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Trending topics in December 2009
Questions from December 2009
My VW Passat V5 is registered Dec 1999. It's a V registration. I have had it for 7 years now. I bought it in 1992 and it had 2 previous owners and 10000 miles on the clock. Apparently it had a bump in...
I am looking for the best place to buy a 7-seater LHD Land Rover
Discovery or Range Rover at about 2 years old. I live in Lancashire but do not see any problem in buying one anywhere in the UK as it will...
A question you were asked the other day was: Could a man drive his wife's car after her insurance policy lapsed, using his own policy which allowed him to drive any car not owned or hired to him. You said...
I am about to purchase my 8th Volvo and it will be my first diesel powered car. The model is a V50 2.0D with Powershift transmission. I drive between 18,000 and 20,000 miles of mixed motoring per annum....
I have read your column for some years to gain some insight into the motor world. I just thought that I might amuse you, and possibly your readers with my new car purchase. I am approaching the magic 60...
We live overseas, but intend coming to UK (mainly Scotland) each summer for 3-4 months and possibly a further 2 weeks later in the year. A car is essential, but is there a more cost effective way other...
My parents (73 yrs and 69 yrs) would like to buy a small automatic diesel car or small 4wd with up to £7,500. They used to have a Suzuki Vitara (diesel auto) - something perhaps a little smaller would...
There seems to have been a lot of hype over the new Golf R. Probably justified hype. However, with a starter price of £28,930, it will be at least £3,000 more than a discounted Audi S3, which was itself...
I would be grateful for your thoughts on the following. I have a 2004 Corolla Verso. It had a main dealer service and oil change at 90,000 miles 7 weeks ago and 2,000 miles ago. Today, after driving locally...
On a recent motoring holiday in England I was amazed to see how many major road route signs were obscured by overgrowing bushes and trees, this not only makes life very difficult for strangers to an area...
I have driven, but never owned, a number of automatic cars in the past, and I am now tempted to make my first purchase albeit from the used sector. My neighbour recently bought a 2004/54 Vauxhall Vectra...
Despite its somewhat boastful "Just like a Golf" advertising campaign, presumably Volkswagen will not be comparing the aircon systems of other cars with its own. My Golf V Sport (just a few weeks past...
My wife and I are both in our eighties and are looking for a small car that has higher seats, making it easier to get in and out. So far we have only found one, which is the Mercedes A Class. Can you suggest...
Over the last few years I have noticed your comments on the intractability of Mercedes dealerships and poor customer service levels. I committed an error by putting petrol into my new diesel Mercedes....
I am thinking of buying a Jaguar FHC E-type. Where do you think we are in the price cycle? Going up, going down or static? Do E-types conform to the principle that a winter purchase would be cheaper?
This is not the first time the subject of the DVLA and responsibility has been raised. On a non-motoring issue I had a discussion with the Royal Mail about a "missing" parcel. I was informed that by EU...
Yet another complaint about speed humps. Yesterday my car passed its MOT after a drop link was replaced. In August my son's car had to have a drop link replaced to cure a rattle and in July my wife's car...
I thought you might like this correspondence. I went into the Congestion Zone for about three minutes in August in my Prius. I got a £60 fine. I have driven a Prius for several years (just got the new...
During the winter, particularly when frosty, the inside of my windscreen freezes over immediately I get in. (Car kept on drive, all windows closed.) This can sometimes take up to half an hour to clear...
Hello again John. A friend in the UK just sent me a copy of the Telegraph Motoring newspaper from Saturday, Sept.12, 2009 in which you used my 10 tips to answer EB's question regarding your advice for...
I have a 2005 BMW 535d M Sport Touring fitted with standard run-flats that give a hard and uncompromising ride. I'm swapping them round with a view to wearing them evenly so I can change to standard tyres,...
The front section of the glass roof of our Audi A2 has broken. An Audi dealership quoted £3,000 for a replacement. Ludicrous, but we should like to keep this vehicle, which is run as a second car for its...
In March 2009 I was involved in a crash, which was deemed to be my fault. When my insurance renewal came through from Endsleigh it had gone up by over 60%, so I rang them. I was told the increase was due...
I was interested to read the letter in your column from RH of Alresford. I have owned three Jazz: the older model in both manual and CVT form, and the new Jazz with the I-Shift gearbox. The older model...
