Questions from August 2012
I have recently purchased these two cars, both turbo diesel.
As a first time user of diesel cars, have heard that before switching off the engine one has to keep it running for a couple of minutes. Is...
We want to buy a 3-4 yr old diesel auto and have narrowed the choice down to a Ford Mondeo 2.0 TDCI Ghia or Skoda Octavia 2.0 TDI PD Elegance with 12-month manufacturer's warranty.
In either case we...
I have leaky hydraulics on my hood which I need deal with fairly quickly as I have bought a repacement car. Timing is everything they say! Local SAAB dealer has inspected and told me the part required...
Wish to replace 405TD estate. Must have similar comfort seats & ride. Prefer diesel & model which can be maintained by experienced mechanic.
Minimal computer reliance preferred, so this possibly means...
My car (E39 BMW 5 Series) was parked up for about 10 weeks. Before I stopped driving it there were no problems. Now my indicators work outside the car but nothing showing on the dashboard or ticking noise....
When I bought my car, it had 3 different makes of tyre, sized 205/60/R15 91V. The rear ones are Enduro Runways (done 30k miles on them and still loads of tread. The front ones (Kumho and Fortuna) now need...
I own a 2010 Mercedes C350 CDI with AMG wheels which are coroding under warranty from the centre out. But Mercedes only offer the option of replacing 3 of the wheels if I pay for one at £700 each because...
Am I required to declare a speeding conviction when I renew my car insurance when I accepted the "Drive Awareness" course incurring no points?
My elderly Honda Accord has just passed its MOT, and I think now is the time to get rid, hoping that the 12 month MOT will help resale value!
I am currently looking for a smaller car, that hopefully is...
My wife is due to have our baby in October and we need a small automatic hatch which is reliable and around £6,000. Four door and space for baby things.
Can you suggest one please?
I bought a 2005 Vauxhall Corsa with 11000 milles from a car supermarket at full price back in early 2008 in ignorance of its previous history. Four weeks ago I was waiting at some traffic lights only to...
I am 17 and doing my lessons, aimed to pass around christmas time. When I pass will I be able to be added to my mums insurance in order to drive the car?
We need to replace our 2003 Renault Grand Espace with a 7 seat family car for two adults and four children. Our annual mileage is about 6000 and we do quite a lot of short journies, so a petrol engine...
Is it true that the 1.6 HDi 90 engine on the Citroen C3 has an option for a DPF? If so would I be right in assuming you would recommend the one without one?
We currently run two cars and would like to replace one or both in the next couple of months.
My husband drives an 03 plate Toyota Corolla vvti 1.6 and commutes about 50 miles per day - half on pretty...
I recently test drove a SAAB 9-3 Vector Sport 1.9 TTID and was very impressed with the power - 180 bhp from a diesel car with only £30.00 road tax.
I am just after your advice on whether you would advise...
Keyfobrepair.co.uk (Crescent Radio Ltd, Palmers Green) offer a key fob repair service, refurbishing & replacing faulty switches, failing batteries, etc for £16.50. Have you heard reports on them from...
I am looking to buy a larger 4X4 so that I can tow two horses and also use the car as a family run around.
We currently have a Grand Vitara and V70 and while both are comfortable they both lack the towing...
I am looking to buy a new car and the model I am interested in has keyless entry. My friend has warned me against this and says that he read a recent article in a national newspaper highlighting an increasing...
Recently hired a Peugeot 107. It was almost undriveable in sunlight owing to total dashboard reflection. This is a serious design flaw and very dangerous. It was worse than somebofy shining their headlights...
I have a June 2010 C Max, manual, 2.0L Duratorq-TDCi (136PS) - DW10, old model, with DMF and am pretty certain a DPF. The car has done 34k and I usually do around 16K per year including towing a caravan...
I have had my car for about 8 weeks. It became obvious on a trip to France that the steering wheel vibrates heavily if you attempt to brake when travelling on Autoroutes. I reported it to my dealer (Gateway...
I have just got a BMW 318i SE 2009. It has runflat tyres and I am finding the suspension very uncomfortable. Can you recommend any tyres that would give a softer ride?
I'm seeking a comfortable mid-sized car and am considering a used BMW 3 series. Many reports say they can cause/aggravate low back problems due to thier offset pedals. What are offset pedals and how...
I am looking at buying the new Porsche Boxster to use for touring in Europe and to some out of the way areas. As there is no spare or space saver, only a can of foam, I am concerned about being stranded...
