Questions from June 2014
We have a late 2013 Mazda CX-5. Over the last four months we have had four windscreens replaced, with cracks up to four foot long. Dealer attributes failures to minuscule stone chips and cites minor chips...
A weekend event took place recently close to my house and a traffic management plan was set up by my local council to deal with parking. A letter was sent out informing local residents of the event and...
I am looking to buy a second hand diesel estate to replace my Volvo V50. I am looking for something that’s four years old or less, with 45,000 miles on the clock. Ideally, the car will have leather seats...
We have a 2008 Audi A3 2.0 TDi which has covered 73,000 miles and is driven twice a week (90 miles on a motorway) with a couple of urban miles at either end. We have had it serviced by Audi all its life...
I have a 2005 Volkswagen Polo 1.2 that has low compression on a cylinder, should I repair it? I have been quoted £500 and the car is worth £1500 in a working state and done about 100,000 miles.
My daughter has lost her Maps & More GPS/Bluetooth Unit. She left it in a courtesy car and they can't find it. Volkswagen gave quoted me £341 to replace the unit. Any ideas where I can purchase cheaper?
I live in Saudi Arabia and own five BMWs, E23 chassis and the year of 1986 up 1986. All of the cars require extensive restoration and I am looking to get the full interior parts because I am planning to...
I own a Volkswagen Golf Mk2 with a 1.8-litre engine. I was driving the other day and the car just died without warning. I looked under the bonnet and there was no spark. I bought a new coil and distributor,...
I am searching for a family friendly SUV. I drive about 12,000 miles a year and intend to keep the car for five years. Ideally, I want all-wheel drive and a manual gearbox, I am not fussed about petrol...
Will fitting a towbar to a Nissan Qashqai impact the manufacturer's warranty? Does it have to be a dedicated wired version or can it be a generic?
Today I have received a parking charge. The car park in question allows up to two hours free parking and the signs displaying this are difficult to see on lamp posts. I overstayed by one hour and the car...
I’m in the market for a used Audi TT and have seen a 1999 model at a local dealer. The car is described as ‘excellent’ by the seller and has 64,000 miles on the clock. They want £76000 and have fitted...
I bought a used Peugeot 308 SW diesel almost 12 months ago. For the first time today I've had the "Check Oil" indicator appear on the display. Should I put in oil myself or wait until the (free) service...
We have a choice of two Peugeot 207 1.6 Hdi Sport convertibles. One is 35,000 miles with three owners and service history, price reduced from £5900 to £5200 - dealer says they just don't know why it has...
I'm about to purchase a 2009 Vauxhall Insignia 1.8 Elite Nav and would like to know when the cam belt should be changed. I've looked at various websites and the general feeling is 100,000 miles or 72 months....
I am in the Forces and will be posted abroad next summer. Between now and then I have to commute 400 miles per week and want to buy a medium sized family car that I can sell after a year (before we leave...
I'm in the process of buying a Volkswagen Golf Match 1.4 petrol DSG for our soon to arrive expanded family. Is there anything that I should consider before I buy it?
Two months ago I bought a used car for £749 - a 2005 Rover 25. It had covered 74,000 miles and was in good condition with three months left on the MoT. During the test drive I noticed the brakes were very...
My 2008 Volkswagen Golf diesel dropped a rod last week and cannot be repaired. Can you recommend an engine re-manufacturer/installer?
I have had a 2011 BMW X1 for six months. In that time on three occasions I have found the car unlocked and all four electric windows open. Fortunately each time it was at my house. Any idea what's going...
I have just purchased a used 2007 Porsche Boxster, which is fitted with 19-inch Carrera wheels as an upgarde from new.The standard wheel would of been 17-inch. Would l be right in thinking that going back...
Are there any driving tracking devices that can be used to prove fault in an accident? I was hit by a car that came round a blind bend, on a single track road, too fast to stop. I had stopped before the...
I bought a 2005 Chrysler 300C for £7500 in March. A month later the swirl flap motor failed. The car has been at the dealer for a month now. The selling garage refuses to accept responsibility under the...
I have always carried a reserve supply five-litre can of diesel on journeys in the remoter parts of the Scottish Highlands and Islands where there are fewer and fewer fuel stations. However, the fuel...
I'm after a used sports car for £5000. I want something that will have a soft top and give me driving pleasure for my retirement. We were thinking about a Mazda MX5, or a BMW Z3, or even a Mercedes SLK...
