Questions from February 2012
After 13 years trading, my son suddenly finds his firm with a cash-flow crisis and the need to sell his self-indulgent limo and buy a second hand 4WD vehicle able to tow up to two tons (a one-ton stump...
I lived in Canada for nine years in the late seventies to early eighties. At that time we were always told you could avoid switching tyres every winter by using radials. Radials were sufficient for summer...
In answer to GB's problem with his E-Class Mercedes losing power on acceleration, I suggest he checks the air mass sensor. I had the same symptoms on my 1998 Mercedes-Benz C240, which, on acceleration,...
A month ago, I purchased a cheap runabout Ford Fiesta for £750 from a dealer in Enfield, London. Someone had part-exchanged it, although it came with a new MoT, two new tyres and exhaust. The MoT was obtained...
I would like to buy an economical Yeti Greenline for my last car. I am going to live in a very rural area and I will be doing a short drive most days to find nice walks for me and my dogs. However, I will...
May I check, through your columns, with other Volkswagen Touran DSG owners about what I believe spoils an otherwise very nice car? My aggravation derives from the design of the handbrake mechanism. Firstly,...
Please warn your readers about a serious issue when driving on motorways. Before flashing your lights to allow a truck in front to change lanes, please think about what you are doing. If it is a foreign...
I have an 2005 2.2 DCI Nissan X-Trail, 50,000 miles. Does it have the potentially ruinous components of a diesel particulate filter and a dual mass flywheel? Having read your column I am thinking of selling...
The new Chevrolet Captiva looks remarkably like a Ford Kuga. I looked the Chevy, up on your excellent web site, but it makes no mention of a Kuga. Are there any Ford links with the Captiva?
Can you please offer any advice or info as to what I should do regarding a notice of intended prosecution I received in respect of a vehicle that has been using my registration number? I have already spoken...
I run my Volvo S60 T5 on Goodyear Eagle F1 235/40Z/R18. We used to travel frequently to Germany in the winter and have carried snow chains for several years, although have never needed to use them. I know...
What do you think about the Golf 1.2 TSI 85 hp for a guy who doesent travel a lot( 6300 miles per year). Is it good enough for the motorway travelling at 80 mph with four adults and luggage? In those situations...
I purchased a Volkswagen Polo in December 2010. The car was serviced in December 2011 with no concerns. The car is now making a noise when brakes applied. VW advise that disc's are pitted and part worn...
On my 2003 Polo 1.9TDI, with 110k on clock I've noticed a judder when moving slowly (using the clutch to reverse/drive into parking space) plus a low - mid level whining noise when releasing the clutch.
I've got a 2008 1.8 TDI S-MAX Edge in dark grey with 45,000 miles at nearly 4 years old.
I think its worth about £8K now private sale.
If I keep the car another three years and do 12,000 miles per year...
I've had my car for 2 months and something is bothering me. I put the heating down to cold and turned the fans off, and the engine heat was going up to red.
As soon as I put the heating to hot and turned...
I have used a Trafficmaster Freeway unit for many years, it is a low cost, efficient way of receiving traffic alerts. I have been informed that this unit will not be supported after June 2012.
Two alternatives...
I've had diesel injector problems with my 2004 Mondeo TDCI 130 and hope never to again. Are there any makes/models, 3-5 year old, on the used market that do not suffer from injector problems that I should...
I have a stiff neck due to a recent sports injury on top of ageing, and although I have a rear camera, which helps with parking, I find I can no longer safely see the nearside rear quarter of my 2006 Honda...
I currently own a Volkswagen 1.9TDI Passat, 2004 model, which has been in a Volkswagen garage with problems with the engine management light being on.
Have been told by the garage that the fuel injectors...
I am reviewing the insurance on my C4 Picasso HDI VSX + as its due for renewal and the subject of winter tyres has arisen. Speaking to LV, their attitude is that although winter tyres are OK, if they are...
I am looking to buy a 2008 or 2009 Honda CRV auto or Ford Galaxy diesel automatic. 4 large adults, occasional 5th passenger and a very large dog! Have always had japanese cars and found them very reliable,...
"Morrisons are reducing fuel prices" according to many subscribers on a Ford Forum ther has been much discussion on NOT using diesel form Morrisons due to the higher bio diesel content. Ford also advises...
Recently I mislaid the Counterpart Driving license but still have my plastic card. I wrote to DVLA who have come back with forms for a completely new driving license plus request for £20. Is it not possible...
