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Questions from May 2010
I wonder if there are any car sales websites you can recommend as providing a reasonable service? In particular, do you have an opinion on buyanewcaronline.co.uk?
I was recently caught speeding by a forward-facing GATSO camera. I have read in various places that GATSO's were never type-approved by the Home Office to be used forward facing, and may only be used when...
I have heard that the Honda Civic 2012 model replacing the MK8 is to be introduced later next year. Do you know whether this is likely and, if so, will it be a completely redesigned Civic and not just...
We live in a quiet, privately-owned cul de sac linked to a minor road. Some months ago we were consulted about the installation of speed bumps on the minor road. I replied and quite clearly stated there...
Help. I bought a 1-year-old Vauxhall Corsa from our local Vauxhall dealer on Friday, and on Saturday realised that only the top half of the rear windscreen was de-misting. I took it back to their service...
Why do motorway service areas not advertise the make of fuel they are providing on the notices indicating that a service area is coming up? I use the motorway system and I have a company fuel card for...
I have been investigating details of new cars, though I do not expect to buy one yet. On the whole, diesel cars are more economical and may produce less carbon dioxide than petrol powered cars. However...
My Mercedes Benz C280 petrol automatic is 28 months old with 8,500 miles on the clock. Recently in the very cold weather, before the engine has fully warmed up it has developed a tendency to suddenly rev...
I have often wondered why there is so much fuss and even legislation concerning low down fog lights. They are well below eye level, pointing downwards towards the road and do not dazzle oncoming motorists...
I am thinking about buying a ‘classic’ Aston Martin DB6. Will the valve seats be suitable for running on superunleaded petrol?
In November we bought a Hyundai i10. The main reason for buying it was an economical runabout. In the handbook and in all the data it is advertised as doing 56.5 mpg (combined). Ours is doing 36.5mpg,...
My wife insisted that I wrote to you before rushing headlong in pursuit of another zany half-baked plan. My bitch (not my esteemed wife) is that I have paid millions in depreciation in 40 years of car...
I'm sending this email because I have recently leased a car from Lings Cars and received a message asking if I, along with other customers, would contact you with honest (good or bad) feedback on the service...
I have a 4-year-old BMW 320 diesel Touring automatic, which is fine in all respects and has behaved immaculately since purchased new. It is fitted with Primacy runflat tyres. My problem is that the ride...
I have a Lexus IS250 and it is without doubt the best car I have ever had. Recently, however, it has become comparatively noisy. It is 3 1/2 years old and has done 45,000 miles. The noise increases with...
I have a Rover 25 and it drinks coolant. Not loads but I’ve got to top up every 3 days or so. Is it more likely the inlet manifold gasket or the head gasket?
I have bought a car for £1,500 and part-exchanged my car. The newer car is a junk. The head gasket has gone and will cost £800. The private dealer basically told me to get lost. Help.
I recently purchased a new car for my wife and would appreciate your view of Citroen reducing the specification of their top of the range 5 seat C4 Picasso Exclusive model. They no longer supply rear window...
Bearing in mind recent discussion on the Teves Mk 60 ABS system, I have a two-year-old Altea XL 2.0 DSG with which I am very happy and had intended to make it the last car I own. I do about 6,000 miles...
Our friend is having problems with condensation within her 2004 Skoda Fabia Classic. When she parks and leaves the car, after a run, on her return she finds the windows have 'steamed' up. Have you heard...
I currently have a Meriva Diesel purchased new in 2004. It has done 72k miles with a lot of motorway driving. I had a plan to purchase the new Meriva next year when it will have been in production for...
I've read with some dismay of the shocking stories of Mazda 2.0 diesels spewing fuel into the engine lubricant with understandable and catastrophic results. Does this level of stupidity and oversight by...
I recently brought a new Audi 1.9TDI from my local Audi dealership in a London suburb. After approximately one months ownership I started to encounter issues with the diesel particulate filter. The warning...
In June 2009 my wife and I purchased a 2007 FIAT Grande Punto for our son from the branch of a national dealer chain in Darlington. The experience was not good and several faults were unresolved by the...
