Questions from October 2012
I would like to replace my daughter's car tyres with winter ones (175/65R14). What make would you suggest? I don't want to end up ordering something with studs.
I am thinking of buying a nearly new two-seater and have narrowed it down to a Audi TT roadster or a Mercedes SLK 200 or 250. Which do you think is the better car? Is the SLK underpowered and noisy?
I have a 1.6-litre Renault Megane auto which is regularly serviced.
While out driving today, car started juddering as if being starved of petrol. First a warning that gearbox needed checking, followed...
I bought my Passat (2004) in for an MOT retest on Saturday morning at 11am to a garage and they had my car until I called at 16:45. On first starting my car, a warning message came up on the dashboard...
I am about to buy a Audi A5 TDI 2010 reg, fully loaded.
Having test driven the car, I am quite happy with it. But have a few questions that I thought would post here.
1. Though it is a S Line, there...
Is £16K reasonable for a 51K mile, May 2009 Shogun Elegance (with sat nav and reversing camera)?
Car was last serviced at 42K miles in March 2012 - should I get another service done before I buy? car...
I'm looking for a new large family hatchback.
I'm considering a new Octavia, but the order book has closed for hatches in the UK.
There seem to be a few cars still available and the finance is attractive,...
Having driven round France with extreme caution on a recent holiday, I have just received an "Avis De Contravention Au Code De La Route" through the post. It was sent unregistered to my home in the UK...
My partner, who has MS, forgot to display her blue badge at Lincoln Hospital following an emergency dash to see her mother who had been taken by ambulance with suspected heart failure. Our appeal to TPS...
I bought a car from a dealer for £20,000 which was 100% financed via Hire Purchase through a finance broker.
I picked the car up from London and drove it home, some 400 miles. When I got home I noticed...
I have a Ford Ka special edition 2001 (X) reg. I have been told that the suspension and the clutch needs doing. Also there is a bump on the boot lid and the drivers window does not work, repairs would...
My daughter bought a Volkswagen Golf 2009 1.6 manual from a Volkswagen dealer with a one year parts guarantee. Shortly afterwards the handbrake failed while the car was parked and it rolled back into a...
I am thinking of buying a VW Golf or Audi A3. I dont want to spend more than £4K. Would a car with over 100k miles be a sound investment?
I'm from Northern Ireland and would like to know where in mainland UK is the best and largest car auctions to purchase cars to sell on.
I am aware of British Car Auctions, are there others?
Our friends are moving to Dorset and want a small 4x4 for country lanes and have asked me to research. Requirements are diesel, leather upholstery, decent load area and able to drive safely through a ford....
My car is under three years old and the lacquer has lifted from the centre 4" of the alloy wheels.
I bought it second hand from a Mercedes dealer and although I have some minor scuffing caused by me,...
I am looking to buy a Jaguar X-Type estate 2.2D automatic in either SE or Sovereign trim and I believe they are all fitted with DPFs. I commute 25 miles each way to work and do 15,000 per year. Should...
A recent reader wrote saying that Mercedes had turned down a Warranty claim because the car had been serviced at an Independent garage.
My understanding was that provided the service was to the recommended...
I am buying a Berlingo Multispace and am interested in the e-HDI 90 Airdream with semi or full auto and stop/start. Is this a good choice and does the system work well?
We have owned a Subaru Forester X 2.0 since new from 2003. It now has 106,000 miles on the clock. It has become too expensive to run and we want to trade down to a smaller car which will only be used for...
Just wanted to say a huge thank you for all your advice. Purchased a new Hyundai ix35 via Drivethedeal, which I have been driving now for just over 1 week, and I am very happy with it. I found Drivethedeal...
Where can I buy an outside temperature gauge ?
I am looking for one that is connectable to the car battery system not one with its own battery. I bought one made in China and it was meant to run of...
My 2006 SEAT Altea has now had four heater rheostats, the last one only surviving for four days. The blower works fine but only on speed four once the rheostat has failed. SEAT are demanding we pay for...
I bought a T5 Caravelle second hand last year. All was fine until we did a long journey to Cape Town (we live in Namibia) and before heading back the car started vibrating when accelerating.
In CT we...
I have a 2003 Seat Leon TDI SE 130hp (remapped). Under medium acceleration the car lurches or chokes and there is a kind of sucking noise from the engine. Don't know much about cars but any help would...
