Questions from April 2014
The rear passenger door on my Vauxhall Meriva will not with central locking, but does lock. Any ideas?
I purchased a 2006 Peugeot 207 at the end of January. I was mislead as to its mileage when emailing them and discovered it had done more when test driving it.
The car had various signs of wear, but these...
I bought a Corsa VXR in September 2012 brand new, after a few months of owning I have had issues with the brakes screeching and binding. I have taken it back to the local dealer where I bought it three...
My wife has a 2005 Peugeot 307 1.6 HDI that has a diesel knock and blows black smoke on starting. It gets worse then better, occasionally running well then starting to smoke again.
My Corsa has just failed its MOT because of a 'strong imbalance' between the L and R rear brakes. Apparently this could either be a distribution valve, or possibly the Master Cylinder.
I was surprised...
The time has come to replace my 2001 2.5l Subaru Legacy Outback Estate. At 140,000 miles it's beginning to cost more than it's worth (i.e. next to nothing)
The car is used for general everyday local...
I am considering a 2007/8 Honda Jazz with the CVT gearbox (not i-Shift). Is this a good idea? Are there any reliability issues with the CVT gearbox once it gets to 7/8 years old? Is there a different car...
With all windows closed wind noise is continuous starting at around 25 mph.
Is it possible to reduce the wind noise or is this inherent with all CR-V?
Please advise.
I am looking to buy a small car with good fuel economy. I've narrowed down my choice to the Koa Rio and Ford Fiesta, which would you buy?
My son ordered a BMW m135 with an initial delivery of late April. Three weeks ago that slipped to late May and now he has now been told the end of June. Can he cancel the order?
I want to buy a used Porsche with a budget up to £38,000. What would you recommend?
I have a easily visible scratch on my Nissan Juke front bumper, more than six inch in length. Could you please recommend best scratch remover?
We have a new Ford Fiesta Ecoboost 100PS, but the fuel consumption is nowhere near what the stated mpg should be. We're getting barely 42mpg which is hardly any better than our prior, 2006 Ford Focus 1.6...
I bought my 2010 MINI Cooper D Countryman in Switzerland (where I live) & the next service is due in about 500 miles. Hwever, I am driving to the UK shortly. Is it possible to get the car serviced in England...
Do you think BMW E46 will become a future classic? If so, how long do you think prices of them will start to increase?
To put this into context, I'm thinking of purchasing a 2002 E46 320Ci with a genuine...
I have owned a Mazda CX7 2.2 D Spoort Tech for three years. The car has been dealer serviced and completely reliable and I enjoy driving the car. Mileage is 20,000.
The warranty has recently expired...
I was hit by a van who was half on my side of the road as we approached each other. The driver admitted to me that it was his fault as the sun was in his eyes (although the sun was behind him at the time)...
I'm 61 and want to be a car. Due to my age, this will be my last chance to get a big boy's toy before senility and a Honda Jazz hit the horizon. I want something powerful, comfortable and with more than...
My wife is a youthful pensioner and wants to change to a car with a high seating position like Skoda Yeti, Nissan Qashqaii etc which can be new or nearly new and which ideally will have a sun roof that...
I am looking for a used small car that will be very cheap to run, with high mpg and a reliable (diesel preferable) engine. I do about 13,000 miles per year, 90% of the time on motorways and outside cities....
Letter of intent to reserve place in queue for new Jaguar XE. Do you have a pro forma letter and what legal protection do I have if I back out when car is launched and will I get deposit back?
Is it okay to change one piston? My Vauxhall Astra diesel has done 36,000 miles and there is no damage to the bore, only the piston and the head.
I have finally decided to buy a new Volvo XC70, what tyre size do you recommend for the best ride? Also, can you tell me if there are any known faults with this model?
I want to buy a new Ford Fiesta 1.0 Ecoboost Titanium. I have a three year old car to exchange and am looking to get the most for my money. Can you tell me how I can get the best deal?
My 2008 Ford Fiesta diesel broke down and a local garage did a diagnostic test and said injector number three needed replacing. I paid just over £300 for this work and the car drove out the garage exactly...
