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Trending topics in December 2010
Questions from December 2010
I have just purchased a new Corsa to replace my old model, and feel that it is time I had a "refresher" driving course. I passed my test in 1963 and at age 68 expect I have picked up some bad habits (although...
Cars with water-cooled internal combustion engines generate so much heat that it has to be dumped to the atmosphere via a radiator. Using this "spare" heat to warm the interior with a second radiator inside...
I bought a Hyundai ix35 4wd diesel manual at the end of October. We are delighted with the car except for its fuel consumption. When we first had it and it was running in I did not expect any reasonable...
We are a retired couple and currently run a 3-year-old 2-litre automatic BMW 1 Series that proved to be totally unsatisfactory during the November/December weather (although it is kept in our garage when...
In the December driving conditions, can I share with you a cheap and effective snow driving aid? All that is needed are a few lengths of polypropylene rope, each one long enough to feed through the driven...
I have had winter tyres fitted to my Honda Civic (four years old) and I would like to know if it is a good idea to reduce the pressure during snowy weather? If so what would you recommend? Normal pressures...
Now that a nice lady has written off my Mercedes-Benz SLK I am looking to replace it with a diesel convertible. Due to the weather I haven't been able to test-drive yet, but I like the MINI and Audi A3....
My Volvo S60 was recently involved in two accidents within a space of a month, both times involving my 28-year-old son, who is a qualified driver and on the insurance policy. The first time was when the...
I have a 2005 MG ZT-T Diesel fitted with 225/45/R18 wheels. I wish to purchase a set of steel wheels fitted with Winter Tyres. However, I wish to fit 17-inch steel wheels and would like to know what tyre...
Thanks for your advice regarding winter tyres. However, the Bridgestone A001 in 195/50 R15 which I need for my car do not seem to be available. Have you any thoughts on another equivalent?
Thanks for...
I have a BMW 320d SE Touring which is two years old and has covered 13,500 miles on largely A & B roads.
As it is driven quite sedately I was horrified to find the run flat Continental tyres worn to 2.5mm...
I've been reading quite a bit about these winter tyres and I'm pretty convinced from what I've read, that they are worth having - particularly if we keep getting more snow in the winters ahead. However,...
The BMW warranty is due to expire at the end of this month on my E91 estate which has done 29,000 miles and will be four years old.
Is it worth renewing the warranty?
Would fitting winter tyres affect the validity of my car insurance, as I will have changed the original specification?
I've just purchased a nice 1988 BMW 318 Baur Targa, but the white paint is dull, the car has stood in West London, and there are some tiny black spots in the paint. Any ideas on how I can get the paint...
My brother has a '10 van that has been running rough, loss of power etc. He returned it to the dealers and they have told him the roughness is due to him using Supermarket diesel (in this case from Tesco's),...
I have a set of winter tyres 165/70/R13/79T on a Peugeot 106 and want to know what other makes and models of cars they will fit.
After begin rear-ended (twice in the same acccident by the same person), I now have to buy another car quickly. I was thinking about a Volvo S40 or S60, as they have lumbar support (bad back!) and I believe...
How much is my Peugeot 307 SW SE 90 bhp 2004, 69000 miles, MoT July 2011 worth?
Following the horror-story reports of insurers charging extra premiums when notified that people fit winter tyres and wheels, thought I'd just add a bit of good news.
When I rang Mercedes' insurers (Aviva)...
In the second paragraph of your advice concerning Winter Tyres, you have given the temperature at which one should consider using these tyres as 70C. Shum mishtake here shurley?
We have just managed to buy a Hyundai iX35, which are in very short supply, and as you have stated in your review it’s a great vehicle as well as providing us with the four wheel drive capability which...
Looking to buy Skoda Roomster auto, 3 spec on oct 2008 plate - model not the facelifted one.
If buying pre-Christmas, does car depreciate from Jan 1st of New years as car, for example, becomes closer...
I am thinking that to have a spare set of winter wheels and tyres would be a good idea, as I have heard they are much better for grip and braking at temperatuires below 5 degrees.
My S-Max 2.2 Diesel...
We live in London but holiday mainly in Europe driving there with our dogs. We drive quite infrequently in London so do most of our driving in Europe. We are about ot change our car in April 2011. A left...
