omega Elite is due an MOT but on pre check they say cold cathode dip is not defined. What can I do?
I have a Volkswagen Tiguan (2011) but not the new model!
It is fitted with 235/55 R17 99H tyres and I have purchased a set of Dunlop Winter Sport 3Ds in the same size.
I am now trying to buy a second...
I've recently retired and I have a 57 reg Ford C-max 1.6 TDCI 110 Zetec with just shy of 50k on the clock.
This weekend mentioned a cost of £1600 for a new particulate filter. Should I sell now or keep...
Our four year old Honda Jazz, bought 12 months ago as approved used, passed its MOT and on the same day Honda carried out a short service and safety check.
They gave a red alert on the corroded brake...
I need a presentable, reliable, roomy estate that will take me to work every day, winter and summer, on country roads in Yorkshire, plus 20,000 motorway miles per year. It must offer reasonable comfort...
Are VAG/Teves doing anything about the braking controller problem? I am contemplating a VAG group car and this will be a decider.
(1) You recently gave specific information on running in a new engine to reduce oil consumption, giving RPM relative to mileage. But how would you be able to control rpm in an automatic car?
(2) Also...
I own a Jeep, but I am not brand loyal.
You gave a really good review of the new Grand Cherokee, but reading the other motoring press they have been quite 'sniffy' about it, especially when comparing it...
The car runs cold, I can only get warm air on the windscreen and to my feet, not to the central vents.
Could it be the heater matrix/control valve or thermostat?
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