Questions from August 2013
My wife recently parked in a shopping complex in Saltcoats, Scotland - the total time she was parked was one hour and 43 mins (the time allowed is one hour 30mins, although she was not aware of this)....
I witnessed an accident on a country road two years ago and gave a witness statement to the police at the scene, as did one other driver. I believe that our accounts may have differed. I have recently...
The tyres fitted to my wife’s 2009 Nissan Micra 1.2 Tekna are Continental 185/50R16 and I think they give a slightly hard ride. Is it feasible to increase the profile without messing the job up?
I run at 2009 Mercedes-Benz C220CDI on 16-inch wheels with 205/60 R16 tyres. The build quality is excellent and the engine is powerful and frugal. It's a pity about the suspension, which is soft, vague...
I have a 2010 Volkswagen Caddy with 225/45 RF17 tyres. I am a firm believer in winter tyres. Do I use the 17-inch alloy wheels and pay the garage to fit winter tyres, or buy smaller steel wheels and fit...
After writing to you last year I was concerned about buying my Volkswagen EOS 1.4TSI. However, I am delighted with it and have no regrets. The short-term inconvenience of some winter condensation is more...
I have a 2009 Renault Megane 1.6 Dynamique 5-door, mileage 44,750. It has a full service / MOT history with my local Renault garage. At the MoT in April they renewed both rubber gaiters on the constant...
I recently purchased a very low mileage 5-month-old BMW Z4 2.0i M Roadster Auto from a BMW dealership for £23,000 which I thought was good value. However I find it a little underpowered and wish to perhaps...
When the cruise control on my Volvo XC70 is set at 60mph the TomTom says I am doing 58/59. When setting the cruise control to 61mph TomTom says I am doing 60. Which is likely to be more accurate, please?...
I replaced my Jaguar XF 3.0 D with a Jaguar XF 2.2 D in January this year and originally thought that the much 'harsher' ride was due to the 'newness'. 5000 miles later I don't think it is. I can see that...
We are looking for a new car, preferably a forecourt model or demonstrator with less than 5000 miles on the clock so we can avoid instant depreciation. We currently drive a 2003 Clio Billabong and have...
We are taking delivery of a new Vauxhall Astra at the weekend and the garage is offering, Diamond Brite paint protection for £149, reduced from £250. Do you think this is a good offer? I know we can do...
When I recently bought a new set of tyres I was offered a free alignment check which I was told showed that my wheels were out by a couple of degrees. To re-align them would be £30. Exactly the same thing...
Could you through the medium of your letters page advise all 2013 Honda Civic owners that certain models are not supplied with a toolkit or jack and have to rely on the pressurised tyre repair kit supplied?Since...
I would like to buy an 4WD pick-up, a single or extra-cab, not a double cab. All the current offerings are too big, both in length and particularly in width. A friend has a 2003 Hilux, which would be ideal,...
I have been trying to decide whether my C-reg Mercedes-Benz 220D, extremely well looked after by a Mercedes specialist family in West Hampstead, would benefit from using Shell V-power diesel. Cost would...
Do you by any chance have a magic cure for green mould growth in BMW convertible hood fabric that, perforce, has to live outside?
I ordered a new shape Volkswagen Golf VII on 11 January 2013 from the local dealer, based on info in the brochure of 19 October 2012. The production date of the car was 15 February 2013. I paid an extra...
Mazda does not seem to do a petrol auto 4WD like the CR-V auto but say they have this Skyactiv technology in diesel, which bypasses the particulate filter problems with low mileages. I only do 1000 miles...
I have a knocking sound from the front end of my Skoda Yeti. The noise rises above engine and 'normal' suspension noises over undulating road surfaces. It has been an on going problem to me and the dealer...
I need a second hand MPV with seven seats. Ideally, the car should be around six years old and reliable. Any ideas?
My local dealer is advertising a new petrol Vauxhall Zafira 1.6i Exclusiv for less than £10,000 – a huge saving on the £18,000 list price. I've driven them as hire cars and found them underpowered but...
The emissions control system warning light keeps coming on when I drive my Audi A6. The lambda sensor has been replaced but the problem still persists. What could be the most likely cause? Also how much...
My wife had an accident yesterday. Her 2011 Toyota Yaris struck a tree, flipped into the air and somersaulted across the road coming to a stop on top of a ditch. The car is a complete wreck, but miraculously...
My 2012 Volkswagen Golf traps water inside all four doors after washing or after. The problem is quite bad and, when I open the doors, the water quite literally pours out. I'm due to visit my local dealer...
