Fiesta Mk5 remote key problem

My Fiesta is a 2000 Mk 5. Just lately I started having problems with the remote key. Sometimes it works fine even from about 30 feet away, and other times it won't work even when I'm beside the car. I...

A small, reliable car for a single mum

I'm a single mum and I need a new, not too small car to fit 2 teens with instruments. Fear reliability of low budget models - any suggestions? What should I avoid? Test drove the Mazda2 - a beautiful...

Rear window fault on Vectra

I have a 1996 Vectra B. I have two small issues I've been putting off for some time. When I bought the car both the rear electric windows didn't work with either switch on the doors or centre console....

Buying a new small car

I have £12000 to spend on a car (either new or "recently new"). My main requirements are the school run and going to the shops each about 12 miles from where I live. Occasionally, I will go on a longer...

Buying a spare tyre for a Laguna

My new Laguna Tourer came with a tyre inflation kit - I am concerned about this with a long trip to Aberdeenshire next month and think I should buy a spare tyre. There is room for this under the boot...

Which small family car?

I am looking to buy a used car, primarily for use on the school run. The car will do about 5000 city miles a year. It needs to be very economical on fuel, VED and servicing costs. It goes wthout saying...

Problematic sump nut

I own a Jag XJ N reg and last year when I collected it from the garage after its service and MOT the garage informed me that they had crossed threaded the engine oil outlet nut. They ‘reassured’ me that...

Switching from a MINI to an Audi A2

I currently drive a 54 plate Mini Cooper (Black) top spec with chilli pack (59000 miles with full BMW service history). Even though it is reliable, and the service intervals are good, it is costing...

Intermittent clutch pedal vibration on a Fiat Scudo

My Scudo occasionally develops a strange vibration through the clutch pedal, it feels like the kickback you get from ABS and changes frequency with engine speed. When it starts I can make it stop by putting...

Which used diesel estate?

I am looking for a used (1 year old) estate. My budget is £16,000. My options are either a Mazda 6 2.2D (163PS) TS2 or a Toyota Avensis Tourer 2.0D D-4D TR. Which of these would you recommend and are...

Lancer or A3?

I am a fairly young driver at 20 (turning 21 soon). I've got to the point where I want to buy my second car and want it to be a nice sporty looking car, without too much performance so that I don't get...

Power loss in my Kia Pride

I'm losing power with four people in the car - could you tell me what might be causing this? Could it be an MOT fail?

New small automatic car required

I have a problem with my left knee and am therefore looking to buy a new automatic. Which should I go for CVT or DSG?

Insurance Offer for write off

I have been told that my car is uneconomical to repair. It is an 04 on 54 plate CLK 270cdi ,Avantgarde, manual transmission. I have got a dealer value from the glasses guide website of between £7800 and...

Buying a family car to suit parents and learner drivers

We are looking for a family car that would suit parents in thier 50s and teenagers learning to drive that has good fuel economy, low insurance and good luggage space. We are downsizing from a Ford Galaxy...

When will my 2008 Volkswagen Golf GTI start costing money?

I am in my eightieth year, a lifelong petrol-head and still enjoy driving my 2008 Volkswagen Golf GTI with about 50,000km on the odometer. I am concerned about future maintenance costs. When will it start...

Will you run a made-up question in your column to help us pressure the government over compulsory eye examinations?

I'm getting in touch from Specsavers with a view to sharing with you statistics found as part of their Drive Safe campaign, in conjunction with road safety charity Brake. As part of the Drive Safe campaign,...

Thanks for your intervention regarding a problem with Warranty Direct.

I don't know if it was the tenor of my email and your intervention, but I received a call from Warranty Direct today saying they had no trace of anyone ever having called me. I repeated the conversation...

Thanks for recommending Michelin tyres for my Honda Civic - they've done 41,000 miles!

I thought that you might be interested to know that some years ago you recommended Michelin tyres for my Honda Civic. I am just having them replaced after 41,000 miles and the garage tells me that there...

Should my daughter adopt left-foot braking techniques to drive an automatic?

I have just insured my 21-year-old daughter to drive my automatic Volvo XC70. She is a calm, competent and safe driver and I have no misgivings about her driving the car. She has her own car, a manual...

Why does fitting wider tyres increase a car's emissions?

In your column 14 January, MV of Thatcham stated that "larger diameter rims increase exhaust emissions," but did not say why. I can see that average engine revs will be lower for the same journey average...

Mini Clubman or Fiat 500?

I am considering changing our second car for a small, cheap-to-run car with low tax. I would buy newish. A Fiat 500 or Mini Clubman both appeal, the Mini possibly as a diesel and the Fiat as a 1.2-litre...

Why won't the police hand over lost car keys?

My wife managed to lose her car keys and despite having security tags on them, they have not been handed in. What is annoying is that I found out that the police do not forward any keys handed in with...

Is undertaking actually illegal or just advised against in the Highway Code?

In recent advice you said it was not illegal to 'undertake'. I'm afraid your advice was very wrong, although you were technically correct to say 'there is no law against it'. This is because the way the...

Why is the ride so hard on my BMW 525i?

I have purchased a 2004 BMW 525i petrol automatic, and I am amazed at the very hard ride. On motorways it is perfectly smooth and has direct steering, but as soon as you get on normal or back roads it...

Why can't the police stop elderly drivers, who could pose a danger, from driving at all?

I was truly shocked to read about the tragic case of the young girl who was killed by an old driver who the police had warned not to drive. Surely the police should have the power to stop this from happening....

Which MPV should I hire to carry three passengers and cargo to France?

