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Trending topics in December 2009
Questions from December 2009
My wife and I are going to the Chaiyaphum area (Thailand) to visit her family for 3 weeks at Christmas. I intend to hire a pickup in Khon Kaen for the duration of the holiday. What insurance and CDW do...
I returned to my parked car in Kensington recently, only to find three, officious looking people, swarming over the car. I asked one of them if they were parking wardens. He replied. “No, I am a Senior...
I have had exactly the same experience as I.Q.’ with severe tyre damage to the front tyres on my X Type Jaguar. I have written to Kent County Council and to my MP. My MP is appalled and has written to...
My wife has ordered a Renault Scenic Dynamique with the 1.4TCe 130 petrol engine. It’s due to arrive in two weeks. Is there anything to watch out for? Any tips would help and links to your tests, etc?
You addressed a query from I.M. of Pinner when he asked about run flat tyres on his BMW 535d M Sport. I drive a 2006/56 BMW 330i SE Coupe auto with 19" alloys and have also wondered about replacing my...
Greetings from Belgium. I’m torn between buying the new Ford Fiesta or the Mark III Focus. I test drove both yesterday and was impressed. I’ve got a 2003 Focus 1.8TDCI now and it still runs well and has...
I've been reading about inadvertent fuel contamination (putting petrol in your diesel tank or vice versa). The AA’s website link to "Fuel Assist" (their own mobile department for helping stranded motorists)...
My friend wants to do some skidpan training and so I thought it would be a good Christmas present for her. However, I have searched the Internet and can find all manner of track days, off-roading and...
I bought a new BMW 325i Coupe Auto in November 2006. At its first service, in November 2007 - at 2,827 miles - the oil and oil filter were changed. At the second service, in November 2008 - at 5,387 miles...
My new Suzuki Swift 1.5 Automatic achieves 50mpg on a long run and 45mpg around town. This is my first car that beats the manufacturer figures for fuel economy. I am not a slow driver, so wish to praise...
A couple of weeks ago I lost my car keys while walking my grandson across the South Downs. This was very upsetting, partly because I never lose anything and more so because a replacement key for my Smart...
I’m an expat living in Cape Town. I’m thinking about buying a Ford Ranger 3-litre TDCI manual but have concerns about the Turbo and Dual Mass Flywheel. The vehicle would be a 2008/09, would you know if...
I have a Full Tilt ex-MOD 110 Defender and it is fine in the summer with its full and removable canvas top. But I have been searching unsuccessfully for somebody who produces a removable hard top for the...
We are shortly hoping to move to the country. I am thinking of changing my Skoda Octavia Estate TDI for the 4x4 version. The new house is a bit off the main road but not that you would need a Land Rover...
Having waited 5 long months for my new FIAT 500 I was told by the main dealer that the car had arrived at Bristol three weeks ago but they were unable to hasten the delivery to the garage for collection...
Please could you tell me my legal rights in connection with a motor trader who is 100 yards down the street from me and who uses our laybys to put his cars in and also his MoTs that are waiting. Sometimes...
This month I come to the end of a 3 year lease and will have the option to purchase my 2006/56 Ford S-Max 1.8TDI with panoramic sunroof, runflat tyres and electronic parking brake. I will only buy the...
What will happen when all those gullible people, who used their old scrapper as the HP deposit, cannot keep up the repayments?
I purchased a Mazda 2 1.4 automatic 4 years ago and have so far covered 41,000 incident free miles. Well almost, for at each annual service I have reported and asked to be checked the problem of the car...
My Brother is working in Canada and has purchased a flat in this country. He will be able to take two 3-week holidays every year. He is considering purchasing a vehicle rather than hiring one as he feels...
Is there a scam going on with insurance companies? Two have tried it on almost one after the other. I changed my car to a different spec vehicle and updated my policy, which meant changing the policy and...
Could you please advise me about a hefty service quotation I have received from the local Volvo main dealer for a 100,000-mile service of my 1996 Volvo S40 automatic? They have serviced the car since I...
I purchased a new Focus 1.8 petrol in April 2009. There is an intermittent fault sometimes on starting and sometimes when pulling away from rest. The engine drops to a slow tickover, about 750rpm. and...
I would like to buy a car from the UK and somebody proposed a transaction using Westharbourcapital company to send me this car in Romania. Is this a reliable and well-known company in UK or I am in danger...
Having read the Daily Telegraph motoring section from the last two weeks you have answered worries and concerns I had over speed cushions. We recently took our car for a service. The tyres had been replaced...
