Questions from April 2012
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...
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...
How do I get Volkswagen to confirm that it will pay £1500 towards the cost of my Touran's ABS Control Unit fault?
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....
I’m in my early 70s (but fit and agile). I think the time has come to change my 2003 Ford Fiesta 1.4 for a newer secondhand small car with a budget of £10,000. I do about 5000 miles a year, mainly local...
Epsom Mercedes will sell me 2011 61 E350 Sport with full navigation and Harmon Kardon sound system for £31,500 with 9000 miles.
Part ex for my 12 month old C220 CDI Sport with 18,500 is £20,500. This...
I am looking for a smallish 5 door petrol auto, with c£12k to spend. I quite like the look of the Hyundai i20 1.4 auto, but could you suggest anything else? Driving will be mainly A/B roads with some...
I have recently bought a second hand Golf with full VW history and have had nothing but problems.
First of all, I have experienced juddering from the auto gearbox. VW carried out tests and determined...
I know it is very trivial, every time I see a similar car to mine it looks taller. Doesn't happen very often. I recently had the opportunity to park next to an identical car, including year, and mine appeared...
Can you recommend three second hand cars that would make a good family car. Needs to be a saloon or estate and economical for high motorway mileage (31,000 Miles per year)
Currently I have a 2008 1.8tdci...
Finally decided to swap my 325d M Sport for either an Audi A1 or a Volkswagen Polo GTI. For the outlay on the A1 I can manage to obtain the Polo GTI.
Please advise which car to go for in terms of reliability/performance/comfort...
I would like to buy a 7 seater but with the added comfort of reclining 2nd row and 3rd row seats. Is there any make and model that offers this option? It would help the rear passengers on a long trip to...
Does the Volkswagen Tiguan come with a 'proper' auto box i.e. torque converter, or are they all DSG boxes?
My father passed away very recently and because he had been unwell since the start of the year had not got around to servicing his three-year-old Freelander 2.2 diesel.
I haven't yet decided whether...
Is it illegal to de-cat a 2002 diesel Freelander TD4?
I have a 2002 Vectra 2.2 SRI 150. The previous owner had replaced middle box of exauhst with a straight through pipe so I had to replace the cat after a month, because he stuck gunk on instead of replacing...
When reaching 3500 rpm the engine starts to stutter in my Astra 2.0 Turbo and it will not rev any further. What could be the problem?
I have an Audi A4 2.6 and it has done 207,000miles. I had been fine for ages but over the last 500 miles it's got a problem with revving up to 1500rpm on start up. Then it was reving 1500 to 1800 and bobbing...
My new Panda cuts out heavily under hard acceleration in bottom gear. It could be traction control but if so it cuts in early and hard and is verging on unsafe when pulling smartly out of junctions.
I...
I have recently bought a Vauxhall Meriva second hand. So far the car is good.
Yesterday I had an EPS fault show on my dash and the steering wheel become stiff. It was difficult to move the steering wheel....
My 2006 diesel Transit was running OK, then I stopped driving, left it a couple of days and now it will not start. Has the fault code P1361. I have had the EDC unit on, the fuel pump checked out ok, swapped...
One cylinder on my 02 Mondeo is not firing. The garage replaced the coil pack, plugs leads, injectors and rail and they've done a compression test. The same cylinder that wasn't running before this still...
I purchased a one owner Audi A8 in June 2011 from my local Audi dealer in Northampton with a one year extended warranty. Since the purchase I have done only 5000 miles.
The following items were replaced...
I bought a used Volkswagen Golf 170 GTD from a large car dealership for £16,000, borrowing £10,000 from dealership finance.
Ten months later it broke down and was being repaired by an approved Volkswagen...
I currently have a Fiat Punto GT which I have had since new and absolutely love. I like a car to have the power to get me out of trouble and to enjoy driving.
I like a car where I can feel the road,...
Hello, do you recommend any particular OBD kits?
What kind of OBD would suit my 2006 Ford Focus 1.6TDCI?
When I start my Mondeo the morning it smokes slightly and it has a misfire, but once I drive about 500 yards the car runs great, no smoke or misfire, then all day it will be ok.