Soon I shall need to replace my 2 year old Giulietta 1.4 multi-air for something that is good on steep hills, mud and rutted tracks so will need fairly high ground clearance. What would be a good choice...
My car (2012 Mercedes-Benz E250 CDI - 4000 miles on clock) was swamped whilst travelling on a flooded road. My car insurers have agreed to pay for a new engine. The Mercedes authorised repair garage wants...
I recently bought a 2009 BMW 3 Series Touring from The Car Shop in Northampton. I saw the car advertised on Auto Trader's website and then checked the car out on their own site. In the ad they state that...
Failed to tell the insurance company about a TS10 'Failing to stop at traffic lights.'
Now I have had an accident and they are trying to void my insurance. I was not trying to avoid paying a higher premium...
I have a 1999 Mercedes-Benz E320 CDI estate with 142,000 miles which is suffering from severe penetrated rust in the rear floorpan. I was put in touch with Mercedes-Benz Customer Relations who asked if...
Should I expect the satellite navigation system in my 2012 Nissan Qashqai to be up to date for European roads? I was disappointed to find, on a recent trip near Evian, France, that there was one part of...
Will you please comment on the new Toyota Yaris automatic hybrid from the point of view of a Motability lease, its reliability and whether the quoted mpg figures are realistic? I have a Yaris 2009 semi-auto...
Following knee replacements, I find getting in and out of my Lexus IS250 with its low headroom rather awkward. Can you recommend a more accessible ‘sit up and beg’ type vehicle, of similar comfort and...
My garden, at 15 acres with some steepish slopes, is big enough for me to need a vehicle to help with gardening. I had been using a garden tractor with a trailer but when that died, I began to wonder whether...
Can you tell me how I find out if there is any finance outstanding on a car I am thinking of buying?
Please pass this on to Mike Rutherford in relation to his item about dealers selling cars “at cost”. Many years ago David Brown Senior was at a lunchtime cocktail party in Huddersfield when he was approached...
I recently purchased a 2011 Audi 2.0-litre Allroad Estate. I am generally delighted with the car, as I wanted a four-wheel drive estate but I do have a pet hate, which is that it excessively follows the...
My daughter has a 2007 Mazda MX-5 and now has a 20-month-old son. She has been driving my Fiesta and I her MX5, but I need my car back. Should she keep the MX5 until he no longer needs a car seat? Garaging...
Under The Status of Forces Agreement (SOFA) British military personnel and civilian support staff serving in Germany are entitled to purchase a new car (New Means of Transport) free of VAT. Once the car...
The parking brake on my 2005 Land Rover Discovery 3 has just failed at 70,000 miles, and the local Land Rover dealer is charging me £1100 to repair it. This seems to me to be an unutterable waste of money...
Please clarify two points for me. Exactly what is a dual mass flywheel, and is it something to be regarded as a potential future bill, like belt driven cams?
Secondly, what does the term 'common rail...
I've just bought a new Hyundai i10 Active auto for £8527. But the salesman wanted me to pay an extra £395 for glass coat paint protection and interior Scotchguard protection and also £395 guaranteed asset...
Earlier this year I purchased a 2003 BMW 320d. Today I was driving to work and it started shaking the steering wheel as if the front discs were warped, so I pulled over and checked every wheel for loose...
I am about to trade in my 2003 BMW 320d for a 2011 example of the same model but with automatic transmission. My current car is manual and does not have a diesel particulate filter, but the new one does....
I’m contacting you from Bridgestone’s PR agency, Smarts. Please see the press release below from Bridgestone about their A001 All-Weather tyre range and how it can benefit drivers in the UK who may experience...
I am owner of Honda Jazz. In the event of an accident to whom should I report: Honda Happiness Accident Assistance or my car insurance company?
We bought a 2004 1.0 Life Vauxhall Corsa a couple of years ago and it now has 54,000 miles now on the clock. It has a timing chain instead of a belt. It recently passed its MOT, but there was a comment...
My partner drives a 2006 Audi A4 2.0-litre diesel and the DPF light is now appearing on every weekend. The light very rarely appeared on whilst it was under warranty and the first time it did after the...
I would like to buy a compact MPV which is comfortable and practical with some luxury. I have been looking at the Citroen C3 Picasso, Ford C-Max, Mercedes-Benz B-Class, Peugeot 3008, Renault Scenic and...
At present I am a 72-year-old Motability customer and am shortly due to hand back my Volvo XC90 after three years. I am now considering buying my own vehicle as I only do 5000 miles a year. The two vehicles...
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