Can you tell me if diesel engines use more fuel in winter?
I have an E46 with cruise control that's not working. I have the little light on the dash but it will not cock the speed. Any ideas?
The car was an elderly lady's car with 27,000 miles but has a tappet noise, it has had several oil changes and done about 1500 miles since with no reduction in the noise level.
Does this model have a...
I've got a 2005 1.6 petrol Zafira. It was in a front end smash and since then it has not run properly and now does not start at all. After I had the front end repaired it ran for a bit then it stuttered...
I have a Vauxhall Corsa SXI 1.3CDTI on a 57 plate that is not starting. It's been to Vauxhall who said there is low compression and the valves are damaged.
I have had these replaced at my local garage....
I'm starting up an adventure sport business and looking to to buy a car for dirt tracks, towing, and normal driving.
Looking to spend £5000-7000 2nd hand.
Want something not to expensive to insure (I'm...
I have a 2006 Mercedes-Benz CLS 320 diesel which I had mapped 4 months ago to improve fuel consumption.
Recently my turbo failed and I booked it into MB Edinburgh. Having examined the car they stated...
Currently we have a 1.6-litre petrol 54 plate Zafira which is ideal sized as we occaisionally fill 6 - 7 seats with adults in the back row or load up the boot to the gills for a weeked away.
We don't...
I am in the process of buying a type r 53plate.
It was imported from the Isle of Man in 2010 with low miles. I have spoken today to the seller and he has informed me that the logbook states it is a Civic...
My car has gone through five litres of 5w 30 oil as recommended by Castrol website. What could be the problem?
I bought a new Skoda Superb estate in July 2000. I very soon learned that the sat nav would not accept a full six digit post code.
I have been told by the dealer that there is no free software update...
I drive a Peugeot 607 2.2HDI auto (this is my second one in a row). I was averaging 38 - 40 mpg but I notice in the last couple of months this has dropped to 30 -32 mpg. My driving style has not changed,...
I am looking to spend £6000 - £7000 on a 2007/2008 plate car. I am 6 foot 4 tall and have two children (ages 2 and 5) so interior legroom space a main consideration.
I want a car that is also fairly...
I would like to replace my Jaguar for a small car. Where will I get the best deal? I am a lady owner, retired, and had the car since new. What reliable car would you recommend for short runs?
Re. the news of late concerning elderly drivers and cars - I thought you would like this - sent to me by a friend in the US:
101 year old driving an 81 year old car!
Notice at the very end when she steps...
I am contemplating my next, and possibly last car. Increasingly new cars are being introduced without spare wheels, the sales tag is "when did you last have a blowout?"
The answer is a couple of years...
I bought the above MINI in 2009. I 'scrapped' a perfectly good 16 yr old Volvo for this car and wish I hadn't! I've had nothing but problems with it since new.
New steering. New heat inverters. New Gearbox....
I picked up a brand new Jaguar XF 2.2d SE on 17" wheels in November 2011 and immediately noticed that the whole car was vibrating at anything above 50mph. I did about 10miles and took the car back to the...
My son is leasing quite an expensive sports car for 12 months. Should he consider what I believe is called Gap Insurance in the event of a serious accident or write off, bearing in mind he doesn't actually...
I want a small automatic and was wondering about the Skoda Fabia. Have been told by friends that DSG autos are not a good choice. Is this so? Otherwise what else would you recommend? It needs to fit in...
A Volvo dealer tells me that the V70 is being discounted by Volvo by 20% until end of March - is that as good as it sounds or have serious discounts been available all along? If the model is being replaced...
I am selling a used car privately. I have been honest about the suspected and known faults in the advert. Is this sufficient to cover myself and if not what else should I do?
I would love to buy a Superb Estate as a family car to keep it for a long time. Resources are not limitless, so I have to keep overall cost over 10 years and roughly 170,000 miles in mind.
I read of...
Hi Honest John, I'm one of the growing number of disollusioned people who bought a car in good faith, based upon MPG stats in manufacturers literature. (Mercedes 250 SE Cabrioliet Diesel auto) Literature...
I own a 2007 Ford Focus 1.8TDCI Titanium, best car I have ever driven (thanks for the recommendation 3 years ago John). Looking at getting a nearly new model (new shape) but they don't make the 1.8 engine...
I put 25 litres of petrol on top of two gallons of diesel in my wife's diesel engined car, then drove five miles before the engine juddered and I realised my mistake.
Pulled up immediately and called...
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