My wife is about to change her car and can't decide what to get. It needs to be an automatic and as quiet and as comfortable as possible inside. She will buy a nearly new car that is up to a year old with...
I used to get annoyed about speed cameras and the fact that they can be just a source of revenue and, despite respecting the need for safe speed limits; my human nature would often make me impatient and...
An idiot living in an adjoining street has decided to park his car in the lane behind our street blocking access to my garage. He knows I use my garage regularly and moves his car when asked but it's infuriating...
This week my 1997 SAAB 900 Convertible failed its MOT test due to a crack in the bulkhead. It was fine at the service in August. It has done 98,000 miles and been serviced by SAAB dealers each year of...
I ordered a Skoda Octavia (Elegance) through my local Dealer in early July, selecting the model detailed in Skoda's brochure effective 1st April - 30th June 2009 and took delivery a few days ago. I am...
Please can you tell me where I can obtain the special tools that are needed to change the cambelt on my 2004 Chrysler Grand Voyager 2.8CRD? My local Chrysler dealer first told me that they don't supply...
My stepson gave his car to a dealership to sell on his behalf, they have sold it and now have gone into receivership and so he’s not got any cash or car. Is there anything he can do to recoup his money?
I am looking to downsize to a smaller automatic and am quite impressed with the latest Clio (pre-facelift model). Has Renault now sorted its reliability issues with the automatic models, and is the automatic...
I've just taken delivery of my new Hyundai i30 1.6CRDi and it has SIX gears. Please pass on the good news Hyundai website, as it makes this car an even better buy. My i30 the first new car I have had,...
I read with interest the e-mail headed "Half Braked". I too have had DSC failures on two BMW E90 Series cars. One was registered May 2006, the other Jan 2007. Speaking to BMW mechanics at my local franchise...
I was driving in the Chieri region of Italy between Turin and Asti last week. I observed traffic lights that had a LED display indicating how many seconds were left before the lights changed. If the lights...
How can I find if my old car is still around? Also, my son needs some transport and I thought of a scooter. Any ideas please? I've looked at them from £500 upwards but it's 55 yrs since I had one
I bought a 02 plate Rover 25 for £1,700 on 19-05-2009 from a trader. My car which he took in part exchange is still on his website for sale. The Rover I bought from him broke down on 19-09-2009 (4 months)...
My wife has recently bought me a Mercedes E320CDI. It has a full service record and has done 71k miles. I know that you do not recommend diesel motors if your average annual mileage is less than 15k....
As I am told it will take 12 weeks to get a new Audi TT from the date of ordering, say late November 2009, with a deposit of £1,000 and the remainder on delivery on 1–3-2010, will the VAT be at 15% or...
My 2000X Rover 75 CDT has always been a reliable starter. What trade-in value could I expect from a used car supermarket such as Car Giant for a 2000X Rover 75 Club SE, 101,500 miles, 12 months MOT, 6...
My wife would like to sell her Jan 1979 Mercedes 350SL with detachable hardtop, mileage about 98,000, condition good. BCA no longer holds classic car auctions and she would prefer not to have to resort...
I am really interested in the Vauxhall/Opel Ampera. The benefits seem inescapable. However, given a scenario where the car is used on the daily commute of a round trip of, say, 30 miles and the odd shopping...
I had a recent experience that some drivers will learn from. It certainly caught me out. I recently purchased a second-hand car (07) from a reputable dealer. The car was exactly what I was after, except...
At four and a half years old with 45,000 miles on the clock and despite regular servicing and easy domestic usage, the timing chain on my 2,184cc Nissan X-Trail DCI SVE snapped. Nissan was not interested,...
My wife's Audi A2 1.4 diesel has approx 16,500 miles on the clock, mostly on short journeys. It is just over 3 years old and our Audi dealer has recommended changing the cambelt on the basis of time. This...
I am the proud owner of a 2004 MG ZT 260 SE. The general build quality is great. The handling, ride and braking are superb. The performance from the Ford V8 puts a big smile on my old face. My problem...
I am looking for a smaller estate car that is comfortable, economical, reliable, automatic, petrol new or up to 3yrs old. The entry height over the bumper must be no higher than our present excellent 1995...
The Government scrappage scheme gave me a welcome opportunity to get a new car, and probably the last car I will ever own (I'm 74). Your frequent mention of the Hyundai offers sent me the walking distance...
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