Questions from July 2010
Are you aware of any developing problems involving dual mass flywheels on the 2010 Efficient Dynamics BMW E90 320D SE range? I've recently had a problem diagnosed as the DMF and have been advised that...
My daughter moved away from home a while back and has no need for her car (which now lives on our drive). She has asked me to sell it on her behalf, which I'm happy to do but want to check the legalities...
I bought a car from private buyer and drove home. Within 30 miles of starting the journey home (80 miles) a bearing collapsed and tore off the back wheel - it was only MoT'd on April 26 2010. Where do...
How long does a motor manufacturer have to continue to provide spare parts for? I heard 10 years after the production of the car ceased. I'm having a problem getting a spare part for a 9-year-old Citroen...
I'm thinking of buying an early MX-5. I remember you recommending a particular year as being the being the best bet, which was it? I like to work on my own vehicles and I think that you mentioned that...
I have an '04 plate Saab 95 2.2 turbo diesel that has started to run very rough. It has 55,000 miles on the clock and was serviced at 50,000. It starts without any problem and runs well until it gets up...
I am learning to drive. I would like to buy a eco-friendly car and I have around three thousand pounds to spend - could you advise me on what I could find for this outlay?
During the night some scumbag stole my Vauxhall Corsa SRI's door mirrors. I have now discovered that this was a limited edition and Vauxhall no longer manufactures door mirrors for this particular model....
I'm looking to replace my petrol car with a diesel and I quite like the Citroen C5. I've found an Oct 2007 plate 1.6HDi VTR+ saloon with 1500 miles for sale by a Citroen main dealer, as part of the Approved...
Could you please advise which is the most fuel efficient 4-wheel drive model of the Tiguan range? I currently drive a Volkswagen Driver and I need a vehicle which has a lot of space for my grandsons and...
We have owned our 2002 Volkswagen Passat since new. Following a heavy downpour with a driving sideways wind, I got in the car the next morning to find the drivers footwell waterlogged, as was the back...
I have a private number plate on a vehicle that I am going to trade in for a new car in September. What is the best way of transferring this to the new vehicle?
I'm not sure whether to trade in my 2002 52-reg 1.5 S model Nissan Almera or spend more on new tyres and brake pads. I visited a showroom and saw a basic Micra, brand new but now obsolete, and could change...
I am considering purchasing a device which is supposed to jam speeding laser device signals and doubles as a parking sensor. Is it legal and is it an effective way of avoiding laser gun speed traps ?
I understand the Vauxhall Corsa 1.7 CDTi has the new Vauxhall diesel engine. I am considering looking for one. Is it reliable and does it have a good DPF life with the 1.3 CDTi, which apparently has problems?
I have just purchased a Skoda Fabia 1.2 DSG and consider it a great car. I'm very happy with the performance for a small car and, compared to the small Toyota automatic, it is excellent. You recently said...
I run a 1997 BMW 323i Tourer that has done 150,000 miles (admittedly it had a factory replacement engine at 30,000 miles due to cylinder liner corrosion) and apart from the usual bushes, bearings, shock...
My Ford Mondeo mk2 2.0-litre estate 'splutters' when trying to accelerate in higher gears. It will sometimes take a while to start in mornings as if starved of fuel. Any ideas?
I thought my milometer might interest you. I attach a picture I took
This week (I was stationary) that shows the milometer reading 111111, the trip reading 111.1 and the mpg 11.1 and I was in first gear....
I am trying to find your reply on the new Honda Jazz automatic gearbox and problems with the gear change, which I read in the Telegraph earlier this year. I would be very grateful if you repeat it to me...
Why is it when talking Electric Vehicles so few people consider the Citroen Berlingo Electrique? This is a really good practical vehicle with relatively high performance – a genuine 60 mph and 500 kg payload....
We have a Ford Fiesta ST150 that was an ex-demonstration model and was bought 2 years ago. It had a service just before we bought it and as it's my husband's pride and joy doesn't go very far. Hence it...
I own a two-year-old BMW X3 3.0 Diesel Automatic. The 'birth certificate' for this car states it has CO2 emissions of 226g/km, which just puts it into the £405 tax band. Several websites quote a much lower...
A recent discussion with some friends concerning left foot braking in an automatic prompted me to write this e-mail. I have driven automatics for around 25 years and when I hire a car, I always hire an...
With reference to the letter from SS of Prenton, I used to work for an Insurance Company defending credit hire claims. Quite often an innocent if somewhat naive third party would find themselves in Court...
