Questions from August 2012
Following a rear-end shunt over 18 months ago (not my fault), my insurance company covered a major repair. The work was good, but a couple of problems related to the incident surfaced this summer, which...
I'm about to change my 2007 Audi A6 Avant Quattro 3.0 TDI SE for the new model. As some roads are often poorly surfaced these days it has been suggested that adaptive air suspension would provide a smoother,...
I am puzzled by your response to CD of Swansea’s query. Surely the speed awareness course is offered as an alternative to penalty points. It is not a course forgiving the conviction. CD broke the law and...
My wife has just bought a three-year-old Mini Cooper S Convertible and today received an email from Mini offering a set of winter tyres and wheels from £560 per set. They also offer to store the summer...
I have a 1.8-litre 2003 BMW 316ti Compact automatic that has covered 96,000 miles. In the last year and a half it has started to using oil. It is not burning oil, and there is no blue smoke coming from...
I have an old-school 2.0DTI in a Vauxhall Zafira. I have had issues with the EGR valve for about three years. Instead of having it replaced my local friendly garage "cleans" it and all is well, or was...
12 years ago I was in permanent pain whether sitting, standing or lying down. My chiropractor told me he could no longer help me after 20 years of successful treatment. The only place I could avoid pain...
Further to TP's wallet pains I too have found that I need to remove my wallet from my back pocket for long journeys to avoid back pains. I am intrigued by your response to back pocket wallet carrying....
Last year my car insurance, with a highly rated mutual, suffered a substantial increase. It was fortuitous therefore that they rang me this year just before renewal to try to sell household insurance....
I would like your thoughts on the TyrePal. Are they worth the money?
I would like to get into the car trade. Is it realistic to aim to sell 10 cars per month? I would aim for bargain cars under £1500. Would you also please confirm realistic margins, i.e. could I buy them...
I am currently running a Honda Jazz 1.4 i-VTEC ES which I find cheap to run and perfectly adequate for daily runs. However, my wife has a back problem and she finds the Jazz uncomfortable. We are considering...
I own an Jaguar XF 3-litre diesel which is two and a half years old. Both my front tyres still have 4mm of wear left on except for 50mm on the very inside of both wheels, where they're totally bald. The...
What is your opinion of the Renault six-speed dual clutch (EDC) transmission that I understand is currently an option on various models and, next year, will be standard fitment on the new 1.2 TCe Mk4 Clio?
I am thinking of ordering a new Yeti S 1.2 DSG from an online car trader as the list price is discounted by 13 per cent. They told me that they hold the V5 for up to six weeks before its release and that...
At a recent visit to ATS Tyres they suggested that I inflate the tyres on my Land Cruiser with nitrogen saying that this leads to better handling of the vehicle, less pressure loss and less corrosion to...
Various companies are advertising diesel particulate filter removal services with associated re-programming of the ECU to stop the CEL lighting up. My understanding is it is only an EU requirement to have...
When moving forward at low speed in my Nissan Note with a lot of steering lock applied, I can hear and feel a 'knocking' from the front. Could this be from the steering or suspension? Should I be worried?...
Last year the DVLA registered me as the new keeper of a 1936 Alvis. The car was at the time registered on SORN which was due to expire nearly a year later. I contacted the DVLA's Enforcement Centre where...
I took my 1993 Mazda MX5 for a service and got a phone call to say that the left front brake caliper was leaking brake fluid and needed to be replaced at a cost of £130, so I went ahead with the repair....
Further to your (always) good advice I would endorse your comments about insurance companies being prepared to negotiate. Indeed, I would go a stage further and take the initiative. When any of my insurance...
I'm a bit confused as to which is currently the best fuel to use in my Volkswagen group 2.0 TDI CR engine. Could you please confirm which is now the best diesel fuel, or is there really no difference?...
My daughter needs a car to ferry her four young children to school and to travel to see us in the school holidays. I have been offered a 2.5-litre Mazda Bongo B2500 diesel automatic for £2995. It has 92,000...
I currently have a 2006 Clio Expression 1.2 16v and I want a new five-door car with air conditioning. I do around 10,000 miles per year, mostly locally, with one round trip per week of 100 miles and a...
I have just purchased a set of Vredestein Wintrac 4 Extreme tyres for use on a Kia Sportage. This was the first time I have come across the new EU tyre labels and I was not surprised to see that, for a...
