Questions from October 2013
My old Jaguar XJ has failed the MoT and will cost too much to fix. The engine is in very good order and it has four good tyres, but footwell corrosion resulted in its MoT fail. What should I do with the...
I own a Honda Jazz CVT is fitted with paddle levers and consider it to be an automatic. However, a friend has told me that the paddle levers actually make it a manual – is this correct?
I turned 70 this...
I’ve just bought a new Vauxhall Astra SRI, but noticed a buzzing noise at around 30/40mph. Any idea what’s causing it?
I am getting my Renault 10 and Renault Caravelle back on the road now that I've built a large garage/workshop. I was thinking about getting my new tyres whitewalled (www.mrwhitewalls.com), but have you...
I believe that people who drive solely in the centre lane do so because they can switch off mentally. They follow the car in front and adjust their speed to that car which means they have no awareness...
Despite planning to buy a new petrol car because of our average annual mileage of 8500, we have chosen the Nissan Qashqai 360 1.6 dCi 130PS + with 'stop-start' system. The most regular journey will be...
I purchased my Ford Focus 1.6 EcoBoost in April 2012. Since then the battery has gone flat on three occasions. The first time was three weeks after purchase. The second, on 16 August 2012. The battery...
It seems to me that the continual movement of vehicles from the nearside to and from the overtaking lanes to make progress along a motorway is potentially more dangerous than staying for some distance...
There are a couple of methods of eradicating foul odours in cars such as dog snark, cigarettes and spilled milk. One was to leave a cardboard box inside filled with dry grass cuttings and sweet woodruff....
Should I buy a (current model) brand new Nissan Qashqai 1.6 dCi Tekna 2wd for £19,816.64, or wait for the new Qashqai that has just been announced? The list price of the current model is £25,140 with metallic...
You have often featured Mercedes-Benz cars suffering with rust that should have been covered by the Mobilo Life 30-year warranty. The following might be of interest to your readers. With a mileage of just...
I know you have written many times regarding private parking charges. My wife recently stopped on the Imperial War Museum North car park and remained in the vehicle while her passengers went to make some...
On 18 July I had 2009 Volkswagen Scirocco GT TDI examined by Lookers main agents in Darlington, with regard to the loss of traction/acceleration particularly in low gears at road junctions, and also a...
I find my new Volvo XC60 a very hard drive. When I was ordering it I suggested 17-inch wheels but I was assured they wouldn't make any difference so I opted for the standard 18-inch. Now, having read many...
I am considering a 2009 Subaru Forester Suretrac, which I have seen at a local 4x4 Independent Specialist who has a good reputation. The vehicle was previously driven by a company rep and has covered 101,000...
My daughter has been advised by the main dealer that the condenser and high pressure pipe of her 2009 Toyota Yaris TR 5dr 1.33 VVT-i are leaking at the joint and a new unit is required at a fitted price...
My 2.0-litre petrol auto Honda Accord is over 13 years old, has 76,000 miles on the clock and still goes really well. I do less than 3000 miles a year, a local mechanic does all the required servicing,...
I experienced alternator failures on two Chevrolet Matiz. The first was replaced under warranty. The second cost £211.51 to replace, the work done at a Green Flag Breakdown-appointed repair facility. That...
I wish to buy an inexpensive convertible and have been seduced by the cute looks of the Daihatsu Copen. However I understand that Daihatsu no longer markets cars in the UK. Will this mean servicing and...
Do you know of a Satnav (UK and Europe) with integral speed limit indication and speed camera warning or a Satnav with integral 'Road Angel Gem' facilities, please?
We have just obtained a Ford Grand C-Max. The middle seat of the second row is narrower than the outer two. Is it correct/safe to fit a High Back Booster Group 2/3 child's seat to the middle of the row...
I wonder if you could possibly help with the problem of selling a 'Suzuki Life' wheelchair-driven petrol car. My friend is disabled and no longer fit enough to drive. The car is a 2005 Suzuki Wagon R adapted...
Apart from the issue of undertaking and multiple lane changing are we missing a more important point? Centre lane hoggers effectively turn a 3-lane motorway into a 2-lane motorway mainly because drivers...
I am speccing a Volkswagen Golf GT for my wife. It looks nicer with 18-inch wheels, but will it be appreciably more comfortable on the standard 17-inch?