I write to echo your advice regarding hire car scams when taking a car in for an insurance claim. I have recently been involved totally innocently with one of these claims companies for a repair that was...
My local Vauxhall Main Dealer recommended me to buy a 2007/57 reg Meriva Design 1.4 saying it had been one of their fleet cars. The logbook did not show them as owners. My car proved to have a difficult...
The main dealer wants to change the auto box oil in my 2006 MB C320CDI at 37,500 miles at a cost of almost £300. Is this necessary?
Can you point me in the right direction, as to how I can stop the renewal of "straddle" road humps which I am subjected to when I leave my house when I turn either right or left, or is it possible you...
I cannot agree with your suggestion concerning insurance for young drivers. Read another way you seem to be suggesting that we should subsidise premiums because otherwise young drivers will break the law....
Last week I rented a Ford Mondeo Estate car, picking it up at Luton Airport on Sun 21st and returning it to Stansted airport on Thurs 25th. We had the normal insurance cover provided by the car Rental...
We recently moved home. Our new street looks like a single road, but it is actually two roads joined together, end to end. We are experiencing a massive problem as everyone who comes to visit, collect...
On returning home yesterday evening, I locked my Skoda Superb using the remote key. All the windows were shut, and the system indicated that the alarm and immobiliser were activated. This morning I found...
I need to change my 2007 VW Touareg for a pick-up truck. What in your opinion is the best, most car-like pick up? It has to be automatic, have all the toys (at least as options), be relaxing and smooth...
This is a copy of my letter to VOSA: “I wanted to speak to someone about the following but there is no appropriate option on your automated telephone service. Shame on you for not having an option where...
Did you know that, unlike the rest of the range, the 158bhp petrol Avensis is fitted with direct injection where the injectors are fitted into the cylinder walls? They are prone to carbon build-up, causing...
Could you clarify if Rover 75s have a head gasket problem with all their engines, or is it just the 1.8?
Has the car-by-car breakdown been removed from your website?
I purchased my '57-reg van in July 2009. It has a Ford warranty until December 2010 and had done 25,000 miles. It has now done 40,000 miles, but on 3 May 2010 the cam belt broke. The van is at Bristol...
Could you recommend any automatic gearbox specialists for Audi in either West London or close to Winchester?
There is a problem with on-street parking in my village. A view has been expressed, allegedly supported by a police officer's statement, that car owners do not have the right to park outside their properties...
I own a Skoda Roomster 56-reg and have done since new in January 2007. It has about 28,000 on the clock and has been serviced at the local Skoda dealer (Marlborough in Isleworth) at the correct intervals....
I've owned a Land Rover Discovery 2 for three years, and I'm now trying to sell it without service history. It was a category D write-off and I tried in vain to get the full service history, but the previous...
My 120,000-mile Volkswagen Bora runs perfectly with 90bhp, but I would like more power. A professional auto-tuner has quoted £200 to chip the car to 120bhp and a further £180 to fit larger injectors to...
I have a 2006 BMW 335i SE Coupe E92. My V5C shows the CO2 as 228g/Km but all the calculators I have used show 218. Any ideas? Could this be the result of having fitted 19-inch wheels?
Always with an eye for a bargain, I noticed a 2007, 56 reg Daihatsu Sirion 1.3SX with 18,000 miles on the clock, advertised for £4,295. Is this too good to be true? Are there any major potential problems...
I'm thinking of buying a new 1.6 diesel hatchback which I will keep for five or more years. Firstly, with annual mileage at 12,000 miles, is this the right choice? Secondly, is the Octavia likely to be...
You give a very positive review of the Renault Megane Coupe but only TBA under What's Bad. Do you have any bad comments?
I'm looking at buying a used car that will ideally be economical, fun to drive and (hopfully) last 5-6 years. In your opinion, what is the best diesel car to buy for under £8000 with less than 30,000 on...
Please can you offer any advice regarding the best choice of company car from the list below.
Audi A3 1.6TDI 3DR (got at present but want a change). BMW 116 D ES. Citroen C4 1.6 HDI Airdream. Citroen...
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