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Trending topics in January 2010
Questions from January 2010
I write to express my disappointment regarding the 'Customer Care' provided by my recent insurers in the hope that it may prevent others from making the same naive mistake.
My car received a nasty dent...
Local and national politicians and council jobsworths are bleating yet again that they have no money to repair potholes, despite motor taxation being so high. Might I suggest that they can kill two birds...
I was driving along a fairly new all-purpose road that runs parallel to the motorway, in the dark, no streetlights and some way from habitation. It was my misfortune to drive over a road drain that in...
I purchased a new Volkswagen Golf 1.4TSI Match from a Volkswagen franchise on 24th November, 2010. I bought the car for £16,600.
On 27 November 2010 I received the V5C, however my name was spelled incorrectly...
My wife has a 1999V Ford Focus 1.8LX with about 67k miles on the clock. It currently has fully comprehensive insurance but is only used very occasionally, less than 2k miles a year. I am not sure that...
The credit hire scam will only be defeated by motorists choosing to insure with insurance companies who stand their ground against these vultures, causing unacceptable loss of underwriting business to...
Several months ago I received a speeding ticket for doing 81mph on the A23 (from a mobile camera) not far from where I live. At first I couldn't remember myself or my wife being there. Then, on reflection,...
Agreeing with you about right turning cars getting out of the way of traffic behind them, if they possibly can, a more important point about staying parallel, is also to keep the front wheels parallel...
My wife followed your advice to recline her seat slightly in our BMW 320i, but alas her pain continues.
I am nearly 78 years old and have owned a number of SAAB convertibles over the years and think they are super cars. However, I have now developed a slightly arthritic knee and hip joint and find it difficult...
Although the obvious answer to traffic behaviour when two carriageways go down to one is to move up to the front on both lanes (as taught by the IAM I believe) it occurs to me that because of the care...
The low profile 195/45 R16s on alloy wheels on my 08 Fiesta 1.4 TDCi seem increasingly inappropriate for our winter snow-covered, year-round speed humped and potholed roads. I'm fed up of the hard ride...
You frequently write about possible damage caused to buildings by road humps. The High Street in Berkhamsted used to be the A41 but was renumbered A4251 when the bypass was opened in 1993, and was then...
I am writing now in respect of your apparent endorsement of Warranty Direct, "The only Honest John approved car warranty service. “ My 2005 SAAB 9-3 Linear Sport TiD has been covered by Warranty Direct...
I work within the car body repair industry and you are right in branding it a semi-legal rip-off. It is becoming virtually impossible to run a car body repair business without being bullied into using...
I have been having some terrible problems sorting out a money matter. As far as I am concerned I have made full and final payment to the company involved and indeed have an email and letter to say as much....
My wife and I wish to replace our automatic car, which is now only used for short journeys covering approximately 2,000 miles annually. Reading your weekly column avidly every week you seem to recommend...
I thought to offer my comment as a vibration consultant, before you reply to many more of these types of queries. This will avoid perpetuating a potential error. Whilst agreeing wholeheartedly with potentially...
My father decided to sell his motorhome. He e-mailed a dealer to see if they would be interested and the dealer duly made him an offer of £14k-£15k. My father responded saying, “OK, subject to agreeing...
I bought a late 2006 low mileage Toyota RAV-4 from Toyota in Bracknell in July this year. There has been a judder on the brakes, which has got worse. I dropped the car in to my local Toyota dealer in Oxford...
I just tested a Dualogic FIAT 500. The box behaved perfectly. I was then set on a Dualogic Panda, but at the last minute was told that it was no longer produced. FIAT folk just do not seem to know if it's...
I need to buy a small car that can take my 8-year-old son as a wheelchair passenger. It will be mainly used for short journeys with the occasional longer motorway drive. It only needs to seat 4 (including...
One early Saturday morning in October I was driving north on the M6 Toll motorway, relishing in the fact that it seemed similar to the days when the M1 opened (similar amounts of traffic). Out of the corner...
Having received my renewal notice from the RAC this month for Roadside and Recovery I notice that from last year it has increased by over £30 to £178.65. This figure, surprisingly, includes “membership...
I have a 2000 Volvo V70 (170bhp) that has done 60,000 miles with FVSH (purchased ex-demo in early 2001). For the past 6 months, every time I have put petrol in, and then tried to start the car, it fires...
