Questions from March 2013
I contacted George Stokoe at Airbagman yesterday, as you suggested, and fixed an appointment for this morning. He arrived early and 12 minutes later my problem was fixed at a cost of just his callout fee...
I currently have a 2005 2.0-litre Subaru Forester and would appreciate your advice of a replacement. I bought this car in May 2009 and chose an AWD as we were moving to mid-Wales and an estate for my husband's...
I bought a secondhand 2007 Octavia Scout TDI 1,968cc with 76,000 miles on the clock in May last year. It is my second diesel Octavia but the first with a DPF, something I had not heard of before I bought...
My son, living in California, has told me that, not only are car parks mostly herringbone there, but the regulations state that the spaces are "drive in, reverse out" and that cars reversing out have right...
I am noticing more and more vehicles with only one headlight working. Driving home one evening last week I counted 1 in 12 cars had faulty lights front or back. Why are motorists are not doing simple checks...
I have a 2007 Ford C-Max 1.6 110 diesel with 61,000 miles on the clock. My husband has a Ford Mondeo estate diesel 2.2 Titanium X with 60,000. We both now do about 6000 miles a year, a lot on short 4-10...
I saw your recent answer to a correspondent on reporting potholes. I emailed www.fixmystreet.co.uk on Wednesday 8.30pm. Received acknowledgement 9.20am on Thursday, and a further email at 11.20am on Thursday...
I drive 8000 to 9000 miles per year, mostly shortish distances. I have to replace my Honda Accord diesel. I would like a 4-door saloon or hatchback, petrol at about £10,000 without trade-in, not more than...
I need to replace my company BMW 3 Series soon and I now need a car that can take a large and growing dog. The cars I am interested in are the X3 18d SE, Audi Q3 Sportline, the Mazda CX-7 Sport, or for...
Recently a friend was in the front passenger seat with her feet up on the dash. Her husband (driving) had a relatively minor collision and the airbag deployed smashing both ankles of his wife. She‘s unlikely...
You commented that you don't understand the obsession with analogue speedometers. It is a well-understood ergonomic principle that an analogue needle display gives an indication of rate of change that...
Can you give me some advice and possibly point me in the right direction of which way to proceed with a problem with my 2009 Mini Cooper cabriolet that I have had from new. The car has been serviced by...
A very simple question. Which, in your opinion, is the better car - an Audi A5 or a Jaguar XF? I currently have an A4 S line which I am looking to replace.
I am considering buying a 2008 Range Rover TDV8, a 2010 Audi A8 TDI or a 2010 Jaguar XJ 3-litre diesel. Although I drive some long distance trips, predominately my journeys are under five miles. Do I...
I endorse your advice to "GS" regarding travelling too slowly on motorways. I recently travelled south on the M1 from Jct 40 to Jct 37 and, arriving at my destination, found that my nearside rear tyre...
I bought my 2007 Toyota RAV4 new with a three-year warranty. It has always been serviced at a Toyota dealer and after its five year 50,000 mile service in December 2012 I was told that there was a problem...
My wife and I are off down under for two months as a retirement bash. I shall be leaving my 2004 Mercedes C-Class K200 in the garage and unfortunately I have no-one to give it a run now and again. I seem...
If insurers are no longer allowed to charge women lower car premiums than men under EC law, why don't they use shoe size instead? It is highly-correlated with sex and therefore actuarially almost equivalent.
I have followed with interest your comments on DPF problems. I have not experienced these with my own 2009 Volkswagen 2.0-litre turbodiesel, although at 8000 per year I still avoid too many short runs....
Does the crank sensor read the flywheel - ie, if the flywheel is worn would it tell cam sensor that the timing is out?
I am looking to buy a used Hyundai i30 hatchback with a budget of around £8k. I drive 10,000 miles a year, mainly a 25 minute twice daily commute to & from work on a mix of minor & major roads.
Three cars...
I recently had two new tyres fitted to the rear by a major supplier. The types was the same as already fitted 225/55/16 and this was shown on the invoice. At my recent MOT it was noted that the ones fitted...
I put down a deposit of £50 for a car 2 weeks ago. I only received a receipt saying "I have received a deposit of £50 for vehicle ... balance of £915 to be paid". Signed the receipt.
The car is insurance...
I had an accident on the M25 two weeks ago, driving into a large lorry tyre, dropped by a lorry. Highways Agency attended and told me to give the lorry details to my insurers as it was clearly their fault....
I have a question regarding the correct lane discipline in this instance - there is a roundabout with two lanes on approach and a dual carriageway on the second exit. However, the left hand lane of this...