Once you park it up for...
Received encouraging replies in the back room on a very clean 08 plate, one owner, 184K new model Peugeot Expert TD with FSH for daughter's private use, approx 10K per annum at £3950.
As belt and braces,...
I have a 2005 Vauxhall Vivaro with 80,000 miles on the clock. When I press the clutch pedal down I get a chattering noise coming from the engine. Does any body know what this could be?
I had a look on www.satnavi.com and on their front page they say that Honest John recommended their site in February 2012.
I searched the HJ website and was unable to find the recommendation. Can you...
We are expecting our first child in September and are looking to buy our first car before then.
We are happy with a second hand model, a couple of years old, manual, petrol or diesel (we live in London...
I have a Mazda 121 (1997) 1.25 Zetec (which looks a lot like the old ford Fiesta to me). It's an automatic but recently its developed a problem on its start up when its been stood for a while and the engine...
My daughter has secured a job in Geneva for at least a year - would she be better buying a left hand drive car here in the UK and driving it over, or purchasing one in Switzerland or nearby France. She...
We went to see a car in Essex advertised as 10,000 miles, one previous owner, climate control and full Ford history. The dealers name was John.
Me: "But this car has done 12,600 miles"
Dealer: "Well I...
I have just test driven the new BMW 3 series 328i and thought it was a superb car except for intrusive road noise. It was on non standard 18" wheels.
Do you think the road roar would be less on the standard...
I have decided I want an Audi A6 Avant, and I know exactly what model and features I want.
The best I can negotiate from Audi is about £40k so where else should I look?
I bought this car four weeks ago and I am getting 35 mpg average on a 400+ mile round trip. Driving on the motorway for over 80 miles at 76 mph with cruise control on I can not get the trip screen to show...
I currently drive a Y reg Seat Arosa - bought at a year old ,which has proved reliable and economical for my 1,000 miles per month commuting mainly by motorway. I would like to replace it with a similarly...
It is generally accepted that diesel engines are more economical in terms of fuel consumption and yet petrol engines seem to be preferred by motoring specialists. If diesel fuel is, say, 10% more expensive...
Is there a car on the market that can match the Citroen C5 Tourer Exclusive Hydrostatic (2008-on) for its ability to turn our cratered and potholed roads into a quiet and comfortable magic carpet ride?...
I'm looking at a '58 plate (facelift model), manual XC90 SE with 78000 miles for 15995. I've test driven it and it is immaculate. However I am concerned residuals will crash when the new XC90 appears (supposedly...
We have researched new small estate cars and found a Volvo V50 matches our needs. We are interested in the 1600 diesel drive (stop/start) model and will cover 15000 miles per year - a mix weekly long runs...
I am about to sell the above vehicle and am having it valeted inside and out by an outfit recommended by my garage. Should I have the engine compartment, which is actually not that dirty,pressure washed...
I was recently hit from behind while in very slow moving traffic resulting in rear damage. The other driver admitted liability, toyed with paying themselves then asked me to go through their insurance....
I recently bought a Fiat 500 and noticed that the warranty started four weeks before I bought the car. The dealership has said that this is down to the car being registered early. I have asked for a confirmation...
I currently have two children under four and have another on the way. Could you advise of a car that will fit three child seats across the back? I am afraid I don't want a 'people carrier' and the cost...
I work in insurance as a freelance accident investigator and confirm that insurers are in a chaotic mess of inefficiency. I have just ordered a car video recorder the size of a satnav which sticks onto...
I am looking to buy a hard top convertible. The Volkswagen Eos is a bit big, so I am considering a three or four-year-old Renault Megane 1.6 or Vauxhall Astra 1.6/1.8. Have you come across any problems...
I am considering using an oil pump to remove old engine oil via the dipstick hole instead of the more traditional method of jacking up the car and draining from the drain plug. Are there any drawbacks...
I currently drive a Mini Clubman Cooper D. I have liked the Mini’s economy and low road tax and would want at least as good, if not better economy from any new car. I do mainly short journeys but also...
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