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Questions from January 2013
A family friend has suggested I contact you with this complaint. A year ago we moved to a new house in London. Before buying the house I made sure we were not near a bus stop, not directly opposite a street...
I have used Volvos exclusively for the past 25 years. On 19 October 2012 I bought my brand new V40 and took it on the road for the first time. Within five minutes I had to return it because "Software Malfunction"...
I would like to offer a tip concerning tyres, as I have read lots of advice but no reference to tyre tests. Even amongst premium brands, let alone the 'cheap and cheerful' ones which are often a safety...
Is it reasonable for a warranty company to refuse to fund the costs of replacing a water pump, and repairing subsequent damage, on a regularly serviced vehicle by stating that "The water pump would have...
I recently attended a speed awareness course as an alternative to three points on my licence and a fine for 36mph in a 30mph limit in a London "hotspot". Contrary to expectations, I found the four-hour...
I know you like to applaud good service so I must heartily commend a Bradford firm called Revtronics (www.revtronics.com) that has repaired both my vehicles at a fraction of the cost of franchised dealer...
Do you have a view on the worthiness of Snow Socks as advertised on www.snowchains.co.uk please?
I am looking to replace a 2009 Volkswagen Tiguan 2.0TDI 4-Motion, which has a towbar and has been a delight to drive. The whole of our grown-up family enjoys its roominess and adaptability. Its only drawback...
As a resident of Switzerland, it would never occur to me to run my car on summer tyres after 1 November. We visited the UK over Christmas and New Year ordered a hire car from the airport. I requested winter...
I have a 2008 BMW 520d Touring and am giving serious consideration to fitting a set of winter tyres as you have recommended on numerous occasions in The Daily Telegraph. What tyres do you recommend for...
In June my wife took delivery of a new Volkswagen High Up. Within a week we were aware of a distinct whine from the engine compartment. I queried the noise with the garage and, after discussing it with...
I have a 2003 Zafira, which I’ve owned from new. It has been quite reliable and, apart from the price, I would change it for a new one. I have recently retired and so now go fishing quite often. My rods...
I am retired and drive less than 6000 miles a year in a 2.7-litre diesel Jaguar XF. You always advise that petrol is better than diesel for low mileage, but surely the length of journey time is a factor...
My son purchased a 2007 Audi TT from an Audi dealer four weeks ago. It has 20,000 miles and is an ex-demo with one previous owner. He has today received a card from the service department telling him the...
Could you please advise my daughter who is moving to live in the city of Accra, Ghana? She will need to take journeys into desert terrain. She hopes to buy a high clearance vehicle, preferably one that...
I have a Mercedes-Benz ML 420 SUV currently on 295/40 ZR20 106Y tyres. Which winter tyres would you recommend for this car?
IB asks you how Drive the Deal can offer better terms than his local dealer. At the same time I read in a local paper that a well-established and respected local dealer, Nidd Vale in North Yorkshire is...
I decided to fit winter tyres this year, and now use Avons on 16-inch steel rims to replace the original 17-inch runflats on my BMW 3-Series. As expected, grip is great, but there is also a very noticeable...
Speaking as someone who, many years ago in a previous life (before Police - Camera - Action), was involved in the technical aspects of installing some of the first on-board video recording equipment in...
I drive a 2010 Vauxhall Corsa. Last month, whilst driving at a moderate 60mph on a major dual carriageway, I experienced what I would describe as a tyre blowout on the rear driver’s side. I managed to...
My Mondeo is on very bling 19-inch rims. I was thinking of ordering smaller wheels from My Tyres, which you have mentioned, but someone suggested that if I come down to 16-inch or 17-inch rims the bolt...
I currently need to replace all four tyres on my Lexus IS and am seriously considering buying cold weather tyres. However, I will almost certainly be replacing my car next September when the current one...
My wife and I are both in our late 70s and we have a disabled son (spina bifida) who is 50 years old. We have two cars, one a Skoda Roomster, which my wife drives (and which is registered disabled for...
I'm about to start a 500 miles per week weekly commute in my new role and need to make a choice on company car to fit several needs. With this mileage and cost of fuel it's got to be economical. I have...
Which new small car would be best for my friend's occasional use in the Isle of Man? It should be suitable for a disabled passenger (himself) to enter and exit the front seat, provide adequate space for...
