Trending topics in April 2015
Questions from April 2015
Is it correct for a main dealer to add VAT to a pre-registered ex-demonstrator
when sold from the forecourt?
I am thinking of buying a used Ford Mondeo. I've found a nice car that looks great, but the dealer says the log book is with the DVLA because the owner had moved house just before he traded the car in....
My Citroen Xsara Picasso (2000 model) has an oil leak. According to a local mechanic, the rocker gasket is leaking. They have replaced it but it is still leaving little patches of oil on the driveway....
Six months ago I had the brake pads replaced on my 2008 Ford Focus. However, ever since then, I've noticed that the car makes an intermittent scraping noise when in reverse.
When driven forwards there...
I want to buy a compact and reliable people carrier. Can you recommend a reliable model? I want to run it for 10 years.
I bought a five year old Land Rover Defender from an approved dealer, with 38,000 miles on the clock. The car was sold with a two year warranty.
Over the past two months the car has failed three times....
What's the best way to haggle for a deal at a car dealership? Realistically how much will they take off the price of a new car?
I'm interested in buying a used (2006 onwards) Mazda MX-5 with a folding hard top. What sort of range does it have? Will I be able to do 300 miles per week without having to re-fuel?
We recently bought a second hand 2011 Honda CR-Z from a dealer. Last week we put the car through an automated car was and the fin antenna snapped off. We reported it to the dealer, but have been told it...
I have £10,000 and a trade in value for a 2004 Rover 75. I am looking for a reliable car with easy access and a smooth ride (I have a bad back). I do about 10,000 miles per year.
I have been looking at...
I have just bought a 2007 Toyota RAV4 XT5 auto that was advertised with leather seats. I have found splits in the side squab driver's seat and have been told the dealer will not repair this.
A local...
I am looking to buy a Land Rover Discovery to tow a trailer and two horses in all weathers and conditions. Is a manual or automatic gearbox preferable for this sort of task?
My Volvo V50 (2006) keeps slowing down on long stretches of the motorway, after an hour or so, and displays a sign saying "Engine System Service Required" on the dashboard. No garage, mechanic or anyone...
I bought a used Mercedes-Benz E-Class six months ago. The vehicle is a 2010 250 diesel estate, with 27,000 miles on the clock. However, when I put the car in for a service last week, I was told it needed...
Now that the local DVLA offices have disappeared (great shame), how do DVLA allocate registrations? For example, if I bought a new car off a broker based in London, would the DVLA allocate a registration...
I've noticed on motorways recently that HGV drivers often try and overtake their colleagues despite having only a 2-3mph speed advantage over the truck in front. With lane one occupied by a truck doing,...
I need a new small car. I'd like a five-door vehicle with a comfortable ride and plenty of ground clearance for occasional off-road use. The old Mitsubishi Pinin springs to mind, but long since out of...
As a low mileage family seeking a new seven-seater, our choices appear to be limited (assuming we would be well advised to avoid a diesel engine). We were tempted by a Ford Grand C-Max but having waited...
My 2012 Volkswagen Golf R recently had its major service and Haldex oil replaced. However, within weeks of the work, the Haldex failed along with the rear differential.
The car is just out of warranty...
I bought a new Citroen Berlingo in 2012 and within months of ownership it developed oil leaks. It has been reparied on three occasions, but the problem has never been fixed. The dealer has said they cannot...
I want to buy a new Nissan Qashqai, but can't decide on which petrol engine to specify. Can you help?
Can repossession sites be trusted? The cars seem varied and reasonably priced- there is a three day cooling off period after delivery - do you know of any issues or problems buying from them ?
I own a 2009 SEAT Ibiza 1.4 TSI with a DSG gearbox. I am thinking of getting rid of it due to the numerous engine and DSG problems I have read about and its dated Volkswagen Polo rear suspension.
I am...
I will be driving 35,000 miles a year. I'd like to know what the most cost-effective motoring solution would be (overall cost, covering depreciation, servicing costs etc). Would it work out cheaper to...
I an just about to replace the tyres on my Audi A3 which have been good but noisy. On checking other tyres, I notice that some are rated for db noise ratings. What do these ratings mean?
I am not happy with the amount of road noise from the original tyres on my Hyundai i30 and I will be changing them shortly. Which make would you recommend?
