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Questions from May 2011
For once I have to write in praise of Nottinghamshire County Council. If you Google Nottinghamshire Potholes you'll find a map-based reporting system. You identify where the hole is and leave your contact...
After five years with an automatic Honda Jazz, I have switched to the new Jazz (also fully automatic) and I find the transmission quite a disappointment. Whereas my first Jazz was a wonderfully smooth...
My daughter's 2008 Ford Fiesta came with alloy wheels and low profile tyres. These look great and make for superb handling on smooth roads, but after the bad winter and the resulting potholes she has had...
I recently had an accident where I was reversing out of a parking space and, as I did so, another driver reversed across my path and we collided. There was damage to his passenger side rear panel and initially...
We have a 2009 Toyota Yaris with a mileage of only 2,400 on the clock after two years. The car received its first service at 1,023 miles. Although it would normally be due for a full service (quoted at...
I was recently (January) caught speeding in a temporary speed limit area on a dual carriageway in Essex. Whilst I am not complaining about being caught (I am quite prepared to accept a fine and points)...
How can I stop the bumpers of my standard BMW 330ci from being stolen? I was thinking of putting a note in the window "parts marked". I notice a lot of these bumpers on eBay.
I'm changing my car for one first registered in September 2010 and have a cherished plate that I intend to transfer. I surfed and found a firm that would supply with no documents required and with the...
Are there any situations where singles could reduce car insurance by adding other named drivers to our policies, such as brothers, sisters etc? If not possible, isn't this action just a bit 'spousist'?...
My house is very close, (just over three metres at the closest point), to a busy A-road that carries a lot of HGV traffic. Just over three months ago a depression and potholes appeared in the road just...
My Jaguar X-Type Estate 2.0D is getting on in years, and I am thinking of changing it for a nearly-new Vauxhall Insignia Estate, probably diesel. Does this car have a good reliability record, and which...
I think you may be wrong about illegal transmitters stopping car keys from working. I believe that the keys work on a frequency of 433.92MHz and use a super-regenerative receiver. The general use of super-regens...
I own a 2005 Volvo V50 2.4i with 49,000 miles on the clock. The computer now shows me 'Anti-skid Service - Required'. Reading the blog on the Volvo Forum, apparently Volvo have known of this problem for...
I just wondered whether you could give me some advice on replacing our second car. We've only got about £1,500 to spend and need something that can seat two adults and three children. It also needs to...
I am about to renew the insurance for my 2002 Rover 75 2.0 CDT. Having read in your column about various tales of hire car scams, accident management companies etc. jumping on the bandwagon of innocent...
My wife has a 5-year-old 1.6 petrol engined Fiat Sedici with 30,000 miles which has been an excellent buy with absolutely no running problems, just regular dealer servicing. It has proved to be economical...
I found the UK too hard on drivers with constantly rising costs, so I have moved to France. Yesterday I was offered a car by a French neighbour. He tells me the cam belt jumped the pulley, and he can't...
If you don't already know you'll be interested to learn that Swindon Borough Council are to install speed controlled lights which will be operational in the autumn. They will not operate in rush hours...
My Audi A5 used four litres of oil for the first 4,000 miles driven. I have been advised to ask for a replacement car and to try to get the Audi dealer to take mine back. How would you advise that I progress...
I'm looking at getting a Zafira as I'm a childminder and we need the extra seats. However I'd quite like an automatic but apparently they only come in 1.9 diesel, 2.2 petrol or 1.8 Easytronic. I don't...
My 2002 Volvo S60 2.0T was serviced by a Volvo dealership earlier this week and I asked them to look at the front passenger door, which will not open immediately on unlocking the car. There is a clicking...
I am looking for a Porsche Cayman around £17,000 for my wife. We really like the car and I think we could afford one for doing around 6,000 miles a year. I am happy with a slightly higher mileage car if...
Could you please advise me as to the benefit of larger wheels on the Golf TDI Match demonstrator which I am thinking of buying? The dealer is wanting an extra £500 for these.
My wife's 1.4 CVT silver Jazz, bought on your recommendation, will be five next month, having done 23,000 miles. She's ready for a change to another automatic. You are still recommending them, but have...
I'm thinking about buying a Mitsubishi Colt convertible, two years old, 6,000 on the clock, £8,500. Are they any good? What do you think?
