Questions from August 2012
My Mini's clutch pedal is nice and smooth when the engine is off and engages gears with no issue. Bite point is fine, however once the engine is on the pedal feels a little judder/vibration (almost feels...
I want to replace my 2004 Jaguar X-type 2.0 diesel Sport Premium estate. It has done 140,000 miles with very few problems. It is probably the best car I've owned in terms of driving enjoyment, performance,...
What are the laws about minimum signage and road markings necessary to indicate that parking is prohibited on a road side? My wife has just been ticketed after parking in a car park off a Leeds suburban...
My Ford dealer tells me that I should have completely changed the DPF oil at the 37,500 service. My village garage - who did the service - says that AutoData (where they get their guidance on service requirements)...
Two months ago, I bought a 2nd hand Jaguar XJ6 and was told it had a FSH but the Service Record booklet was "missing" and a photostat for the first few services was supplied. He said he would retrieve...
Hiya, I am looking to replace my old Nisan Almera Action 1.4 Petrol with something a bit more sportier. My budget is around 4,000-8,000 I do about 25 miles a day commuting about 50% dual carriage way,...
Which is better - 08/09 BMW 320 diesel auto with 100,000 miles for £8-10,000and fsh or a 06/07 320 diesel auto with 50,000 miles for the same amount from a franchised dealer?
I own a new Giulietta fitted with a Blue and Me mounting for a TomTom device. However, just before I purchased the car I bought a new TomTom 825. Do you know anyone who makes adaptors that will connect...
I’m looking at buying a secondhand BMW 335i. I had one of the first in 2006 and always regretted selling it. I can’t drive a manual due to a disability. Looking at the BMW website, there appear to be some...
I was out in my employer's van the other day and had to pop into my local shopping mall. The area in which I wished to park had no spaces big enough for me. Realising I was going to have to straddle two...
I had a minor low speed bump with another car at about 1mph. The female driver was fine about it and we exchanged details. A few days later I received another call from my insurers to say that she had...
I own a 2003 Suzuki Liana which has been written off by my insurance company after it was hit from behind. The garage they sent the car to said the repairs would be approximately £2700. The other motorist...
We own a 2003 BMW X5 3-litre diesel that has done 70,000 miles. It is a fantastic car for towing our large caravan and is the most comfortable car we have ever owned for long distance driving. We would...
I bought a new Focus hatchback 1.0 EcoBoost 125 last week, lured by the 55mpg advertised by Ford and enthusiastically endorsed and claimed by the salesman. I can't get more than 43mpg, and that's on a...
My daughter-in-law wrote off her trusty Honda Jazz recently and is looking for a replacement. They now have a one-year-old child with another on the way, thus they are looking to replace with a roomier...
My friend is looking for a new car and has a £5500 budget. He is not interested in handling or image but does like a bit of comfort. It needs to be practical as he has teenage kids and is always moving...
My 58-year-old sister has MS, and her left leg has recently weakened. She is hoping to qualify for a Motability car, and would welcome your advice on the best for her needs. She is very anxious to have...
We have a six-year-old Audi A3 TDI 1.9 Sportback but it's time for a change. A vehicle of similar size, 5-door, with a petrol engine and also the ability to accelerate and manoeuvre in a similar manner...
I need to replace my 2005 Peugeot 1.4 SW that was written off by hailstones. I carry golf clubs, trolley and shopping on a regular basis. I like the Station Wagon because it is flat in the back but I understand...
What can you tell me about the Volkswagen 2.5-litre diesel engine and Tiptronic automatic gearbox? Any problems you are aware of? This is in connection with the purchase of a four-year-old California camper...
Due to a new job and having to travel many miles each week, I have to downsize from my Mercedes-Benz E320. I have children to accommodate, so I need space, plus a vehicle that can do many miles to the...
Here's a tricky one. My 94,000 mile 2004 Audi A4 Cabriolet 1.8 turbo petrol has developed a road speed related 'hum' or 'droning' sound which is audible above 30mph and which appears to come from the front...
Could you explain such terms as DPF, DMF, CVT transmission, ABS, etc?
The government has deceived us, again. The recent public relations coup of helping hard-pressed families etc by postponing the fuel duty rise is really disingenuous. It's all about saving money and it...
