Trending topics in January 2012
Questions from January 2012
Having been in a crash for cash accident my car is a write off. Although legally my fault, the insurance company is treating the vehicle I hit as a fraudulent claim.
As I own another car and insured...
I have a 2009 Mazda2 Tamura and feel I would like to change to an Audi A1. I do on average 6,500 miles per year. Which model would suit me best?
What would you recommend as the best overall tyres for a Mazda 6 TS2 2.0 petrol auto estate?
Hi there. I noticed the dipped beam headlamp bulbs fitted to our Hyundai Coupe Siii 2 litre were getting a bit dim. Internet forums suggested that bulbs dim over time, and as these were original equipment...
Could you please offer some advice on what to do if I am thinking of buying a modern classic car from the 80s or 90s?
I have been reading that the increasing use of Bioethanol in fuels will damage the...
I'm looking to replace my Mrs' Ford Ka with a diesel car for commuting longer journeys.
The car needs to be reliable, comfortable, efficient and pratical to soak up all the labours that my MINI wont...
I have narrowed my choices down to an Audi A1 1.2 TFSi or Polo 1.2 TSI, both petrol.
I have noticed the BHP/RPM of the Audi is 84/4800 and the Polo is 103/5000, which engine would be more suited to a...
I have just bought a new Focus Titanium to my exact spec through Drive the Deal, and sold the old car through Sure Sell. It worked out very well - thanks for the advice in your DT articles. Everybody...
Have had the engine light come on and engine malfunction message displayed on my Ford Focus 1.6 TDCI. The car restricted itself to 40 MPH.
Have taken it to Hendy and they have told me that fluids need...
Have you any idea what the life of this item should be. how do i get some good will from vw and what should the cost be.
I've just bought a 2010 E61 with adaptive xenons. What are the regulations for carrying spare bulbs when travelling in France?
Reason I ask is that in the past, I've always carried a spare set (halogens)...
I currently have a 2003 Mondeo 115 TDCI. It's done 197,000 miles. The DMF went at 90,000 and is starting to fail again.
I'm concerned about buying another Ford Mondeo or any Ford TDCI because of DMF...
My friend died recently, 68. His widow needs to know how to dispose of his 2007-plate Mazda6 as painlessly as possible without getting ripped off. I seem to remember your recommending a solution in the...
I'm looking to buy a new small car for a daily 100 mile commute which is a mix of A and B roads.
Tops speeds and 0-60mph times are of no real importance to me, but comfort, reliability, and fuel economy...
We are trying to replace our "high seated" Renault Scenic with a modernish, secondhand medium sized MPV with a five-speed automatic transmission (and easy access of course). What options are realistically...
I recently purchased a 807 2.0hdi 136hp. On test drive it seemed to have good acceleration. It was given a basic service and cambelt change before i picked it up.
Now I have it, it seems to be very slow...
I bought an eight month old ix35 with media pack which includes sat nav.
I now find that it does not recognise the new A421 bypass in Bedfordshire, which was opened over a year ago.
Hyundai will not...
It used to be that Porsches held their value quite well for sports cars. Now they seem to depreciate faster than they accelerate! Is this purely down to the recession or is there something else causing...
My 1995 Rover 114 has finally died with a head gasket problem that is not worth repairing.
I see various websites advertising taking away scrap cars for sale as opposed to me paying them to take it away....
I have a grey BMW X5 4.4i V8 Sport 5dr Auto (2004 with 85K miles).
I love the vehicle, it being accurate, engaging, comfortable and practical.
I must confess I'm a sucker for BMWs - the way they look...
Would you recommend owning a Mondeo Estate 1.6 TDCi Econetic on the motability scheme? Or a 1.6 Ecoboost?
I have driven for last three years a 2.0TD 140 Mondeo Titanium X (5 door), and I am well pleased...
How often or how long a drive is necessary to regenerate a TDI 2.0 170 bhp Q5? I would mainly use for city runs ...6-10k annually. How long should the engine be running at or more than 2000 rpm?
Can you charge a battery by connecting it to another car by jump leads?
I have a Volvo XC90 D5, Model Year 2010 (PS185), which is just 2 years old and about to have a service.
I'm really pleased with it, but one drawback is that it's a heavy car and feels a bit underpowered...
