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Questions from July 2012
I have just purchased an Audi A4 Allroad and was pressurised into considering Gap Insurance. Thanks to your warnings, I declined. The exact same product, for which the dealer wanted £550, was just £139...
On collecting my wife's Skoda Fabia from a long-stay airport car park recently, we found that the spare wheel well was full of rainwater. As the car is nearly always garaged but this time had been left...
I own a 1993 Mercedes-Benz 600 SEC. My local Mercedes-Benz dealer refilled the air conditioning gas and I was informed that there was a fault on the compressor cylinder which would cost around £1000 to...
I have mixed feelings over Roger Stansfield's article on quoting ‘real’ emissions for new cars, rather than the artificial constructs presently published by manufacturers. Gives the potential purchaser...
My Volkswagen Golf now has the ESP light on all the time. My garage tells me that this is a fault with the ABS system and is a common fault. The car is six years old and has done 26,241 miles. I have been...
We have a new puppy that is going to grow into quite a large dog. Are there any two seat or 2+2 sports cars on the market that are in the mould of the old Reliant Scimitar GTE or Lancia HPE?
My husband needs to update his company car. He does about 25,000 miles a year so needs a comfortable, fast and fun car to drive. Currently he drives an Audi A6 Avant, but now we're a family of five with...
I have a 2006 1800 Vauxhall Astra Club first with 45,000 miles on the clock. When it was serviced (at a Vauxhall garage) and the MoT was renewed I enquired when the timing belt should be changed. The service...
I've read your pages in the Telegraph for years but have never written before so I will take the opportunity to say I think you do a great job. Regarding the calculation of miles per gallon, the most accurate...
I had to write because I thought you ought to know that Shipham Volvo are better than excellent. Proof: I took my lovely old 1995 850 T5 to them a few years back thinking it needed a change. The car was...
Two months ago I bought a used Volkswagen Polo 1.4SE from a VE dealer. The safety checklist prior to sale showed the car to be fault-free and the car is well appointed and looks pretty, but the ride is...
I brought my nearly new June 2011 Audi A4 TDI Multitronic home last night, only to find on checking the logbook that the one previous owner had been Hertz. I had specifically said to the Audi dealer that...
I am looking at changing my 2003 Ford Mondeo TDCi LX with 70,000 miles for something newer. Please suggest a suitable diesel replacement. I don’t want to lose too much size but would like something fractionally...
I tow a twin axle 1.8 tonne caravan in the UK and Europe with my 168,000mile 1999 Land Rover Discovery TD5. I really want to change it for something newer with less maintenance costs. I will spend up to...
We are looking to replace our 2005 Volkswagen Passat 2.0-litre petrol estate. Could you recommend a replacement secondhand car that is less thirsty, less gutless, more comfortable, and more fun to drive?...
A 78 year old lady who currently drives a Hyundai wishes to buy a small new car having room for one passenger and three small dogs. She would really appreciate any suggested models you would mention.
Has there been any movement to amend the current cut-off for the tax exemption for historic vehicles?
I read with interest a recent article you posted regarding supermarket fuel and thought I would share my feedback. Following your advice, after purchasing my Nissan X-Trail in 2004, I used only Shell or...
I enjoyed the interesting and informative article on petrol vs diesel in a recent "Motoring". Would it be possible to do a similar article on "Hybrid Cars" comparing say the Toyota Auris petrol with the...
For the past ten years we have racked up a quarter of a million miles in four successive Fiat Multiplas; much of this going to and from the south of France carrying everything from six adults in leg stretching...
I am looking to buy a new car but am totally confused at the moment. I want a car with performance, good handling and comfort. My wife and I also need something with all-round ability, shopping journeys...
I drive a Mazda MX5, which I love to bits, but which isn't practical as it snows where I live, so the rear wheel drive isn't the best. I thought a 4WD would be more realistic so I bought a Honda CR-V,...
I have heard that there is a known fault in the Volkswagen 2.0-litre turbodiesel engine, which I have in my 2008 Skoda Octavia, which causes it to cut out. Do you know about this and why there has not...
Once upon a time, in the last century, I had a superb four wheeled Reliant, called perhaps a Rebel. Most of the weight was below the waistline as the body was glass fibre, and it was a dream to drive,...
