Questions from October 2017
My daughter is considering buying the Mitsubishi Outlander 2.0 PHEV. Can you tell me if it's a good buy for £20,000, how long a battery would last for and what the replacement cost would be? Thank you.
I own a Mazda 6, it's a beautiful car. Can you tell me why there is such a huge difference in road tax for a manual versus an automatic. My Mazda 6 auto is £113 per year, but a Mazda 6 manual is as low...
I have a risk of particle filter blocking warning showing up. Why is the regeneration not clearing it even after a long run at high speed?
After we test drove A Ford Fiesta 1.0, we looked under the bonnet and the expansion tank was bubbling. We were told this is the car cooling down as it has an ecoboost in it, we would like to know if this...
Am I obliged to inform my own insurance company of an car park bump, even though I was not in the car at the time and the lady responsible has admitted fault? She gave me all her insurance details.
Is a 1996 Mazda MX-5, with 62,000 miles, a good buy for the future?
I've just moved house. I told my insurer, Saga, and they charged me £42 for the change. Do you think this is right?
I was involved in an accident that wasn't my fault. The claims company has deemed my car a write off, Cat N. The damage was all cosmetic - the rear quarter panel, rear door and front door where damaged...
I was parked in a private car park and got hit by a van, minor damage only. The driver who ran into the car gave me his personal details, and those of his employer (but not insurance details), saying that...
Can I reject a used car if the fuel economy is very different from what I was told?
I'm looking for an estate car/van-like car that would give me a big boot space. I need 6.25 feet in length and about 4 feet wide, to drive to Italy and back, but at a low cost - no glamour needed.
What is the current technical feedback on the emissions fix and legal status of the cases being filed?
I just had a windscreen chip repaired by Auto Glass, who did a good job. Due to the damage only having occurred a few days ago, the repair is almost invisible. The operative gave a good tip, which I think...
I have a Skoda Fabia, owned from new and 10 years old. As it's Volkswagen Group, it's galvanised and has perfect bodywork. I'm interested in buying a new Suzuki Jimny 4x4, it's built like a tank and very...
I want to buy a new car via the scrappage schemes. I need a boot of about 350 litres, which brings my final choice down to the Renault Clio or Kia Rio. Which is the better built car and, doing 10,000 miles...
I have a Ford Focus. The manual states that with the engine off, I can listen to the radio for one hour. I can't, it cuts out after a few minutes. This seems to be a problem in general. Is this something...
If my van was half full of diesel and I filled it with petrol, would it run for a week?
I'm considering a nearly new, top spec Nissan Qashqai and I'm unsure whether to opt for a petrol or diesel model. The car will be mostly used for commuting. My journey is 20 miles from home to office,...
I was driving my wife's car and we had a car crash. Both of us are covered fully comprehensive. Presumably, I'll need to inform my own insurance. The incident is being dealt with by my wife's insurance....
I have a Rover 75, which I have registered with the French authorities to get my diesel scale for travel to Paris. They put me in the Class 4 category. However, when similarly trying to register with...
I have a problem getting all the air out of the cooling system after a thermostat change. What do you recommend?
I purchased a car from a dealer and completed the V5, but after weeks I have not received the document. The dealer claims it's not his responsibility. How do I get the replacement?
My car was bumped in a car park this morning. The lady responsible admits it was her fault. The damage is not massive, but the BMW body shop estimate that repairs to the door include repainting more than...
I bought a Mazda 3 2.2d in June this year. Four months later, the oil pressure light is on. The dealership warranty was only for 60 days. Who do I set a claim against to have the car repaired? I feel the...
I'm interested in either a SEAT Ateca FR or Volkswagen Tiguan SE Nav, both with the 1.4 TSI 150PS engine. I plan on keeping the car for seven or eight years. Which would you recommend?
I bought a Volkswagen Crafter, with 61,000 miles on the clock, for £10,400 a week ago. The price seemed about right, although my gut told me it’s had heavy use as the back of the van was in a bit of a...
I need a van that looks professional, smart and modern. Love the Volkswagen range but budget may not stretch to a new model. It needs to be converted for fish sales, which will cost about £6000. The Renault...
I wrote to you a few weeks ago about a fuse box fire in our 2013 Volkswagen Passat, which we have owned for almost six months now. We got our car back from the dealer on 19 October and everything thing...
In 2016, I was involved in a very minor public car parking collision, accidentally reversing into a car and causing very minor damage to the third party vehicle. We exchanged details at the scene and my...
I need to change cars as I now travel further to work each day. I'm looking for something that will do 60mpg, what do you recommend for my £5000 budget?
We just brought a new car and our old car is parked on our driveway, which we share with our neighbour. I've switched the insurance to the new car as we are selling the old one. Our neighbour has hit the...
My 2014 Ford Fiesta 1.0 Ecoboost has been in the garage since 27 July 2018 and they have now decided that it needs a new engine. This will be done as a warranty repair as it was in for its third year warranty...
Are there any small cars with a side-opening tailgate?
I only do 3000 - 4000 miles a year. Is a hybrid car suitable?
I would like to buy a dash cam, paying a maximum of £100. Could you recommend one, please? I want one that will record decent images in all light situations.
I had the Volkswagen emissions fix carried out on my 1.6 TDI Golf in December 2016. Today, I'm informed by my garage that my car needs a new EGR valve. I fitted a new EGR valve to the car in October 2015,...
I'm looking for a scooter, at least 100cc, like the Suzuki Address 110 to go in the garage at the back of a motorhome. Are there any other options of a similar weight and height, preferably not quite as...
I love buttons, comfort and gizmos more than power and driving. I don't need 4 Wheel Drive but want seven seats. I hate depreciation so I don't need a new car. What do you suggest I get?
I've recently bought a Volkswagen Golf GTE, but the wheels seem to have a mark embedded into the metal itself. Are there any cleaning agents you recommend?
I'm buying a Jaguar X Type from a dealer, it has 153,000 miles on it. They're giving me three months warranty. Are there any companies that offer the same?
I bought a brand new Toyota Aygo over a month ago and have only driven the car six times. The clutch has now burnt out and the dealer is saying that it will cost £807 to have this repaired. If it turns...
I have just purchased a secondhand Citroen C5 engine from eBay with 73,000 miles on the clock. Apart from a new cambelt, would you recommend anything else needs replacing at this stage?
I just received a speeding enforcement notice doing 30mph in a 20mph zone. If i pay the £100 fine and take three points, will this effect my insurance premiums? Or would it pay to spend £100 to go to the...
My nearly seven year old BMW 3 Series has suffered oil pump failure and a wrecked engine at 45,000 miles. Do I have any redress against BMW UK or the supplying garage (non-franchise), which I purchased...
I was contacted today by a debt collection agency looking for my daughter. It transpires that a car is registered in her name, about which she has no knowledge. A parking fine are is unpaid and a liability...
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