Questions from October 2012
I’m thinking of buying a new car through a broker if I can’t get the same deal from a main dealer. Which of the numerous discount car brokers are reputable and trusted?
I have seen a 2002 Porsche Boxster 3.2 S for sale at a local garage. It will be a part-ex for my 2007 MX5 with 6000 miles on the clock and a full main dealer service history. The Porsche is £12,000 and...
With three young grandchildren my beloved BMW 3-Series convertible is becoming less practical. I am reluctant to part with it and so I am considering a used inexpensive runabout with seven seats for when...
My 2001 BMW 320i is a joy to drive and has only done 56,000 miles. It is used mainly for longer runs and can return almost 40mpg. My wife's car is a 2003 Yaris and is used as a runabout and was, until...
I have a 2009 Mercedes-Benz C220 CDI. Over the last week a single bleep has started emit from the centre console area every four to five minutes. This happens both with the radio/CD player on and off....
I have a problem with the self-dimming interior light in my 2007 Nissan Qashqai 1.5dci. On numerous occasions we have discovered the battery flat after a weekend, and the dealer says diagnostic scans find...
My 2007 Skoda Octavia diesel, which has covered under 40,000 miles, recently developed a fault involving the steering, speedometer and ABS. The car was taken to a Skoda garage and the ECU had a replacement...
I have a 2010 Subaru Outback Boxer diesel which has covered 23,000 miles. I had planned to keep it for a further two years but due to the possibility of problems with the DPF, dual mass flywheel and the...
My car was damaged in a Tesco car park. On Friday I tweeted the link to my blog about this to Tesco's customer service Twitter channel. I received a reply saying that they want to help. On Friday and Saturday...
The airbag light came on in my Subaru Forester about one month ago and stayed on. I contacted Airbagman because of Honestjohn's recommendation in Saturday Motoring. They called me back within two days....
I hope this may be useful to older readers who are still driving. To help older drivers to maintain confidence in their driving, the Institute of Advanced Motorists offers a refresher session. It is an...
I recently bought a 2007 BMW X3 M Sport from a BMW dealer. The car was sold to me with non-BMW approved tyres fitted, although they were of correct size and profile. There were knocks and clunks when pulling...
I'm looking for a new SUV and am attracted to something environmentally friendly. I'm finding it difficult to ignore the Peugeot 3008 diesel hybrid. Is the FWD diesel, RWD electric and 4WD combined concept...
I intend to replace my Motability Ford Focus with the 1.4-litre B-Max. But my Ford salesman tells me that Ford is currently doing a special deal on the C-Max 1.6. Which do you feel is the better car?
I...
I just bought a secondhand BMW and the timing chain needs replacing. I wondered if you have ever looked into this at all?
What evidence enables you to recommend certain fuels to your readers who are worried about supermarket fuels?
There is not a month goes by without someone telling me how they have inadvertently filled their vehicle with the incorrect fuel, and the resultant eye-watering costs to fix.
Why couldn't the fuel companies...
I am relating this experience in the hope it will reach a wider audience and serve as a warning of what they can expect when taking up the police offer, as a first time offender, of taking a speed awareness...
I am considering the Toyota Yaris Hybrid, but now I have just seen the New Clio (Wow) in dCI mode, which is the better car
I've e-mailed you a few times about buying my next car and narrowed it down to a nearly new (6k miles, 1yr old) BMW 118d SE, a Hyundai i30 Style (126 hp), Kia Cee'd 4 (same engine as the Hyundai).
After...
I have just received a speeding fine from France whilst driving a hire car. 80kph in a 70kph zone apparently. I thought I was generally driving very carefully but this is only 6mph over the limit.
The...
Do red paints used on cars from say 2009, still suffer from fade over time, as seen on many old cars? If yes, what's the best treatment to prevent fade?
I have as the owner been served with the above notice with a demand for the full amount £50 as it was not paid within 14 days.
Reason - Not displaying a valid ticket, Time of Contravention – 19:09pm....
I want to buy this used Peugeot: Special Eds £1,795 1999 (S reg), Hatchback Trade seller, distance: 34 miles 62,000 miles Manual 1.9L Diesel, only 62,000 miles with full Peugeot service history 12 stamps...
My Tyre Size is:
Front 215/40/R18
Rear 245/35/R18
I put Vredestein Wintrac Xtreme 225/40/R18 on the rear last year but want to put some of the same tyre on the front this year (because it's OK getting...
