Questions from December 2012
I may need to replace my not-so-trusty automatic car but only have a budget of around £2500. I need an automatic gearbox (fully auto, not semi), decent 0-60 time (around 11 seconds), NCAP score of four...
I am looking for a used small car. Local daily use with occasional longer trips and to transport a four year old. Budget up to £3,000. Reliability more important than performance. What would you recommend?
Having enjoyed BMW cars for some years I have switched to Golf Plus. Very good but after the silence of my BMW the tyre noise is very irritating. What would be a wise switch?
The low level washer fluid warning light is not working. Dealer has confirmed that there is no sensor or wiring fitted to the vehicle. Ford says that this feature is not fitted to the Titanium, even though...
My son has a Volkswagen Passat on 05 plates 2.0 TDI sport with 102k. the oil pump has just failed and the new part is £1200 without fitting. the car did end up running for a few minutes after the red...
Hello,
I purchased a Mazda 6 diesel 2.2 TS2 + 5 year RAC extended warranty from The Car Shop, Swindon and took possession on 28/09/12 with a mileometer reading of 38,076 miles. On 13/12/12 the car would...
I keep getting the 'Warning: Alternator, workshop' flash up on my Ford Galaxy and then the steering goes funny?
I own a 2001 Volvo V70 2.4. The headlight main beam light works intermittently; my Volvo Garage has inspected it and has suggested a full instrument binnacle replacement at over £600. They said that a...
I was driving in a 50mph limit but I was doing more. As I saw a police car I braked, but as I was braking the police officer flashed his headlights. He didn't stop me but can they use their speed gun while...
My Father-in-Law (a 79 yr old OAP) bought his Grandson a second hand car from a local dealer in Aug 2012 so that he could get to his University placement as he is training to be a Paramedic and is posted...
I have a Rover 214 SEI which won't start. It pours petrol into bores on cranking, causing the plugs to foul.
I have owned my Fiat Panda 1.2 lounge for one month and am surprised at the noise when I change up at moderate revs. It sounds like a loud rattle and occurs as I lift off to change up a gear. Any idea...
I am going to give my car to my daughter but her insurance renews 10 days after mine and I don't want to renew mine for those 10 days and then cancel (expensive) or lose a year of her NCB by taking out...
On a damp morning the brakes have started to sound more scrapey that they have in the past on my MINI.
After a bit of driving it gets a bit better but the light corrosion across the disc remains on one...
HJ previously recommended a company that is superior to "webuyanycar" but works in a similar way and provides a good service and offers a realistic price. Can you please provide these details?
I have a BMW X3 2.0D which had a new turbo fitted 2010 and now although it revs well it has lost all its power.
I currently own a 2007 Vauxhall Corsa Club. I would like to change my car for something smaller, that handles well and has a comfortable driving position. The Corsa has a comfortable driving position,...
On 27th December, my car crashed rather noisily into a pothole. At 9.30pm, I reported the pothole online. At 10.30 the following morning, a Hampshire Council employee rang to establish the exact location,...
I just bought a second hand car from an authorised audi dealer, complete with warranty etc. The car had been originally sold by them and serviced inbetween.
The car is fine (so far) but on returning...
I have a budget of around the £2000-3000 mark and I wanted to know what cars are quite reliable? I am a young driver so insurance needs to play a factor, also I want it cheap to run and maintain with the...
I'm looking at the Hyundai i30. Will the 1.4 petrol have plenty of power for the size of car. Or is the 1.6 diesel a better option.
We only do about 8000 to 10000 miles a year.
I have just bought (approx 1 month ago) a 59 plate Civic 2.2 CDTi from AC.
I have just noticed a little bit of rust when putting some stuff in the boot today. It is when the roof ends at the boot, behind...
What tyres should I get for my mark 2 X-Trail? Currently it's on Dunlops. In the past I have looked at surveys in Which? and Auto Express and chosen Continentals, mainly for performance in the wet. I can...
When taking my foot off throttle and depressing the clutch to change gear, there seems to be a delay in the revs falling in my Honda Jazz.
If I delay changing gear and hold the clutch down the revs fall...
We have a Honda Jazz Hatchback 1.4 i-VTEC EX, purchased September 2011, when 18 months old. During the first 6 months we had to have the battery replaced twice. Last week whilst waiting for my wife to...
