What could be causing a strange 'drain-like' odour in our friend's Ford Focus?

In early July a friend who has a five year old Ford Focus noticed a "dank drain-like" smell in the car. The intervening eight weeks has not seen it diminish. In fact it has got worse, even permeating into...

Whereafore auto

For over 50 years I have been driving conventionally geared cars I am now 81 and considering moving to a slightly smaller car, an automatic Fiesta in place of my Toyota Auris. I drive about 14,000 miles...

Gear change

I currently have a 2005 Skoda Octavia Estate 2.0 Litre diesel with DSG gearbox. Car has been faultless and I have experienced none of the reported "hesitation" with the 6-speed wet DSG box. Now time to...

Good top of range MPV on mobility please?

Comfortable high ride, good fuel economy, manual or automatic (not too used to automatics but keep getting advised that the new ones are more fuel efficient?) At the moment we seem to be looking at Scenics,...

Seven up

I have a friend who has a FIAT Multipla and asked my advice about buying something different. He has 12 grand children but doesn't want a people carrier. He's looking for a new or preferably second hand...

Burning smell in a Mondeo

I've recently bought a Mondeo Titanuim X Sport 163 and after driving the car today for about 20 minutes and arriving back home I noticed a knocking or flapping noise in sync with the engine that I've never...

Price quote from garage

My son has just been quoted £150 by a Ford main dealer to repair a broken clutch return spring. Is this reasonable, as the part only costs about £4?

CR-V or Mondeo Estate?

We have a budget up to about £16000. I like the Honda CR-V, my wife prefers the Mondeo Estate.

Which tyres for a Kuga?

My Ford Kuga 162ps Powershift is currently running on the factory fitted Continental ContiPremium Contact 2 235/50 R 18 tyres. At speed on certain surfaces these tyres transmit quite a lot of noise into...

Can you recommend a car that will take three child seats across the rear seats?

My niece wants to buy a car that will take at least three child seats in the rear for the school run. Can you recommend any reliable vehicles? Also, can you confirm that it is better to buy a well-used...