Which Touareg should I go for?

Eight years ago you advised me to buy a Ford Focus. It's still going strong and runs like new, still keeping the Focus but need to buy another vehicle. I would ideally like to get a VW Toureg. Should I...

Made in Japan?

Do you know where I can find the country where a car is made? I am looking for a car officially imported into the UK that is actually made in Japan as I am convinced that these are the most reliable. I...

Which smaller automatic estate?

I am downsizing from a Legacy Outback with 185K on the clock for a smaller auto. We must have room for two dogs in the back so have looked at the Golf Estate and the A3. I do about 20K miles annually as...

Handing over the V5 for my written off classic?

Our 45 year old classic car unfortunately caught fire. From what the assessor said it looks as if it will be a write-off, but at this stage we are dealing with the Insurance Brokers, the Underwriters and...

Rights against an out of business sole trader?

I have purchased a car from a sole trader who has recently closed his business. Will I have any rights as I want to claim my money back through the courts.

Car radio code doesn't work

Hello I have a Y reg Ford Fiesta serial M023662 radio, the battery was taken out I have a keycode 3553 but it doesn't work?

Is my Mondeo chain or belt cam?

I want to know if my Mondeo 1.8 Zetec 16 valve engine is belt or chain driven?

Has the previous owner invalidated the warranty?

Just bought an ex-contract X-Trail June 11 registered with quite a high mileage (24,200). The contractee didn't have a service done until 17,000 odd miles, even though the service interval is 12.500....

Who makes my engine?

Does Citroen/Peugeot use a Ford engine? I heard that from a local garage, is it true?

Luxury or Sensibility?

I'm looking at buying a car with a budget of £12k. I want a bit of luxury and have looked at 5 year old Jag XJs, S Class Mercs, 7 series BMWs and Audi A8s. However I've also come across the Renault...

Peugeot 407 running rough

I have had my Peugeot 407 2.0 Diesel for 2 years now, and every 5-600 miles, the engine develops a misfire, as if it is being starved of fuel for a second or two, then runs normally for a few seconds and...

Porsche 911 smells like curry

I get a burning smell like curry after driving my car hard. Why? It's a 53 plate 996 turbo.

Buying a second hand family car- what would you recommend?

I am coming out of company car scheme and need to buy second car, looking for something to own for a couple of years due to my high mileage. I have a 5k budget, I drive 22,000 miles per year so am looking...

Is this claims company attempting fraud?

My wife just took a phone call from someone asking about an accident in my Honda Jazz. I have not had an accident in the Jazz or my last car, which I owned for over 10 years. The man said he obtained the...

My car was clamped and towed despite being in my friend's private space - must I pay the penalty?

My car has been towed away by a private firm. It was parked on private land. I parked it at 22:30 and it was clamped at 22:39, and towed at 23:05. On their website it says vehicles will be towed that have...

Which small cars have a timing chain?

Do you have a list of small to medium cars with timing chain as opposed to a cam belt?

Why didn't I get an adaptor which allows me to fill up my Ford Focus from a petrol can?

I missed an appointment when I discovered that I needed to fill up my 2008 Ford Focus with petrol from a can, being nowhere near a filling station. I found that I couldn't, so I was effectively immobile....

An endorsement for LV insurance.

My wife and I both have cars comprehensively insured with LV. As she is to have surgery this week, she decided to add my name to her policy so I could drive her car to avoid it standing unused. When she...

Is my Volkswagen Touran diesel likely to develop any faults soon and should I replace it?

I am driving a 2005 Volkswagen Touran 1.9 TDI that I have owned from new. It has done almost 115,000 miles (about 80 per cent of which was cruising on motorways) and never let me down. It returns a consistent...

What do you think of the Honda i-Shift system?

We are looking to replace my wife's ageing runabout with a car that is under two years old. She needs a car with an autobox and rather likes the Honda Jazz. Within our price range the Jazz with the i-Shift...

Should I buy this used Citroen C4?

I have seen a 2006 Citroen C4 1.6i 16v SX 5-door automatic at JCS Kegworth used cars and really just fancied it. It is a petrol auto with 51,400 miles on the clock, full service history from new, alloys...

Where can I report dangerous potholes for repair?

I damaged my car following an accident initiated by a deep pothole, which was not visible on a dark and rainy night. I applied to the local council for help with repairs. They declined. Their response...

Why has my Ford Focus' speedometer has developed an intermittent fault?

I have a Ford Focus estate with a 1.8 Zetec engine, registered in 2001. It has now travelled about 75,000 miles with no problems. Recently a fault has developed: the speedo and milometer stopped working...

ABS fault on a 4500-mile-old Fiesta - is this acceptable?

In 2006 I bought a brand new Ford Fiesta Studio. I have now been told by a Ford garage that my ABS braking system unit has now packed up. I am very angry considering the car has only done 4500 miles, because...

We need two hatchbacks for carrying babies and mountain bikes - what do you suggest?

We are expecting our first baby in May and therefore need to replace our cars with something a little more baby friendly. We own a faithful but decrepit 11-year-old Daihatsu Charade for the practical side...

Which economical car for 15,000 miles per year mixed driving?

I live in the countryside and drive 250 miles a week to the office and back, mostly on B-roads, and also use the car for the usual things, including travelling by motorway to visit friends around the country,...

Are modern diesel cars really so prone to faults?

