Should I fit winter tyres to all four wheels of my Alfa Giulietta?

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...

Can I fit different tyres to my X-Type Jaguar to improve the ride quality?

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...

Can I have the air conditioning clutch plate changed on my Skoda Octavia?

I am mystified as to why the clutch plate from an air conditioning compressor has become detached on my 2001 Skoda Octavia. The clutch plate was found in the engine well at the car's yearly servicing....

Where can I have my Mercedes-Benz 280E's air conditioning repaired cheaply?

I have a Mercedes-Benz 280E CDI Estate that is three and a half years old. Whilst in France the air conditioning broke down and I was informed by a French garage that it would cost 1,900 Euros to repair....

Can I recommend Roadhawk in-car video cameras?

Regarding the letter from NB asking about forward-facing in-car video cameras, may I suggest you look at the Road Hawk camera system? It is a compact unit with a windscreen mount that fits neatly behind...

Should my Skoda Octavia Estate's ESP be switched off in slippery conditions?

I was wondering whether your advice regarding the switching off of both ASR and ESP in slippery conditions applies to vehicles with AWD such as the Skoda Octavia Estate. I have found that, in slippery...

Where should we sell our 2000 Ford Puma?

My husband and I (both in our seventies) are currently downsizing from two cars to one car, and are currently in negotiations to purchase a new Ford Fiesta Titanium and will be trading in my husband's...

I complained to a supermarket after receiving a parking ticket and had it waived.

Whilst away on a regular weekend break in Wales, we parked our vehicle in the car park of a well-known supermarket chain. Two hours is the free time at this site, but we arrived to find a parking ticket...

Why is our Hyundai Getz only returning 27mpg?

Why do you think my wife's Hyundai Getz 1.4 CDX automatic is giving such poor mpg? It averages just 27mpg and although it is only used around town we are disappointed. It is a 2007 car, has 11,000 miles...

Can I suggest your readers buy their winter tyres and steel wheels from the Continent?

Before any of your readers blow £700 plus on a set of winter tyres, please note that I have just bought a set for my wife's MINI Cooper in Luxembourg fitted to steel rims for 440 Euros. Sure it's a tank...

Why don't car makers fit rubber door bumpers any more?

Can you explain why most new cars no longer have the rubber or plastic strips down the sides that avoided many of those irritating dents acquired in car parks from other drivers carelessly opening their...

What could be causing this gearbox fault in my automatic Citroen Picasso?

I have an intermittent fault with a 2006 Citroen Picasso 2.0i Desire automatic and wonder if you have come across this before I place the car in the hands of a Citroen dealer. Occasionally, and with no...

Should I use the Honda Happiness Accident Assistance service in case of an accident with my new Honda Jazz?

I recently purchased a Honda Jazz 1.4 automatic, my second in a row and as you say ""a very nice little car”. In view of recent letters in your column, in the event of an accident, is it OK to contact...

Can I recommend my local garage, PK Motors of Tunbridge Wekks, for their excellent customer service?

Further to your remark about cut-price MoTs, I have taken our two elderly cars to PK Motors in Tunbridge Wells for the past 13 years. They give a 25 per cent discount to existing customers and have never,...

Which tyres should I fit to my 2003 Lexus IS 200 for motorway use?

I have a 2003 Lexus IS 200 Sportcross with 205/55x16 V Bridgestone ER300 Turanzas that need renewing soon. I would appreciate your advice as to the best replacements. My instinct favours Continental Premium...

Is the new, more strict MOT test designed to force cars off the road?

I understand that a stricter two-yearly MOT test has been introduced with effect from January 2012, including items such as ESP, airbags and other potential repairs not covered by the present test. This...

Can I suggest that your readers warn their insurers immediately of anything suspicious which could be a scam?

My daughter and I run a small business delivering livestock feed in the South East using Land Rovers and trailers. We each cover around 30,000 miles per year. Some months ago my daughter returned to the...

Why are certain models of car getting bigger?

I see that the new F30 3 Series BMW will be available soon and that it is to be bigger. I wonder why car manufacturer's assume that people always want bigger cars? My present 2009 3-Series Touring is exactly...

Should I change my Octavia estate now while interest rates are low?

I presently drive a 2006 Octavia 2.0 TDI automatic estate. Generally I am very pleased with its performance and its load capacity ideally suits my requirements. I have recently returned from an extended...

I attach a response from Eric Pickles MP regarding the Protection of Freedoms bill.

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...

Why won't my Mercedes-Benz E-Class' satnav take 7-digit UK postcodes?

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...

Can you recommend a replacement for our Mercedes-Benz ML with a low tailgate for dogs?

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...

How can we dispute a parking ticket issued because we forgot to display our Blue Badge?

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...

How should I proceed to claim for damage done to my Skoda Octavia after my friend's tree fell on it?

I would be extremely grateful for some advice on how to deal with an insurance claim for our car. Our Skoda Octavia Estate was parked on our friend's drive during a social visit yesterday when a tree fell...

I fitted all-terrain tyres to my Honda CR-V for use in snow, with excellent results.

I live in a remote Cornish village with many bends and steep slopes, and following a year or so of icy driving conditions in which my two wheel drive Honda Civic was frequently unable to negotiate our...

LED Failures and the new MoT rules

When it comes to cars with multiple small lights as sidelights - ie LEDS and daytime running lights - how many need to be working so as not to fail the new MOT?

Which 90s Toyota?

Between Carina E 1997 model and Corolla 1998 model which one is better in terms of fuel economy?