I have recently ordered a Volkswagen Up (your review was very informative) and was wondering what fuel (brand, RON etc) would you recommend?
The model is a Take Up with the petrol 60PS engine.
Please could you give me your opinion on the following:
I was given a fixed penalty speeding ticket last week by Cambridgeshire Constabulary for doing 93 on a dual carriageway (70).
On reading the ticket...
What's the best bet for a country load-lugger (estate and/or 4x4 but not a pick-up)that will cope with country roads and stand the test of time?
I have a small budget of 3,500 - 5,000 and would like to buy a small 4x4.
I have been looking around at these models: Toyota RAV4 (2003-5), Honda CR-V, Nissan X-Trail, KIA Sportage (2005).
Two parts...
I am about to spend £6K on a four seater convertible. For this money I can get a newer shape CLK, an Audi A4 or a SAAB 9-3. Out of these which would you go for and what model? I do not do high mileage...
Good morning, there is a strange noise from my o/s front door it sounds like the central locking unit its a sort of whizzing noise it still works, but like I say . many thanks pics20
Would you know where I can get a remote fob for this vehicle reprogrammed (apart from a main dealer)? Live in 'remote' mid Wales so mobile services may not be appropriate.
I am considering (as a launch customer) a Ford B-MAX Titanium (1.0 EcoBoost). Is this a model which has already been on sale on the continent and is therefore "de-bugged" and are there any up-grades already?
My wife has recently purchased a pre reg Fiat 500 at a very good discount, my question regards the stop start system. Do you think it is a gimmick or does it have any real purpose. it strikes me that the...
I am told that the most fuel efficient way of driving in any gear is to drive at or nearest to the peak torque rpm for the engine, is this true? If not what is the peak torque rpm best used for?
Does a lorry driver negate his insurance policy if he drives along a lane which is signposted as "unsuitable for HGVs"? The incidence of irresponsible drivers using our single track lane (damaging the...
I am buying a new car online. The broker has told me that the car will be registered to me as first keeper, but they have to go through an administration process which involves changing address details...
I recently received a penalty notice for driving my 49cc moped, disguised as a Mitsubishi Cantor truck, in a bus lane, from Leeds City Council. I don't really have to say any more. Suffice to say I have...
Nick Smith, Labour MP for Blaenau Gwent, made a speech in the House of Commons on 28th September 2012 asking that leave be given to bring in a Bill to make provisions relating to signage and ticketing...
Are you aware of this case in which a man was jailed for making fraudulent claims after an accident?
You have mentioned that little, if any, actions seems to be taken against persons who make fraudulent or exaggerated claims following minor collisions. Although your opinion that the CPS shows little interest...
I am going to the United States this week and will be out of the UK when my car tax expires at the end of next month. The DVLA website details a procedure to get a tax disc early - write a letter, complete...
I have a 2003 Peugeot 807 2.0 HDI. Every 400 miles or so, the car will suddenly lose power when driving and stutter intermittently for the next ten miles. When idling the engine will hunt between 600 and...
I am looking for a car for my family to drive with three essentials; safety, economy and reliability. I am thinking of solid SAAB-like safety rather than gizmos, and the economy should come from an optimised...
I recently hired a Vauxhall Insignia diesel. I drove about half a mile and then parked the car for about an hour. When I came back to the car, I started it up again and drove about 50 yards before I noticed...
I have had a 2003 SEAT Toledo TDI Sport for most of its 75,000-mile life and recently it has started to leak quite badly, with the carpets on the driver's floor area and passenger area getting quite wet....
My daughter who lives in rural Aberdeenshire is looking to replace her 10-year-old Subaru Forester with a smaller, newer 4x4 with a punchy engine suitable for snowy Scottish hills. She has test driven...
I recently purchased a 5000 mile 2009 Mercedes-Benz SLK. After a couple of weeks whilst washing the car I noticed that the paintwork, mainly on the bonnet, had started to flake off. I got in touch with...
I have a BMW X5 in Spain that spends long periods sat in the sun. The car has completed 16,000km over the past four years and the tyres are cracking on the sidewalls. Is there anything I can spray on or...
An friend’s new Golf GTI 2.0 automatic suddenly accelerated whilst being parked and ran into a restaurant. His foot was on the brake at the time it happened but the brakes were unable to hold the car and...
Readers interested in the facts about daytime running lights (letter "Glaring Error?") should visit www.lightmare.org
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