I know of a (rural) location where the jumping of a red traffic light is an issue because of the length of time waiting for it to change. Either on the Continent or in the US I have seen 'countdown clocks'...
My 2007 BMW 120d front washers refuse to spray. The pump runs and even with the spay nozzle disconnected, no water emerges. From a review of Internet websites it seems there is a problem with the pump...
Our 17-year-old son is learning to drive. Can you recommend a good second hand manual car with a budget of about £4k? He wants something with credibility, we want something that is as safe as possible....
I don't want to worry you, but, a friend has just told me that she recently went on a Speed Awareness Course in Flint, North Wales for speeding and she was told that the police no longer give any latitude...
After two years of research, arguing, test-driving and reading, my wife and I have at last agreed on one car that will suit us both, for some town driving, but mostly country and highway. It's a 2008 Mercedes...
I test-drove a FIAT 500 Lounge at Parkside Garage, Twickenham. There's no doubt, it has bags of style and character at a very, very attractive price (though they tell me now that If I placed an order today,...
I am interested in trading in my 12 year old car under the scrappage scheme for a small hatch under £10k but understand that some motor manufacturers have significantly increased their prices since the...
I must part with my April 05 3-door RAV-4 2.0 D-4D XT3. It's only done 26,000 miles and is in very good condition; it's insured to end of March 2010 and is gold coloured. What should ask (and hope to get)...
I would like to know what reasonably-priced cars have a soft suspension as my wife has back problems.
I just moved to France with my wife and we are unfamiliar with the European models, and thus, reliability. The French swear by their Clios and their 306/307s, but reading online consumers are less than...
When I was in Australia I borrowed a turbo-diesel people carrier. This
had a device that could be set, if I remember correctly, to run the engine for 10-30 seconds after you got out. A good idea, I thought.
I purchased a brand new Nissan Qashqai just over a year ago.
From the outset every time I get into the Qashqai I start
to develop a headache. Can you shed any light on the matter?
A colleague wants to buy his son his first car/mini. Can you pick up a reasonably clean one for this money and what age would this buy. Are there any particular models / engines he should look at and any...
I am looking to replace my ageing 2000X Ford Focus with an auto that has a higher driving position. I have looked at the Honda CR-V, Nissan Qashqai and Ford C-Max. Any other ideas or suggestions as to...
We too have always had a problem with misting on the windscreen of our 2002 Honda Jazz in damp conditions. We choose the correct setting for the windscreen with airflow on 2 (outside). We constantly have...
Last Thursday my daughter and three children were involved in a crash on the M6. She was in the middle lane and was side-swiped by a lorry from Slovakia, she was spun into the front of the lorry side on...
Do the current Ford Fiesta 1.6TDCI cars still have dual mass flywheels fitted that were so troublesome on previous models?
I am upset about the way my local Volvo dealer dealt with an ABS fault on my V50. I believe there is an issue with Brake Pressure Sensors. I am £1,000 lighter of pocket, I wish I could say I was wiser....
I have been searching to try and find info on 'Speed sensor operated traffic lights' without success. I seem to recall that I read either an article or reply to a readers question in the non too distant...
I have a 2002/53 Mondeo Diesel. On 23-03-09 Wynne Motors of Burbage, Leicester fitted a Replacement Clutch Kit, Concentric Slave Cylinder, Dual Mass Flywheel and Mounting (all parts were new). Cost £703.35...
I read with interest your coverage of damage caused by road humps. Although we have some in towns around here in the New Forest, most of the damage to wheels, tyres and suspension seems to be caused by...
I have a Peugeot 406HDI 1,957cc and am looking for a more "sit up " car new. We are both in our 70's and need easy access and headroom. I go fishing and have rods up to 6ft long so need drop down back...
Can you advise concerning a blocked DPF, on our 2006 Jaguar S Type 2.7 diesel that caused a major breakdown at the end of a holiday on which we travelled at high speeds from Calais to the Costa Brava and...
I own both a 2001 E320 CDI estate and a 2003 E320 CDI estate. The engines are ostensibly the same, the earlier one generating 194 bhp and the later one, 204. Fundamentally the later car gives significantly...
What is your view on 'warranties'? I have just bought a car that carries a warranty for 12 months. I have been offered an 'extension' for another year at £150 but would like more convincing before |I buy....
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