I have owned a Micra and a Yaris. I have 3 children who are now too big for a Yaris. I want a car that has 3 individual seats in the back. And that a driver used to small cars can drive. Ideally 3...
Last Saturday's Telegraph column discussed problems with the operation of electric handbrakes. The 1978 Motor Vehicles (Construction and Use) Regulations (regulation 13, para. 2 (b) (i)) say that the parking...
I am looking to change cars and hope you can help. Specifically, the car needs to be an automatic with a large boot but not an estate. A large saloon or hatchback would probably fit the bill as might an...
Over the past couple of months both ignition keys for my Peuguet 308 (58) intermittently fail to lock & unlock the car. The dealerships says I need a £130+ diagnostics check to find out what the problem...
My Vectra has been a great workhorse but now when accelerating hard the power fails at around 3000 revs. I have been advised it could be the air mass indicator that has failed. Could this be so?
Currently own a zafira which I'm looking to replace, My work is parcel delivery (carry anything from packages to heavy parcels upto 17kg and 1.50cm in length, so need plenty of space but also being economical....
When I ordered my car I am sure the higher powered 170bhp engine was described as having a chain, whereas the lower powered standard 140bhp had a cambelt. I am advised that at the next service my car will...
I'm look for a large family car, my current selection includes:
Mazda 6 1.8 TS,
Mondeo IV 1.6 Ecoboost Zetec or
Toyota Avensis TR 1.8 v-matic estate (don't like the saloon!).
1 year old or less are...
I just retired, I used to drive 300 miles a week. My now 14 year old Audi A3T never any problems until February when it had a new clutch kit fitted.
Recently the clutch seems loose and appeared to stick...
Car has 225x40x18 wheels on it, not the original size - so what pressures should I now put in?
I am looking for a full 5 seater, 3 good seats at rear, will be doing trips 10-12 hours. Also should have 4 wheel drive, as will be driving on snow.
Buying a 2-3 year old hatchback, budget max £8K, any advice? I have been looking at Astras -1.4-1.6 ranging from £6-8k.
Would like something that looks stylish (bearing in mind I'm 22), seen the different...
I was interested in the letter from MG re problems with his Skoda with 1.2TSI and DSG box. Having bought a Roomster in December 2010 with the same engine and gearbox, I can understand his problem with...
A couple of weeks ago the council of Harrow had a consultation regarding building speed humps on our road. We made a petition against their proposals which now has signatories from 72 households out of...
I have an old-school 2.0DTI in a Vauxhall Zafira. I have had issues with the EGR valve for about three years. Instead of having it replaced my local friendly garage "cleans" it and all is well, or was...
12 years ago I was in permanent pain whether sitting, standing or lying down. My chiropractor told me he could no longer help me after 20 years of successful treatment. The only place I could avoid pain...
I am thinking of ordering a new Yeti S 1.2 DSG from an online car trader as the list price is discounted by 13 per cent. They told me that they hold the V5 for up to six weeks before its release and that...
At a recent visit to ATS Tyres they suggested that I inflate the tyres on my Land Cruiser with nitrogen saying that this leads to better handling of the vehicle, less pressure loss and less corrosion to...
Various companies are advertising diesel particulate filter removal services with associated re-programming of the ECU to stop the CEL lighting up. My understanding is it is only an EU requirement to have...
I have just purchased a set of Vredestein Wintrac 4 Extreme tyres for use on a Kia Sportage. This was the first time I have come across the new EU tyre labels and I was not surprised to see that, for a...
I received my quote from Churchill Insurance for my 56 plate Fiesta Ghia at £230.02, rang them to include my recent (6/9/2012) SP30 in a revised quote and they came back to me with a figure of £339.20....
I have been asked to help a lady in her early eighties with a change of car. She is a very competent but cautious driver who currently drives a 1997 Rover 100 1.1i. She is a very petite five foot tall...
Many drivers now are fixing cameras in their cars to record their journeys. Are the insurance companies and courts accepting film from these cameras as evidence? Can you recommend one for less than £200?
I’m retired, my mileage is only 5000-6000 per year and am considering buying a Jaguar XF. I wondered if you would advise the diesel or petrol version, as I vaguely remember you saying (ages ago) that diesel...
My wife and I are looking for a smallish four-door car. Could you recommend one please? We do only about 6000 miles a year and, being pensioners, are looking for an economical and reliable car.
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