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• 
  Why does my diesel Volkswagen Golf engine cut out and restart when I slow down? 19 Mar 2017 (Ask HJ)
  I bought a brand new diesel Volkswagen Golf in January. There was a series of minor problems at first; tyres at the wrong pressure, pulling left, a burning...
• Subaru Forester 2.5XT - Stainless Steel exhausts., M I J Walsall 17 Aug 2020 (Forum)
  Have tried to leave a review in the good garage guide, above, but the site froze when i tried to submit.
• Reliable and fun to drive for £4k? 23 Oct 2003 (Forum)
  Reliable 2. Reasonably satisfying to drive 3. Not much wider than the Golf (5'6") as I have a narrow garage 4. Unlikely to get nicked - it will be spending a lot of time in station carparks. Having looked in HJ's car by car breakdown and at the Parkers guide my shortlist is Corolla, Civic, Almera. Any views on these or alternatives that I should consider?
• Unreasonable expectations re: part exchange? 24 Nov 2008 (Forum)
  Grateful for any advice as in a bit of a conundrum here, and apologies in advance for the length of the post! Decided we would part exchange both of our cars for one family car, and went to a garage this morning to try to get a good deal. The cars we want to part exchange are - 55 reg Honda Civic VTEC Sport with 56000 miles 56 reg Nissan Micra c+c Essenza with 9000 miles Both in very good condition, especially the Micra.
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  Can you recommend someone to do a pre-purchase inspection on a classic Mercedes-Benz? 9 Sep 2019 (Ask HJ)
  Can you recommend someone to do a pre-purchase inspection on a 30-year-old Mercedes-Benz SL? The car is in Wigan. Is it best to use the RAC?
• Bye bye Xantia 9 Sep 2002 (Forum)
  Thing is, I've never sold a car before and to tell the truth I'm not sure I can be bothered will all the palava (real word?). I've read HJ's guide, but I want to absolutely minimise the hassle of selling. The nice chap in the garage suggested I tried an auction, but I'm concerned that it'll go for £50 and I'll have to pay £60 + commission to the auctioneer.
• Vauxhall Corsa 2011 1.0ltr - Vauxhall Corsa Sound advice Needed urgently 7 Aug 2014 (Forum)
  I brought the car in good faith from a main dealer who to be honest, took my money and ran. I am currently looking to take some legal action if someone thinks i would have a good case as i am fed up having the car in and out of the garage at my expense.
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  How much would an Austin A90 Atlantic, in need of much repair work, be worth? 21 Mar 2017 (Ask HJ)
  I am the daughter-in-law and also executor of a man that passed away in November last year. He has on his lawn an Austin A90 Atlantic which is very much...
• Toyota Avensis 2008 2.2D Estate - Head Gasket failure 2 Apr 2015 (Forum)
  In all my many years as a Technician I've NEVER heard of a car needing the engine removed for such a repair. I'd like to hear some accurate reasoning behind that. I was guided by the thought that this is a quality car that would give me many trouble free miles...I now regret not buying a Kia which I was considering also. I may sell this one and change to a Kia...7 year warranty sounds good to me.
• Mazda - Mazda used approved warranty claim advice, please 13 Jun 2009 (Forum)
  In fact, with the engine running, if you remove the oil filler cap it does a (depressingly) good impression of a steam train. It also does the same if the dip stick is removed indicating it is likely to be blow past the pistons as opposed to valve guides. How it doesn?t burn oil I really don?
• How much to pay for a 2nd hand car 17 Jan 2005 (Forum)
  VW asking price £10,900. Parkers Guide has a retail price for this car at 10,000 miles of £11,300; this price is for a car not from a franchised dealer and not in an 'approved car' scheme. The Passat is from a franchise and is from an approved car scheme.
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  The write-offs in the wall 29 Aug 2011 (Ask HJ)
  I wrote to you last year whilst we were deliberating as to what to do following an accident that resulted in our car being declared a total loss by the...
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  Does my Ford Mondeo have DAB+? 11 Dec 2023 (Ask HJ)
  I have owned a 2016 Ford Mondeo Titanium Mk5 from new and the vehicle has been highly satisfacory and trouble free. However I am concerned that the advent...
• Just Tyres -naming names 1 Oct 2001 (Forum)
  (Yes, I know I should have been more assertive at the time - I'm just too British). Do you feel that we should name names a little more? I'm glad the site has a good garages guide; equally, should it have a bad one? If you work at Just Tyres, I'd be even more interested in your comments. On a point of law, I justify the following as fair comment. Any legal points Mark (Brazil)?
• 
  How many types of hybrid cars are there and what do they mean? 1 Jun 2023 (Ask HJ)
  I would like to buy a new or nearly new car (not older than 2019) but do not want a fully electric car as I do not have the facility to charge it at home....
• BMW I3 - I bought a used BMW I3- a story to be updated . 13 Sep 2025 (Forum)
    Yet to read manual and don't yet know more than  1% of IDrive system which controls all electronics.. Simple You Tube guide helped me drive it with no issues. Conclusions: easy to drive, quiet, comfortable  economical and blistering acceleration (0-60mph in 8 seconds). Comfortable., ride smoother than reviews suggested..
• Tools 10 Feb 2002 (Forum)
  AVIATION METAL CUTTERS: See hacksaw. TROUBLE LIGHT: The mechanic's own tanning booth. Sometimes called a drop light, it is a good source of vitamin D, "the sunshine vitamin", which is not otherwise found in garages at night. Health benefits aside, its main purpose is to consume 40-watt light bulbs at about the same rate that 105-mm howitzer shells might be used during, say, the first few hours of the Battle of the Bulge.
• Citroen C3 - bad experience with mechanic 3 Apr 2010 (Forum)
  I drove the car later and i had the same or very simular noise under the car... i couldnt believe it. The garage was shut for the easter break but i noticed the tyre centre open so i dropped in there and asked them to look at it incase they didnt put a wheel on right.... You've probably guessed it... They didnt know what i was talking about.
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  My diesel car doesn't have a DPF, why has it failed the new MoT emission rules? 12 Jul 2018 (Ask HJ)
  My Skoda Octavia 1.9 TDI has failed its MoT due to excessively high smoke. It was registered on 3 July 2008 and the MoT tester says it has failed the new...
• BMW 3-Series E90 (2005 - ) - 325d SE Day 1 - Collection 29 Mar 2008 (Forum)
  It never seems to exceed 2500 left to its own devices. I try not to crash into things on the way home. It would be good to show it intact to the wife. On the way I make another couple of re-discoveries. I cannot read the little motor bike instruments sharply with my distance prescription. I knew this from the test drive.