Questions from March 2017
I'm thinking of buying a Ford Mondeo Estate, 16 or 66 plate. I drive around 30,000 miles per year, of which 20,000 are motorway miles. Would you opt for diesel or petrol? I plan to keep the car for four...
I've been looking around lately for an Audi A8 and have seen a 2005 4.2 TDI twin turbo with 128,000 miles on the clock. Is it worth buying?
I'm looking at putting my order in for a 2017 Audi Q5, but should I go for a petrol or diesel 2.0-litre? My mileage, 8000 a year, and the current diesel backlash would suggest petrol is the right choice....
My diesel Audi 2.0-litre has been remapped. Will the emissions fix undo my remap, thus meaning I will have to pay to get it done again?
Our family is getting bigger and we're looking for a seven-seater. We're unlikely to do as much as 10,000 miles per year and are looking to spend up to £15,000. We're keen on a Nissan Qashqai+2 but the...
I currently drive a 2005 Volkswagen Golf Plus 2.0 TDI that has done 182,000 miles. What should I replace it with on a maximum budget of £12,000? I need a workhorse to do 20,000 miles a year (80 per cent...
With the upcoming tax changes and the potential backlash against diesel, can we expect to see more petrol engine cars? I would love to see a Ford Kuga with a 2.0-litre 240PS EcoBoost engine.
I gradually keep losing clutch fluid from my 1996 Ford Fiesta. It seems to be coming from underneath the engine, I have to top up the fluid once or twice a fortnight.
I've narrowed my car choice down to two crossovers: the SEAT Ateca 1.4 (150) SE and The Volkswagen Tiguan with the same engine. I do approximately 6000 miles per year. What would you choose, or is there...
I want to buy a sports car for summer for about £6000. I'm thinking of a 2005 BMW Z4, a Mercedes-Benz SLK or a Mazda MX5 ( but I've had one before so fancy something different). Which one would be the...
I bought a van on finance and have now found out that it's been clocked. The mechanic just found multiple issues and it needs new gearbox. I bought over the phone from a van company three hours away. It's...
I only do up to 2000 miles a year. A hybrid seems like a good option but I don't think I'll make it before April - am I right that then the road tax exemption ends? I want reliability and am petite so...
I have a 2014 diesel Fiat 500 1.3 .I purchased it with 35,000 miles on the clock and have now covered 48,000 miles. At what mileage would it be advisable to commence routine work or risk major diesel related...
After having diesels for over thirty years, I'm now due for a new car which will be a petrol. My annual mileage is 10,000 and I think the Seat Ateca should fulfil our needs and we will go for the 1.4 Xcellence....
I bought a ten year old Ford Ranger from a dealer seven months ago, with a three month warranty. The timing belt went last week and the dealer's own mechanic fitted a new one just before we bought it....
I'm looking for a reliable torque converter hatchback, must be a petrol automatic. I've narrowed it down to either a Mazda 3 2.0 (2014 -) or a Honda Civic 1.8 (2012 -). Can you help me decide which to...
I've received a letter from a collection company saying I didn't attend court in a different county regarding a car I've never owned. They sent letters to my old address so I wasn't aware of this. I called...
I'd like to buy a nearly new Range Rover Evoque. My budget is £30,000 and we would ideally like four wheel drive. What is the best spec? We heard from a friend that the panoramic roof is essential to give...
I've just discovered that the 2009 Mazda CX-7 I've owned for over 6 years has a timing chain rather than cam belt. It's covered 60,000 miles and I'm now worried that issues with the chain, the VVT or turbo...
In April 2016 I bought a 2014 Vauxhall Zafira Tourer with 9500 miles on it. Now, just 11 months and 6000 miles later, the clutch has burnt out. The car is still under the manufacturer's warranty but the...
My husband and I are named drivers on each other's insurance policies. My husband may get a driving ban, what do we need to do about the policies? I can take him off mine but the other car is in his name....
The Vauxhall Calibra numbers that are left is alarming, why is such a great classic not recognised as such by most people? It's 27 years now since the launch, which made a very big impact to the motoring...
My five year old Mercedes-Benz E550 has done 17,000 miles and has had the brake pads replaced and now the rotors. Apparently the reason for the rotor failure was that I drove too little. My wife had a...
