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Trending topics in February 2010
Questions from February 2010
Back in August we were returning from a holiday in Derbyshire with our daughter and our two granddaughters, when I was caught in a speed-trap in the village of Grindleford by an officer with a hand held...
I take your advice about allowing turbo diesels to 'simmer' before turning off. But for how long after what kind of driving? Also if it is an important but uncertain area, could a dash warning light be...
Following your item relating to insurers loading premiums despite NCD protection you may be interested in the following. Although retired for many years I still have a small Agency (Brokerage) with Royal...
I intend to buy a Mazda MX-5 Roadster Coupe. I’ve decided to go for the 2.0 litre engine but am undecided as to whether to specify the 6-speed manual transmission or the 6-speed sequential paddle-shift...
I am taking delivery of a new car at the end of December and I am considering having the Supagard Plus treatment by the supplying dealer. Would you please advise if you think the treatment is beneficial...
I want to change my car, a May 2005 Ford Mondeo GHIA Petrol 2.0 litre. In very good condition, it has done 71k miles with FSH and warranty to April 2010 and taxed to March. Having been really pleased with...
A colleague has just purchased a FIAT Punto that was a 'new vehicle'. The vehicle was purchased using her old FIAT in part ex. As her old car was not quite the right age it was not done under the scrappage...
Is it true that it is no longer recommended to rotate the wheels (i.e. front to back opposite corners, etc.) to even out the wear of the tyres? I use to do it relatively regularly in the "old days" but...
My Golf was nearly 5 years old when it suffered the well-known G201/MK60 Teves ABS/ESP fault. Basically I have been told that VW is offering 100% goodwill for Touran owners who have had their cars exclusively...
My 65,000 mile 1999S petrol Mercedes Benz E240 has excessive white creamy sludge on the inside of the oil filler cap, particularly during cold weather, without noticeable loss of coolant. Should I be worried?
Recently I took my 2005 Ford Focus 1.6 Ghia for its 40,000-mile service to my local Ford garage from which I bought it new. They could not remove the sparking plugs to change them because the plugs had...
I have a 2004 Land Rover Defender and have seen may adverts about the merits of rechipping to improve economy and performance. What surprises me is that manufacturers do not already build the vehicle with...
My four-year-old Mazda 6 aircon packed up the other month. On inspection by my local Mazda dealer, T.W. White & Son in Addlestone, from which I had bought the car three years ago, a new condensing unit...
Could you please repeat your advice for driving over speed bumps to reduce tyre damage (which I have read many times in your column but have not kept the printed page) so that I can pass it on to some...
Anyone hoping to buy a new FIAT 500 is going to be in for a long wait. I ordered mine on 3rd August 2009 and at my last enquiry re delivery I was told late January or February if I'm lucky. Come on FIAT....
How long does it take for the DVLA to amend car ownership details?
In April this year my wife traded in her car for a newer one. Last month she received a Penalty Notice from Nottingham County Council...
In a recent response I think you said that a new run-flat tyre would be
available from October which offered a softer ride than previous run-flats. I need to change all four tyres on my Skoda Octavia Scout...
My husband is just recovering well from a total hip replacement that was followed by an unexpected Triple Bypass. He would love to change his Honda CR-V for something similar but smaller. It must be automatic....
We are two pensioners who have not bought a car for 15 years and are considering buying a new Audi A6 2.7 diesel or a used Jaguar XF 2.7 diesel to provide refined, reliable motoring with some style for...
Recently while in British Columbia, Canada, I rented a Ford Escape Limited. It had a 3-litre V6 engine, 6-speed automatic transmission with a low ratio for difficult terrain and permanent 4WD. It was about...
I own a 2-year-old SAAB 9-3, 1.9TDI Sportwagon. The car has done 16,000 miles and is still under SAAB warranty. When I took the car for its 2nd year service I pointed out that the rear brake discs were...
My wife has driven BMW 3 Series cars for the past 7 or 8 years, and for the last 3 years a 330i Sport Automatic on 18" wheels - so the tyres are very thin. She has much enjoyed it, but is now becoming...
