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Trending topics in September 2012
Questions from September 2012
I read with interest your comment about fuel economy and that no car will match the published figures. I bought a RAV4 (our third) in December 2011 from new. One of the reasons I purchased another RAV4...
I have just bought a new Hyundai ix20. I see that in the event of an accident or vehicle theft I am strongly advised to call ‘HYUNDAI FIRST’ before contacting my insurance company. Are you aware of any...
I am a lady in my late sixties who plays a lot of golf. In 2005 I bought a new Toyota Yaris 1.3 and it is a very practical and reliable little car, perfect for short trips. However, to fit my clubs and...
I do about 25,000 miles a year and I need to replace my 250,000 miles V70, which will be very, very sad. I could go for a company car (a manual Insignia) but I don't really want to be in a car scheme....
I would like thank you for your excellent advice on how to sell my Fiat Panda. Suresell sold it for £3500 net of their charges and it was hassle-free. I received the cheque yesterday. Thank you for your...
I recently bought a Honda CR-V from Norton Way Honda of Letchworth Garden City. Rarely have I had a customer service experience that exceeded my expectations, but this was one. After the sale was concluded...
My Jaguar regularly shows a red dashboard warning saying the diesel particulate filter is full. I'm told I should, at some point since the previous time it happened, have driven for at least half an hour...
I recently bought a Hyundai i10 1.2 for my wife. It is an excellent car but only returns 42mpg compared to the stated 61mpg, less than my old Triumph Spitfire (47mpg) and early Ford Fiesta (44mpg). The...
I currently own a 2009 Volvo C30 Drive SE Sport 1.6-litre diesel on a three year plan with 9000 miles per annum, which finishes soon. I am considering replacing it with a new C30 SE Lux which has a 2-litre...
Mercedes-Benz seems to be actively promoting its Euro 6 compliant BluTec diesel engines in favour of the established Euro 5 CDi Blue Efficiency versions with, for example, its revised ML-Class announced...
I drive a 2007 Volkswagen Passat 2.0TDi 140 SE saloon. Could you please advise me if using Millers Diesel Power ECO MAX fuel additive is worth the expense? I normally fill up with Shell diesel but I do...
I have ordered a Land Rover Evoque Si4 auto 4WD. This normally comes on 20-inch wheels, but there is a 19-inch wheel option. I argue that smaller wheels with larger tyres will give a softer ride and be...
If an 'extended warranty' does not cover wear and tear replacement, then what does it cover on a 12-year-old car and is there any point in me paying for this warranty?
On taking ownership of this car almost a year ago I noticed a soft whine that varied with engine speed. Not being used to twin clutch boxes I took it to the local Ford dealer for confirmation that disaster...
ES wrote that he was exceeding the limit of 50mph by 4mph (8 per cent above). My neighbour received a fixed penalty for driving at 32mph in a 30 limit (6.67 per cent). Another neighbour received a Thames...
I often tow a trailer with a 2000 1.8-litre Vauxhall Vectra but I feel that a 4x4 might be more appropriate for the task. A local motor trader has a range of S, T and V-reg Honda 4x4s for sale from £1000...
I would like to part exchange my eight-year-old Citroen C3 Sensodrive for a six-month-old, 3500 mile Citroen C3 16v Exclusive diesel hatchback from my local Citroen dealer. He allowed £1700 on my C3. Is...
I have just come across some emails concerning problems with DSG transmissions. We have a Volkswagen Golf Estate 2.0TDi DSG. It is just over three years old and therefore out of warranty, in spite of doing...
With my road tax renewal letter came a DoT leaflet on petrol saving. I was surprised by one of the tips: "Don't coast downhill or towards lights in neutral as this uses more fuel. Stay in gear and ease...
I have just heard on Radio 5 a very interesting fact about Ken Livingstone’s London Congestion Charge. The programme alleged that the whole scheme is now running at a loss, and even the amount of fines...
We own a 2008 Volkswagen Eos. It has done just 14,000 miles and is a super car. My husband thinks that perhaps we should think about changing it for another new car as now, after four years, things will...
Every week you manage to puff LV car insurance. This grates in our household because LV is quite the worst and most unhelpful insurer we have ever had dealings with. A year ago my wife was involved in...
I own a 2003 BMW Z3 3.0i Sports Roadster. I have been told that not many of this particular car were built. Is there a way of finding out how many were built, and how many of this type are registered in...
