Does my Skoda Octavia need a standard service or a cam belt change too?

My service booklet says that the 40,000 miles/4-year fixed interval service is a "standard routine service". The main dealer says it needs a cam belt change at £615. Another dealer recommended the routine...

Disenfranchised

I still enjoy our long and short distance driving, and have patronised BMW since the 1980s. However, the last year with our local franchise dealer has become somewhat fraught. It may be due to my age and...

Are head gasket failures common on the 2007 Peugeot 307?

My local garage last week replaced the thermostat housing unit on my Peugeot 307 1.6 semi-automatic 2007 model, after I woke up one morning to find huge water loss. The car has only done just over 22,000...

Does our 2009 Citroen Dispatch need an oil change?

I have a 2009 Citroen Dispatch 1.6-litre turbo diesel van. It's not yet due for a service on its factory oil (less than 500 miles). One of the staff topped up the oil with mineral oil 15/40 grade CC (as...

Why is my 2002 Vauxhall Vectra squealing when I start the engine?

I have a 2002 Vauxhall Vectra C, 2.2DTi with 111,000 miles on the clock. When I start the car there is a squealing noise, which rises and falls with the revs for the first 10 to 15 seconds of running,...

Should I have the cam belt changed in my six-year-old Audi A4 with 55,000 miles?

We have an Audi A4 3.0 convertible on an 04 plate which has done 55,000 miles. The car now only does approx 5000 miles a year. Audi advises that the cambelt is changed every 80,000 miles, but doesn't give...

What should I pay for a Volkswagen Golf with 46,000 miles on the clock?

I'm looking at purchasing a Volkswagen Golf 1.6 16v SE, 5-door with 46,000 miles on the clock. I am wondering what you think would generally be a good price. I am not really looking to spend more than...

Does my 2006 Volkswagen Golf GT need a new cam belt at four years old?

My 2006 Volkswagen Golf GT diesel 170bhp has just had its second service, as it's on long life regime. While booking it in, the dealer remarked that it will need its cam belt changed in November when the...

Do Honda Jazzes of more than four years old require any special attention during the service?

As the 73-year-old owner of a 54-plate Honda Jazz automatic which is coming up to its MoT and annual service, is there anything in particular I should be looking out for? The car has been serviced annually...

Unwarranted attention?

I have recently been quoted £230 by BMW, to change the oil on my 123d M Sport Coupe. This is the first service as indicated by the on board computer. A colleague put me in touch with a BMW trained specialist...