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Questions from July 2010
I'm looking to give a home to a rescue greyhound and will therefore need to upgrade from my 10-year-old Peugeot 206. I am looking to buy used and would prefer a hatchback or small estate with a low boot...
Between the Volkswagen Passat and the Honda Accord, which parts are the most expensive and also which is best in terms of reliability and durability?
After many years driving petrol-injected engines (Volkswagen, Vauxhall and BMW) I changed to a Volkswagen Golf 2-litre diesel turbo (140bhp) last year. It is a lovely car but I find that it is very easy...
I recently (July 2010) received a fine for driving in a restricted area of Florence when on holiday there in September 2007. Given the time lag and the fact that it is a foreign country I am uncertain...
I'm trying to find a 16-inch space saver tyre and wheel that will get my BMW 850 CSi home in an emergency. I want to remove the original heavy full-size spare from the boot, and reduce the weight in the...
I have a 10-year-old petrol Volkswagen Passat which I'd like to replace with something newer, no more than six years old. I have been looking at diesel Alfa Romeos, Volvos and Saabs but I'm beginning to...
My 82-year-old mother-in-law has just changed a BMW 3 Series automatic for a new SEAT Ibiza automatic. She has driven automatics nearly all her life, but this new one is causing her some trouble. When...
We are moving to rural Portugal in a couple of months. We have noticed that car prices in Portugal are much higher than in the UK. We will need to buy a left-hand drive car there, as there are various...
Are there any problems I should know about or any common faults before I buy a 2004 BMW 3 Series 318Ci?
I have a BMW E46 and I'm planning to get my ECU remapped. Do I need to inform my car insurance provider? If I do, will they increase my premium? What if they refuse to add my modification? Do I have any...
I have been looking for a small, economical, four/five door car for a single mum with a six-year-old child. Mileage will be approximately 10,000 per annum with weekday town driving and some weekend journeys...
Which reliable 3-door car would you recommend for a 23-year-old with enough space for three guitars?
On my 2004 Nissan X-Trail 2.2 DCI (70,000 miles, FSH) I had a problem where the engine would not rev at about 2500rpm. It didn't stall, had been running perfectly and corrected itself when I switched off...
My 2006 Ford Focus blew a turbo at 50,000 miles. The replacement lasted 12 miles and was replaced under warranty. That blew in 6000 miles and was replaced in accordance with TSB 4/2008 at a cost of £2000....
How good is the Mazda Shiraz 323? The one I am thinking of buying is 10 years old with 59,000 miles on the clock. I will say it does appear to have been looked after.
My 2002 1.9d Peugeot Partner just cut out on the road and will not start. There's no fuel reaching the injectors.
My Vauxhall Astra is coming to the end of its useful life. It is the second car in the family, and is the only one insured for my children who are at university. As such it is used more as a runabout,...
My W-reg Audi 1.8 Sport was bought new and has done 58,500 miles. I normally fill up with Shell V-Power following your advice and I like the improved smoother running with better pick-up from low revs....
I'm looking to replace my E38 7-Series BMW with a 6-year-old 745. I've looked at a couple and phoned one trader to arrange to view the car, who asked what my plans were after viewing it. I said that I...
I'm struggling to find an exhaust for my Toyota Carina E 1.8 1997 (7A-FE ENGINE). Is there any other exhaust that would be compatible? Where do back street garages source their parts from? It's only done...
I have viewed a used Nissan Note with the 1.4 16v petrol engine at a Nissan dealer, and would like your advice on the price. The car is, according to the dealer, an Acenta model and was first registered...
I have a 1998 Chrysler Voyager which I have owned from new. Recently I have had immobiliser problems (which are covered in your forum) but also the DTE and fuel gauge drop rapidly to zero when the tank...
Our daughter will shortly be 17 and will learn to drive. We currently have a two-year-old Touran and a six-year-old MINI Cooper soft top. We assume both would be horribly expensive to insure for our daughter....
I have a 51-reg Vauxhall Corsa which broke down. The AA advised it's the crankshaft sensor and EGR valve. I have it booked into a garage on Monday but was wondering if anyone could give me an idea of what...
I'm about to purchase a Peugeot 407 Sport, but this model doesn't have Bluetooth. The dealer is willing to install a free IOReader, however it won't work the phone from the steering wheel stalks. Do you...
