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Trending topics in February 2010
Questions from February 2010
We saw and test-drove a VW Touran just under 3 weeks ago. There was a light on the dashboard, which I thought was the traction control light, and the ESP light near the gearstick was also on. The dealer...
Not a question, but a commendation. My wife and I recently had a session on the Hampshire Older Drivers Scheme. An hour and a half (each) with an advanced driving instructor. It cost £30 and we both learned...
I drive a SEAT Leon Cupra R with factory 225/40/18Y wheels and tyres. These would be great on a pool table smooth road, however they don't exist in this country and the wheels don't like potholes much,...
I have a seven-year-old semi-auto Mercedes A-Class petrol 190 that has suited me, but now I should replace it with something similar. I liked its performance and its high seating, which makes getting in...
I'm looking to buy a car on Personal Contract Purchase and don't really know my stuff. I'm looking for something small, like a hatchback. My budget is £150 per month (maximum), I do between 10 and 15k...
The garage has just confirmed today that my beloved FIAT Barchetta is almost certainly a write-off. I'll really miss it. But I think I'll go for something more solid next time. How do you rate the FIAT...
I have just bought a Mondeo with a 2.5 litre turbocharged engine. This is the first time that I have owned a car with a turbocharged engine. I have occasionally read in your column in the Saturday Telegraph...
Are we obliged to go to the insurance company's preferred garage for repairs, or do we have a choice? My reason for asking is they seen to want the car for 7 - 10 days when my local Honda garage suggests...
I currently drive a petrol 2007 MINI Cooper. Now, due to ligament problems with my neck that cannot be resolved, I find the ride extremely uncomfortable. Overall the performance and fuel economy is excellent...
My father's Motability car was stolen from the rear of his driveway. My mother started up the car to go and post a letter. She noticed that the letter was addressed wrongly and re-entered the back door...
I was interested in a recent letter about Intelligent Speed Adaptation for cars. I live in the New Forest and our local paper is full of ideas to prevent animal accidents, speeding, etc. One wished to...
My 2001 Mk 4 Golf TDi Estate has electrical problems. The driver’s electric window has failed along with the wing mirror controls and the remote locking of the drivers door. Other controls on the driver’s...
I am in quite a bit of bother and would appreciate any help you can give. Only a week ago, my pride and joy was written off. The insurance company is now offering a price to me, based upon the ‘Glass's...
I would appreciate your advice on the best polish for my nearly new Civic S with metallic black paint that seems to chip and mark fairly easily. It is not something that I have experience before with previous...
I have a 1997 Nissan Micra automatic. Unfortunately the underneath is badly rusted and welding will cost £400. I know the guys in the MoT station and trust them. I have a budget of £5,500 and am looking...
My Grandson was 18 in March, and passed his test in June. I have been trying to get him insured to drive a 1998 1,124cc Peugeot 106, worth £700 on a 3rd-party-only basis. A search on comparethemarket.com...
I recently put down a £500 deposit on a very low mileage, mint condition Mazda6 MPS at an Evans Halshaw car supermarket. In two days from now, the car will be ready for collection and I will be paying...
I bought my BMW E93 330d MSport cabrio new on 25/06/2007 from Almondbury BMW Huddersfield With 19” wheels. After 5,000 miles the rear tyres badly scrubbed on their inside edges. BMW replaced the tyres...
You stated recently that you were considering not recommending diesel vehicles due to expensive problems with Turbos, Intercoolers and EGR Valves etc. Would this also include petrol engine cars fitted...
I will shortly order a new car. A DAB radio is a costly option but do you think this would be sensible to "future proof" the car if the Government goes ahead and switches off FM as they appear to intend?...
I have a 52 plate ex-police force Skoda 1.8T with around 95,000 on the clock and service evidence would suggest the mileage is correct. Recently, though, the engine warning light symbol has come on and...
I'm due to retire shortly and my Audi 3.2 quattro lease goes at the same time. I'm looking for a replacement second car and I'm looking for something small, practical but fun and speedy. I thought about...
Could you please tell me which cars and also which 4x4s are built with a separate chassis.
Overstayed in a 'free for 2 hours' retail park car park: Fine/invoice £80, but £50 if paid within 10 days. Automatic number plating against registered keeper information.
I was recently driving along a reasonably quiet stretch of the M60, and pulled over from the inside lane to the middle lane on the approach to a junction as I could see a car about to join the motorway....
My niece is 18 years old, having passed her test 15 months ago. She wants something with a bit more zip than her 1.0 litre 03 Reg Corsa (that is going to another family member) at least as much room and...
