Chain link

I am looking for a replacement for a Vauxhall Corsa 1.2 16V that has a chain cam. Having had two expensive failures of cam belts both with Rover /Honda 213 engines I am nervous about buying anything that...

DR hell

Is it just me or are the new discharge daylight headlights on new cars extremely harsh / bright on the eyes? The 'old' tungsten headlights don't dazzle, and to my eyes are preferable. What do other people...

The Fact Controller

Intelligent Speed Adaptation. Let me tell you my experience a with cruise control which was switched off. Went into a parking place when the engine suddenly raced at full throttle and I was nearly sent...

Unusual circumstance

I am going away for 5 weeks from mid-February, and will leave my car on a friend's land, but in the open and uncovered, during that time. I plan to leave the handbrake off to avoid the brakes seizing,...

All steal bodies

True story: A lady living in rural North Yorkshire had her car stolen from its overnight kerbside parking place, shortly after New Year. A few days later, she was contacted by her local garage that she...

Horology story

When I took my new Subaru Forester for a test drive I noticed it had zero kilometres on the clock, although it had been brought from another site for me. When I queried this I was told it was a setting...

Shaken, not sterling’d

The prices of your used cars and 4x4s etc, are unbelievably cheap. I know that petrol is dearer in the UK, but you don’t travel the distances we do. My wife did 50,000kms (30,000 miles) in 18 months in...

Unsteamly progress

I am due to decide on buying a 2001 Rover 45 IXS 16V, which looks good inside. It has a low mileage of 38,000. This is going to my only family car, and I will depend on it. I checked your website and others,...

Dropping a clampsell

I help manage a small independent shop that has been trading for some thirty years it is in a small parade of shops in a larger shopping area. There is parking to the rear of the shops each having its...

Back pool illumination

I have a Golf Mk IV. A warning light telling me that my luggage boot is not closed. Can you advise me on how to rectify this please?

XC Naughty

I have a Volvo XC90 2.4 D5 SE 185, purchased in March 2006 and it has now done 74,000 miles. My mileage is largely motorway driving, no off road use, and I have always had it serviced at the Volvo dealer...

Shifty customer

I have a Fiat Panda Dynamic and I was wondering how easy or not it would be to change my car from a manual to an automatic and how much roughly it would cost?

Motorists to repay national debt

Expect More Speeding Tickets in Weak Economy (from ScienceDaily Jan. 12, 2009. Got a lead foot? Hold on to your wallet. When local revenue falls, traffic citations go up. A new study to be published in...

An offer you can refuse

My wife is considering selling her car through a company that has valued it over the internet. She entered the vehicle registration into the buying company website, added the mileage and condition details...

23 years owned

An elderly friend has reluctantly decided to cease driving on medical grounds, He is the proud owner of an immaculate, annually serviced 1986D BMW 318i 4dr Saloon. One owner from new, with a genuine mileage...

Undisposable

I have a SAAB 9-5 Turbo, some 10 years old with 120k on the clock. Recently my hydraulic steering went and now the slave cylinder in the clutch has gone. Talking to the mechanics they were telling me...

Age concerned

Are some people not making too much of elderly drivers being on the road? Are there any verifiable statistics on the percentage of accidents by each age group from the teens to the eighties. I see more...

Calming without harming

I am aware of some of your comments concerning ‘humps’ in the roads. Our local Council (Brent) has just sent a circular asking residents for their views on the proposed 20 mph zone involving quite a few...

Picks and shovers

Do you know if there are any New models of crewcab/5 seat pickups due out this year? Surely a facelifted Navara can't be too far away? Also, how do you rate the Ford Thunder 2.5 auto diesel? I test-drove...

Axle springer

My 2002 BMW 320d (85,000 miles) has just been diagnosed as having two broken rear coil springs. I vaguely remember reading something in your Saturday Telegraph column about this problem and the fact that...

Let this be a warming

My BMW 3-Series is not heating up. Would you have any idea what the problem is?

Higher SEAT

I currently have a SEAT Cupra R, so enjoy a bit of decent motoring. My parents are 89 and 90 respectively, so the SEAT is a pain for them to get in and out of. I don’t want an MPV with 7 seats. I have...

Very britty

I just read your recent post about the sterling exchange rate. Quite right. The thing I notice is that despite the obvious intellect of some contributors they are still very "Little England" in their...

Raiser edge

I have been offered £14k for my 2005 BMW 525dM Sport Touring auto, mileage 40k, with leather, media pack, etc. against a 2008 Lexus RX400h with 26k miles (yes 26k) at an asking price of £22k, making a...

Billet liar

I wonder if you can help. Today I received what I think is a parking fine for 70 Euros during holiday in France in July 2008 in a hired vehicle, which is obviously how they have tracked us down us. I’m...

“Tell me how I new?”

