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Questions from June 2010
In Sept '07 I bought a new Range Rover TDV8 Sport. It went straight to Overfinch for cosmetics only, including 22" alloys. Main Dealers are now telling me that steering, suspension and drivetrain will...
We are beginning to get rather pissed off in Thames Ditton on the potholes issue. It seems that the current contract for road maintenance contained no Service Level Agreement or provision for penalties...
I own a 2002 Mercedes C220 CDI automatic, regularly maintained, still good to drive and still giving over 50mpg on motorways. Oil consumption is also very low. When accelerating hard, which I don¹t do...
We are looking to change our ageing 1.6 Mk4 Golf for a new/nearly new car. The car is used for short commutes of about 2 miles and has to be able to accommodate bulky objects in the back. Hatchback is...
I have a new Hyundai i30 1.4 petrol and have covered just 1,300 miles, but I am disappointed at the amount of fuel I am using. I have calculated my mpg to be no more than 32mpg based on the litres/gallons...
Whilst on a recent journey in my 37,000 mile 2004 Nissan Almera Tino, a message on the screen came up advising me of a possible malfunction of the Engine Control System, the remote possibility of an immediate...
I have been driving automatic cars for more than thirty years and have found that your advice to left foot brake to be a great advantage.
My reason for writing however is to seek advice on the disposal...
I have a manual 2009 BMW118dSE. From the date of purchase I have noticed that when I slow or change down, as when approaching a turning or roundabout, the engine thrust can still be felt. On occasions...
I noticed one or two concerns on your forums regarding nasty niffs created by a bacterial build-up on the air conditioning evaporator. We have some experience of this and investigated alternative treatments...
Given that the holiday season is upon us perhaps you could advise your readers again on the pitfalls of hiring a car. I booked a car from Europcar via Global Reservations in the UK for Beziers Airport...
I have always understood you to say that a car dealer must offer a 6-month warranty with a used car. However in Motoring Telegraph on 27 March you advised an owner that since he only paid a dealer £500...
My husband has received a renewal notice from the AA for his car insurance. Unfortunately he has been made redundant recently (he is a civil engineer) and after notifying the AA of this, his premium has...
I have owned a Honda Accord Tourer for over five years, and until last week, I have been fortunate in never having a puncture. To my horror, there was no spare wheel in the boot. Checking with the local...
I have a Ford KA 2004 model. My blowers inside the car are only blowing hot air even when on cool. The car gets really hot inside even on short journeys.
The problem ‘highlighted’ recently with xenon lamps is unlikely to be with properly installed lights, which have self-adjusters. The problem is with aftermarket lights, which are fitted to standard headlights...
My daughter has a Mazda 6TS2, purchased in April 2008. It has just been in to the local Mazda main dealer have a few faults fixed under warranty one door lock not working, shuddering when braking (they...
I assume that your advice re fitting winter tyres to all 4 wheels applies equally to "wearing" Autosocks, especially to a RWD car (Lexus IS250), even though the Autosocks website make no mention of this...
I have owned a SAAB 9-5 Estate1.9 JTDM Manual for some 18 months. The car was first registered in March 2006 and has covered 52,500 miles. The kerb weight without driver is 1,620 kg and I intend to use...
I think I can remember you writing somewhere that by entering the registration number of a car on a website it will tell you if that vehicle is insured or not. What was the website please?
Towards the end of February I renewed the VED online for two of my cars and declared my 1967 MGB as SORN as its MOT had expired. The DVLA website enabled me to print out clear receipts for the vehicles...
Your feedback on the Vectra CDTi were taken into account when I acquired, for 'very right money,' an ex-fleet 2006 estate, about 12 months ago, for towing a caravan, since when I have replaced the dual...
I own a 2.0 170 TDI PD with DPF and on our web site Seatcupra.net and other VAG web sites we are getting news of the franchised dealers reflashing the ECUs to a lower PS (about 155) so the reliability...
I just bought a 1999V Ford Cougar, full service history, excellent condition throughout, but aircon not working. Just been to Kwik fit to recharge the gas, but got it for free because the air didn’t get...
I am seriously considering buying a BMW 840/850 in the next few months. What is your opinion of these cars? I am considering spending £6,000 approximately, give or take a £1,000. I have heard rumours...
