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Trending topics in August 2009
Questions from August 2009
I have seen a nice one-year-old Ford Focus C-Max Titanium, 6,000 miles, at a local Ford dealer for just under £14,000 and I am tempted to buy. However, I wonder if it would be more prudent to wait until...
I borrowed my wife's 1-year-old BMW 318d this morning and when the fuel warning light came on (70 miles left, approx 2 gallons) I pulled into the petrol stations and filled it up. I pulled out of the station...
I have a holiday home in Spain but am not resident there. I spend less than six months a year in Spain. My residence is in UK. If I buy a Spanish registered car (in Spain!) and bring it to UK how long...
My neighbour has a 9-year-old SAAB convertible, and a simple puncture has turned into a nightmare because she is unable to find the "security lock" which enables the wheel to be removed. SAAB London has...
I have purchased a Honda Accord Tourer 2.2i-ctdi. The car was first registered on 18/09/2007 and I purchased it in February 2009, at 18 months old, with 11,200 miles on the clock. The service interval...
I am part of a group of five other people trying to deal with the same problem. We all have or have had 2007 Vauxhall Meriva 1.3 CDT and
we have all suffered catastrophic engine damage as a result of malfunctioning...
Further to the recent letter from P.W., of Dyserth that drew attention to the possible risks of buying a car when the vendor is not in the UK, I'd like to also draw attention to the risks faced when the...
I live in the south of France and keep in touch with the UK by the
Telegraph e-paper. I am looking for a second hand (2-3 years old) people carrier. It must be large enough for at least 7 adult passengers,...
My son in law's SAAB has done 165,000 miles and now needs replacing. Unfortunately he has a lot of back trouble and needs a car with adjustable lumbar support on the front seats. He travels from South...
We own a property on Formentera, which is a small Spanish owned Island near to Ibiza. We pay Spanish local property tax (IBI) and for refuse collection in the same way Spanish residents pay their local...
I currently drive a VW Golf 1.9TDi Sport 56 plate. It's on a PCP contract and is due for renewal in November 09. I will probably pay the GMFV of £5,800 and use that as a deposit to lower the payments on...
I have just purchased a new Citroen C3 Picasso Exclusive 1.6 diesel and it has the speed limiter and cruise control. At age 69 it is the first time I have ever had cruise control etc., and am receiving...
I am purchasing a vehicle for cash from an independent motor agent. After I placed the order he told me that the vehicle would be pre-registered in the finance company’s name. I have been told that they...
I have been the proud owner of various models of Honda all with automatic gearbox over the last 14 years. At present I own a 2006 Jazz automatic. This gives a perfect and smooth drive. As I intend to change...
I’m looking for a premium diesel SUV automatic with a budget of around £40k. I’m concerned that winters in this country are going to become increasingly more severe for the foreseeable future due to decreased...
After some effort I have succeeded in getting my insurance company to repair my excellent condition 1998S SAAB 9000 CSE Automatic, which, as you’ll realise, was the last model year before the GM takeover....
I am looking to change my 1995 Nissan Almera. It has done 176,000 miles. I drive 9,000 miles a year. I would like a higher drivers seat and at least a 1.2 or 1.4 engine. I have always had manual/petrol...
As a UK manufacture of traffic calming devices, I agree with the comments of your reader from Liverpool about the ramp gradient being more important than the height on a road hump or speed cushion. In...
I have a SEAT Toledo and I have been having considerable problems with tyre wear. In 1 year I have gone through 3 full sets and 2 new front tyres, along with having the tyres turned around to even out...
Living at the end of a 3-mile rough track I need a decently built motor.
I’m looking at the L200/Rodeo/Ranger/Hilux/Navara and have around £12k to spend. What do you reckon would be the best buy? And are...
An elderly friend of ours has a November 2000X FIAT Seicento SX 899cc with only 34,000 on the clock. It is in good condition with no rust, but it has been sitting in her garage for the last couple of years...
What should I do to maximise the life (and resale value) of my new car (a 3 year old Z4M roadster)? It will be kept outside on a driveway frequented by loose-bowelled birds. What car covers do you recommend...
You were very helpful a couple of years ago helping my mother-in-law when she wanted to downsize from her Volvo V70. She has been very happy with your suggestion of the Honda Jazz. So, we're hoping you...
I have a query regarding TRADE sale by which I mean cars sold on trade terms. I have read your FAQ section, in which you say, a car bought on Trade terms cannot be rejected under Sale of Good Act if something...