Given the number of 'new' cars sitting in fields, docks, etc., how can a potential new car buyer ensure that they are purchasing a new car as opposed to one that's been sitting around in the open air for...

Flying the flog

I am considering the purchase of new car and would like to support British workers. Some time ago you published a list of makes and models produced here. Could you kindly send a copy? I did check...

Autocratic transmission

The treatment I am receiving from my local Audi dealer is unbelievable. I noticed that my 2002 Audi A4 TDi sport saloon car was not driving smoothly, and I took it to the dealership. Tests and assessments...

Campden down

A friend of mine told me that the problem I have just experienced in a 2.8 litre Iveco motorhome, is common with diesel engines. We bought the vehicle when it had just been serviced and MOT'd in September....

Town centred

I am looking to upgrade my Skoda Octavia 2.0 petrol auto estate to a more economical car. We mainly use it for town driving and would like to know whether buying a smaller engined petrol or a diesel...

Pedal toe the metal

My grand-daughter was driving her 2001 VW Polo in the outside lane of the M25 last week when her clutch system failed. Fortunately, with the aid of flashers, good driving, courtesy from other drivers,...

Centre point

My hair has gone silver, and my driving these days is mainly short journeys on local roads. However, Christmas saw me undertake several long journeys on the motorway network and there was one phenomenon...

Anti-stop braking system

I have a 15-month-old Skoda Fabia with 4,500 miles on the clock. On a few occasions I have experienced braking problems as if something had got between the brake pads and the drums (if it has such things!)....

Gripping yawn

I currently drive a BMW 530d and I love the engine, but not the lack of 'kit' in the car or the lack of grip in poor weather. We live in a rural area of the Pennines and I've already been stuck more than...

Saving pence, spending pounds

My wife took her 2002 RAV-4 for a service, which was uneventful. However, a few days later the engine management light came on, so back it went. The service dept at the Toyota garage said (and I paraphrase...

Bunged

I own a BMW 325 that was first registered in March 2005. It has always been regularly serviced by BMW dealers, has covered 80,000 miles and is not covered by an extended warranty. This car recently had...

Titanic raised

I have a 1970 Jaguar 420G which has been laid up since 1984. What petrol should I use?

Reaction Direct

I read the other day that French drivers are so angry at the number of speed cameras that they now contact a website with details of NOIP's, pay a fee and then let a solicitor do a 'class action' which...

Carbon taxbreak

In your review of the Toyota IQ 1.0 litre you state: "they all qualify for 100% first year capital allowance, so if your company buys one for you it can claim the entire cost against one year’s profits....

Z flaw

Over the past 4/5 weeks I have noticed a huge difference in the way my 2003 BMW Z4 2.5 handles. The car sits on Bridgestone 255/40 R18 88W runflats on the front, set to 2.1 bar as instructed by BMW. With...

Heart of the mutter

I have a 4-year-old 1.9 diesel Vauxhall Vectra that has done 50,000 miles. The other day, the water pump seized causing the timing belt to break in major engine damage. A new engine is required at a cost...

Airpark

I will shortly be leaving my 9-year-old (but extremely reliable) BMW 520i for 3 weeks at an airport surface carpark and am slightly worried it may not start on my return. Should I disconnect the battery?...

Tired tyres

I think I have read either in your column or other parts of the motoring press that tyres degrade with age and that as a result not all spare tyres are actually roadworthy. How can I tell if my spare is...

You’ve been misinformed

Motorists shouldn't get too enamoured with the recent government pronouncement of “Intelligent Speed Adaptation” GPS speed control for cars. Sponsored anti-motoring organisations such as BRAKE are enthusing...

Superparkit

Just before Christmas, an old boy hit me whilst reversing out of his space at Waitrose. Whilst there was no damage to his vehicle, he has damaged my rear wheel arch. At the time he jumped out of his car...

Road stirred

I wonder if you can help. I bought a 2006 MX-5 2.0 Mk3 Sport about 6 months ago. I'm very pleased with the car except for its tendency to 'bump steer' over anything other than perfectly smooth tarmac....

Brake fright

My daughter owns a 2002 Skoda Fabia Automatic and on the whole is quite pleased with it. Recently, however, the car has let her down on four occasions when the EMC lights have come on. Twice the problem...

Academic question

I am an indecisive academic requiring help. In 1994 after months of deliberation and investigation, I bought a brand new VW Passat Diesel Estate and declared I would keep it for 14 years. Now I have, so...

Dater storage

There are several BMW X5 SE diesels on the dealer network, all pre- registered 58 plate cars with only double-digit mileage. I need a six-seat car to replace my 530D touring, which I have had from new,...

Fiddler and Leak

I have taken my TT twice to an excellent local garage because the footwell carpet keeps getting wet. The second time they replaced a seal where the air con comes through as per VAG club website (although...