I received my quote from Churchill Insurance for my 56 plate Fiesta Ghia at £230.02, rang them to include my recent (6/9/2012) SP30 in a revised quote and they came back to me with a figure of £339.20....
I have been asked to help a lady in her early eighties with a change of car. She is a very competent but cautious driver who currently drives a 1997 Rover 100 1.1i. She is a very petite five foot tall...
I recently ordered a car manufactured in the Eurozone and then realised that the Euro has devalued against the pound by approximately 20 per cent over the last year. My question is who gets the benefit...
Can you please advise if a Mazda 2 1.3TS2 has a chain cam and also if it has a dual mass flywheel?
I have just agreed to purchase a Ford Fiesta 1.25 Zetec, which is four years old and in spotless condition, from a local Ford main dealer. The dealer has recommended that the car is given a protective...
After 60 years of blame-free motoring, I've been caught doing 36mph on a quiet Sunday afternoon in a 30mph limit. I have the choice of a speed awareness course (which costs £90) or three points on my unblemished...
The p/ex value of my Freelander 2 via a dealer makes the economics of selling unappealing, given its low utility of 27,800 miles. Following a substantial bill to repair the rear differential last week...
I want to buy a used car and the VED is a consideration that will influence my final decision of which make/model.
Is there a website that lists the tax rating for all cars since 2001 that I can use as...
A few months ago, in your Daily Telegraph column, you were very complimentary about the comfortable ride in the Honda CRV. You also advised the wheel/tyre combination which was helped make that comfort.
Can...
I need a used family hatchback, key features for me would be safe, reliable and economical, but with a decent sized engine and low miles - budget £5,000.
I bought a car at auction today (BCA Manchester) - An Audi A3 2.0 TDI (140).
The auction catalogue, web description and screen description all said air conditioning. Sadly the car is a far-from normal...
Audi Q7 2013 3.0T (with no air suspension) offers wheel size of 255/55/18-inch, 265/50/19-inch, 275/45/20-inch and 21-inch. I cannot decide whether I should pick 19 or 20. 20s look so nice on a large SUV...
I want to buy a new car that will be mainly used for journeys of about 10 miles each way with the occasional longer journey of 150 miles each way. Should I buy a petrol or diesel engined car as I want...
In August 2007 the bonnet of my Volvo XC70 was written off by a large tree branch brought down by a high lorry travelling in the other direction. My insurer, More Than, eventually agreed to settle the...
Does the 2012 Jeep Grand Cherokee 3-litre diesel engine have a chain cam? Can't find a definitive answer? This is the new Italian built 3 ltr engine.
I'm looking to change our 55-plate 2.2 CTDI Honda CR-V. Looking at a smaller crossover. We do about 6000 miles a year, mostly short trips, but some of 20 miles per week and monthly trips of 150 miles....
I have a Citroen C4 1.6 HDI+EGS done 15000miles at 5 years old, do I keep it or swap for a C4 petrol model? Car mainly used for short journeys (once a week occasional long runs every 3 months.
My Audi A6 has now reached the time to be replaced, 200000 good miles. The replaced falls between Honda CR-V or Suzuki Grand Vitara, as my future mileage will be 8000 miles per year the choice would be...
I purchased my second hand Audi A3 Sportback 2.0 TDi 170 in December 2009. Have had no problems with the DPF until last week.
DPF totally clogged - despite weekly long distance dual-carriageway driving....
I'm driving a Focus 2.0l TDCI averaging 44-47mpg on a 55 mile daily commute (25miles each way) mainly on dual carriageway and fast A roads. Plus shorter trips of 4 - 10 miles each way on fast A roads to...
Yesterday I opened a letter from Enfield council alleging that I parked my car in contravention of the parking regulations on 7 July. This was the first I had heard of the contravention, not having seen...
I bought a Volkswagen Polo 2006 (06) 1.2s in April 2012 from a main dealer.
The car is under a years warranty and since purchase I have had to have both window regulator replaced on the front windows.
Recently...
A few weeks ago my central locking stopped working , i have checked the batteries and it affects both fobs. I have also noticed that the radio does not receive any channels. Can you advise what the problem...
What is the firing order on the coil pack for a 2000 plate 1.4 mpi Seat Ibiza?
We currently own a Renault Scenic Grand, 2.0l petrol Automatic 55 plate
We would like to buy and younger, more economical car but are limited by need to put 3 child seats (2 high back, 1 booster) for our...
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