Questions from August 2013
I drive a 1999 Toyota Celica, which I love and have owned for eight years with no major problems at all. I feel however, that I would like something a little more up-to-date. I still want a coupe or a...
My daughter lives permanently in a high ski resort in the French Alps (Val d'Isere) and needs a four wheel drive (obviously with winter tyres as well) for use by her and husband and three young children...
My daughter's 2006 Citroen C2 has just had a second suspension coil spring fitted. I was interested when the repair garage said this was number 20 this week, not dependent on the make of the car. Tended...
I would be obliged if you could give me the address of a refresher driving course in the Leeds (West Yorkshire) area please?
The only Ibiza TSIs on sale that I can find in 5-door SE version are two 2010/61s and they have the 3-cylinder engine, advertised as 1.2 TSI 105PS. Is this as good as the 4-cylinder version? Or do three...
I have a 2010 Volkswagen Caddy with 225/45 RF17 tyres. I am a firm believer in winter tyres. Do I use the 17-inch alloy wheels and pay the garage to fit winter tyres, or buy smaller steel wheels and fit...
When the cruise control on my Volvo XC70 is set at 60mph the TomTom says I am doing 58/59. When setting the cruise control to 61mph TomTom says I am doing 60. Which is likely to be more accurate, please?...
We are taking delivery of a new Vauxhall Astra at the weekend and the garage is offering, Diamond Brite paint protection for £149, reduced from £250. Do you think this is a good offer? I know we can do...
When I recently bought a new set of tyres I was offered a free alignment check which I was told showed that my wheels were out by a couple of degrees. To re-align them would be £30. Exactly the same thing...
Could you through the medium of your letters page advise all 2013 Honda Civic owners that certain models are not supplied with a toolkit or jack and have to rely on the pressurised tyre repair kit supplied?Since...
I would like to buy an 4WD pick-up, a single or extra-cab, not a double cab. All the current offerings are too big, both in length and particularly in width. A friend has a 2003 Hilux, which would be ideal,...
I have been trying to decide whether my C-reg Mercedes-Benz 220D, extremely well looked after by a Mercedes specialist family in West Hampstead, would benefit from using Shell V-power diesel. Cost would...
Do you by any chance have a magic cure for green mould growth in BMW convertible hood fabric that, perforce, has to live outside?
I ordered a new shape Volkswagen Golf VII on 11 January 2013 from the local dealer, based on info in the brochure of 19 October 2012. The production date of the car was 15 February 2013. I paid an extra...
Mazda does not seem to do a petrol auto 4WD like the CR-V auto but say they have this Skyactiv technology in diesel, which bypasses the particulate filter problems with low mileages. I only do 1000 miles...
I'm looking to buy a second hand estate/station wagon, to be driven to the south of France and back again a few times. Don't want to spend more than 8-9k. Surfboards/skis will be on the roof or in the...
I bought a fiat ducato van from a dealer and three days later it went wrong
I took it back and he replaced an injector, charged me a further 200 quid and said it was OK now. It made no difference what...
An Oman student left country a year ago and abandoned his car. I work with him and I am going home on leave and have been asked to dispose of the vehicle. I would like to apply for a v5 and MoT and tax....
I've had my new i10 style for about 6 weeks and quite often I find that reverse gear can be quite difficult to engage, I often have to pop it into first gear lift the clutch a tad then go back to reverse...
I have a knocking sound from the front end of my Skoda Yeti. The noise rises above engine and 'normal' suspension noises over undulating road surfaces. It has been an on going problem to me and the dealer...
I need a second hand MPV with seven seats. Ideally, the car should be around six years old and reliable. Any ideas?
My local dealer is advertising a new petrol Vauxhall Zafira 1.6i Exclusiv for less than £10,000 – a huge saving on the £18,000 list price. I've driven them as hire cars and found them underpowered but...
The emissions control system warning light keeps coming on when I drive my Audi A6. The lambda sensor has been replaced but the problem still persists. What could be the most likely cause? Also how much...
My wife had an accident yesterday. Her 2011 Toyota Yaris struck a tree, flipped into the air and somersaulted across the road coming to a stop on top of a ditch. The car is a complete wreck, but miraculously...
My 2012 Volkswagen Golf traps water inside all four doors after washing or after. The problem is quite bad and, when I open the doors, the water quite literally pours out. I'm due to visit my local dealer...