Since my Audi A3 had it's emissions fix it has had problems with the engine management system light flashing intermittently and the engine losing power. I've taken it to the Audi garage today and they're...
My 2009 Ford Focus 2.0 Titanium petrol automatic (purchased late last year) is shod with 18-inch alloys with 225/40 R18 Wanli Snowgrip winter tyres. The alloys have been comprehensively curbed by the previous...
I was charged £52.80 for four litres of oil by a Suzuki dealer as part of the first year service of my Vitara. This seems excessive to me, bearing in mind that I can buy the same grade oil for £3 per...
I currently drive a 2007 diesel Hyundai Tucson auto. It's done 190,000 miles and is in need of replacing. I do about 25,000 miles a year, mostly country roads and motorways, and want something with good...
What questions do I need to ask an internet dealer?
I'm partially disabled and am hoping to spend under £20,000 to buy a work vehicle. Can you suggest a suitable dropside pick-up truck to carry approximately one tonne? It must be an automatic gearbox with...
My sister currently has a Fiat 500 and it's difficult to squeeze her three grandchildren into the back as there aren't sufficient belts. She can't find a small car that will do this. She doesn't want an...
I've found a 2012 car from a dealer with a number plate that is unrecognised on all the relevant websites. Might that be a cause for concern?
I bought a MINI from an approved dealer 12 months ago, it was an ex demonstrator. It recently developed an issue with the air con. When I took it into my local authorised MINI repairer they said it was...
What's the difference between the Ford Kuga 1.5 EcoBoost and the 2.0 diesel?
I've just bought a 2009 Citroen Dispatch 1.6 off a dealer after part exchanging my old van. After driving it for a few days, I've noticed some oil spots on the floor and sometimes what I believe to be...
My Renault Scenic is ten years old and has covered 17,000 miles. Five years ago, at 12,000 miles, I had a new cam belt fitted. It's now been another five years, do I need another cam belt? The car has...
My 2005 Ford Mondeo 2.0 TDCi has done 147,000 miles. It had a previous issue where the glow plug light would flash and it would go into limp mode. I read various posts on here and it seemed that the arm...
What is the cause of white exhaust smoke, even when the car is warm, from my 2008 Renault Modus 1.2 petrol with 32,000 miles on? There is also a small amount of emulsion inside the oil filler cap but no...
I've been doing some research on Audi remaps. Is this going to degrade the engine in any way and why do you think superchips are probably the best option?
I need to buy a new van for my business. It has to be long wheel base and high roof as we transport long fascia and soffit boards, as well as doors and windows. We would need to remove the bulk head and...
I have just purchased the new Alfa Romeo Giulia in the Alfa red. In your opinion, what's the best polish to use?
I had an MoT one month, and about 300 miles, ago. The only advisory was a rubber mounting. I took it to Honda for their spring checkover and the rear brake is down to the metal with a seized caliper which...
I'm considering buying a Suzuki Vitara depending on the ease of access for the driver because of arthritis in my knees and hips. Do you have any information or could you recommend something in same price...
We currently have a Honda Jazz CVT. My my wife, who has limited mobility, really likes it. However, we feel that with the type of motoring that we do, journeys up to about 25 miles from home, that an electric...
The timing belt snapped on my 2004 Renault Trafic, it's only done 56,000 miles. How much might it cost to fix?
I'm 67 years of age and my BMW ActiveHybrid 5 is now five years old, having covered only 25,000 miles. It's the best car I've ever owned and has a full BMW service history with no issues to date. I'm now...
I've just taken my Audi A6 in to have the emissions fix because Audi insisted that the performance, fuel consumption and CO2 emission will not be adversely affected. I instantly noticed driving back home...
A few months ago a woman stopped dead on a roundabout and I went in to the back of her car. I wasn't going fast and both cars were drivable afterwards. I had two kids in the back who were both fine. She...
I currently have a BMW 318is which is getting on and have £20,000 to spend on a new car. I would like something used that's a nice, petrol, manual and possibly a convertible. The pedal positioning in my...
I've recently seen you advise using Shell V- Power because it improves performance and mpg. We don't have a Shell garage here, but we do have a Tesco station which sells their premium brand, Momentum,...
.jpg)
