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Trending topics in September 2009
Questions from September 2009
I have a 2007 BMW E90 318i SE with 22,000 miles, and warning lights have come on telling me that the DSC system has failed. Do you know if this is a common fault and if independent specialists can fix...
I read your reply to N.B. of Hurst, about the new Jazz I-Shift 'auto' option. Presumably Honda does not fit the torque converter box because of its need to get the emissions down as low as possible and...
My son and family have recently returned to the UK from NZ, bringing their Safe 'n' Sound child's car seat. Please can you kindly let me know of any cars, obtainable in the UK, that have a fixing for this...
My wife has a 12 month old FIAT 500 diesel. Today while driving it "made a funny noise" then started to accelerate. She put in the clutch and pulled over as the engine revved out of control; turning off...
I recently had a new starter motor fitted to my VW Caravelle. Three days later the gear wheel shattered and the teeth had to be removed from the engine. This turned out to be a big job involving removing...
I've heard that VW has been agreeing to carry out replacement work on failed ABS control units in some Golfs, even if they are technically outside warranty, because it is a known fault. My SEAT Toledo...
I ordered a Volvo C30 1.6d DRIVe ‘S’ without the start stop option because, living in a rural area, I thought that the £250 option would be of little benefit to me. Two weeks after I had ordered and following...
If I buy a new Isuzu Rodeo 4x4 pick-up, do I have to pay £3,000 road tax per year? I'm self-employed/VAT registered.
Some years ago you were very helpful with a cambelt failure on my Vauxhall Astra. As the car is now 12 years old and is expensive to tax at £190 per annum I am looking for a replacement, preferably not...
I purchased a second-hand diesel Freelander from a trader in Melksham on 18th April 2009. It is a 2006/55 plate with approx 51k mileage when I bought it. I paid £7,795 and have done 3,000 miles since....
Please could you give me some advice on buying a new car? I am joining a new company and they have given me a budget of £40k for a new company car without any guidelines at all. I would like a car that...
On 18 July, M.P. from Loughborough took you to task over speedbumps stating "these provisions are often introduced after pressure from residents"! To quote Jim Royle, "My A****"!! In Liverpool the installing...
Your readers might like to know about the website www.saynoto0870.com It gives the geographical number (01, 02...) for 0870 numbers, thus avoiding the rip-off of sitting in telephone queues whilst the...
After a few weeks of research I purchased a 2001 VW Golf cabriolet on 6 July. The car was advertised on eBay, but due to being located only 40 miles away I visited the seller to view the car before agreeing...
A few months ago I remember reading an article that stressed the importance of taking rest periods and remaining alert on long journeys. I cannot remember if it was in one of your answers, but as it has...
We have just had our BMW320CI convertible serviced by AH Autos at Guildford (who offer a fantastic service at realistic prices). They have identified a cracked front wheel 225/40/18 and two buckled wheels,...
While we lived in France my wife and I made a point of trying to support the French car industry by buying French cars. Now that we have returned to the UK we would like to try to be patriotic and buy...
I currently possess a BMW320D auto purchased from new in 2002, now has 86,000 miles and turbo replaced at 73,000. I am concerned other expensive repairs may be needed in future (e.g. autobox, common rail...
Does the insurance company have the right to take my car away for inspection for repair after my accident? I asked if I could take it to their authorised repairer myself, they said no. If I don't let them...
I have recently returned from a holiday in France and found that many filling stations (especially Shell and Elf) are now selling Sans Plomb 95 - E10 fuel in place of the normal Sans Plomb 95. I believe...
My 1.8 TDCi Mondeo (fuelled with Shell V Power diesel) is only returning an average fuel economy of 41mpg. The car has done just over 1,000 miles. Is this a running in problem, or is the ECU in need of...
About a year ago I helped my student debt-ridden daughter buy a 1999S A Class Mercedes, which looked in very good condition, from what we thought was a reputable dealer. It has proved a nightmare. Four...
I drive a Toyota Verso car, which is almost 3 years old. The car has the Multi Mode Transmission (MMT). The car is superb but I have never really learnt to get on with the MMT in the automatic mode. I...
Please could you advise on cars that I should view. My husband likes the Audi A3 but I find the boot small. What other cars should we consider? We are both old but do above average mileage
Could I add my satisfaction with the service I have received from BCA Sure Sell. I needed to sell my Yaris on order to fund my desire for an MX5 to enjoy in the 'autumn' of life. Initial contact and subsequent...
