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Questions from March 2013
Can you tell me when I need to change my timing belt as I've only had the car for three weeks and its done 90,000 miles.
Can you recommend replacement tyres for my present Goodyear Efficiency 215/50R17 95W, specifically with less road noise?
I just looked at a Volvo C30 (2008). I very much liked the car and could cope with 2 doors but I found that when I was comfortable in the driver's seat there was very little rear legroom. What alternatives...
I purchased BMW insured extended warranty last year for my 320d E90. At the end of Jan 2013 my turbo failed and intercoolers needed to be replaced. I have kept up with the servicing requirements and had...
For various reasons we need a second car. I have a small business and I am thinking of buying a small van. It would be second hand. People say that second hand vans are usually knackered. What do you recommend?
Honda are offering new cars this month at the dealer invoice price. Today we inquired about a new CRV EX petrol automatic, list price £30,900 with metallic paint. The dealer told us he would offer a discount...
Is the turbocharger on the Peugeot 1.6 HDi 112 engine water-cooled as well as oil lubricated?
Does this engine need to tick over for a minute or two after a fast run?
Please can you give me a rough ballpark figure as to what my car could be worth?
The reason I ask is that my insurance company always ask at renewal time but my car has high mileage and I do not think...
Suffered a NSR blowout on my Mondeo this weekend so need a new tyre. What would you recommend based on driving approx 15k miles a year, mostly with a fair amount of load as the car is used for kayaking?...
I have driven Nissans for 30 years with few problems, currently a 1.8 Primera auto 54 reg. Want to change to a smaller but well powered 4dr auto saloon/hatch and comfortable for touring as well as day...
I am curious about the Toyota recalls. What about your ideas? Does the Verso 1.6i not have any problem? And what about turbo engines?
I need an SUV to take two humans and three dogs on regular trips up and down the motorway to Devon (190 miles each way) and capable of driving on windy Devon roads, off-road tracks etc. Ideally something...
The brochure for my car says combined fuel consumption is 67.3mpg with Start-Stop and about 62.0 without Start-Stop. I can only achieve 57.6mpg so, as you can imagine, I am struggling to better this and...
I have just bought a 2009 Aston Martin V8 Vantage Roadster from a dealer who trades from his house. I wasn't able to have the car professionally inspected, which was probably a mistake, but have now had...
Is it time to invest in classic cars, because the prices have gone through the roof? My granpop passed away recently and left me about a hundred grand. I get a very poor rate of interest from the usual...
I am that rare male that likes shopping and, in particular, visiting supermarkets. They are nearly always pleasant experiences spoilt by the business of parking the vehicle, loading up the groceries and...
My son's girlfriend has owned her SEAT Ibiza from new, for the last four years. She has been insured with More Than for the last 2 and has 7 years NCB. Her renewal documentation arrived early in October...
Yesterday, at the age of 85, I very successfully passed my third Hampshire County Council Driving Assessment before renewing my licence. The only minor comment, which in the opinion of the examiner would...
Our 2005 Xsara Picasso has the 'seven year glitch' (suspension and steering problems, synchromesh failure, head gasket blown) so it is clearly time to offload. Could you please recommend an alternative...
I noticed in your column at the weekend some advice to someone about a judder and an autobox oil change. This is becoming a more frequent problem in the Discovery 3. Dealers will do a double flush of the...
Which new or nearly new small/medium 5-door hatchback would you recommend, if use was principally local driving in a rural area with a few motorway journeys? Total mileage would be 10,000 a year. I'm tempted...
You may remember I wrote about the delay in getting a Dacia Duster Access that was re-ordered in August. Even until yesterday lunchtime there was no delivery date linking my order number to a vehicle in...
It can surely be little short of misleading to promote the Toyota Prius based on one particular quality, which, in real life, will never be displayed or achieved. I would reiterate that I am happy with...
Will you kindly let me know whether it is still possible to purchase quality new cars with handbrakes?
My 14-month-old Hyundai i40 'died' on my way to work on 17 January. There followed a long saga of recovery and the problem was finally diagnosed as frozen water content in the fuel, which turned the diesel...
Murphy's law states that when it is cold, snowing and a Saturday morning, that your car will not start due to a flat battery. I have a Citroen C4 Picasso, (70,000 miles on the clock) which is regularly...