Buying a car to tow 2500KG

I have a 90,000 mile 53 plate Nissan X-Trail with a head gasket on its way out (so I'm told). I have two small children and two small dogs and regulaly drive to Northern France from London. The replacement...

Emissions warning light on my Volkswagen T5

I have started my Volkswagen T5 motorhome after 1 month idle and emission warning has come on. Handbook states take to dealer for check but in your article in Telegraph you suggest a good run might clear...

My car is suddenly using more fuel.

Following eye surgery I could not drive my 2007 BMW 320 diesel for a month. Since restarting my use of the car, the average fuel consumption shown on the computer over my usual mixed trip distances, including...

1.4 v 1.2 TSI in a Polo?

If your choice of engine was between a Volkswagen 1.4 petrol and a Volkswagen 1.2 TSi petrol, which one would you go for in terms of longterm reliability? I'm thinking of owning for a minimum of 5 years....

Is this a clutch problem?

My Peugeot 307SW diesel on an 03 plate has just developed a problem where I am struggling to get it into gear. The inital 5 minutes (from cold) are OK but from then on I find it difficult to get the...

Insurer has inaccurate information on me

Whilst trying to obtain an insurance quote the salesman informed me of incidents that I was unfamiliar with. He refused to elaborate, merely stating dates. How can I find out what information is held...

Buying a Subaru Outback

We are thinking of buying a 2008 Subaru Outback diesel as we live in a rural area that has been cut off the last few winters when it snows. We have a budget of £15000. Should we be aware of any problems...

Specifying tyres with a new car

I'm about to purchase my first ever car and have settled on a new discounted Skoda Fabia Estate from a Skoda dealer. One area I can't find any advice on is the topic of specifying the tyres on a new...

Volkswagen group engine confusion

If the 2.0-litre(210 bhp) engine is the same in the Audi TT, Golf GTi and Volkswagen Scirroco, why is there such a big difference in quoted torque figures? The TT has 258ft/lbs compared to the 207 nad...

Head gasket failure called 'wear and tear'

I was told that the head gasket was covered on the warranty, but when I took it to the garage and they phoned them they said it is not covered as it is "wear and tear." The garages I have spoken to have...

The cheapest insurance premiums as paid by Honest John readers.

We had a massive response to the challenge to beat TR of Saffron Waldon’s £97pa insurance premium for his 1994 Volvo 440 GLT. The winner is MP of Horley, who pays just £52 a year each via RH Specialist...

Why is a driver making an accident claim against me 32 months after the (minor) incident?

32 months after a minor accident with no damage to my vehicle and scratched bumper on the other car, the other driver has made a personal injury claim. My insurance company says these cases are difficult...

Should I haggle when buying a sports car such as an Aston Martin DB9 or Ferrari California?

Having read the interview in last weekend's Daily Telegraph I was surprised to read you have already spent 18 years offering your services to readers of the Daily Telegraph, and I hope you will continue...

What should we look for when buying a used 1997 Toyota Previa?

I am considering purchasing a 1997 Toyota Previa for my daughter to enable her to take out her five children at the same time. The vehicle has 147,000 miles on the clock but seems in pretty good condition....

Where can I source spare steel wheels for my Nissan Juke for winter tyres?

I have a 2012 Nissan Juke 1.6 Petrol Acenta Premium with 215/55R17 94V tyres with pressure monitors, but no spare. I have decided to go for winter tyres. Should I just change tyres or get steel rims as...

Why is my Meriva's warranty invalid following a service performed by a local garage?

I bought a Meriva from a Vauxhall dealer two years ago. It came with a lifetime warranty and has 12,000 miles on the clock. It has just had its second annual service at my local garage. Vauxhall said it...

Do you think that Xenon headlights are too bright?

Even my son who is 14 and shoots for his army cadets (and so has good young eyesight) says he doesn't like the glare of modern Xenon headlights. Nor do I. I used to like driving at night but now it seems...

How reliable are these MPVs?

Of these cars having 3 ISOFIX seats in the second row, how would you rate the reliability of one against the other? Citroen C4 Grand Picasso, Peugeot 5008, Volkswagen Sharan, Ford Galaxy, Seat Alhambra...

Can I reject my Ford C-Max following a hesitation problem under acceleration?

I bought a Ford C-Max 1.6DCI Titanium in April 2011 and since its first service in December 2011 I have had acceleration problems. The main issue is when I am accelerating, when there is a flat spot with...

What could be causing a sooty odour to emit from the engine of my Jaguar XF diesel?

I have a 2008 Jaguar XF 2.7 diesel Premium Luxury that I bought as a Jaguar approved used car from a main dealer three months ago. It came with a full warranty and has done 58,000 miles. I regularly (once...

What do you think of the Nissan Leaf electric car?

My husband will shortly be having a Nissan Leaf for a 24-hour test drive. Have you driven one? If so, what is your considered opinion as to its merit against normally-engined cars.

Can you recommend a petrol-engined 4x4 SUV?

On your website it says that the new model Santa Fe can come with a petrol engine. However there is no mention of one on the Hyundai website? I fancy having a 4x4 but am avoiding looking at any diesels...

Can you recommend a hire car that will take two passengers and large bicycle boxes?

Four of us are flying to Spain for a cycling weekend and are taking our bikes in rigid bike boxes measuring 105cm x 90cm x 30cm (see: www.bikeboxalan.co.uk). I've looked into hiring a Mercedes-Benz Vito...