We are in our mid 60s and have just downsized to one car, a Suzuki Grand Vitara 4x4 petrol , which is now nearly 14 years old but still going strong at 62,000 miles. Our budget is £30,000 and we wish...
I bought a used Ford Focus (2005) two weeks ago and the gearbox cable selector broke. The garage I bought it from fixed it, but now the car is difficult to drive and change gear. What can I do?
I drive a 2010 Audi A4 Avant 3.2 which is superb and is the fourth car I've had with the VR6 engine. I'm heading for semi-retirement so wondering whether to keep it or look for something cheaper to run?...
I took delivery of a new Audi A1 three months ago. After several weeks I noticed tiny marks on the bonnet. The car was subsequently taken to the dealer’s workshop in an attempt to polish the marks out....
I am thinking of buying a Ford Fiesta 1.0 Ecoboost and would appreciate your help in choosing the specification. Should I go for three or five-door? Also, which trim is best? I am thinking of the Zetec...
My wife was involved in car accident. The other vehicle hit her from behind whilst queuing at traffic lights. She exchanged details with the other driver and reported the incident to the Police. It has...
I am looking to buy a new car. I want something with a bit of speed, comfortable to drive and as I only drive about 6-8000 miles a year something which will hold good residuals as well. I have narrowed...
I am considering buying a new SUV and have narrowed my choices to the Ford Kuga or the Nissan Qashqai. Which model would you buy?
I am in search of a good 4x4 for a family of four. I have £18000 to spend and need a car capable of tackling a farm track each day and trips to Cornwall (500 mile round trip), three times a year. I am...
I keep needing to get the garage to do DPF regen on my Mazda 5. It has done 60,000 mostly city miles and I think it's time to get the DPF replaced. However, the main dealer has quoted over £2000 for the...
I recently bought a 2005 Ford KA from a main dealer for my granddaughter, who is learning to drive. The offside headlamp has severe condensation on the lens but there is no water collected in the unit....
I am looking for a used 4x4 for under £6500. It would ideally be an automatic and diesel. No towing or off-roading. To be honest it is the height which makes it easier for me to get in and out of as I...
My BMW X1 is almost a year old, but is not due to have a service until May 2015. If I get my local garage to change oil and filter (BMW parts), will the warranty still be valid?
I own a Volkswagen Gold MkIV. The car performs ok on flat roads, but struggles to climb hills. It's almost impossible to do over 50mph uphill (which can be embarrassing), but will achieve 80mph on the...
We currently have a Lexus RX 400h, but the kids have left home and we now want to downgrade to a smaller car with lower costs. We need it to be reliable, automatic and have fog lights as a minumum. Cruise...
I am hoping to buy a used Mazda from a Hyundai dealer. The RAC car data check shows outstanding finance due to unit stocking and a mileage discrepancy. I don't think the unit stocking is an issue as I...
I need a car for about £5000. It must fit a dog crate in the boot along with gardening tools, such as spades etc plus a couple of storage boxes. No machinery. I do about 200 miles a week, mostly on duel...
I recently purchased an extremely low mileage 2007 BMW 5 Series. What is BMW's thinking about oil usage which is between 1/2 and 1 litre per 1000 miles? It is obviously designed to consume this ammount
I bought a brand new SEAT Ibiza in January this year and have covered 8000 miles so far. There are a few small stone chips on the bonnet and a larger one on the drivers side front door. I was wondering...
I bought a manufacturer approved used car last week. As part of the deal I was offered seven days insurance cover among other things. I was also contacted by insurance company to extend the seven day cover...
I am looking to purchase a new SUV for both work and long runs to Scotland to see the in-laws. I have narrowed the search to a Nissan Qashqa (1.5d or 1.6d) or the Mazda CX-5. Having driven both the CX-5...
The key fob for my 2008 Ford Fiesta has stopped working. What can I do to fix it?
I have purchased a new Fiesta ST from a Ford dealership. I ordered it with the style pack (grey painted alloys, red calipers and illuminated scuff plates), but there was a mistake with the order and the...
I own a 2012 Hyundai ix35 with 18-inch wheels. Is it possible to change these down to a 16-inch alloy with corresponding sized tyre without changing anything else?
After sitting in my Renault Espace with the air con on (for 20 mins) a warning light then came on saying "battery charge fault". I had the car checked and the battery is fine. However, while looking under...
 

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