What are your thoughts on the menace of towbars? Now that easily detachable towbars are available for most vehicles should it not be made compulsory to remove them when not in use, saving on the vicious...
I have a 2007 Mazda MX5. I need to fit winter tyres. Steel wheels? Can you recommend a good set of tyres for my car and the wheel size?
Over the last few days of treacherous snow and icy conditions, I am amazed and frightened by the number of drivers leaving their homes with the snow and ice still covering their cars, particularly the...
What "consumer protection" is available when buying a car at an auction?
I renewed my annual car insurance on 4 January. This was done by phone, paid by debit card and the new certificate arrived by post a few days later. The existing policy was scheduled to terminate ten days...
My daughter has just changed her Astra for a Corsa 1.2 and is now trying to obtain cover for her son aged 18 who passed his test last week. The car would be in her name and he would be the named driver....
I'm looking to change my 2007 BMW 120D SE (I have been really happy with this car) and would welcome your advice on possible replacements. My annual mileage of 7000 precludes a diesel with a DPF, but I...
I've picked two quite different cars to be the choice for my next. They were picked on the basis of driving fun and charisma - Fiat Panda 2013 4x4 or Ford Fiesta Zetec S 125bhp Ecoboost. I've driven them...
At the moment I have a 56 plate Peugeot 307 diesel and do only about 5000 to 6000 miles a year. I am retired, 68, looking for something economical with five doors, petrol or diesel?
I may have the opportunity to buy a BMW 123D via someone who has been leasing it for three years - so I 'know where it's been', sort of thing. It's a 2009 and has done about 50,000 miles, maybe a bit more...
My workplace is relocating shortly from its current position within walking distance of my home to a town 30 miles away. The commute will mostly involve a direct route on a dual carriageway except for...
My colleague has just purchased an ex-demonstrator 2012 Volkswagen Passat estate and he has had problems with the windows opening when the vehicle is parked overnight or left unattended. Any ideas?
I own a 2009 Hyundai i30 petrol 1.6 Estate (manual) bought from a Hyundai dealership in 2010. This car has been a likeable, reliable car to drive over the last 20,000 miles. However, more recently my wife...
In November last I purchased a Honda Jazz 1.4 VTEC ES CVT, first registered March 2012, and am getting conflicting advice regarding the need to change the CVT gearbox oil. Current mileage is 6600 and it...
We have a 2002 Vauxhall Vectra 1.8 hatchback, which we bought seven months ago. It now has a Kelsey Hayes ABS pump fault, which we thought we could cure with a secondhand part. It would appear after several...
Two weeks ago I received a letter asking who was the driver of my car in Chelmsford. The car was travelling at 38mph in 40mph area and was seen crossing a red light. I replied saying it was me and may...
I currently drive a Ford Fiesta Duratec dual auto/manual. Both my husband and I like this model and we are looking to renew this year. Unfortunately this model is not now being produced. Could you recommend...
In the Telegraph today, JS complains that he lives in the country and his motorcar is affected by mice. I live in a particularly rural part of the Peak District. My car is left out as I do not have a garage,...
I am very much in favour of car drivers using headlights in poor light, and I use mine all winter except for very sunny days, however I have noticed on many cars using daytime running lights the rear lights...
I have a 2008 Skoda Roomster diesel bought new. Now it has 78,000 miles on the clock and I think time to change. For a couple of years I anticipated relatively high annual mileage, perhaps about 20,000...
We purchased a Ford Focus Titanium in June 2012 from a dealer.
Some paintwork issues were pointed out to us (via a worksheet in window of car) and we also gave them a list of other issues we wanted rectified....
My wife had a Vauxhall Corsa energy 2004 Reg semi-automatic car. We had a bad experience with this vehicle as one day it suddenly stopped displaying F in the dashboard and later being diagnosed as ECU/gear...
What car is the best long term car for these needs:
Good build quality
Fun to drive
Practical
Timeless
Value
Reliability
My budget is no more than £9500, the cars I have narrowed it down to are the...
I went from a dual mass to solid flywheel but I still have a noise when the car is idle.
Dip the clutch and it stops - the garage said it's cos I went to solid.
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