I have a stuck rear door which I cannot open Have you come across this before?
My 2004 Jaguar S-Type has had a diagnostic test, which has resulted in a list of problems. It all started with a loss of power when driving up hill. I've been told I need two new cats, plus four Lambdas,...
My son would like a "grown up car" he has two small children. He has £15,000. Should he go for a 2008 Audi A4 Avant or BMW 3 Series Touring? Which engine? Automatic preferred but not essential.
My wife's Toyota Yaris diesel (2011 model) has been averaging around 60mpg since we bought it at 40,000 miles/two years ago. The car has now done nearly 70,000 miles and, over the past six months, the...
I bought a car for spares and on the day of purchase I checked on the DVLA website to make sure it was declared SORN as the seller informed me it was.
Today, almost two months later, I've received a...
I've noticed that generally you have been warning users off diesels, with problematic DPFS and EGRS. However, we are considering a new Volvo XC60 D4 Geartronic on a three year lease. We do 12,000 miles...
My daughter is keen to buy a one yaer old Ford Fiesta 1.0 Ecoboost Titanium 125 and has located two she is intersted in. One has 16-inch wheels and the other, which has a better set of extras, has 17-inch...
My Vauxhall Movano has developed a rattle near the front suspension. It only happens on uneven road surfaces though. On the motorway it is fine and the noise is hardly audible on B roads. Any ideas on...
I have just viewed a used (2008 model) Citroen C5 which was great apart from the brakes, which needed constant pumping to operate.
The car has had a brakes service and bleed, but the problem still exists....
I've just had my Fiat 500 written off in a car crash. My insurer has given me £8000 and I am thinking of replacing it for a different model.
I absolutely loved my Fiat, but travel 90 miles a day on the...
I am in the process of buying a used car, but can't decide between a 2011 Renault Grand Scenic 1.5 diesel and a 2010 Peugeot 5008 1.6 diesel, both are automatics. Is one car more reliable than the other?...
You previously mentioned that the Ford Focus Ecoboost 1.0 was suffering some problems with the clutch. Would this same problem be likely to happen with the Ford Fiesta 1.0 Ecoboost?
My 2013 Ford Fiesta 1.5 TDCI cooling fan often runs after the engine has been switched off even though the coolant temperature is normal. This sometimes occurs after short journeys when the engine has...
I am looking at buying a property in Spain and want to buy a new car in Spain to keep there. I require a small automatic, five-door with air con, preferably hatchback. What do you recommend
I have owned a 2003 Honda Civic Type S for 10 years and it has only done 25,000 miles. However the steering is stiff in the centre position making small corrections difficult.
The air con has also stopped...
What would you recommend as the best tyres for the Mercedes-Benz SL350? Fronts are 255/35/ZR19 and rears are 285/30/Zr19 Bridgestones.
I'm on the lookout for a Fiat 500 and one has popped up at a local dealer - a 2011 car with 4500 miles on it. Should I be wary of a car with such low mileage for its age?
My vehicle was covered by Nissan warranty. I reported a problem to the dealer six months ago which has appeared again (I suspect it actually wasn't fixed and no new parts were ever fitted).
The question...
I need to replace my much loved 2006 Ford Focus 1.8 petrol manual, after 117,000 trouble free miles. The new Focus is too bulky and the boot is too small. I like the Skoda Fabia Estate 1.2 petrol 110PS...
A friend is looking to buy a circa 2009 Golf VI 1.4 TSI 122hp with 85,000 miles on the clock, full dealer history and apparently no cam chain issues.
So from a distance all seems fine, but we know these...
I hired a SEAT Alhambra last week from a national rental company. After returning it, I got a bill for £250 for a damaged fog light, which I knew nothing about. Is there any recourse I can take to get...
Thinking about buying a Honda Civic from a Honda dealer for £7000.00 for a 2010 car which has done 18,000. Should I be wary of the relative low mileage per year of 3500 and is the price competitive for...
I have a 2.0 litre Mondeo diesel Powershift which is only doing around 6000 miles per year.I have never had a problem with the DPF over 33,000 miles of motoring.
I am looking to buy a new Mk5 Mondeo with...
I'm torn between buying two near identical MINI Cooper Ds:
A 2009 model that has air con and cloth seats and a 2007 model which has the whole shooting match panoramic roof, heated leather seats and lots...
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