Questions from April 2012
I currently drive a BMW 330d. While I love the car, I have recently had major heart surgery and find it cramped and low to get out from, so I'm looking for something a little more comfortable. I recently...
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...
Could you please advise on replacement tyres for a 2005 Honda FR-V 2.0 litre petrol? The current tyres are Michelin 205/55 R16s, as fitted from new. Is there a quieter running tyre or should I replace...
My wife currently drives a 2007 Honda Jazz. She loves the CVT auto gearbox and the ‘Magic’ easy folding back seats. However, particularly on longer journeys, she finds it lacks the power she would like...
My second Xsara Picasso diesel will be three years old in late March. Sadly, they don't make it any longer and the other Citroen offerings either seem too big, too small or resemble a glazed van. What...
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...
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?
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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 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....
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,...
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...
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...
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?
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 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...
We have received a parking fine from a multi storey car park at a train station for parking in the wrong coloured zone. The black zones were for private users with permits, the green zones for users of...
Can adjusting the handbrake cause the rear calipers to seize? The reason i'm asking is that I had the handbrake adjusted on my MR2 and I was told the brakes were okay, then a week later after not driving...
On driving west on M4 Junc 5 a temporary road sign was blown off its stand straight into my windscreen - causing severe damage to car. The Highways Agency passed the buck to the contractor who is blaming...
I have currently a Smart Passion Diesel which is just under 1 year old. So far I have been delighted with the car but my driving mileage is going to dramatically change. Currently I am driving approx...
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...
Both our cars are due to be re-insured. I used to take out the insurers legal protection but after reading your column in the Telegraph last year I took out a policy with AutoLaw. Have just checked the...
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 have some stains on my front seats, caused by I know not what. The black material has been lightened in a couple of small patches and Halfords seat shampoo does not seem able to remove them. I fear the...
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....
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