Currently I own a fully loaded Mercedes C350 Sports. It is the best car I have ever owned and I have thoroughly enjoyed its power, road handling and comfort over the past five years and 68,000 miles. However,...
Yesterday evening my car was rammed at the rear when I'd stopped at a roundabout. The AA (or rather Connoisseur Recovery) have taken my car off somewhere as it was undrivable. Whilst on the phone to the...
I purchased a Fiat 500 1.3 Multijet 2 years ago. During that time the car has been in and out of the garage for diagnostics, reputedly due to engine management lights. It has regular servicing but no one...
I know you’re a fan of winter tyres, and you mention that they are very commonly used in mainland Europe. When I go on skiing holidays, I look for winter tyres on the car I’m hiring, but they are a very...
I have a Motability Skoda Yeti 1.2 TSI with the DSG automatic gearbox. I love the car but have found the gearbox unsatisfactory in that it can slip out of gear when reversing slowly (uphill, usually) and...
I have in the past cured creaks in dashboards and other internal plastic fittings by giving them a liberal spraying of an aerosol wax polish. Leaving for an hour or so for it to penetrate gaps then polish...
My wife currently drives a SEAT Ibiza Bocanegra, which she leases through Cornwall Primary Care Trust (CPCT). She has had the car serviced as per the manufacturers guidelines and tops up the oil, when...
I have a 1991 Fiat Uno 70SXie (1.3-litre) with 47,000 miles from buying it new. It has a full service history, 10 months MoT and no rust. Could you please advise where best to sell it and what sort of...
I am seriously considering the purchase of a high spec BMW 320d auto saloon F30. The car is eight months old, has covered 1300 miles and is an ex-Olympic fleet car. Assuming that the 1300 miles will have...
Any suggestions as to what I should replace my 4-year-old Mondeo Titanium X TDCI 5-door auto with? Since acquiring it in 2009 it has completed 50,000 miles and has given excellent service (apart from...
I have a 2011 Nissan X-Trail Tekna 2.0DCI 173 manual that I bought for towing a caravan. I realise now that they do not supply a full size spare wheel, and the 'get you home' wheel stipulates in the owners...
I recently wrote to our local highways authority as follows:
“I use the road regularly, sometimes at night, to travel between Potton and the A1. You will, of course, be aware that part of this road has...
Very soon I will be ordering a VW High Up with every extra apart from the sunroof.
It is on a PCP deal. Every time I have ordered a new car I have always kicked myself for not haggling, have you any tips?
Should...
Can you elevate Toyota to the customer service Hall of Fame please?
My Avensis estate is nearly five years old and with 79,000 miles on the clock. After several months of a tedious engine troubles, Toyota,...
Friend taking delivery new Jag. XF in metallic black. Have warned swirl marks easily made and seen so advised 2 bucket method washing. Is it worth applying the Poorboys formulated for black paintwork (which...
Should I buy a Focus 2011 1.0 Ecoboost 125ps (6 speed manual) or a 1.6 ti-vct 125ps (6 speed automatic-dual clutch) both 5 doors? 80 per cent of my driving time is urban. What other options do i have?
I own a 2007 Citroen C3, I bought it new and it has been dealer maintained. The service book states that the cam belt must be replaced at 100,000 miles but mine failed at 80,000 miles.
There is no obvious...
In August, my car (parked and unoccupied), was struck by another car, (which was also unoccupied) due, it is believed, to a fault on the electronic braking system.
I obtained information from the third...
We had a battery problem and had to start the car by manually releasing the automatic handbrake.
We rolled the car back and up a small slope. The brake was pressed and then it would not move. It released...
Any views on the reliability of the "manual" automatic transmisiion on the peugeot 3008 1.6 Diesel?
How do you get out of a locked BMW if you have been locked in by the driver with the key as he walks away?
This is a safety issue as there is no way out if you have no means a breaking a window and its...
I bought a two-year-old Citroen C1 VTR+ (13k miles at the time) in September last year from a main dealer. I was told it had a full service history. When I picked it up there was no service book. I queried...
My mother has weak feet and wears wide support shoes. Can you suggest cars with a large pedal box and plenty of space between the pedals.
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