I am considering the purchase of a 2004 MGF 1.8. In a recent reply you referred to the MGF as “worth considering”. Where can I find out more, in particular about the cylinder head gasket problem?
Will you please advise me on the most suitable replacement tyres for my 2004 Honda Stream SE Sport?Currently I have two Yokohama ASPEC and two Bridgestone Turanza fitted 195/65R 15 91V. Winter mileage...
My wife owns a 1971 Morris Minor Traveller with just over 100,000 miles on the clock, which she has enjoyed over many years. However, with ageing bones (mine too), she feels she needs something slightly...
Driving frequently on motorways I am faced with delays and queues with stop, start and slow progress. Is there any research to suggest that either the inside or outside lanes might on average offer quicker...
I have a 2008 Mercedes-Benz ML 420CDI, which has had an intermittent satnav function for several months. After prolonged diagnostic testing at the local MB dealer they replaced the antenna at considerable...
We recently took a holiday in France with our cocker spaniel. We experienced a problem with the car, which had to be left there for repatriation later, but the RAC cover worked very well for getting us...
I am looking to replace my six-year old Skoda Octavia 4x4 Estate with a fairly new (1-2 years old max) family estate, still with 4x4. I need 4x4 for a difficult drive and local access road in the Lake...
My auntie is looking to spend around £6000 on a car. Reliability and low running cost are important. What would you suggest?
We have a 61,000 miles 5-year-old Ford C-Max Style MPV and want to replace it with a new MPV. We appreciate the easy access, the roominess of cabin and boot and the economy of the C-Max (I need to be able...
We have bought a new Honda Jazz, which includes an optional rear view camera at a cost of £765. However, we’re very unhappy with the camera as we cannot see anything due to its position. We emailed Honda...
I own a 2013 Land Rover Freelander 2 and am concerned with what looks like a Haldex rear-drive issue. I’ve been told by a mechanic that this could become a mechanical nightmare as parts of the transmission,...
I want to sell my 2006 Ford Mondeo, but cannot work out if it is worth fixing. It runs really well and has 80,000 on the clock. Problems are some scratches, chips and a 'keying' mark. Would you recommend...
We currently have a Renault Kangoo and are very impressed with the wide and high loadspace it has. We now wish to replace it with something similar, but with four-wheel drive. It appears that none of...
I'm in the process of buying a new Ford Mondeo Zetec Business Edition. However, the 16-inch alloys are a no-cost option against the standard fit 17-inch - which is likely to be the better bet?
Can you tell me if van tyres are worth the extra cash? They are more expensive than car tyres, but look the same.
I'm having problems with the gear selector on my 2007 Vauxhall Corsa: it sticks in park and can take five minutes of wiggling to free it. Is this a common fault on this model?
My wife needs to replace her 1998 Renault Clio, which similar sized car could you recommend that can easily take golf clubs and small electric trolley in the boot?
I have 20-inch wheels on my new Audi Q5 and am looking to purchase winter tyres. Do I have to stick with the 20s or can I fit smaller wheels?
My mother needs a replacement for her old 2006 Ford Focus. She is looking for a used small to medium MPV with about the same footprint as the Focus. My father suffers from Alzheimers and needs a lot of...
A friend of mine has been sent a speeding ticket relating to an incident in France, last year. He has been quoted 190 Euros fine, whilst he was driving a minibus in the Paris, Alsace region. I understand...
I'm in the market for a new Toyota Auris, but can't decide between a diesel or hybrid. Which will have depreciated the most after three years?
I have just bought a new petrol Nissan Qashqai, can you tell me the best method for 'running it in'?
I bought a 2010 Audi A8 last year, but have always felt that something was not quite right with it. The problems started under light acceleration, with a lag in power then a sudden surge. I initially put...
I'm looking to upgrade my 200,000 mile Volkswagen Golf GTi to a more sensible family estate/MPV, I have around £20,000 to spend. I will be doing around 12 - 14,000 miles a year and the new Renault Megane...
Can you tell me what the dealer percentage profit is on the new Mazda 6? I'm planning to buy one, but want to do my homework so I can haggle hard!
I have a leased Nissan Qashqai 1.6 dci. It has been in the garage for seven weeks due to a blown injector causing the lubrication on cylinder No 1 to wash away and wreck the engine (according to the Nissan...
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