In a few months time I'm going to be helping friends relocate to Nice (it's a guaranteed holiday, at least) and am looking to hire something like a Ford Galaxy. It needs three seats in the front and lots...

Which American-style van or MPV for carrying equipment?

My son will soon be 21 and I would like to buy him a vehicle for his birthday. It would be used for work and pleasure purposes. He would like an American-style truck for the street cred, the comfort and...

Does the new MoT fail faulty ESPs?

A reader mentioned that a new MoT test came into effect in January. Please tell me that this is not so. My daughter has a Volkswagen Passat that has nothing wrong with it apart from the ESP. We help her...

Caught in a yellow boxed junction - can I challenge my fine?

I was recently making my way out of London on a Sunday evening (just after 5pm) and entered a yellow box at a set of traffic lights in good faith, as the traffic seemed to be moving in a way that I could...

How can I disable the alarm on my Subaru Forester while in storage?

I have a Subaru Forester with a factory-fitted Category 1 alarm/immobiliser. We will be leaving the car for six weeks in a secure garage but I am worried that the alarm will run down the battery. There...

I recommend a Mocad 3 golf trolley for those wishing to get their clubs in the back of a car.

Last week you published a letter from a reader wanting to change his car to an SUV so that he could get his golf clubs and electric trolley in without having to tilt the seats. A far better (cheaper) option...

Thinking of buying a secondhand diesel - when did DPFs and DMFs appear?

I am driving a 2004 Ford C-Max 1.6 diesel which is giving excellent service and fuel economy. I will keep it for a year or two longer, but I wonder about its replacement. If buying secondhand cars, it...

Is this a good method of removing the address of a fake owner from the DVLA database?

I can suggest an easier method of RB of Daventry removing the address of the fake owner from the DVLA's database? Simply make a complaint to the Information Commissioner that the DVLA is holding false...

Thanks to Vauxhall for their help in repairing a fault on my wife's Corsa.

Please may I bestow a couple of accolades through your column. My wife’s 4-year-old Corsa, out of guarantee, developed a seemingly small problem where the dial that directs the air within the car jammed....

I want to part-exchange my MGF for a RAV4 - what sort of deal should I negotiate?

Since moving to a very rural location I have come to the conclusion that my MGF does not suit these environs, so I have to bite the bullet and buy a "sensible" vehicle. I have found a 1996 Toyota RAV4...

Why do you rate BP Ultimate diesel over Shell V-Power for diesels?

I currently run a 2006 Honda Accord 2.2 i-CTDi and have been using Shell V-Power diesel fuel exclusively. I was just wondering what your thoughts are and why you singled out BP Ultimate diesel as your...

Which MPV for a family with good load space?

My wife and I are expecting a second child in July. We are both very happy but realise that we will need to upgrade our Ford Focus to something larger. My wife runs a garden design business and would like...

Which automatic MPV is most reliable for under £7000?

We are looking for an automatic 7-seater for under £7000. Any type of vehicle will be considered, ideally not larger than a Galaxy, which is reasonably cheap to run and reliable without being too old....

What do you think of the Honda Civic 1.8i?

I'm going to take some time to go out and test drive the replacement for my Focus TDCi, the most expensive car to run I have ever had. So I need some advice please. My budget is £8000 and I don't want...

How should I change the battery on a modern car?

Can you please provide me with appropriate advice and guidance on what precautions are advised and methodology applied when replacing the battery on modern cars with sophisticated electronics, such as...

Should cars advertised with green credentials be advertised with laboratory fuel economy figures?

In your reply "Juke bucks jury" you highlight the discrepancy between laboratory fuel economy results and reality. The example showed an 80 per cent higher consumption than the laboratory and also, presumably,...

What are the manufacturers doing to improve DPF technology?

Although living in a rural situation most of my journeys are short, which seems to suggest that my diesel engine and exhaust system does not reach the required temperature to enable the DPF to function...

Is Mercedes-Benz likely to produce a small "crossover vehicle" to rival the BMW X1?

Mercedes-Benz does not appear to be interested in small "crossover vehicles" like the BMW X1. Do you know of anything in the immediate future? I have a current 2008 W204 C-Class, and wonder if you know...

Thanks to the AA, Caffyns of Folkestone and Network Q for promptly repairing my Volkswagen Polo.

Last Monday my 2007 Volkswagen Polo 1.4 TDI with only 35,000 miles on the clock blew up on the motorway. I phoned the AA and was towed off promptly and taken to a local garage, Caffyns of Folkestone. A...

Which 4x4 SUV and small runaround for a tall driver?

We have recently retired, aged 62 and 55. We intend to dispose of our eight-year-old Jaguar S-Type (62,000 miles, average condition) and Ford Focus Ghia 2-litre (34,000 miles, good condition) and replace...

Are satnav systems with speed camera detection illegal in France?

Unless I've read it wrong, an article in this week's Motorcycle News says that in France it's now illegal to have a satnav with camera site warnings under a new law that came into force on 4 January. Is...

Where can I find information on the French government's banning of speed trap detectors?

I have attempted to translate a French press release about that country’s new decree banning all forms of speed trap detector whether reader detector or satnav locators of fixed traps.

Will Volkswagen contribute towards repairing my Touran's ABS fault?

How do I get Volkswagen to confirm that it will pay £1500 towards the cost of my Touran's ABS Control Unit fault?

Which SUV for winter driving in country lanes?

We are retiring to Somerset this year and would like something to tackle the lanes in winter, so we are looking for a 4x4 of some kind. I currently run a SAAB 9-3 estate and would want similar boot space....