Wealth and efficiency

I bought my Ford Focus Ghia in January 2001, a size of car that would enable me to take my sick husband out and about. Fords had always been popular with us and this certainly proved its worth and, serviced...

Stilo’s wheels

I am looking to replace my Fiat Stilo Estate with a Skoda Octavia Estate and considering one with the 1.6 diesel engine with DPF (Particulate Filter) especially given low road tax. I note your recent articles...

Tense? Nervous? Brakes down?

Eight months after the warranty ran out on my 2006 Skoda Octavia 4x4 1.9 TDI estate, I started it one morning to find that the ESP button light was permanently on, as was the warning light on the dashboard...

Not yeti

I need to buy a new car after not having driven for 8-9 years. Using buses has become hopeless with so many services closing. I'm thinking of a diesel Skoda Yeti. I watched your video review and you seemed...

Closing the unstable door?

I own a VW Golf Mk5 SE 1.6 FSI 115PS registered 16/05/2006. The ESP OFF light came on along with the skidding car motif on the console and would not respond to the switch. Peter Cooper (Southampton) Ltd...

Easy TSI

I am thinking of changing my 2006 Focus 1.6 (113) Zetec for a new Octavia with the 1.4 turbo petrol engine. I would appreciate your view on small turbo petrol engines in general and this one in particular....

Maz’d hysteria

I have been watching an increasing number of entries on your Mazda 3 technical forum with problems associated with the Dynamic Stability Control unit. As the repair of this problem, a replacement unit,...

Surpricing news

I am confused about second-hand car prices. Have they risen recently, either because of an allegedly improving economy, or because the scrappage scheme has pulled a large number out of the market? Or have...

Easy DSG

Could you please explain the different driving technique of a DSG gearbox, and a standard autobox? Do you need to put the car in neutral at every stop, lights etc. My new car is a Skoda Octavia 1.8TSI...

Unstable ABS

Had a warning light come up on my 2005 BWW 1 Series. The manual suggests Suspension Stability Control. BMW diagnostics states "brake hydraulic malfunction " DTC at a cost of £1,200 part + £500 labour....