My TomTom Go 700 won't Go. I bought it about five years ago and have used it very little, maybe three or four times a year, but I've found it an invaluable aid (and safety feature) for detailed navigation...
After a short test drive on the A3 I bought a BMW X1 Crossover with a load of extras from the local BMW dealer. I soon realised that the ride was very hard on the much cambered and pot holed side roads...
I got rid of my Rover 45 because it let me down so many times when the battery went flat for no particular reason. I changed the car for a Kia cee’d which is now giving me the same trouble. Everything...
I note on occasions your correspondents refer to the approaching 'Danger Zone' for expensive repairs to their (diesel) vehicles. I have owned a Toyota Avensis 2.0 D-4D for some six years, and - credit...
I recently parked in a hotel for a meeting and, in the absence of seeing any signage (albeit it was going dark and I was a few minutes late) went straight into the hotel. Last week I was horrified to receive...
It looks as if KIA engines are chain cam, which I believe you recommend. Do you have any brief comments re petrol/diesel and or manual/automatic?
Would you rather buy an older Toyota Prius with low mileage or a newer one with high mileage? Would you go for the Prius or a Honda Insight or a Citroen C1? My insurance for the Prius is very high, also...
I had the AA out to fix my rear lights - they then realised that the parking lights weren't working and the bonnet catch wouldn't close, they fixed this and disconnected the battery to reset the ECU so...
At 63,000 miles with a full BMW service history and bought from a BMW dealer, my 2007 model year car has a timing chain failure as diagnosed by my local BMW dealer. Am I correct in understanding there's...
Even though alternator and battery have been changed and replaced the alternator light is showing intermittently and don't know what else this could be causing the problem.
Please can you advise me of the best car to use to tow a swift challenger 550 touring caravan with laden weight of 1700 kg
I've been told by my VW mechanic that my 51 plate Golf mk 5 is making a whirling noise that is coming from the main shaft bearing, and would need a gearbox remove and strip. Is the noise something serious...
Out of all the current cheap to run diesels (e.g Ford Econetic, Skoda Greenline, SEAT Ecomotive, etc) which ones are now proving to be the most reliable beyond 50K miles?
I'm thinking of buying a Fiat Panda 1.3 multijet. Do they have either a DMF or DPF?
I have a 9 month old Kia Sportage Platinum here in Australia which I've owned from new, and absolutely love. Potentially moving back to the UK in 6 months time and am keen to keep the car (i.e. ship it...
I recently had an accident, a minicab came at me round a bend on a private road into our Estate in the middle of the road and in my opinion too fast, I swerved to avoid and hit a small tree.
My car is...
Could you please advise on pros and cons of following two options (future resale, reliability etc)
A - Del miles 1.2 Fiat 500 Pop as advertised in your new car deals section - £8995
B - Nearly new 1.2...
Need to buy a medium sized car for the wife she only travels 4 miles a day to work so diesel no use. was thinking of a toyota prius but am worried that the low miles wont charge the batteries and cause...
I am coming up to the 3 year service and MOT on the S80 1.6D Drive, with a mileage of 22K. The main dealer is quoting £600 including the MOT, saying that £120 of the total is for replacing the diesel...
I have a titanium petrol 1.6 fiesta (10 plate).
It is a great car to drive but the front seats give me really bad back ache.
Is it possible to swap them for another make (eg Vauxhall Astra or BMW)?
If...
I need to find a 'good' second hand automatic car, no more than 2L, that has low tax band/ CO2 emissions, can you recommend any please?
Have already had Ford Escort, Vauxhall Cavalier & Astra (Currently...
Had a new cam belt fitted to my Xantia two weeks ago, and a water pump. Today, I have noticed a rattle coming from the engine. I have been told that there are no adjustments which cam be made by the timing,...
I have a problem with my Mondeo when the temp reaches halfway the engine starts cutting out as if no fuel is getting through, it eventually stalls, but if I leave it for twenty minutes it starts as normal....
A friend is part exchanging a 54 plate Mondeo Zetec 2.0 (petrol) for a new Focus 1.0. He has been offered £700 in the p/e deal. It has FSH, 104k miles, everything works and it is in good condition. Should...
Given all you have said about diesels/particulate filters etc and their expense - if driving mostly short haul, stop start etc - what is a VW Touran 1.6 auto deisel like?
We have to renew insurance on a lease car, SEAT Ibiza 1.2 Copa SW Ecomotive. It is being driven by a 30 year old male, no convictions, had his own car for 10 years with no-claims. The best quote we have...
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