Does the 1.6 e-HDi 112 stop and start engine with electronically controlled manual gearbox (ECG) have a diesel particulate filter? As I do 90% short trips I need to be certain it does not have a filter.
I have a Fiesta 1.25 V reg and the heaters will not turn off. I've changed the heater valve and flushed and renewed the coolant but this seems to have made things worse. Please help?
I got someone to plug a reader into my wife's car at the weekend, and got some fault codes which are as follows; P0560/P0380/P0603 and lastly P1517. What would your second opinion be? I think it could...
The turbo on my Astra van 2002 diesel has gone. Do I need exact part number as I have been told there is only one turbo for this model? Trying to access second hand.
I have just had the clutch replaced in my Peugeot 206, 1.6 XS, but the problem is that now the new clutch has been fitted it now jumps when trying to move it. The clutch jumps and then the car stalls....
I have a 12-year old 5-door Rover 420Gsi and my wife has a 10-year old 3-door RAV4.
We want to sell both cars and get one new petrol 5-door medium-size hatchback, eg Golf or similar size. We are both...
I have a 2003 Volvo XC70 diesel auto estate which I have owned from new and which has a little over 60K miles on the clock.
It has generally been reliable, but has recently required both front coil springs...
I apparently need new front brake pads and discs and the Peugeot dealership have quoted me rather a lot(!)
I was wondering if it is best to cough up and fit genuine Peugeot parts or whether I could get...
I own a 2008 Mercedes E220 automatic. I plan to keep it for the next 4 years. Current mileage is 33000 and I expect to do 10-15k per annum, so in 4 years time it will be in the 80-100k miles range.
I...
Should a Honda Jazz CVT be in neutral or drive when stopped at traffic lights.
Which is better for the car and its fuel economy?
My stepson recently purchased a 2007 Ford Focus that had been advertised on eBay by a private dealer (trading from home, but with trade plates, VAT registered etc). When I asked what warranty came with...
I need some advice on what car (probably second hand) to buy.
My priorities are:
MOST IMPORTANT:
1. Low *overall* cost motoring
2. Quiet & comfortable with good ride on motorways (long journeys & making...
Do you think the new Golf Cabriolet with 2.0 diesel will be a good long term car to own? This would be my 'retirement' car. My other choice is a Scirrocco.
I'm after a small hatchback with a low entry hatch (so that the old dog doesn't have to jump up too high).
Recently when I change gear (any) it makes a kind of clicking (well makes some sort of noise which is hard to explain) noise everytime i change gear.
The car seems to be running fine, but I am worried...
I tow a 1500kg caravan with an 2008 E280 CDI Estate. I want to replace this car with a 4x4 for better traction in mud/snow. I need a car which has a large boot for two dogs and a pushchair.
The E-class...
I bought in November a Ford Fiesta Zetec. 58-reg, with 6,780 miles. I have now driven another 1,200 miles in the car.
Going down steep hills the gear lever kept coming out of 2nd gear and sitting in...
I would value your advice as to which car to buy - we have a Toyota Prius and a VW Touran, and are looking to replace the Touran with another MPV. Our current favourites are the Honda FR-V and the Toyota...
I've come into some money and want to buy a great used car, but I hate depreciation.
What cars would you recommend that are less than 10 years old, cost less than £50,000, and are likely to be future...
Do I have a transmission problem or a "dual mass flywheel" problem if the engine over revs when shifting from 2nd to 3rd?
It's also noticable once and awhile from 3rd to 4th? Seems to stick in 2nd and...
I bought a used Honda Civic with a full service history in January of this year for £7500. The car recently (whilst on holiday) developed a fault which required the vehicle to be abandoned and towed to...
I am due to change from a Skoda Octavia 1.9 TDi (diesel) to a Skoda Roomster 1.2 TSi 109PS (petrol). The Octavia will start moving on tickover, which is a great help in multi-storey carparks, traffic...
After receipt of NIP from Lincolnshire police I asked for and received photo of alleged offence, caught on Lastec LTi 2020 camera. Only rear of car shown so what happens when more than one driver sharing...
My bad back makes driving my current Honda S2000 painful and I now need more space, an auto box and ideally a metal folding roof. I rarely use the huge power available.
Vauxhall Twin-top is cheapest but...
I'm looking to sell my 05 C-Max TDI with 105,000 miles on the clock. I would like a new or nearly new alternative to replace this car. I went to Ford and they wanted the earth.
Wondering about alternatives;...
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