Further to your comments on chamfered edge speed cushions, we run a Renault Espace 2.0 diesel W reg. Two years ago our estate was blighted with chamfered edge speed cushions, after which it was necessary...
I just read your bit about BSM's deal with FIAT to supply 14,000 Fiat 500s and Grande Puntos. I have been looking to buy an Astra diesel and was wondering if it might be a good idea to buy an ex BSM car....
I would appreciate advice on maintenance of new car bodywork/what product(s)would you recommend to build up a barrier on paintwork to help withstand chips/weather etc. How best to apply and how often?
Lastly,...
I purchased a VW Touran, 1.4 TSI Sport model, in July 2007 from Motorpoint. It was second-hand and was first registered on 01/09/2006. In September 2007 the ESP warning light came on - "ESP Off" was showing...
I own a 2003 Volvo V70 automatic. I now qualify for the Motability scheme, which is very tempting. The thought of having worry-free motoring appeals to me. Motability has obtained an offer on the Hyundai...
I bought an i30ES in June and have now done 3,000miles. Very pleased with the roadholding and the dealer was a pleasure to do business with. The tyres are noisy, but I will keep them until they need replacing...
I would appreciate your thoughts. Just returned from hols in Menorca where I rented a Corsa for 5 days. I only had to show my plastic card type UK driving licence to the hire company and was not asked...
I have just spent hours on the net and phone trying to get the best quote for my 17-year-old son who is on his provisional licence. He has a 2000 Corsa, value £1,000. We have two cars insured with Direct...
I purchased a Mercedes SL350 in June 2009 from a reputable dealer, the car belonged to his mother it had done 14,500 miles and is mint condition. It is 2003/53 registration, and I paid £27,400 for it....
I come from Cyprus and I have found your site to be extremely helpful and a serious source of information re cars. I am interested in a Peugeot 3008 and I have a question regarding "grip control". Can...
I wonder if you can help me? I have recently had an MoT on my Fiesta Zetec and a coil spring replaced. Subsequently, the alarm keeps going off on the car - waking my neighbours at 4am so I am not very...
Following your letters on speed cushions I have a similar tale. I have owned from new an X-Type Jaguar 2.2 Diesel, now 2 years old. Last month I took it in for its annual service. All ok except that the...
Can you explain what '100% write down' means in real terms on company cars that emit less than 110g/km CO2?
Reference your recent and on-going comments regarding 'speed cushions, I thought I would drop you a line about my own experiences, I also include photo. I drive a Jaguar X-Type Indianapolis, and have to...
For the past 2 years I've been running a Volvo XC70. This car has given me all the comfort that I could wish for with its fantastic seats and long travel suspension. In addition, over the last winter the...
Twelve days after I had renewed my insurance in good time I was stopped by the police at eleven o'clock at night. After professing themselves satisfied at my answers to various questions, they asserted...
My wife, who is 79, regularly takes our neighbour, who is 93, to Tesco. Recently he forgot to display his blue badge and in spite of his showing it to the warden on return to the car, I have received a...
Just over a year ago I bought a new (pre-reg) FIAT 500 1.25 diesel (I mean the type of fuel, not the confusingly ‘Diesel’ branded car). I used it as a 'town car'. The reason we bought it was so as to stop...
In March this year I bought a Volvo through a company in Scotland. The car was delivered direct from a main dealer. The car was pre registered and when I asked about the V5C document I was told it would...
Your correspondent, D.I., wanted advice for learning to drive a recently purchased Porsche Cayman safely on the road. You said that race tracks ARE a good place to learn. Back in 1976, even though I had...
My son recently bought an imported Toyota people carrier. The vehicle is shown as first registered (abroad) in 2000 but not registered in the UK until 2008. The DVLA has issued it with a date related...
Some while ago I believe you wrote that driving less than 6,000 miles per year did not warrant purchasing a diesel car. Could you please give me your reasons for stating this? I have a petrol engine Volvo...
Can you recommend any paint treatments or companies that do it?
I was told by my Honda dealer that my Jazz will be made in Japan. It
Now appears that it will be made here. Do I need to be concerned about...
Your correspondent who was fined in a car park owned by a Tesco store for apparently not displaying a 'blue badge' should perhaps refer to the main branch of the one of the three Tesco stores in Dumfries,...
If an 11 year old car, worth say £200 or so, was damaged in an accident and would naturally be 'written off', would insurers pay out the £200 or £2,000 that the car would be ‘worth’ under the scrappage...
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