Having reached an age when my hearing now requires aids, I find these in fact distort extraneous sounds so that it is quite useless trying to listen to the radio on long journeys. Also, because of the...
My sister-in-law is coming to live in the UK next year from Australia and wants to bring her 4-year-old, low mileage Volvo V70 with her. We can sort out shipping, but believe that she may have to pay some...
I recently saw your advice to a Honda Jazz owner saying contact Honda Happiness Accident Assistance rather than his insurer in the event of an accident. On the same basis, in the event of an accident in...
For a dozen or so years I have had a ‘Trafficmaster’ device on my dashboard that indicated when motorways and other major roads ahead were congested. It operated via sensors and transmitters on bridges...
I last wrote to you 8 years ago when I was looking to buy an automatic to commute into central Manchester. I didn’t want to sell my Audi TT Roadster and you recommended a Toyota Corolla, which has been...
I am selling my Jeep and someone is coming to view it on Sunday. They are from Zimbabwe and working over here. They want to send the Jeep back to Africa. I have told them I want cash for the vehicle (£2,950)...
I have just had my two-year old CR-V serviced at 38,000 miles. The Honda dealer replaced the front brake pads (the first time they had been replaced) but told me that the front discs also needed replacing...
I had a meeting with a colleague at Hamilton services that ran over the 2 hr parking allowance. We were in the Costa Coffee area and purchased coffees and food during this time. I have received a parking...
Any recommendations or advice about best tyres for ride comfort on a Honda Jazz? Ours is on 16” wheels.
Last winter, I cleaned out my shed and found some old half-used bottles of windscreen washer fluid. I tipped them all into my washer bottle. The resultant cocktail blocked all my pipes and it cost me £125...
I need to look for a replacement for our 1996 Peugeot 405 GLXD Turbo estate which we have had since 1999, not because there is anything wrong with it but because the weight and power are both well short...
While not knowledgeable enough to question your answer to GR of Maidstone regarding his problem with an abandoned Transit in her road, I seem to recall in my past police days (ex-Kent 1962-1992) the offence,...
With reference to the email "Chewed Lore", I have stored my car in Florida over the past ten summers and to keep the rodents out of it I hang a supermarket plastic bag of mothballs in the engine compartment....
I was interested to read of a Volkswagen Golf automatic suddenly accelerating. I have an automatic Skoda Octavia and it is virtually impossible to reverse smoothly at low speed, particularly when reversing...
I am currently running a petrol-engined Vauxhall Astra 1.6 16V Club purchased new on 30-6-2001. This has been serviced by an independent garage every 6 months and apart from normal wear and tear to tyres,...
I have a 2011 Jaguar XF 3.0 Diesel S which came with bling 20" wheels and low profile tyres. Ideally, I would like to replace these with winter tyres fitted to a more appropriate wheel size. What would...
Sadly, my much-loved Ford Puma is about to meet its demise. Can you recommend a replacement that will have the same driving experience and oomph of the Puma without extending my finances too much?
I...
Please suggest winter tyres suitable for a 2009 Ford Fiesta Titanium currently sporting 16inch alloys with 195/45, low profile tyres.
I propose to fit 14inch or 15inch steel rims with either 175/65 or...
What way should the timing belt guide fit on the crank shaft pully on a Toyota Carina E 1995?
The saucer facing in the way or out the way?
What is the recommended driving technique for safely negotiating deeper standing water on roads? Splash or trickle? Most drivers seem to prefer splash but trickle seems more sensible to me.
Does the BMW 1 Series (2009 2 litre petrol) have a dual mass flywheel? Present mileage 8550. If it does then when should I expect trouble? Genuine low mileage car, carefully driven.
I'm homing in on MPV for family (two adults and three growing kids) and have discounted Grand C-Max and Mazda5 in favour of S-Max on basis of needing the extra room.
I need your advice on engines please:...
My local dealer reports that my brake pads are 70% worn and advises all round replacement. The car was registered in March 2010 and has done 49,000 miles. Do you consider that I can safely continue driving...
Can I get some advice on some MoT advisories on my Ford Ka - how much will they cost and do they desperately need doing?
001 front brake disc worn
002 nearside front suspension arm rubber bush deteriorated,...
I have a £500 deposit on one of the very last MK6 Golf GTDs. I wanted to collect it in January 2013 and also asked the dealer for it to be registered then, so it would be a 2013/62 instead of a 2012/62....
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