I am looking to but a used automatic hatch-back car in the range of £5000-7000 for my small family of three. I have few options in my mind as listed below. Would you please help me decide?
Options in...
Will my turbo from my Citroen Picasso 2005 2.0 hdi fit on my 1.6 hdi Picasso?
Parker's guide has a big price difference between a 320cdi(06) and a 320cdi Euro 4 - nearly £3000 for 07/07.
What's the difference please, and how do I tell which I am getting?
My wife has recently acquired a three-year old Nissan Note Techna 1.6 Auto (2010) which recommends 95 Octane unleaded petrol.
Some garages only stock 91 and 97 Octane petrol. What is the downside with...
Within certain limitations, and if I put my mind to it [with current diesel prices, I try very hard so to do], I drive very carefully. With a full load, my Suzuki manages 36 mpg, but with just the driver,...
What are your choices for a true 60mpg car ?
I'm looking to change my current car, 2008 Peugeot 207 SW 1.4VVTi for something more economical as I now have to drive to work two days per week 100 miles...
I bought a Volkswgaen Caddy (manual) with 6000 miles on clock, clutch has now burnt out at 19000 miles. I there a problem with clutch/flywheel on these vans? It's 62-plate.
A forwar-facing speed camera gave me a very bright flash straight into my eyes. It quite startling and downright dangerous. Is it legal?
It is on the A5120 Northbound in the village of Westoning (Beds)....
We have a 2005 Volkswagen Golf with a gearbox whine. We have the car since 2008, but the whine developed in the last year or so. In your reply to "Whine seller" last Saturday, you inferred that it wasn't...
For many years I have switched insurance companies almost every year in order to avoid the inevitable annual hike in premiums. Last February I obtained a quotation of £289 from LV for my MG ZT-T CDTi+...
New Golf 1.4TSI petrol or new 1.6TDI diesel? I’ve done the maths. For both cars after three years at 8000 miles per year at urban mpg (43 petrol and 62 diesel) and local fuel prices I’ve calculated petrol...
My daughter is in the process of changing her 2002 Peugeot 206 (group 5 insurance) for a 2009 Citroen C2 (group 1 insurance). The renewal for the 206 had just come through so when she phoned the insurance...
I have a Volvo SE60 2.4 D5 SE Auto on 84,000 miles from new. It is a 2004 so I guess this is about average. I am looking at an identical 2005 car with only 40,000 on the clock. It is one owner, like mine....
I am on the verge of purchasing a Freelander 2 diesel SW 2.2 TD4 XS 5-door, new, in metallic Santorini Black with Almond leather upholstery. I am trading in a Freelander 2 SW special edition 2.2 Td4 Sport...
My daughter has a 2004 Ford Ka. It has developed an intermittent fault whereby it will often over-rev when idling or rev in "pulses" as if someone is fanning the throttle. It has now also started running...
Last week your correspondent (SD, London) complained about a pinch point and speed humps and the effect they were having on his property. However, he did say they slowed the traffic. I'm sure you will...
I recently visited a Volkswagen garage and put a deposit down on a secondhand Scirocco. We signed a contract of which I have a copy. I will collect the car in two weeks. Two days later (today) I had a...
The accuracy, or otherwise, of manufacturers' fuel consumption figures attracts regular correspondence but my question is slightly different. We have just taken delivery of a new Vauxhall that boasts start/stop...
Following your road test of the Mazda CX-5, which size tyres would you recommend with a 2-litre petrol? I rather got the impression that the 225/65 R17 were too high profile and that the 225/55 R19 were...
I have covered 5700 miles, all on V-Power, in our 2011 Polo 1.2TSI 105 following your recommendation. It’s a great car in all aspects but one. On a run I average low forties to the gallon which is exactly...
Regarding BI’s email in February, I have reported well over 500 potholes via www.fixmystreet.co.uk using the iPhone app that is so easy. I am quickly approaching 1000. They have all been fixed apart from...
My other half wants to buy a convertible for fun driving. He loves cars and used to have a Spitfire that he tuned up and drove as a young man. Now we are approaching our 50s, he has some spare cash and...
I have now nearly reached the three-year point on a Mercedes-Benz C180 that I bought from a main dealer at six months old with a three-year warranty and two free services. These have now been had and I...
Are all automated clutches the same? Having changed my Jazz to the revised model CVT-7 because the auto clutch was not to my liking I note Ford has changed the new Fiesta to an auto clutch. Has Ford discovered...
I drive a 2009 Mazda 3 Sport. I live on top of a hill where the road is not gritted by the council due to local cuts. When it snows like it did recently we could not use our car for a few days until the...
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