There is a way to check if a vehicle is properly taxed, and it's free and legal. Go to the Direct.gov website and put "vehicle check" in the search box. This will bring up a new page and from there it...
I've been following the diesel versus petrol debate, which seems to be concerned mainly with the overall costs. I've bought diesels for the last 25 years, preferring them for several reasons, not least...
I have a three-year one-month old VW Scirocco, owned since new. Serviced one month ago, and one month out of waranty. Problem now of two faulty Active Chassis Control sensors. £700 to replace.
Is this...
Have you heard anything about quality and durability of seat cloth material on the Rio 1.4 L.
My wife's car is now approaching 3 years old and has done about 1500 miles.
The edges of the seats are pilling...
I am contributing owner feedback in addition to the below found on the link http://www.honestjohn.co.uk/carbycar/renault/clio-iii-2005/?section=bad
I am also having the same issue, I have phoned Citizens...
Why no info on CAM chain or belt for Volvo? Can you add it?
Our MB/Smart Service Dept reckon we will need a new engine at 70,000 miles. The car goes as well and uses the same amount of oil at 65000, current mileage, as it did at 44000 miles; about 2Lt/10000miles....
When I got home after driving my Citroen Berlingo, parked up and had a cup of tea. There was a loud bang and hiss - on investigating the rear of the car was down to the arches on both sides - any ideas?...
Is the Ford C-MAX 2007 diesel auto 1.6 any good? Looking for a cheap small auto diesel for work.
Our PCP ends in November this year. Our mazda2 1.5 Sport 5 door will be 3 years old and will have done 18k miles. The conditions of the PCP were 24k miles. The final payment is £5k. Should we plan to buy...
I'm about to buy my Mum's old 53 reg Honda Jazz (at trade-in price). As far as I know there has never been anything wrong with it apart from an EGR valve replaced under warranty. I note from your Car by...
I am considering the purchase of a small hybrid car. Under electric motor only driving conditions, if I select the heater or air conditioning on, am I correct in thinking that the engine will automatically...
We have an 09 Astra Estate which has to be replaced.
It is used for carrying boxes and unfortunately the new Astra is a sports estate with a sloping rear roof and the boxes won`t fit.
Is there a similar...
We rented a Nissan Juke from Avis in Austria for 2 weeks. During the period there was a heavy hailstorm. Avis have charged us the excess of 790 euros for damage to the roof and bonnet caused by the hail....
In dispute with insurance company over written off car valuation. They quote Glass's CAP and Parkers valuations as recognised industry standards and recognised by the Financial Ombudsman Service. There...
I love my new Subaru but occasionally the acceleration feels stuttery, it's not smooth. Usually on the first acceleration of the day. I am careful not to push hard when the engine is cold and the blue...
Hi, I recently bought a Citroen Saxo 1.1 2002 for my daughter as a first car. I bought it from a girl I work with, this was a private sale. We were starting the car every 2 weeks as she has not passed...
I have up to about £6k to spend and I have narrowed my choice down to the newer 06 2.2 Crd Santa Fe and a cheaper 04-05 Xtrail 2.2 Dci
I like the look of both, I prefer the seven seater option of the...
I visited a Honda dealer today and there was a new car hidden under wraps. Is Honda about to unveil a new Jazz model?
I live in the country and drive a Fabia VRS 2011 shod with 205/40/16s. The roads are terrible. Apart from frequent punctures (potholes), the ride is very harsh. Would I benefit from changing to 16in or...
My 60 Nissan Micra has air conditioning.
I am told that using this dramatically increases the fuel consumption.
I am also told that having the windows wide open does the same.
What is the truth ?
I have a 2007 Focus 1.6 TDCI 110 DPF with 89,000miles. Got it eight months ago when it had 82,000 and was fantastic until recently when I noticed a drop in mpg from around 45-50mpg to 35-40.
I live in...
The windscreen of my Alfa 159 has cracked and needs replacing. I'm covered on my insurance (LV) and just pay the excess. Does this affect my protected NCD? I claimed for a minor accident 9 years ago (had...
Just purchased a Peugeot 206 1.4 Hdi SE (year 2004) with 51,000miles. When should cambelt be changed?
Car transmission working well from P to other gears but after using the brakes car the car won't change from D or R and won't 'creep' unless I step on gas pedal. I checked fluid level and it is fine. No...
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