I am not usually one to write in with my comments, however I must on this occasion after dealing with King Automatics in Epsom. My 2003 Grand Cherokee CRD auto had locked in 2nd gear, my regular mechanic...
I wrote to you in July this year about the new 2009 model BMW 320d automatic convertible I bought. It is the first auto and convertible I have owned and is a great car even in the colder months. However,...
I would appreciate your advice. I have a Land Rover Discovery 3 fitted with standard mud and snow all-weather tyres. I have two or three ski trips planned and have heard that winter snow tyres would meet...
Quick email to ask your opinion on what would be the best automatic cars for my mother to buy? She has just retired and has very bad arthritis so doing things like changing gear all the time is getting...
I have recently purchased a Sept 2006 Toyota Avensis Estate 2.2 D-4D 180bhp. The car has 88k warranted mileage and full (Toyota) service history. I bought it via a car auction and a good local garage just...
A friend of mine uses his 10-year-old Focus 2.0 petrol to tow a Bailey 460/2 caravan that weighs just over 1 ton. He is now interested in buying a 1.6 TDCI diesel Focus. I am concerned that this car will...
I have just had a reminder letter from my local Toyota dealer saying that my three-year service is due. It goes on to say…"we would also recommend that…the brake fluid is replaced at two yearly intervals.”
Can...
I am currently driving a 2004 Citroen Berlingo Desire 1.9 diesel. My husband now has a company car and we no longer need the space of the Berlingo. I generally use the car for supermarket and school runs....
I bought my Ford Focus Ghia in January 2001, a size of car that would enable me to take my sick husband out and about. Fords had always been popular with us and this certainly proved its worth and, serviced...
I would like to replace my standard headlight bulbs to vastly improve the light quality. (Fitting Halford’s Extreme Brilliance H1 Xenon 12v 55w bulbs has made no difference at all.) This will be by fitting...
I am considering purchasing a Jaguar XJ either 3.0L petrol or 2.7L diesel 04-06 plate, as it does seem to be a lot of car for the money at the moment. I intend to start taking in a few continental driving...
My 2005/55 Ford Street Ka has done 45,000 miles. A week ago failed its MoT and needed a broken offside front spring and front arm replaced due to corrosion, plus brakes completely replaced. Advisories...
I am in the process of arranging my mother's car insurance (she will be 80 in February). She has an 'L' reg VW Polo, for which I have guessed an optimistic value of £500. She always had comprehensive cover,...
We have recently returned to the UK from Spain and have driven back in a 3 year old Ford Fusion, Spanish registered, which we bought from new. Can you advise me if there are any opportunities to sell a...
In October I received a speeding ticket alleging that I was doing 38mph (at 14.31hrs on 12 Oct 2009) in Carnforth, Lancashire. Consulting my diary I realised that at the time quoted I would be leaving/departing...
My daughter’s diesel SAAB 9-3 has had a catastrophic failure after passing through shallow water on the road. The breakdown man seemed to think that this is not unusual as the air intakes are vulnerable...
My wife and I are Australian travelling to UK and Europe arriving in April. We are going to be touring for 2-years and after an initial 4-week spell in the UK are off touring Europe (the big bit across...
I have a Sept 2006 Suzuki Grand Vitara 1.9DDIS which I bought about 18 months ago with 19k miles from a non-franchised dealer. In April of this year at 31k we discovered a problem with filings being deposited...
A friend is changing his 2006 BMW 330i SE Coupe. It is in pristine condition and he has offered it to me. However, it is on 19" wheels and in the last 2 years he has had 3 punctures and had cause to replace...
I bought my Ford S-Max a year or so ago with runflat tyres. Before people go for this option, I think they should bear in mind that they cost much more, they weigh (according to my local fitter) a third...
My wife's 2004/54 Ka with just 23,138 recorded miles has needed to have a Helicoil ftted because the drain hole disintegrated while in the Ford Dealership for its annual service. The charge was £60 plus...
I am due to change my company car in March 2010. I am currently on my 2nd Volvo S60, but the new S60 is not due in the UK until September 2010. I cover about 20,000 miles per year, some longer distance,...
I am faced with a bill of over £600 for a replacement ECU in my wife's MKI 2004 Skoda Octavia VRS, as it failed due to water ingress. Is there some sort of design fault that has caused this? Surely an...
We bought, from Mercedes Benz of Salisbury a 2004/54 CLK 320 Coupe Avantgard with auto, leather, comfort pack, audio 10 plus CD changer and phone pre-wire, etc, etc. 30,000 miles, one previous owner, and...
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