I am looking at purchasing a 2007 Range Rover Vogue TDV8 from a UK main dealer. Assuming an advertised price of £40,000, what price could I reasonably expect to get it for without any trade in?
Having lived and worked in Croydon for 6 years now the parking enforcement seems to be getting worse. I am already appealing against an invalid parking enforcement notice which stated I was parked in a...
My wife has a Renault Megane Cabriolet with a power-operated hood. When trying to lower the hood, it starts to go down then stops and just bleeps. Each time this happens the main dealer fiddles about and...
On Sunday I collected a car from Budget at Stansted Airport. Having refused the excess Insurance premium, which would have amounted to a 40% increase in the cost of the car hire, I was lectured by the...
Some 2 years ago you gave us very useful advise on the purchase of an April 2007 1.6 Fiesta Auto Ghia for my father-in-law. It proved a great success and prompted my wife to buy the 1.4 manual version...
About 2 years ago I was the innocent party in a minor accident. The other party admitted liability and the claim was settled through his insurance without any problems. I sustained no injuries. Very recently...
I thought you might be interested in a new common sight on the A1 in the Netherlands: Almost every time I join this motorway at Deventer I see a Polish registered car transporter crammed with British registered...
I have noticed recently, that the price of petrol has been creeping up faster than diesel. In fact I have seen it in some garages, higher than diesel. Can you tell me what has changed, to erode the past...
I have decided on the Honda Insight. As part of the deal, I have been offered an 'on the road pack’ that includes Asset Protector, which ensures I get back the full value of the car in the event of a 'write-off',...
I never cease to be amazed at some of the e-mails you get from the motoring public. The one about ‘Think Bike’ says it all. A large number of those drivers really need to take the driving test again,...
A few weeks ago I paid a car showroom a £500 deposit on a BMW 118dSE, with an agreed sale price of £8,995. I have copied their confirmation email below. The price was well below the original sticker price...
My son in law has advertised his Honda Accord in Autotrader and has been offered the full price of £7,000, sight unseen, by a buyer in Guernsey. He has sent a bank draft for this, plus £4,000 shipping...
You very kindly helped me overcome hesitancy on buying my 1yr old Jaguar XF S V8 back in March this year. All has gone well. It is as you said a fantastic car to own drive despite government taxes. However,...
I recently did what appears to be what an ever increasing number of diesel fuelled cars owners are doing in that I filled my diesel Focus with petrol. The total cost of repairs, I was very luckily covered...
The aircon has packed up on my 2003 Golf IV. How much should I be paying for a new compressor and clutch? Dealer quoted £1,500 for parts.
Advice please. My daughter’s car was hit side on by an old lady driver who admitted total liability (she said she never saw her car coming). An insurance guy came to see my daughter’s car, an S reg Vauxhall
Sintra,...
I keenly follow your regular comments about the damage to tyres, steering and suspension components by our appalling roads. My 08 reg 11,000 mile S-Max has in the last three months required new anti-roll...
Recently my wife had the misfortune to park her 08 Focus Zetec near a jetwash where elderly gentleman reversed into it. Minimal damage was caused to the front spoiler, which a local garage estimated could...
Most parked cars in my street, including mine, have scuffed wheel trims. Most, that is, except Peugeots, one BMW and a Range Rover where the trim is tucked well behind the tyre profile. If some can do...
Under the scrappage scheme, I want to replace my 1995 Polo. I had decided between a FIAT 500 and a Hyundai i10 but now I read that uknewcars.com are offering a Fiat Panda 100 HP at £7,763 against a list...
We will be hiring a car for 10 days in July in France. Is it worthwhile buying an annual Collision Damage Waiver policy and do you recommend one?
I have to choose a car from what is available in our leasing pool. I've noticed your column in the paper and thought you might be the person to ask what might be best for me. I'd prefer a hatchback and...
I am seriously considering buying a new Golf 1.6S with its neat autobox. It seems almost impossible to get any discounts from the local VW dealers, so is it worth importing one? It used to be the smart...
For a fee of £150 (apparently a discount from the normal £300), our Ford garage has offered us a service called Jewelultra Diamnondbrite for our new Focus. This involves applying a variety of coatings...
We’re considering buying a Volvo V70. Volvo has announced a V70 1.6D DRIVe, which my wife likes but I’m concerned that it might be a little underpowered. There's little information, but looking on the...
Our village is bisected by a busy B road carrying 10,000 vehicles a week. The 30 mph speed limit is completely ignored. It is dangerous for schoolchildren to cross when getting on or off the bus. I live...
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