Questions from February 2014
Which midsize crossover 4x4 has the widest front seats so that two large people can sit next to each other without rubbing shoulders?
We need to replace an elderly Nissan Primera with a used car, ideally no more than £10,000.
We are also elderly, so something higher than, and certainly no longer than a Primera. We do a low mileage,...
My 2009 Skoda Fabia came fitted with Goodyear tyres, 205/45R16 W 83, which I have replaced, like for like, since new. I have done nearly 70,000 miles predominantly on motorways, so have had a couple of...
On 24 December my 77 year old mother parked her car (57 reg Mercedes CLK) in an open air car park owned by Runnymede Council. During the time it was parked, a recycling lorry opened the height restriction...
I am looking for a used car with a budget of £4000. I am commuting 130 miles daily and 90 per cent of this is motorway cruising. What cars would you recommend I look for?
Primarily, I am looking for...
I live in Rural Ireland I am looking for a car with low cc (tax pruposes) to carry one adult and four primary school children to school every day. The roads are not great around were I live so I would...
I own a 2007 Mazda MX5, but now have two small children who will need picking up everyday from school. I'd love a 5 door hatch with a DAB radio and a proper sunroof, and petrol engine or perhaps a practical...
I have just bought a second hand kia Sportage 1.6 petrol in Spain and have been told by a Spanish kia dealer that the service is every two years or 30,000km. This seems a large interval to me. A UK Kia...
Please can you advise me on what car would best suit my needs?
I am a 24 year old female, I live a very outdoorsy life and I am looking for a hatchback that is still stylish but that I can fit one large...
I received a ticket for speeding last week, but the date of the offence dates back to October! Both me and my dad use the car and we’re not sure who was driving at the time of the offence. I have requested...
My son’s Peugeot 107 stalls immediately after it is started. The AA, local garage and main Peugeot dealer are stumped - they think the problem might be between the immobiliser ECU and the engine ECU.
They...
I am thinking of buying a BMW 3 Series cabriolet. Can you tell me if there are any issues with the metal folding roof? I am recently retired and want to keep this a long time so needs to be reliable.
Can you recommend a reputable supplier of second hand wheels for my Mercedes-Benz E320? And how can I check the wheels are safe and fit correctly before I buy?
A few weeks ago my wife was driving very slowly in a queue of traffic on the A49, when a driver came out of a service road and collided with the front nearside of our 2002 Saab Aero Estate. No one was...
I am looking for a new/used car to cope up with huge commuting. I will be covering 24,000 miles a year and want a car that will have a warranty and not suffer from poor depreciation. What car would you...
I have changed the wheels and tryes on my Hyundai Veloster. However, I didn't change the tyre pressure indicators and consequently the TPI lights up all the time. Is it OK for me to transfer the TPIs to...
My wife has a bad back so we need a car we step up into rather than bend down. She likes BMW seats and the back needs to accommodate a large dog, so it must be fairly square. It must also be automatic....
My Mum's 2004 plate Vauxhall Corsa is past its best. It is starting to leak and the red paint is fading ,as most red cars do. We're looking at replacement options and would like some advice. The lure of...
Driving along a three lane motorway, rule 264 states that "Always drive in the left hand lane, except when overtaking". When driving in the left hand lane, I have often wondered why TWO overtaking lanes...
I have a 2006 Saab 95 petrol turbo auto 2.0 which I love, but my mileage has increased and it is costing me a fortune in road tax, petrol and servicing.
Do I need a diesel Ford Mondeo/Jaguar X-type or...
My new Skoda Octavia vRS TDI Combi is due at the dealer this coming weekend; however, this is four weeks later than the dealer promised. Can I prolong the delivery by a week or so to 1 March to get a '14'...
I have a 2001 SEAT Leon TDI. The computer unit is bust ECU?). The central locking lights keep going on and off and unfortunately I did not take it to the garage sooner so the battery ran down.
I've...
I do 10,000 miles per annum, mostly short journeys mixed with some long motorway runs. I am considering a used Renault Megane or SEAT Leon, spending up to £12,000.
Do you advise petrol or diesel for this...
My father, brother and I are looking to buy a sports car mainly for weekend driving. We are looking to spend around £25,000- £35,000 (maximum) and are looking at Porsche 911 997s and even some 996s. We...
Is £1300 a fair price for a 2002 Vauxhall Corsa Cub with 102,000 miles? It has a full MoT and is sold with full service history.