Taking your previous advice I persisted in asking my franchise dealer (bought car from them) every year about changing the transmission oil in my 55 plate Golf V.
They always say there are no recommendations...
I purchased a new Volkswagen 3 door 1.4 Polo from a local dealer in Hampshire (using VW Solutions Finance) in September 2011.
Upon handover we noticed that the instrument panel didn't fit properly and...
Would you know why VW aren't offering the 85ps 1.2TSI petrol engine found in the Audi A1 and Golf on the Polo? If it's good enough to lug around a bigger car like a Golf, it should be good enough for the...
Someone reversed into my stationary car in Dec 2011. He walked off and I went to him and asked why. He said "there is no damage, so?" and walked off. I took down his registration number, as my front bumper...
I do low mileage and have the usual cam belt change query. In one of your answers you say that 1.4 & 1.6 VW engines can have plastic pulley issues, but that the diesels are good for 60,000mls.
Is this...
I purchased my car in December 2011 with a new MOT on it.
It had recently failed the MOT as the n/s/r tyre needed replacing. The garage concerned therefore replaced the tyre and issued the car with a...
We have test driven the Golf 1.4 TSI and Qashqai 1.5 dCi N-TEC and love them.
This car purchase will be for the next 5 years plus. We are husband and wife with one two-year-old son and a mother-in-law...
My car has factory fitted 15" alloy wheels. I was thinking of fitting 17" lower profile tyres - but the overall circumference of the wheel would be the same as the original. Do you think ride quality,...
I have an 08 Golf 1.4 TSI on Pirelli P6000 195/65VR15 tyres.
They last for about 28-30,000 miles but I find them very noisy and rather harsh running at the recommended 2.0 bar.
Can you suggest an alternative...
What is my Matiz worth in part exchange? It's got FSH and will need new tyres and exhaust looking at soon (mentioned on MOT at beg Jan 2012).
It's got a couple of scratches to interior but is clean,...
I would like to know the optimum speed to use for the least fuel consumption in a Toyota Corolla (2000).
Equally, are there things I need to do generally to lower fuel consumption while driving.
My 1995 Micra 1.0l refuses to start. Engine turns over normally but is not firing. Any ideas?
What would be considered high mileage for a hybrid car - are 100,000+ mileage cars a good buy?
I have a 1999 SEAT Cordoba TDI. All of a sudden it started overfuelling, with black smoke.
I am about to get my personal pension. I will have about £18,000 to spend and have ended up desiring a SAAB convertible. Am I mad?
I am having difficulty finding a new car to replace my Clio Campus (57 reg). My past car history is Mini, Renault 5, Peugeot 205, Renault Clio and Renault Clio Campus. I am 56 years old and 4 feet 10 inches...
I am thinking of changing my Toyota Avensis for a smaller car. I have looked at a Perodua Myvi which seems a value-for-money car. Have you any information on this or can you recommend a comparable alternative?...
I signed the petition against Clause 56 of the Protection of Freedoms Bill and wrote to my MP, and I attach his response. Please note that there are not many signatures on the petition. Eric Pickles' response...
We have recently purchased a new Mercedes-Benz E-Class Coupe CDI 250 together with SatNav as part of the option 50 package. This has proved to be frustratingly useless as it will only permit us to put...
My wife and I bought a Mercedes-Benz ML 270 diesel auto from new in April 2004. We are now considering replacing it with another four-wheel-drive car and would appreciate your suggestions. We have two...
My wife has had a disabled blue parking badge for over nine years. We parked in a disabled space at a shopping centre yesterday, but neglected to display the blue badge - my wife and I are respectively...
You replied to DM from Droitwich listing the disadvantages of big wheels Sports version of the Mercedes-Benz C-Class. There is another good reason not to buy the C-Class Sport, or indeed any other vehicle...
I am looking to replace my 2003 Mazda MX-5 convertible. Due to my ageing body I would like something more comfortable but still sporty. My annual mileage is low at 5000. I have just looked at the Honda...
After 40 years of fitting winter tyres (starting with Town & Country) to the driving wheels of my vehicle I now find tyre retailers insisting that this is "unsafe" and wanting to fit four. Having had no...
Very good recent article about comfy cars, which has prompted me to seek your advice. I recently purchased an X-Type Jag that has 17-inch alloy wheels, fitted with Michelin 225/45ZR17 Pilot Sport tyres...
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