Questions from November 2010
My husband (who is now 71) has always lusted after a Volvo so when I was left some money three years ago we pushed the boat out and bought a new top of the range C30 turbo diesel complete with leather...
Got a new Scirocco 2.0 TSI - bought August '09 ('09) plate as an ex-demo from a VW dealer I've used for many years - must've bought 6 or 7 VW's from them. The Scirocco has been regularly serviced and looked...
Could you point me in right direction for another car? I am 72 and now do about 9000 miles a year. About 3500 is for going to France and the rest is local. I would like something that fulfills the following:...
Got a nice 160mile trip back home in a recovery truck after what the guy suggested is a faulty turbo on my Xsara Picasso HDI (110 I think) - loads of blue smoke from exhaust and no oil left thereby. Thing...
Going skiing in a Range Rover Sport and need to take chains or socks - which are better and how many wheels is it best to put them on?
My A4 has covered 56000 miles from new, former company car doing about 16k per annum, now as 2nd owner I only do about 7k per annum. First reg. Sept 2006 petrol 2 ltr automatic. Car has always been seviced...
I have a 54 reg VW Passat (bought new) that has done 60,000 miles. In the last month selection of 2nd gear (either up or down) has been greeted with a fairly loud 'crunch' and associated difficulty in...
Your tragic emails about runaway automatics reminded me of a true incident, circa 1960. A friend had a wealthy uncle who had an automatic Rolls-Royce. One morning he drove out of his garage but stopped...
I inherited my current company car, an '09 plate Audi A6 S-line saloon running on 18-inch alloys and 40-profile tyres. I expected the suspension to be spine-smashingly hard, but have been pleasantly surprised...
May I suggest your correspondent NH, Salisbury, travels at a more leisurely speed of 60mph and in the nearside lane? This way the only real stress is overtaking (carefully) the occasional slow-moving trucks...
I'm thinking about buying a “new” Focus RS from a main Ford dealer. The full retail price is £29,286. The dealer has offered me the car at a discounted price of £27,500. However, I have been told that...
I thought you would be interested in the views of a listener to LBC, identified as ‘Roy of South Morden’ and his opinion of your advice about driving an automatic using left-foot braking. Roy claims to...
I am so pleased to see someone with knowledge recommend left-foot braking. Please continue to press the several advantages of using this technique. I ran a Porsche 928 Series 4 auto for seven years and...
We were very interested in your reply to JS on the problem of ESP failures. My 2002 Golf Estate TDI PD 130 recently shone a warning light indicating a fault in the ESP. Having checked at the nearby Volkswagen...
My new Nissan Note has an ESP on/off switch. Why would I wish to turn off this (I believe) valuable safety feature?
I refer to the letters in Motoring Lifestyle on Sunday 31 October regarding middle lane driving. Surely your reply misses the point that whatever one’s opinion of the speed limit, it is 70 mph and that...
I am considering the purchase of a 1978 Mercedes-Benz W123 model. This car has only completed a genuine 27,000 miles from new. It is offered with all of the service invoices together with all the MOTs....
I ordered and paid a deposit for an Audi A5 2.0 TDI to my specification on August 17 2010 and was assured that a delivery before the year's end would not be a problem. I have now been told today that the...
I have a 2003 Hyundai 1.3 GS Getz. It always passes its MOT, the last being in September, twice. I have had new wiper blades fitted but seem unable to overcome the juddering and graunching when using the...
My 2007 Audi A3 is less than four years old, has done less than 34,000 miles and has a full Audi service history. Last week the ESP warning light came on so I tried to book an appointment with my local...
I recently returned a lease car after four years and three months, with 83,000 on the clock. It did have a few scratches on it from hedges etc, but nothing through to the metal, and the chap collecting...
I never thought I would say this but "Congratulations DVLA.” My wife recently bought a new Jazz and, as is the case nowadays, all the documentation was dealt with by the dealer, so my wife was presented...
I received a MET Parking charge (£100/£50 if paid in 14 days) for overstaying by 19 minutes in a McDonalds. I read your letter page every weekend and have noticed your suggestion concerning these "fines"....
We have had a Honda Jazz 1.4 SE since 2002 and, apart from two fairly minor problems (an EGR valve problem, which you identified, and a rear wheel bearing failure) have had trouble-free motoring since...
I am recently retired and despair of finding a car that is basic enough for me. My priorities are versatility for carrying loads, safety, economy, and the ability to tow a small trailer. Gadgets and comfort...
Whenever you discuss left-foot braking in automatic cars, you seem to receive a volley of outraged emails. I fully support your views on left-foot braking in automatics. I have done this for many years...
On my recently purchased used Renault the clutch pedal has no 'free play' and starts to take up at the top of the clutch travel. I find this most awkward to pull away from rest without a slight jerking....
Could you clarify the legal position when one of the emergency services, with blue lights flashing and siren sounding, needs to cross a red light where traffic is blocking their progress. Is it permissible...
I keep getting flashed by speed cameras on the same stretch of road when I know I am under the limit. Could something else, such as cars going in the opposite direction, be setting them off? I've travelled...
My BMW X3 automatic has covered 38,000 miles from new in my ownership and recently had an inspection and brake fluid change at Sytner High Wycombe. The service received and the ongoing communication throughout...
Further to an email some time ago in which HJB refers to a braking defect on his Peugeot 207, I totally agree and support your comments in respect of the lack of foot clearance in the Peugeot. My wife...
My wife is keen to buy a new car and has her sights on the Mazda 2 Activematic. Have you had the opportunity to test one yet?
I was interested in your statistics on stopping distances when left-foot braking an automatic rather than right-foot braking. I started using this method about 40 years ago when I moved to Detroit and...
Thanks for your advice on left-foot braking on automatics. I recently purchased an automatic Maserati and so far I have nearly crashed three times whilst in a confined space, making three point turns or...
When visiting southern Spain recently, I found an article in an English language newspaper that may be of interest to you. Although I support your campaign against speed cushions, if our anti-motorist...
If I were to purchase a couple of winter tyres for my BMW 320D Touring, would I be best served fitting them to the front or rear wheels?
I was a chauffeur, driving numerous people from Prime Ministers to the average man in the street for 22 years. Throughout all this time I left-foot braked. I learned by having a Cortina Mk3 auto with a...
I have owned a Ford Mondeo Titanium X 2.5T from new. It is now two years old and has 46,000 miles on the clock. I normally trade my car in after two years but I cannot find a car that compares with my...
I own an 1994 Isuzu Bighorn 3.1TD LWB that has served me well for about 10 years now, used on our small farm for the occasional heavy towing task (livestock in a trailer to slaughter, hauling baled hay...
In your reply about buying satnav for an impending European trip in 10 days time you recommended that, rather than learn the quirks of a satnav, I instead use "map nav". What is "map nav" and what platform...
I seem to recall that you recommended a product for driving in the snow. It was not chains and I think the word "glove" was part of the name. As winter is still upon us could you let me have the details?
Having worked in the insurance industry a few years ago I can see a hole in the cover offered by the breakdown and insurance companies. My 16-year-old motorcycle broke down in France whilst returning from...
Why do you suggest that drivers should move to the middle lane to let speeders pass on the motorway?
Despite being an avid fan of your column I was amazed to read your cavalier dismissal of the points made by NH of Salisbury (Sunday Telegraph, 31st October) regarding the 70mph motorway speed limit. You...
I have identified a set of 15-inch steel wheels fitted with Avon Ice Touring tyres which will be ideal for winter use on my Mother's Nissan Note. I hadn't reckoned on the vagaries of the insurance industry,...
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