My last two cars, both Volkswagen, have noticeable circles on the windscreen when the screen is misty. They are obviously the result of the suction pads that are affixed to the screen during installation.
How...
We are looking to buy a second car, solely for towing a horsebox. We will only be using it once every two weeks or so for distances of between 10 to 100 miles at a time. We have £5000 to spend and the...
I bought a car from a dealer three years ago and now want to part-exchange it for a new car. However, following a Experian Autocheck, we have been told that our car was written off in 2010 and declared...
My Mazda 3 has the i-stop system (but not i-loop) and I'm wondering if there are long term problems if it activates a lot in regular rush hour urban conditions.?
I don't mind it being active but should...
I own a 2003 Vauxhall Corsa and there are two rubber breather hoses attached to the engine; the smaller of which snapped off at the point where it connects to the engine. A mechanic told me that this didn't...
I have recently opted for a company car. I have chosen the vehicle, upgrades and submitted the paperwork to my transport department. However, two weeks later, I have been told that a vehicle is available...
I am 85, male and fit. I bought a new Peugeot 308 SE HDI (136) in 2008, and have driven only 22,000 miles.
I use my car for short shopping trips, and for journeys of about 150 miles every six weeks or...
I’m looking for a second car, which is fun to drive and has a pleasant ride . Something with a bit of class would be nice as I’ll cover 3000 miles, mostly around town budget. What do you recommend I buy...
I'm an Alfa fan and intend to by a used Giulietta. I'm attracted by the economy of the diesel, but my driving is 9000 miles per annum with many short journeys and occasional long trips. Which engine do...
I drove into a flooded road last week and my 2004 Ford Focus has cut out. The water went into the intake under the front passenger’s seat and now the car refuses to start. Can you help?
The timing belt has snapped on my 2009 Ford Focus. The car has covered 156,000 miles and I have had the car repaired, with new valves, pistons, clutch and flywheel. It came back from a local independent...
The rear right wing on my 2004 Ford Focus has been badly scratched. The mark is one meter lone and quite deep. Should I get it repairs or replace the whole wing?
I am having some serious issues with the DSG gearbox in my 2009 Volkswagen Golf. I was pulling out of a junction and the car started to judder and then the gearbox disconnected. Now the car refuses to...
Has any other manufacturer copied the Honda Jazz magic rear seats? If not, why not? Are they patented?
Do any small cars have removable rear seats?
Also, how are the VW TSI engines performing. Are they...
Could you just clarify some details about the Honda Civic.
http://www.honestjohn.co.uk/carbycar/honda/civic-2006/?section=good
Having read your review of the 2006 models in the Good & Bad section it states
'Faulty...
I have a Peugeot 3008 Exclusive 2010 Reg. LM10AYU. 17000 miles owned from new. It has jumped out of 3rd gear gear when accelerating up an incline. Can you suggest a reason & cure?
I asm interested in a Toyota Rav-4 2.2 D -4D Invincible 2013 for sale for £21,970 with 5000 miles on the clock.
I have been offered £6000 p/x on my Rav4(06)XT3 with 62000 miles on the clock. Is this a...
I commute around 100 miles round trip per day. Would you recommend the BMW 1 Series 116d Urban as a good engine size for this commute?
Following breakdown of my MINI Cooper hatch 16 with 05 plate in December, I took it to an independent garage for repair. They identified two faulty gear change cables (part no. 25117547369) which they...
I am considering replacing my current vehicle with a Hyundai i40 Tourer Premium SE Blue Drive (136PS). Although a mouthful to say, I really like the car and the way it drives, but as ever it always comes...
Are there any known problems with a CRDI system as on the Hyundai i30? The fuel pressure is quoted as up to 30,000RPM and this seems incredibly high for a fuel system in a car.
My Vauxhall Corsa's power steering light comes on when putting the key in the ignition, but as soon as cranked over it goes off. The car runs fine and only recently started to show this (steering wheel...
We have a 2009 Fiat 500 and over the last two months we've had problems with condensation forming on the inside. We've pulled back the drivers carpet and cladding was soaking wet but there's no evidence...
My Nissan Juke has started making a had a noise from the engine on start-up. It sounds like a slipping belt or could it be the turbo? I always let the turbo cool before switching off.
Is the Ford 1.6 Ecoboost engine sufficient for powering the Mondeo and would you recommend the optional 16-inch wheels?
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