Replacing the wing mirror on my Mazda 3 looked like a simple job, but as with most things I am not sure that it is now. I have had to buy a new driver's side wing mirror with the backing, having had some...
In the last 10 years I have owned two Xsara Picasso MPVs. I now have the opportunity to purchase an '07 Citroen C4 Picasso 1.6 HDi for £10,000 with £4000 allowed against my 54-reg Picasso 1.6HDi Exclusive....
My dad has forgotten the code to our Peugeot 106 diesel. He selected four digits and I have spent around three hours trying to get the correct code. None have worked. What can I do?
In your car-by-car review of the Hyundai i30 you say the fuel tank will eventually rust. Will an underseal from new help prevent this? Are there any likely problems if underseal is applied?
Which Mazda 6 models were recalled with regards to intercooler or turbo problems? I've just had an oil leak inspected on my 2004 model and the mechanic thinks it may be related to this problem.
I'm thinking of getting a Nissan Navara, but I'm getting bad reports on them regarding engine failure. I'm looking at around an 04 or 06 reg. I would like your opinion please.
I've just replaced a 1998 1.4 Renault Clio which had 75HP with a 2006 Citroen Berlingo 1.6HDI, that is also listed as having 75HP. The Berlingo is in a different league in terms of acceleration, compared...
I've just bought a 2006 Citroen Berlingo Multispace 1.6HDI. What do I need to look out for in particular regarding timing belt changes, servicing schedules and brake disc and pad replacement?
My Dad needs an automatic and was looking at a KIA Sportage 2wd diesel auto because of its 7-year warranty, which is about £18,000 new. Then he saw a Mercedes-Benz 56 plate C-Class estate Kompressor locally...
My 2001 Vauxhall Astra van 1.7 TDi has oil in the water reservoir. Could it be the head gasket or the oil cooler? What is the most common cause?
I bought a 2007 Volkswagen Passat 2.0 TDI DSG in July 2009. It had done 26,000 miles and is a great car, except for one fault that the Volkswagen dealer cannot fix. The car locks itself when it's not supposed...
Thanks for your report on the Juke. My wife and I went to have a look at one on Friday night. We both love the look of it but my dilemma is the size of the boot. Do you feel this will be a suitable car...
I bought a 1997 Audi A4 TDI the other month. It was going great until I was going fast one morning, when the car's power just died on me. It now struggles to get to 70mph. Going through the gears, it struggles...
I have tried for three weeks at Mercedes-Benz local dealerships to obtain a workshop manual for my Mercedes-Benz 300E Avantgarde turbodiesel. Where can I find one?
I am having to lease my first Motability wheelchair access car and would value your advice. I require a 5-door hatchback which must be automatic, must have loading ramps and no more than a 2.0-litre size...
Just wanted to say thank you for highlighting the 'fixmystreet' web site in your Daily Telegraph column. We've now made two reports of very poor road surface conditions in separate parts of Lincolnshire....
I would appreciate any advice you could give regarding a future purchase of a Mercedes-Benz classic SL, model 107. The car would only be used in the summer months and would probably be washed more than...
I've almost convinced myself to buy a Porsche 911, but before I commit what's your thinking on manual vs their Tiptronic gearboxes? The model I am after is a 911 Carrera 2S 2006/2007 (997). I've had a...
We bought a 2005 Volkswagen Sharan automatic. It has done 121,000 miles on the clock, whilst we have only had it around one month and have had a service on it. The problem we are experiencing is that when...
My Peugeot 207 1.6 HDI has done just 22,000 miles and has been owned from last December. It's 58 reg and I'm the second owner. Three times now the car has cut out whilst driving in different conditions...
We are getting a clicking noise from our 2001 Citroen C5 HDI's engine, which sounds similar to a steam engine flywheel rotating. I thought it might be the catalytic convertor, but I understand from the...
What car would you recommend to use as a taxi? Obviously I want five or more seats, good fuel economy and reasonable repair bills. Got about £4000 to spend. Hope you can help.
My car is an Toyota Avensis driven moderately, an occasional longer trip to France in the winter for skiing - no more than 10,000 miles a year. I need new tyres, and value for money consistent with safety...
I have been reading your responses about starting problems with Citroen Saxo and have seen that you believe it could be the transponder aerial. My 1998 Saxo's issue is intermittent, however it can be a...
I have got a 2003 Volkswagen Passat TDI 130bhp. The mechanic put 10/40w fully synthetic oil in it. Is this ok or should I change it?
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