I've an 06 Jag diesel which won't start. TRYS it little best and fires but cuts out after a second or maybe two. Constant trying brings up the flashing glowplug on the dash/ engine problem.Enough fuel...
Last year I bought two 12 month old Vauxhall Vectra 1.8 petrol cars for a total cost of £15,250. One for my wife and one for myself.
Good value I think for a much under-rated car. We live at the bottom...
I would very much appreciate your opinion on Snow Socks, particularly in relation to a Honda CR-V on the rear wheels in snow and ice.
Your advice on winter tyres... when you say putting just two winter tyres on a vehicle is dangerous, has worried me somewhat, as a couple of months ago I needed two new front tyres on my Mondeo. I have...
I'm thinking about buying a set of winter tyres and wheels. Should I buy narrow wheels and tyres (to dig into the snow) or wider ones (to have more rubber gripping on the snow). I recall that rally drivers...
Unbelievably,my insurance company told me that I would not be insured if I changed my normal tyres (rated 91W) for winter tyres (rated 91H). H rating is, I believe, up to 130mph so improving my roadholding...
I am a supporter of these where can I get some from and is it a requirement to have them on steel rims my tyres are 175 / 65 R14 The car is an 08 Daihatsu Sirion 1.5.
For some weeks now you have been advocating the use of winter tyres. I have heard recently, however, that some insurance companies regard the fitting of such tyres as a 'modification' and in the event...
Another aspect of heating battery driven cars (apart from battery capacity mentioned in your column) is that it is energy that would have to be generated somewhere whereas in a petrol/diesel car it is...
I have found a disintegrating rubber speed cushion on a road local to me, which has been partially 'bodged up' by the County Council using some asphalt. There are two securing studs that have been left...
I bought a new Audi A4 2.0 TFSI (211) Multitronic in May last year. In winter weather I missed my old 2.5 auto X-Type, which had AWD and seemed much more sure-footed. I have found the A4 difficult to control...
My fiancee has previously been paying approximately £500 a year to insure her car. In October she unfortunately suffered a collision that resulted in her insurance company, Elephant, writing off the car...
It is apparent that the dual mass flywheel and clutch is known to give problems with some drivers (including myself) with the Jaguar X-Type 2.2D, but this would not appear to be the case with the 2.0D...
My 88-year-old father was towing his caravan when the automatic gearbox of his 10-year-old Rover 75 2.0-litre turbodiesel failed. His Rover agent in Grantham has quoted him £2,800, which seems very high...
On 2nd Nov 2010 my local garage car wash ripped the rear wiper off my 2002 Volkswagen Passat, breaking the arm at the spindle. The cost of repairs will be £273. I reported this to the manageress of the...
When traffic planners started to suggest speed tables, cushions and pinch points be constructed on our street network 30 years ago, Highway Engineers objected on a number of grounds. Some have been covered...
I'm in the process of privately buying a 2001 1.7i Ford Puma - one of the last they made. Mileage is 73,000. General chat says the cam belt change (typical Ford) is 100,000 miles or 10 years; the 'experts'...
I have a 2006 Audi A3 2.0TDI 170 with the DSG gearbox bought from an Audi dealer nearly a year ago. I have had continual dissatisfaction with very jerky and uncomfortable pickup in stop start traffic....
Could you please expand on your statement that "modern cars have a design life of about seven years ". This will be of concern to many of your readers.
Some time ago I wrote to you about the arbitrary way that the authorities closed motorways without any regard for the appalling consequences to the motoring public. A critical reply was received from a...
I bought a 2008-registered BMW 520D from a showroom and asked if it had the 177bhp engine fitted from September 2007. The sales manager confirmed that it did, but now we have owned it for three months...
I have been offered a Jaguar E-Type FHC 1961 Series 1 in good condition by a friend. What would be a fair price to offer him please?
I am thinking of replacing my ageing MGB roadster with a Mercedes-Benz SL320. I have been told that these cars have a timing chain rather than a cam belt. I have queried this with my local Mercedes-Benz...
On 7 December, DVLA launched its series 11 plates. Two days previously I received an unsolicited text from Regtransfers offering to sell me a personalised number plate using the new 11 series. For interest...
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