A car on par with a Honda Jazz?

I have a 53 plate Honda Jazz which has just flown through the MOT. I'm looking to upgrade maybe only to an 04 or 54 plate but after speaking to my mechanic he said I would be mad just to upgrade a year...

Do petrol engines have DMFs?

A friend of mine has a 2002 Volkswagen Passat 2.0 litre petrol and the clutch burnt out. His garage replaced it and presented him with a £1200 bill due to the dual mass flywheel needing replacing also....

Extended warranties and dealer servicing - what's the law?

Volkswagen Approved Warranty (via Mondial Assistance(UK)) have informed me both during recent telecons and via email that the extended warranty they are offering to renew for my vehicle (first taken out...

Peugeot 207 - leaking coolant shortly after buying?

I bought a used Peugeot from a reputable garage a week ago. It's a three year old car with low mileage. The garage would not service the car but checked it over prior to resale. The brakes were squeaking...

Adding anti-waxing agents to diesel?

What anti waxing agent can I add to diesel? I have had three blocked fuel filter problems this winter.

Buying an economical runabout for £5000

I inquired almost five years ago about what car (second hand so someone else had taken the depreciation hit) to buy for an £8,000 budget I was interested in low tax, fuel bills, insurance, that would ferry...

Electrical issues with a 206?

I've just bought a Peugeot 206, which worked fine on the way home. But now when I start it none of the electrics or dials will work. It will run perfectly fine apart from this. We had to fit a new indicator...

Selling a Honda S2000 GT - where would you recommend?

We have a Honda S2000 GT on a 55 plate with circa 67,000 miles on the clock. The car is dark blue and comes with the hard-top as well. Where would you recommend selling this? we've looked at one of...

Diesel engines and LPG conversions

1.It seems to me that the modern trend for buying diesels may be more fashion driven than technology driven. Modern diesels are so full of complicated parts such as turbo chargers and diesel particulate...

Timing belt intervals on a C3 Picasso?

Does the 90bhp 1.6 diesel engine fitted in the 2010 Citroen C3 Piccaso have a timing belt, if so how often should this be changed?

Is there a DPF on this Citroen?

Does the 2010 Citroen C3 Picasso 1.6 diesel 90 BHP have a DPF?

CR-V petrol or diesel?

For some time I've been looking for a CRV EX preferred petrol up to 3 or 4 years old without success. What problems would I face if I bought a diesel? My annual mileage is about 8000 consisting mostly...

Do I change all or one of the tyres on a Freelander?

After its first MOT my Freelander 2 passed but with a warning that I need a new near side front tyre. I have the original Continental 4x4 235/65/17/108v and they have done 28k miles. Reading a LR forum...

What second set of wheels for winter tyres on my Jazz?

We intend to purchase a Honda Jazz CVT with 15 inch alloy wheels. We wish to fit winter tyres to a spare set of rims - which are most suitable for this purpose - alloys or steel?

Buying a small car for family use?

I'm buying my first car at the age of 35. What used car (excluding 2 door) do you suggest to buy for a family of 3? I will commute around 40 miles per day for the 5 days of the week with some long drives...

Is this a good price for a Rapid?

I'm looking to replace my 2001 E39, found a 2012 62 plate Skoda Rapid se 1.2 TSI 'SE' 86PS 3,500 mile ex courtesy car for £11,000 at my local franchise dealer. Is this a good price, or should I consider...

Should I buy the IQ 1.0 or the 1.3?

I've decided to replace the Yaris I bought (at your recommendation) way back in 2002 with a new IQ. I've decided on a manual tramsmission but although both are VED free and with good economy, cannot decide...

Service before or after putting the car in storage?

Should my Nissan be serviced before being laid up for 5 weeks or should it be serviced when I come back of holidays?

Buying a used A3 - how much?

I'm looking at buying a 2005 Audi A3 2.0 litre Turbo quattro S Line model with 69000 miles. It's selling price is £7495. Is this fair price?

How much would it cost to have a Corsa's bottom end (?) repaired?

Having just shelled out £425 to get my teenage son's Corsa through its MOT on Thursday, I'm a bit p'd off that it broke down on Friday. Breakdown guy said it sounds like the bottom end has gone. Question...

Downsizing from a 4x4

I am now at an age when, you will be pleased to hear, caravanning is losing its appeal for me, and therefore no longer require a large 4x4. As a pensioner I would like to have a more economical though...

Fiesta 1,4TD Hard Ride ? plus fuel tank ?

I'm unhappy with the harsh, hard ride on standard fit 195/50/R15 tyres on my new Fiesta. The hand book very inexplicit regarding the tyre pressures, too. Can you fit 60 aspect tyres on these alloy wheels? My...

Why do C3 Picassos depreciate so much?

I am thinking of buying a low-mileage diesel Citroen C3 Picasso. However, I'm struck by the speed at which their value seems to fall. Should that warn me off the model? I'm impressed by everything else...

Buying used Mercedes-Benz SL

I've been attracted to the used prices of the Mercedes SL350 and 500. I'm just about to retire and would love such a second car to enjoy cruising in at weekends and maybe the odd holiday. I'm wondering...

Has Audi programmed in throttle damping to reduce noise on my R8?