Over the years we have become used to seeing Volvos and their Daytime Driving Lights. This annoying and 'indicator light hiding' feature now seems to be spreading to other manufacturers. Recently I've...
With ref. to your web news section dated 20th July 2009, please confirm if Nissan is dropping prices (under £6,000) for Pixo until 30th Sept 2009 as you state. Have contacted Nissan UK: they do not know...
I am 73 and, on your recommendation exchanged my Renault Laguna 2.2 TD Family 7 seat estate, under the scrappage scheme. I followed, very closely, your continued recommendations for the Hyundai i10. One...
I bought a T reg Citroen Xsara West Coast 1.4 on May 21st this year for £1,200 from a dealer who gives a 3 month warranty. It was advertised as having A/C, but as I'm not a fan I only tried it once during...
I am the registered owner of car No 1. My wife is the registered owner of car No 2 which is a low mileage 19 year old Renault 5 with very little cash value. We are trying to sell Car no 2 and the registered...
We have owned a 2002 1.4 Jazz SE from new. The car has done 52,000 miles and is usually used by my wife for a 20 mile daily commute. Both my sons have learned to drive in it in the past three years. The...
I would be most grateful for your help and guidance in dealing with my local Toyota garage. I bought a new Toyota Previa GLS D4D 8str on 30/3/01. Some years later I suspected that the gear was sticking...
I put down a £350 deposit for a car that is now showing up as stolen and recovered. The garage I was buying it from is insisting that its check through HPI is clear and will not consider either reducing...
I am disabled and need a car that is easy and high enough (higher than a saloon car) to get in and out of, I also have a horse which I need to visit twice a day carrying a saddle, and bridle, his feed...
I have a 1 year old SEAT Altea XL TDI that has done just over 9,000 miles and was recently serviced by SEAT. Everything was fine but they drew my attention to the rear tyres which had excessive wear on...
After 50 years clean licence I got caught doing 36mph past a camera. Should I just pay up or go to Court? I am, of course, guilty.
I read with interest the letter from your reader pointing out the dubious nature of the DVLA’s practice of sending out penalty charges when they deem a V5 document not to have been sent to Swansea. I have...
I have had a report from my local VW Garage that the offside front outer CV boot on my Passat Sport is showing signs of splitting. I am not sure what this means even though they tried to explain it. Apparently...
You stated that the cost of a new hybrid, such as a Toyota Prius, could be offset against tax. I am considering ordering a new Mk3 Prius as soon as they become available next month and would dearly like...
I scrapped my car on 29th May for a new VW Polo with VW (Wayside Milton Keynes). The dealer insisted that I hand over the tax disc from my old car which had 5 months tax remaining – even though I provided...
I bought a second-hand Mondeo TDCi reg 04 in December 2007 from a local main dealer with 46,000 mile on the clock. I bought a two-year guarantee with it just in case. Since then it has been serviced regularly...
I am starting a new job where I will receive an allowance instead of a company car. Today, I bought a car from auction and was wondering whether I can claim back the VAT. Do you know, or can you direct...
The prices at Motorpoint.co.uk seem very good at, for example, £8,000 for a 2008 Vauxhall Astra 1.8 Sri VVT 5 door. I know they do part exchange. However I do not have a vehicle to p/x. Would it be reasonable...
My husband has no left hip joint and therefore cannot use a clutch. We need a new automatic car, preferably a hatchback, which is easy to get into and upright, like a van to sit in. At present we have...
I am 71 years old and drive a 2003 Golf 100TDI PD that has done 34,000 miles and pulls a 1,000kg caravan very well at 30 mpg, but struggles a bit on the A30 over Exmoor and Bodmin on the way to and from...
I was wondering if you could advise me on a tricky question. My employer wants me to drive a company car that I know has faulty brakes. I have asked numerous times for them to be rectified and the response...
Recently my daughter was involved in a road traffic incident on a straight section of two-way traffic B road. The vehicle approaching my daughter veered on to her side carriageway and she had to take evasive...
Do you think that petrol 6-cylinders are still a viable option? I ask because, when returning from a recent holiday in the South-West of England, I managed to obtain 38.6 mpg on the trip computer of my...
Someone ran in to the back of my 11 year old Toyota Corolla, and put it ‘beyond economical repair’. I’ve had the car from new in 1998. The insurance company want to offer me book value, but my argument...
Further to recent correspondence, I have narrowed my choice down to a Smart or a FIAT 500C, the Nissan Micra C+C being no longer available. Do you know anything about the 500C as it is new? I imagine it...
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