I’m looking for a quiet and reliable car for long motorway work. I cover 15,000 – 20,000 miles a year. So far I have driven a 2012 Honda Civic 2.2 DTEC and a 2011 2.2 CTDI. I’ve also driven a SEAT Exeo...
My son is struggling to keep up with the running costs of his 2005 Mini Cooper S. He is now considering a 2005 SAAB 9-3 Vector 1.9 TDI Sport. It has covered 90,000 miles and will cost £2500.
What are...
I own a Nissan X-Trail, but the “ESP off" and the "4WD" lights come on as I start the engine. Should I be worried?
I am replacing my written of 9-3 Saab SportWagon with a brand new Mazda 6 tourer, 2.0 (145 PS) petrol engine SE-L, metallic paint, mats and boot liner, cash price £19150 on the road. A great deal from...
I am looking at two new cars at the moment: an Audi A3 sportback 2.0 TDI and a SEAT Leon FR. I know that they are built on similar chassis and engines, but I can’t choose between them. What would you recommend?
My wife & I bought a BMW 118d SE two years ago for £13k as an approved used car with 23k miles. 3-6 months in the start stop function ceased to work - I raised this and we were told to take the car on...
I have problems with the engine on my Ford Tourneo. When I slow down to stop, the engine will cut out. Had a new fuel filter fitted, but after a week started to cut out again. Ford tourneo is a 10 plate...
My brother’s Ford Fiesta keeps overheating, but there’s no heat in the cabin or radiator. We have changed the following: heater matrix, expansion tank and cap, radiator, water pump, thermostat twice (now...
I want to buy an automatic Seat Alhambra but they only have diesel options. I had dpf problems with a Zafira diesel automatic we purchased in 2006 because of the type of urban driving we generally do,...
Is there a lever to convert RHD headlights to LHD headlights?
Earlier today we were returning from Wembury Point near Plymouth when we encountered a South West Highways road resurfacing crew coming in the opposite direction. It was on a narrow road and all seemed...
You responded to PB of Newcastle upon Tyne by saying that noisy exhausts prevent motorcyclist injuries. Noisy exhausts are antisocial and in most cases illegal. Motorcycles have a horn to warn other motorists...
My brother in law and I were discussing the DAF drive system and I am certain there was a model called the DAF Daffodil. He laughed and said there was no such model name. Do you know?
My sister drives a 2008 Nissan Micra 1.2 manual and noticed smoke/vapour coming out of the dash and a substance like cooking oil on the rear carpet a few days ago. We initially thought she spilled some...
Thank you for publishing my letter about vehicles being towed away at Stansted airport. I hope this alerts your readers to this scam. I have written to the airport MD, Essex police and others about this...
While at a barbecue over the weekend, we met this rather sozzled, pompous man who proudly told everyone how he remained in the middle lane of the motorway if his speedometer told him he was travelling...
I make the following points in relation to the debate about motorway driving. Lane hogging in any lane other than the inner lane is bad driving practice. Outside lane hoggers are the greatest danger for...
I am a regular, indeed avid reader of your column and aware that you have views about the wheel size on cars. I am contemplating buying a fairly recent Jaguar XK Portfolio with the V8 5-litre engine. I...
I am a car nut with a Porsche Cayenne Turbo, a Ferrari F360 in the garage and an Alfa 4C on order. We have a 2-year-old and the Cayenne is great for him: big boot, luxurious and good on the motorway. We...
Around last autumn time a reader wrote in with a problem about water in his car boot, but I cannot remember your reply. It was the same car as mine (a Ford Fiesta) and there is only water in the base of...
The time has come to let go my 1991 J-reg E30 BMW cabriolet with leather seats, sports auto gear box, electric hood and air con that I have owned for 16 years with a mileage of 74,000. I'm the third owner...
I passed my driving test in Lisburn, NI in February 1979 driving my parents manual Renault 4L. My paper driver licence was sent to the DVLA for replacement to update it to my Rushden address in 2006. It...
My wife has had a 2003 Honda CR-V petrol 2.0i model for about eight years and it has given her great service. She likes the road handling, size and space and how comfortable the ride is. I like the fact...
I live in Adelaide, South Australia. We purchased a 2011 ex-demo Skoda Yeti 2.0TDI 4WD DSG nine months ago. There is a ground swell here in Australia concerning possible DSG problems. We had a couple of...
We require a 4x4 (either permanent or selectable) to carry household and other items to and from mainland Europe. New or secondhand. Our mileage is around 15,000 per annum, mainly longer journeys, and...
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