My 2007 Vauxhall Zafira's last main service was back in 2011. It has only done 10,000 miles since then, is it time for another big service or just an interim one?
I am visiting a friend in Italy who said I can borrow their car (that they've insured) while I'm there for the week. I have a full UK driving licence and am 23 years old. Will I need to get separate insurance...
I bought a 2006 Ford Transit van six weeks ago from a trader who is claiming it was bought on trade terms at a discounted price. However, the car has unroadworthy tyres, a huge oil leak and a faulty thermostat.
I...
Hi John, I came home from work today to be welcomed by a parking charge notice.
It claims I overstayed by by arriving at 07.18am and leaving at 17.33.
I was at work that day with the car. I did park at...
I need to replace my old Fiat Multipla with a car with the same ease of access, high seats and room for a folded wheelchair. Any Recommendations?
Which small/medium sized car is best for a 14,000 miles commute to work? I have £5000 to spend.
I own a Peugeot 308 SW, which has covered 57,000 miles. Last week the odometer reading suddenly jumped to 94,000 miles. Is this a known fault on this model and what is the best way to correct it? ...
I'm looking to buy a brand new BMW 120d. Can you tell me if the timing chain is still a problem on this engine, or have they solved the problem?
I am currently trying to sell my car privately, can you advise what the best/safest form of payment?
The first service on my Renault Scenic is due after 20,000 miles. A Renault mechanic suggested its a good idea to change the oil before that milestone - my present mileage is about 11,000. What do you...
I have recently retired and need to buy a car that will offer good economy, refinement and reliability. I have narrowed the choice between the Audi A3 quattro sport DSG and the Mercedes GLA 220 auto. Which...
I have just bought a new Mazda 3, do I have to go to Mazda to have it serviced under the warranty, or can I use my own tried and tested local garage to do the servicing without affecting my warranty
I am looking at buying a MG ZT. I've spotted two and one car has had an engine rebuild and new clutch, but is being sold via a trader with 104,000 miles on the clock for £1295. The other has had two owners...
I will be taking delivery of my new Kia Cee'd soon, which is finished in metallic black. Can you tell me which polishes I should use and how often?
Also will seek your website recommendation for GAP insurance...
I drive a 2006 Citroen Xsara Picasso 1.6 diesel. The other I started it and it cut out. It now won't start. Can you help?
I have just bought a used Ford Galaxy 2.0 diesel. The dealer was unsure if it was a cam belt or chain and also doesn't know when it should be serviced. Can you help?
I discovered a big pool of water in the driver side rear footwell a couple of weeks ago. Lifted carpet to get as much water out as possible and to try and dry it out - it's getting there, but periodically...
I’m thinking of buying a brand new Audi Q3 1.4 (petrol engine), but having problems trying to track one down for a test drive. Hence the dealerships insist on trying to sell me something more expensive....
I have a 15 year old MX-5 and would love to buy the latest model as this would give me more usable all year round fun. However, a revised MX-5 is due in 2015 - should I wait or buy now regardless? Would...
My wife has just bought a one year old Hyundai i20 auto from a Vauxhall franchised garage. The car has 12,300 miles on the clock. It was service at 10,145miles by a Hyundai dealer on 24 January 2014.
The...
I am buying a new Ford Focus 1.0 litre hatchback and have been offered an "Appearance Pack" free of charge. This pack gives a slightly lower profile tyre but also tinted glass on the rear side windows...
My 17 year old daughter is about to learn to drive. She will have a 25 mile round trip to college 3-4 times a week, plus outings for socialising. We live in rural North Wales so any car must be totally...
I'm in the process of trying to find a 3 Series BMW convertible. My budget will stretch to around 2007/2008 car from a trader. I want a petrol engine but would like to know any reliability issues or what...
Is there a UK sold SUV (Other than the new Range Rover LWB) that has similar interior legroom for both first and second row occupants that the Skoda Superb offers? I owned a superb for 3 years and miss...
I'm about to buy a 2011 Volkswagen Passat 1.4 TSI DSG estate with 19,000 miles on the clock. Its just had its first service at a dealer at three years old. Should I worry that it hasn't had a service for...
.jpg)