It’s time to change my 2002 Ford Focus 1.8 petrol Ghia estate which I've had since May 2006. Whatever I buy is likely to be my last car so I want something mildly exciting and reliable. I have in mind...
TV news reports about flooding have shown many drivers taking their cars through quite deep water. Do car manufacturers test the vehicles in water? I have a Mitsubishi L200, so if the situation arose how...
The Dacia Duster base model, priced at £8995, seems to be very good value for money. Given all the positives including Renault technology, low insurance, good fuel economy, chain cam 1.6-litre engine and...
I purchased a Toyota Yaris last year and was told it was an automatic, but when chatting with some friends, we all discovered that a car less than 1400cc could not have a proper automatic gearbox. I am...
I understand that the new Volvo V60 is based on the Ford Mondeo. Having just purchased a new V60 I would be interested in knowing how much of the vehicle is Mondeo-based. Presumably the lauded Mondeo driving...
I had to hire a van from a well-known rental company. The assistant asked me for both parts of my driving licence and, because I did not have the paper counterpart with me, had to make a call to DVLA,...
Last Thursday morning my daughter crashed her 2007 Clio 1.2 Sport with 33,000 miles showing. The insurers, Quote Me Happy, arranged for the car to be collected and taken to a depot. We are given to understand...
You state that a car is designed to last a maximum of seven years. If this is the case how do you explain the huge number of cars on the road that are far older?
Recently we chose a new Volkswagen from the brochure at a main dealer, as the dealer did not have in stock the model we wanted. We also chose the colour of the car from the brochure colour samples and...
I purchased a 2010 Mercedes E250CDI Sport four-door from a main Mercedes-Benz dealership in Feb 2011. The car had 3500 miles on the clock. It was purchased with the aid of finance from Mercedes-Benz Financial...
In the light of many comments in your column regarding ever-increasing car insurance premiums, and also in the press, I though you might be interested in my insurance renewal notice. I am insured with...
I'm on the hunt for an economical diesel estate with good performance. Is there anything that comes close to the performance/mpg/tax band/insurance group combination that one appears to get from the pre-2010...
Having read a number of car articles in the Daily Telegraph (yes, some of us in the "Colonies" do read material from outside our borders), I noted your advice in using high-quality fuels, not just for...
I took delivery of a new BMW X3 in September 2011. I specified the wide screen satnav package at around £2500 and, as I had experience of using portable TomTom satnavs (with great satisfaction) for nearly...
I am contemplating buying a new car as my last one had been extremely difficult for me to drive. It had a 1.2-litre engine but I could not grasp how to move off smoothly. Having frequently over-revved,...
I have owned a Tata Safari SUV for five years and now wish to buy a new car. The car I require should have decent off road capabilities but stiffer suspension preferably, as most of the Indian state highways...
I experienced a very serious incident today. I was driving (with lights on) in bad weather conditions on a very wet road shaded by trees. I was not following any vehicle, and had sight of a queue of traffic...
The time has come to replace our December 2006 Skoda Octavia 2.0 TDI PD Elegance Estate. We are looking for something a little bigger and the car would get twice weekly run of 140 miles, mostly on the...
Is the Suzuki Alto a good purchase? A local dealer is selling the entry model at £5995. The MPG figures and insurance grouping appear low, is it all too good to be true?
I'm the owner of a 2004 Rover 75 which I am reluctant to part with it. It's a great car and very comfortable. However, twice in the last four years the head gasket has failed, and I was recently presented...
Please advise other BMW E91 owners. I own a 330d Tourer, 55 plate, although the same issue exists on earlier models (You Tube shows an earlier 735 with the same problem). Recent heavy rain fall resulted...
Can you tell me if it is normal for a Peugeot Hdi 112 engine to use 1 Litre of oil in 750 miles? the cars milage at present is 9320.
My father, 88, recently drove his 2003 C180 Merc into a fence when parking. No other parties involved and no physical injuries. His insurers, Saga, wrote the car off. I have been handling the insurance...
The Department of Transport says in one its leaflets: "Don't coast downhill or towards lights in neutral as this uses more fuel" Is this true? The leaflet is called "Be a smarter driver and save money."
A leaflet from the Department of Transport ("Be a smarter driver and save money") says this: "Don't coast downhill or towards the lights in neutral as this uses more fuel." Is this true?
Is the new Ford 1.0-litre engine reliable? Have there been promlems so far?