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Trending topics in April 2010
Questions from April 2010
We are selling our Fiesta and now require easy access and a flattish boot. We’ve looked at Fusion and C-Max. Are there any others we should consider?
Time has come to replace two of the Dunlop 225/50/R17/94W Dunlop Sport 01 run flat tyres on my car. I am considering changing to non run flat tyres and I believe you have suggested a suitable alternative...
I would like to know what your thoughts are on a 17 year old learner driver with regards to insurance, are you better to stick with a small engine newish car, or an older bigger car. We would prefer an...
Do you think we are plain bonkers, to want to buy a 3 year old Maserati? We love the look of the car and the noise of the engine. We have dreamed of owning one for a long time. Secondhand prices seem reasonable....
Friends have finally decided to buy a car. They are prosperous and looking to buy new, no P/X, good for the economy. I recommended him a Honda FR-V when he asked for advice 18 months ago but now see that...
I am thinking of selling my car to webuyanycar.com. Do you know anything about this company? And do you know if they are bonafide?
I bought a Hyundai i10 on 1st November 2008 and the dealer assured me it had the new Kappa engine. Is there any easy way to identify the new engine? I have seen pictures on the Net and I must say there...
My wife, Carol, wants to buy an all-electric car, a four/five-seater hatchback, with a decent range. What can you recommend please?
Do you think all-electric cars are all that green? What about all...
I am retiring at age 65 shortly. I have had a Volvo 850 automatic since I bought it new in 1996, it has done 103,000 miles and is in excellent condition. I just drive it locally two or three times a week...
I must say that you should use the picture on the front of last week's (or was it the week before) at the top of your column. Hardly credit you are the same person. You look less like a 'would you buy...
Last November, on your advice, I used scrappage to buy a Hyundai i10 Comfort. With one exception I have been delighted with everything about the car. It is lively, perhaps too lively for an octogenarian...
In April 2009 I bought a one-year-old Nissan X-trail. At the end of July, having covered 2000 miles in France in just over a week the particulate light again came on together with the Malfunction light....
I am in disbelief at your reply to the letter from DW. Are you really saying that it is an offence to park my car on the highway at end of my drive? If so please quote the law referred to. I know that...
We are considering buying a Ford C-Max and have two in our sights.
1. 54 Reg 1.6 TDCi Ghia CVT
2. 56 Reg 2.0 Ghia Petrol
Both are priced at £7,500. Which, in your opinion, is best value? We do about...
You have recently advocated the use of winter tyres and I am exploring this possibility for next winter. I would prefer to buy a new set of wheels and tyres, and whilst there is a wide choice of tyres...
I have a 2001 Audi A4. The brakes simply froze solid last Christmas. The garage tells me that it needs a new servo; but Audi stopped manufacture in September. The new revamped model has just become available....
Large lorries use our village as a short cut following sat-nav instructions. They then have to reverse out of the village due to the narrow roads. Is there an organisation we can contact to have our village...
In May 2004 I purchased a new Honda Civic 1.6 Executive automatic and I have so far enjoyed 64,000 miles trouble free motoring. The car is in immaculate condition and has a full Hondacare Service history....
I am following a Dec 2005, Merc 320CDI estate, auto on eBay. This has a full MB dealer history fully documented, two professional owners and despite the high mileage of 181,000 really looks like new in...
You have answered readers’ complaints about rapid wear of brake discs with an explanation that corrosion due to light usage is the cause. Whilst this has a small effect on disc wear this has always been...
Following your advice we bought a Hyundai i10 under the scrappage scheme last July. Today we had a 'phone call from the salesman offering us a new i10 in p/x for our old one and it would only cost us £499,...
I have owned my Rover 75 Tourer for eight years, and it has ticked all the boxes, so I am happy to keep it for a few years yet. Inevitably one or two things now need attending to, and last week the ABS...
It seems that some smaller cars are made with an adjustable back seat that allows either 4 comfortable passengers with a reduced luggage space or 2 comfortable passengers, minimal back seat space but a...
We are in late 60's and have narrowed our new vehicle choice to a Nissan Qashqai or Peugeot 3008, tending towards diesel engine, but in a state of confusion as to which make and model/spec might be the...
I am in a dilemma. I read your reply to the person about the caravanette. I am a 61-year-old female, entering an adventurous second childhood, who loves the idea of roaming the countryside with my small...
Your website refers to the oil strainer problem leading to engine failure of VAG 2.0 TDIs. In the 3.5 years I have had my Skoda Superb 2.0TDI, I have had two engine failures caused by the oil pump problem...