I own a Nissan X-Trail, but the “ESP off" and the "4WD" lights come on as I start the engine. Should I be worried?
I’m looking for a quiet and reliable car for long motorway work. I cover 15,000 – 20,000 miles a year. So far I have driven a 2012 Honda Civic 2.2 DTEC and a 2011 2.2 CTDI. I’ve also driven a SEAT Exeo...
My son is struggling to keep up with the running costs of his 2005 Mini Cooper S. He is now considering a 2005 SAAB 9-3 Vector 1.9 TDI Sport. It has covered 90,000 miles and will cost £2500.
What are...
I am replacing my written of 9-3 Saab SportWagon with a brand new Mazda 6 tourer, 2.0 (145 PS) petrol engine SE-L, metallic paint, mats and boot liner, cash price £19150 on the road. A great deal from...
I am looking at two new cars at the moment: an Audi A3 sportback 2.0 TDI and a SEAT Leon FR. I know that they are built on similar chassis and engines, but I can’t choose between them. What would you recommend?
I have problems with the engine on my Ford Tourneo. When I slow down to stop, the engine will cut out. Had a new fuel filter fitted, but after a week started to cut out again. Ford tourneo is a 10 plate...
My wife & I bought a BMW 118d SE two years ago for £13k as an approved used car with 23k miles. 3-6 months in the start stop function ceased to work - I raised this and we were told to take the car on...
My brother’s Ford Fiesta keeps overheating, but there’s no heat in the cabin or radiator. We have changed the following: heater matrix, expansion tank and cap, radiator, water pump, thermostat twice (now...
I want to buy an automatic Seat Alhambra but they only have diesel options. I had dpf problems with a Zafira diesel automatic we purchased in 2006 because of the type of urban driving we generally do,...
Is there a lever to convert RHD headlights to LHD headlights?
My 2001 Volvo V70 is 13 months beyond the date when you should contact your Volvo workshop to inspect and if necessary replace the airbags. It was serviced 12 months ago, but this was not explicitly checked....
I’m in the process of changing my car and can’ make up my mind. Given the choice, would you buy a used Mazda 6 Sport or a Ford Mondeo 2.5? Both are three years old.
I bought a nearly new Audi A1 from a dealer recently. The car was advertised as having electric heated/folding mirrors, but when I got home I found it didn’t have them. The dealer has said is a factory...
The 1.0-litre 'Ecoboost' petrol engine in the Ford C-MAX is amazingly swift and responsive, can such an arrangement really deliver long-term on A-roads and motorways?
I have never owned a turbo-boosted...
We are trading in our 59 reg Jazz S which rides comfortably on 175/65R15 tyres for a new Jazz ES Plus supplied with 185/55R16. Do you foresee any downside?
Please can you tell me where UK supplied Mazda CX-5s are manufactured? Is it Japan or could they have been made in China, Russia or Malaysia?
My wife has a shoulder problem, she is finding gear change and handbrake operation a problem. It looks like we need a car with automatic transmission and electronic handbrake. We will be looking for something...
Earlier today we were returning from Wembury Point near Plymouth when we encountered a South West Highways road resurfacing crew coming in the opposite direction. It was on a narrow road and all seemed...
You responded to PB of Newcastle upon Tyne by saying that noisy exhausts prevent motorcyclist injuries. Noisy exhausts are antisocial and in most cases illegal. Motorcycles have a horn to warn other motorists...
My brother in law and I were discussing the DAF drive system and I am certain there was a model called the DAF Daffodil. He laughed and said there was no such model name. Do you know?
My sister drives a 2008 Nissan Micra 1.2 manual and noticed smoke/vapour coming out of the dash and a substance like cooking oil on the rear carpet a few days ago. We initially thought she spilled some...
Thank you for publishing my letter about vehicles being towed away at Stansted airport. I hope this alerts your readers to this scam. I have written to the airport MD, Essex police and others about this...
While at a barbecue over the weekend, we met this rather sozzled, pompous man who proudly told everyone how he remained in the middle lane of the motorway if his speedometer told him he was travelling...
I make the following points in relation to the debate about motorway driving. Lane hogging in any lane other than the inner lane is bad driving practice. Outside lane hoggers are the greatest danger for...
I am a regular, indeed avid reader of your column and aware that you have views about the wheel size on cars. I am contemplating buying a fairly recent Jaguar XK Portfolio with the V8 5-litre engine. I...
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