As a regular reader of your column in ‘Motoring’ in the Telegraph I am concerned about your comments, on a regular basis, about ownership of diesel-powered vehicles. I own a 2009 Mark 6 VW Golf with the...

Which small station wagon should I buy?

My needs are varied. Most trips tend to be in the city with the occasional long trip and annual trip to Germany. I thought of buying a supermini estate (Peugeot 207SW) but people tell me to avoid all Peugeots,...

Why is diesel currently so expensive?

In these parts, diesel is now 9p or 10p a litre more than petrol. How on earth can this differential be justified? Surely at these prices it is only worth having diesel for very high mileage vehicles?

My Vauxhall blew its exhaust packing out - why?

I have a 2000 Vauxhall 2.5 CDI Petrol Estate just coming up to 90,000 miles. I was driving at about 70mph on the motorway recently when it felt a bit "out of breath" for about a minute on three or four...

Which tyres for our Audi A4?

We have an Audi A4 Avant 2.0 TDI which is almost six years old with just over 69,000 miles. The rear tyres are approaching replacement after 36,000 miles (including 4000 temporarily on the front). Previously,...

How can I activate the 'courtesy headlamp delay' feature on my Ford Ka?

I have a 2009 current model Ford Ka 1.2 Zetec. I never received a handbook. Does this model have the 'courtesy headlamp delay' feature? If so how do I activate it? Many thanks for your time.

Why do the police provide details of speeding motorists to private companies?

We know of the selling of vehicle keeper data by the DVLA to some interested parties such as parking enforcement companies. I did not know that the Police Authorities are now permitted to provide (outsource)...

Why are modern car headlights so bright?

My husband and I live in a village and most of our driving is in rural areas. I have noticed that the number of cars with very bright dipped headlights seems to be on the increase and causes real problems....

Should I buy a diesel car or go for a petrol model?

I'm considering buying a secondhand older model Ford Focus Diesel, up to say 18 months old. Two friends have cautioned me about the diesel engine and/or the turbo, some parts which cost a lot to replace...

Should I sell my diesel Audi A4 now before problems arise?

I have an Audi A4 Avant S line quattro TDI 2.0 litre diesel (170PS motor) with a BRD series engine. I purchased the car new in 2006 and have now done 52,000 miles with only one breakdown due to a faulty...

What do you think of the Extreme 360?

I have a 1998 Peugeot 406 Coupe SE Coupe 3.0V6. I’ve owned the car since 1999, when I paid £25,000 for it, and it has covered 80,000 miles. I have just retired and have come across the Extreme 360, which...

The ESP light on my SEAT Leon has come on - should my dealer repair it?

My 27,000 mile 2007 SEAT Leon 2.0 petrol FR, main dealer purchased and serviced, had just passed MoT when the ESP light on the dash appeared. In the past you have stated that this is a known VAG problem....

Which snow tyres should I use?

Could you give some advice about snow tyres. My tyre size is 215/60 R16. Which make (Michelin, Continental, Bridgestone, Goodyear, etc.) is best?

Thanks for your advice regarding a failed crank position sensor in our Renault Clio.

Just a quick note to thank you for your advice. Having always burst into life at the first turn of the key, our 105,000-mile Renault Clio developed an intermittent starting problem. When this occurred,...

Why are timing chains preferred over timing belts?

If timing chain-type motors are better than others, why are all motors are produced with timing belts?

Which 4x4 SUV do you recommend?

I’m looking to replace my 2003 Rover 75 Connoisseur with a good, dependable and economical 4x4. Reviews and comparisons of CR-Vs and RAV4s are pretty much split even either way as to which is the best?...

Which 4x4 SUV performs well in winter conditions?

We have a 2004 Audi A4 Avant Sport 1.9TDi 130PS with 55,000 miles on the clock which we were thinking of replacing with a 4x4, as we live in a semi-rural area and the Audi has struggled in the ice and...

Why can't I buy an ex-demo car immediately?

I am set on buying a particular KIA that happens to be a demo car, but have to wait almost three months before the dealer can sell it. Do you know the reason why a demo car has this sales restriction?...

Can I recommend LV Insurance following their excellent service during my claim?

I would like to add to the email from RFN and say that my experience with LV has, so far, been a good one too. I was caught out last year in the bad weather - at only 10mph - and sedately slid into a wall,...

Quick and cheap repair for my Passat's air conditioning compressor.

Following your answer about garages replacing aircon compressors when all that was needed was a new clutch, mine failed a week ago. I took the car, a 10-year-old Passat, to our local independent garage...

Why is UKPC now threatening to take me to court over an unpaid parking charge?

Thank you for publishing my complaint about the parking charge made by UKPC. Following months of harassment made by this company, and despite the email and letters I have made in response, they are still...

Rattling Ford Fiesta dashboard

My wife's Ford Fiesta (X-reg) has a horrible rattle coming from behind the dash (front passenger side) like something is lose behind it and gets worst the faster you drive the vehicle. I think a piece...

Should I pick an Audi?

Current car: Toyota Avensis 1.8 T3x (2006 facelifted model) Current mileage: ~11000/year I am considering replacing my current car, I have been looking at an Audi A3 2.0 TDI SLine STronic (October 2008,...

Does the CR-V have a DPF?

I'm considering buying a large car possibly a 2007 / 2008 new shape Honda CRV i-CTDI. One company owned from auction with 100k+ on clock. I am concerned about DPF on new diesel cars, though, as I do...