Thank you for your prompt response. Having been unable to source an exhaust system for my ageing Toyota Camry 3000 V6 GX, the only company on your list able to offer the rear exhaust box and mid section...
I have become addicted to your column in the Daily (and Sunday) Telegraph over the last couple of years. As a consequence of this I'm an occasional visitor to your website's car-by-car reviews.
Thanks...
I frequently see commercial vehicles with a sticker declaring that "This vehicle is restricted to 56 mph by law". What law are they referring to, and if there isn't a 56 mph law, what's the point of the...
How many readers have AUDI, SEAT, SKODA, or VW products with Teves ABS faults and replacement parts costing £1,170 - £1,300? We currently have had this problem on both a 2.0 TDI SEAT Altea and a 2.0 TDI...
I currently drive a 53 plate Golf Match V and I'm thinking of changing it soon. I've spent over £1,800 on it in 14 months and I think it's time for a change. I've been pretty happy with it, particularly...
I was a little concerned to read that a Ford dealership in Bristol had consulted with Ford, and suggested that seized spark plugs could be “smashed out of the head”. Why? Hardly good engineering practice.
The...
I’m having a problem with Vauxhall and just wondered if you could give me your thoughts. I have a Vauxhall Zafira 2.2 SRI, registered 22.02.07 that has done 28,000miles. On Monday, it wouldn’t start so...
I have owned my 2003 Jaguar XJ6 3.0 petrol auto for 5 relatively trouble free years and I am pleased with the car. It is not expensive to run (average 30mpg on Shell V Power) and I receive exceptional...
Is it still true that we will forced to drive in daylight hours with our headlights on at all times, even in bright sunlight? Seems to be more EU control freakery. One result will be more battery failures...
One evening last week I hit a large hole in a road in Burnham, Bucks with the result that one of my alloy wheels has been buckled and must be replaced. The impact felt so severe that I have booked the...
Further to RB’s problem, I have also just changed to an iPhone and had Bluetooth problems. I run a 2004 BMW 330 convertible with integrated Bluetooth hands free as part of the factory fit satnav. Previous...
I must admit to being relieved that the scrappage scheme is near the end and that normality should return to the car market. Although it seems to be a win-win situation for owners of older cars and the...
Thanks for information about the 2000 – 2004 Mercedes Benz Valeo heat exchanger issue. Interestingly, MB did fit a new torque converter last January (50/50 contribution), it seemed to improve for a while,...
Boxing day 2008, a neighbour damaged my car, a Jaguar XJ8 by reversing into it. He admitted liability. I think my insurance company and certainly Rybrook Jaguar of Chester recommended letting an accident...
My sister bought a 1998 Rover 200 (1.8 engine) less than 2 weeks ago. The car had 105k miles on clock and she paid the sticker price of £995 and received a trade in of £250 on an old Transit van she had....
I am hopefully about to get my licence back after a 3-year medical layoff. I could get a new car on the Motability Scheme which would cost approx £7,500 all in over a 3 year period for a relatively small...
My 2007 Hyundai Tucson CRTD CDX 07 diesel has been showing a flashing amber warning light. The handbook says "emissions system check particulate filter.” The advice given by the dealer is to run at sustained...
I have a ‘G201’ fault on my 2006 SEAT Altea FR. The SEAT Dealer wants £1,300 to fix the problem. Do you know if the VAG contribution is specific to the VW, or is applicable to all VAG cars? Failing contribution...
I am looking at the KIA Sportage (not sure if I will go for 4WD since don't do off road but it might be better if we get bad winters). The 7-year warranty is one major factor in looking seriously at this...
I recently attended a DAS and found it to be quite a pleasant and informative experience. I was expecting three hours of being harangued by police officers. Instead there were two very pleasant driving...
I have tried a Vauxhall Agila to replace my 1995 Rover 114GSI. OK. Next a Suzuki Splash, which I have read is better. But if I look over £10k-£13k, is there anything else small, firm ride, manual and reliable...
I am appalled by some of the tales of dodgy behaviour by dealers. Here's one to add to the list. In February 2009 I bought a used 05 VW Passat 2-litre petrol Saloon with 30,000 on the clock. So far so...
Do you have any feedback on the durability of Volkswagen's six speed DSG gearboxes as fitted to the current Passat? Do you have any advice to help reliability other than the standard 40,000mile/4 yearly...
I was interested to read the article about 4x4s in the snow by Erin Baker. It really amazed me that the various public authorities were not organised enough to request volunteers to use their own 4 wheel...
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