I have been watching an increasing number of entries on your Mazda 3 technical forum with problems associated with the Dynamic Stability Control unit. As the repair of this problem, a replacement unit,...
I wonder if you can give me your opinion on ex-Motability cars in general and on the Ford Fusion in particular. I am considering buying a used one for my (active) wife and her dog.
A local Nissan dealer has provided me with excellent service over the last four years with my current vehicle. He has recently imported a number of Nissan Tiida hatchbacks and saloons from the Republic...
I have about £800 to spend on a family car for two adults and two kids. What would you recommend? I have seen a 1999 Vauxhall Vectra 2.0DI turbodiesel, 100,000 miles. But, after reading your report I'm...
Some years ago when I enjoyed the benefit of a company car, the insurance cover included a courtesy car in the event of a prolonged breakdown as well as the results of an accident causing the car to be...
To drive an electric scooter into a vehicle requires at least six feet of headroom to enable a disabled driver to alight from the scooter and get out of the car: I speak from experience. I have one of...
Recently I purchased an Alfa 159 Lusso JTDM 1.9 SportWagon. Its lovely to drive in every respect, except after 600 miles (3 motorway journeys) all at normal speeds mostly 4-5 and 6th gear, the car only...
I am selling my 2006 Suzuki Swift 1.3 GLX and am torn between another Swift DDiS 1.3 GLX or the Splash DDiS 1.3, which is 1100 Euros less but with only manual aircon. The Splash seems a better buy but...
As some manufacturers fit bigger and bigger wheels as standard, ride quality gets worse and worse. We live in a part of the country prone to flooding, and so we have a 4x4 for its 'wading' ability. The...
For years I have been driving an Avensis 1.8 T3-X with an automatic gearbox and have had years of trouble free motoring. I am now thinking of buying a new Avensis 1.8 TR with a CVT automatic gearbox. Could...
My 17-year-old son has just started learning to drive. He is having lessons as well as driving me around in his FIAT Seicento that we bought him for his birthday. His instructor tells him always to use...
I am looking at Subarus again and due to the credit crunch my budget is limited. I have a choice of a two Legacy Outbacks: a 2002 with 101,000 miles for £4,000, or a 2003 with 40,000 miles for £5,450....
Motorpoint is selling an E60 BMW 525i SE 4-door Automatic with 52 miles on the clock for £23,000: a saving of £13,000, they reckon. I'm seriously tempted, but what's the catch?
I am confused about second-hand car prices. Have they risen recently, either because of an allegedly improving economy, or because the scrappage scheme has pulled a large number out of the market? Or have...
A neighbour has just witnessed the removal of his own car from the road in front of his own driveway. OK, so it is an offence to park across a residential driveway - but not everybody realises this. The...
How is diminution in value because a car has been accident repaired affect the future value of a car? And what happens if it is claimed for on insurance?
Regarding your suggesting of run-flats being a viable alternative to 'space savers', I would have to suggest a caveat is required. It is my understanding it is 'impossible' to repair a run flat once it...
A year ago I had 3 new "budget" tyres fitted to my Vauxhall Astra by a local reputable local firm. A couple of weeks ago I had a flat nearside front tyre but did not identify the cause. On removal of the...
I need a little car to run me a mile to my rail station. Don't want to fork out more than 2k, don't want anything too frumpy. I've seen 8-year-old Alfa 147s, are they too unreliable? Any other suggestions?
Can you recommend a brand of replacement tyres for my Freelander – 51,000 miles on the clock - most long journeys to and from the Scottish Highlands from our home in Lincolnshire, often towing a fully...
There are a lot of car suppliers that are not independent or Main Dealers but just have a website and many are "viewing by appointment only" (some have landlines some don't). Am I right to avoid these...
I aim to trade in a Toyota Yaris GLS Automatic 3 door hatchback 1,299cc petrol, metallic blue, 150g/km CO2, registered 27-09-02, mileage, 21,000 (1 long drive per week plus 1 - 2 short drives). Good condition,...
I can't be the only one wondering why I spent close on £400 trying to pass my motorcycle test this summer only to fail the Module 1 on manoeuvres. My theory and hazard perception were a walk in the park,...
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