I was considering buying a 2.0 litre petrol Qashqai and then someone suggested the 1.5 diesel as it was more frugal on both fuel and road tax. I was a little concerned as to whether the 1.5 diesel might...
Until recently, you used to extol the virtues of the Toyota Aygo, recommending the model to many of your readers who required a small 'green' vehicle. Your enthusiasm partly influenced me to buy an Aygo,...
My daughter in law has just had her car badly damaged. Someone ran into the back of it, it cannot be driven, and it is clearly going to be the subject of an insurance claim. Her insurance includes the...
I like the looks of the Audi A5 sportback. I see the BMW 5 Series GT as an alternative, but it lacks style. The Porsche Panamera is too expensive. I need the hatchback (dog) and want 4 doors with style...
Could you tell me if you think the new FIAT (I think it is called a Ventiguila or something like that) coming on the market in July with a 1,400cc engine might be a good idea? Would the Toyota Prius be...
I trying to purchase a new van I have narrowed it down to two; VW Transporter or Renault Traffic / Vauxhall version. Which would you recommend? Both seem good vans.
I purchased a Toyota Auris 1.6 MMT in March 2007 and have generally been pleased with its performance. I only drive about 4,000 miles per year and it does what "it says on the box". However, now and again...
I’m getting a 7-seater on Motability. I need auto for my disability. Have 3 children and 2 grandchildren. My 10 yr old disabled daughter needs to be in the centre of the middle row seats. Teenagers have...
My wife loves her Panda 1.1 Active. It is 5 years old and has been completely reliable, but the ride has become more jolty as the Dorset roads have deteriorated especially in the last year. Which small...
I currently have a Toyota Yaris, which I should be happy with, but it lacks any joie de vivre or real joy of driving. In a perfect world, I would have a nice two-seater sports car (I used to have a BMW...
I have driven a Hyundai Matrix 1.8 for the last seven years, from new, and never had any trouble with it. I am 73 years old and don't do many miles. I just drive around the Isle of Man, where I live, and...
Please can you offer some advice? We have recently been sent a "Parking Charge Notice". The Notice shows my wife's registered vehicle entering and leaving a MacDonald’s car park at Bell Lane London Colney,...
The paint protection Cilajet is getting good reviews on this side of the pond. US and Canadian websites are www.cilajet.com and www.cilajetcanada.com I'm not sure if the product is available in Britain....
My 20 year old daughter bought a 2nd hand horse trailer last week from a private seller who described the trailer in good solid condition and as having no faults that could not be seen in the photos. When...
I am considering buying a 2007 Ford Focus C-Max Zetec 2.0 Automatic. The car has done 13k and the independent dealer is asking £6,999. I would have to trade in my ’53 Mondeo 2.0 six-speed diesel Ghia with...
I have just purchased a new Hyundai i30 1.6 Comfort. The car is fine except for the accelerator, which is very fierce at small openings. This makes it difficult to start smoothly and to drive in stop-start...
I have a Road Angel speed camera detector, which displays my speed. On my Honda CRV it always read 3 mph higher than the car Speedometer. I have changed now to a Civic Type S and the Road Angel reads 5...
I bought a 2006 Focus 1600TDCI 110 with a relative’s help at a car auction. It was cheap at £4,000 because it had 139,000 miles on the clock. It came from Leaseplan and had been doing journeys from Braintree...
I own 1999 Honda Insight hybrid that was imported from Japan. It's my third Insight. My question is, why has the DVLA given my car a 145g/km rating when my previous two had a 80g/km rating? The engine...
I am in the motor trade and was on road test in a customer’s car the other day. He was driving and block changed from 2nd to 5th at about 35mph going UP the gearbox. I was horrified, believing this would...
Perhaps you would like to alert your readers to a potential trap. Recently, in Hanover, parked up legally in the museum area, I returned to find a ticket on the car. On enquiry, this turned out to be a...
We recently changed our car insurances and have a much better and cheaper deal from Saga than our old company. Loyalty certainly did not pay. However, we have been persuaded to change our roadside assistance...
The current disgraceful state of the roads here in Northumberland, and apparently across the rest of the UK, finally puts paid to the absolute lie that speed cameras are about safety. If the previous government...
In recent correspondence, CS suggested that 4x4 owners should assist "public authorities" delivering meals on wheels etc. when it snows. There are organisations that already do this, particularly COTAG...
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