I just bought a Corsa 1.2SXI. I have been driving it now for 3 weeks and it has just started to make a tapping noise very much like a diesel. I have changed the oil and filter (the oil was dirty and the...
I'm in the fortunate position to be able to spend £50k-£60k on a sports car which will be our third car and therefore used only as a treat. Ideally, I'd like to buy something that won't depreciate too...
In March 2009 I bought a used Jaguar XF, previously owned by Jaguar, Brown’s Lane, Coventry. On 31-12-2009 at 39,000 miles, it suffered catastrophic engine failure. The car started to speed up without...
You have mentioned several times that its a good idea to let a
turbodiesel cool down before switching off after a long run. I recently bought a Skoda Yeti 2.0TDI CR and I notice that the fan sometimes...
On the 17th March my V11 dropped onto the doormat and I was surprised to see that 12 months tax for my BMW 120d (129g/km) was going to cost me £120 rather than the £90 I was expecting (for once I thought...
I finally parted with my beloved but batty Rover 75 in favour of Nissan Note. It's within my budget, big enough to house a wheelchair for my mum, and (I thought longingly of my old Micra) reliable. It's...
I thought you may like to know of some problems with my BMW 120i M Sport 07/57. About 12 months ago the "stop/start" feature stopped working due to a faulty low fuel pressure sensor. Then a month ago it...
Thank you for your excellent information relating to buying a BMW 530D. I found it very useful as I've just purchased a used example. I would like to advise your readers to be as transparent as possible...
I'm trying to find out the recommended tyre pressure for my 2007 Nissan Note automatic (please see the details below) as the sticker on the door side where it's usually written seems to be removed. I approached...
I have a Porsche Cayenne which is great but very thirsty. Due to a change in circumstances I am now having to drive 200 miles every two weeks, which is obviously an expensive journey. The area I travel...
I need to replace a fog light on a 2007 Renault Megane saloon but I cannot see any way to do this. The handbook says refer to dealer.
We were on holiday in France in July last year when we were bumped in the rear by a French driver. We were stationary at the time, waiting for a car which was two cars in front to complete a turn. It was...
I'm considering buying a Mercedes-Benz E-Class W211 advertised and badged as an '05 (54-plate) E350, but the history on this web site suggests that this model was not available until July '06. Is there...
I have cosmetic damage to the rim of the steering wheel on my Xsara Picasso. Does anyone in the UK sell the old type lace-on leather steering wheel cover? I have searched the net but can only find thick,...
I had a letter from Continuous Registration Centre (DVLA) asking me to pay a fine (£40 or £80) because I had not taxed my car. My car tax was due at the end of February and I sold it to a garage in part...
I just bought a 59-plate Vauxhall Corsa with 2000 miles. It seems a nice car and is a 1.4 Design, but when driving in low gears there is a grinding squeal-like noise coming from the front brakes. Will...
I shall be hiring a car at Malaga airport in September and I'm uncertain as to the possible pitfalls that may be encountered. What cover should be accepted, such as additional insurance?
I bought an i30 in March. I have been in France for a few weeks. It now stutters and stammers. I tried the Hyundai dealer in Periquex, they don't deal in Hyundai warranty work. They told me to try Bergerac,...
Can a sticky variable nozzle turbo cause high fuel consumption?
We are on our second Vauxhall Zafira, both bought new. First petrol one was good. This second one (now three years old) is a diesel and generally not a good car. I want to change to another 7-seater petrol,...
Maybe you noticed Tesco's offer on Castrol oils? I picked up the 5w-30 A3/B4 for my 1999 model Petrol Vauxhall Vectra (60,000 miles), for which I used all the time Vauxhall oil 10w40 A3/B3 because I thought...
I was told yesterday by a BMW dealer that if I want a leather interior and sports seats on the new X1 I want to buy, I should order the "designer pack". Ordered individually, the items are slightly more...
My Citroen C5 2.2 HDi 2001 model's air conditioning blows hot air on the passenger side and cold air on the driver's side when the temperature is set at low on both sides. Any ideas?
I have a Volkswagen Golf 2006 which has developed this ESP fault. I innocently took it back to the dealer we bought it from and said what was happening. He said he'd do a diagnostic test and would be in...
In the summer, is it most economical to have the windows open or the air con on? I have a 2008 Ford Ka.
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