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  Which winter tyres are best for Maserati Quattroporte? 20 Aug 2016 (Ask HJ)
  I run a 2008 Maserati Quattroporte in Spain. The tyres are needing replacing and as I am due to do some driving in Northern Europe this winter I was going...
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  Car hire at Malaga Airport - what do you think of this? 19 Oct 2014 (Ask HJ)
  Seeing in your column the many horror stories about car hire abroad felt it only fair to recount our recent experience at Malaga Airport. We had booked...
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  Failed turbo 10 Apr 2014 (Ask HJ)
  What do you know about turbocharger re-conditioners? Last week in the Daily Telegraph you replied to a letter from someone who had encountered an engine...
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  Which estate car do you recommend for winter driving, long journeys and good comfort? 29 Jun 2013 (Ask HJ)
  Over many years I have averaged 50,000 miles per year and in later years in Mercedes E350 estates, both diesel and petrol. I currently have a 12-year-old...
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  Obscure law 28 Nov 2011 (Ask HJ)
  I am a long-term expat, and recently drove a hired car in England for the first time for a number of years. Not only was there no handbook or even...
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  Tyreless 8 May 2010 (Ask HJ)
  I was astounded to read the e-mail describing the problems faced by reader, PH of Hampton, concerning the lack of availability of BMW spec (Bridgestone)...
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  Gite car 12 Sep 2009 (Ask HJ)
  I am considering buying a car to keep at my holiday home in France. I know I could continue renting but I’m spending about £2,500 pa on that, plus what...
• Toyota Yaris - Best fuel grade to use... 4 Apr 2022 (Forum)
  Wife and I split our time between UK, Spain and Thailand, and have a car in each country.  Right now I am in Thailand and, on a bit of a whim, decided to get rid of my old Toyota Vios and order a new Toyota Yaris. The car is being built right now and I will be collecting before the end of the month.
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  I've just bought a secondhand engine off eBay - what would you suggest needs replacing? 24 Oct 2017 (Ask HJ)
  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...
• Budget camper van or similar 14 Aug 2017 (Forum)
  One thing I've always wanted to do is a sort of minimalist touring in Europe, having spent many a great holiday in Spain/France. I've seen many folk over there on campsites with a budget /minimalist van conversion. This really appeals to me, the sort of thing I'm thinking of is a Berlingo/Partner/Kangoo size thing. The VW Transporter seems to be the default choice, nice size but a bit pricy.
• Vauxhall Astra - Car hire broker contract` 21 Apr 2016 (Forum)
  I hired and paid in advance for an Astra through a broker (Car Labs) in early March for a bargain price - 47 euros for 11 days pick up from the airport in Spain, full to full fuel policy. Yesterday, I received a phone call from Car Labs saying they were unable to provide the car due to a problem with the car hire company. Fair enough, it happens. The alternative car was off airport, a Seat Ibiza with fuel policy full to full.
• Mile-munching estate 1 Jun 2011 (Forum)
  Mileage is likely to increase due to work commitments, and given the high second hand prices here in Spain I'm looking for a new car which will be my workhorse for the next five years, by which time it'll have 250-300,000km on the clock.  An estate format is the most practical for both dogs and shopping, and of course mpg as I'll be spending more on fuel than the car.
• Confessions of a part time mimser 21 Oct 2008 (Forum)
  I have to admit to mimsing in certain conditions. Let me first point out that I drive in the north of Spain, which is, of course, nothing like driving in the UK. (There are tolls everywhere, M'way cameras are mounted behind gantry-mounted LED panels the size of a tennis court and traffic police, apart from in the Basque Country, are all over the place.)
• Renault - 2002 RX4 Gearbox trouble 10 Dec 2007 (Forum)
  A good friend of mine has a 2002 Renault RX4 which has lost it's fifth gear. Here is what he described in an email to me, incidentally he lives in Spain but frequently returns to the uk. "As for problem, it just vibrates and makes a noise when I put it into 5th gear but no other gear is affected and it drives quite normally in all the others. The garage tried to explain what was wrong (remember this is in Spanish) and I got the impression it was something to do with splines, or pins or lugs sheared off (something on one bit that should mesh with another bit) and the solution is an exchange gear box.
• Smaller car---but how small? 27 Nov 2007 (Forum)
  And 3 or 4 times a year half way down England, right across France and on to the Costa Pile. Quite a long way. Fast -usually . France one day Spain the next. And then back again of course. Must be comfortable and relaxing. Must be able to get out of it after 9 hours feeling OK. So I need a 3 cylinder 1.4 turbo diesel Superb or a 2.5 litre turbo diesel Micra.
• £1500 Student Gumball Car!!! 10 Mar 2007 (Forum)
  Our next major step is deciding on/purchasing a suitable car......... The route takes us through France, down through central Spain to Granada the back up to Valencia to 'La Tomatina' festival. We have decided that we want something a bit random to do the journey in, some big luxo barge would be ideal and we are seriously considering a classic range rover (1990-3 vintage).
• honda prelude 2.2vtech (import) 13 Nov 2003 (Forum)
  ps an old chap at my local said he once had this problem with the donkeys he used to work with in spain,and when they stopped and refused to go again he used to stand a yard in front of them and temp them with something tasty, hence the bags of sweets i bought,but alas to say this "folk-lure" remedy didn't work either. :-(
• Thanks to HN, thanks to you guys 28 Jul 2003 (Forum)
  Last weekend I sold my 10 year old, 165,000m BMW 525 TDS Estate - Left hand drive - to my local garage owner for £2K, who is taking it to Spain as the car for by the holiday home. I am sure that with proper care and attention that engine will be good for another 100,000 miles. Thanks to this website I have now saved over £1,600 on a new Seat Alhambra SE TDi PD 130, listed as £20,700.
• My wonderful Xantia - - 29 Jul 2002 (Forum)
  It is seven and a half years old,has done 64000,has had its cambelt changed and 6 new spheres,had new glowplugs a while back unnecessarily when a main dealer failed to cure bad starting, has 2 brand new tyres on the front,rides perfectly,has no rattles,no rust (but paint is flaking off the bonnet because of a lousy repair done by my insurers when a deer impaled itself on the front)and I would start it up in the next 5 minutes and drive it to the south of Spain with no worries at all and have in fact done this 3 times in the last 6 months.Fantastic car. It is the best car I have ever had. My wife thinks we need a more modern motor. No idea why but I have little idea how her mind works at the best of times.Nevertheless one day it will have to go for something newer.How much more can I expect out of my Xantia ?
• The Price of Image 26 Mar 2002 (Forum)
  Apparently, a few years ago he ran a Spanish division of the group for his employers and he said ? In Spain nobody had a company car and nobody was interested in the image of your car. I went to the office on the bus! When I moved to a new post back in the UK, everyone has a company car and I have to arrive in £30,000 of 5 series BMW because I?