I have a new Audi R8 V8 manual and I have noticed a hesitation when accelerating hard from 30mph in third gear. It turns out that this corresponds with the EC ‘drive-by’ noise test, so, to pass this test,...

Are car insurers trying to kill off speed awareness courses?

Are some car insurers killing off Speed Awareness Courses? You may wish to sign this petition or not as the case may be. It relates to certain car insurers increasing the cost to drivers/riders who have...

What is causing my C-Max's fuel filter to block?

My 20,000 mile Grand C-Max 1.6TDCI, after several transient episodes, recently went into permanent 'limp home' mode. The dealer reported that the fault was due to a partially blocked fuel filter, and...

Please warn motorway drivers to keep the slow lane free for my motorhome this weekend.

Just a reminder to motorway drivers. I will be driving my motorhome down from North Manchester to Folkestone terminal on 12 May. I hope you will be as good as in previous years when you have emptied the...

Why isn't intelligent speed adaption being adapted to control speed limits?

As a long-time reader I have seen many emails appear over the years about speed humps, their effectiveness, and the side effects of their imposition, not only car drivers and their vehicles, but upon residential...

Why are cars made with hard suspension and low profile tyres?

Suspension engineers seem to be deluded. They seem to think we all want to drive sports cars on perfect German roads. I have test driven several premium brand saloons and estates, as well as a few others,...

What do you think of Volkswagen's DSG gearbox and water-cooled turbocharger?

I have just ordered a Volkswagen Golf 1.4SE with the DSG gearbox. My reason is that, after test-driving most of the other manufacturers in this range, I feel this is the best car. However there are two...

Which new luxury car is a good deal at the moment?

I have been looking at purchasing a new, luxurious compact car (e.g. Mercedes, Lexus, BMW, etc.) In the light of the present economic conditions, what would be a reasonable discount to expect?

Will the new MOT regulations force older cars off the road?

The latest heavy-handed MoT legislation by the EU will force many perfectly safe, usable, older cars off the road. The costs of rectifying faulty warning lights will, in most cases, be prohibitive, particularly...

Why don't car drivers understand how difficult it is to drive an HGV in traffic at the speed limit?

You recently published a letter from a driver wanting to know at what speed maximum fuel efficiency was achieved on the motorway. Your reply correctly stated that 50-55mph was too slow as it hindered HGVs...

What is causing my X-Trail's turbocharger to fail repeatedly?

I own a 2005 Nissan X-Trail 2.2 diesel Sport that was five weeks old when I bought it, now with 39,000 miles on the clock. A local garage has diagnosed a whining fault as indicative of my turbo about to...

Use genuine catalytic converters, not aftermarket ones.

Regarding catalytic converters, I have a friend who is co-proprietor of a 5-bay independent garage, with MoT testing. He tells me that the scrap dealers will give him money for original equipment cats...

I was sold a re-sprayed Scimitar - can I get a partial refund?

I recently bought a 1980 Reliant Scimitar for £5750. One of the attractions of this car was that it had been owned by the deceased Don Pither who wrote the definitive book ‘The Scimitar and its Forebears’....

Where can I get a dashcam?

I am considering the purchase of an in-car forward-facing camera recording system. It would need to be compatible for use in both my 2008 Ford Focus car and 2011 Peugeot Boxer Motorhome via the 12v socket...

Which wheel size for a Renault Modus to improve the suspension?

My wife runs a Renault Modus 1.5 DCI 86 Initiale, Quickshift 5 gearbox. She has had it from new in 2007. It runs on 185/55 R16 tyres on appropriate alloy wheels. It gets expensive at £116 per tyre, considering...

Which wheels and tyres would you recommend for my 2010 BMW 528i?

I currently own a BMW 528i SE, first registered in December 2010, which I am very pleased with. However, the tyres on the front are 245/40 R19 94Y and on the rear 275/35 R19 96Y. To replace either tyre...

Have there been any problems with the Mercedes-Benz A180 CVT transmission?

Having just paid a deposit on a 2010 Mercedes-Benz A180 automatic, I'd appreciate knowing whether I made a good choice or not? I'd rather lose the deposit than suffer more heavily again, so please advise...

Which luxury car with moderate running costs and ten years of low mileage driving?

Two years ago I sold my 1997 Bentley Brooklands LWB which was an ex-Claridges Hotel car. It was full spec with picnic tables, lead crystal glassware and refrigerator, etc. My problem was that the running...

Why aren't new Honda Civics popular?

I have owned my new model Civic for a year, but have only seen six of these on the road, over several counties (two of these are owned by friends). Can you please explain this?

Which petrol-engined family car with room for camping gear?

A Toyota Yaris 3-door hatchback with a small engine has given excellent service to my student children. The car has done 90,000 miles and as my daughter is married with a baby on the way it is time for...

How can I protect myself against number plate cloning?

I just heard of someone who had his white van number plate copied, and received six speeding offences against him. The judge was unable to accept his argument that it was not his van and as a result of...

Why is the climate control in my BMW 120i inadequate?

I bought a BMW 120i convertible with climate control. The 28 degrees centigrade max of the BMW is puny - no good at all for winter sun. Neither does it offer fresh air at face level. Are all climate control...

How can this Mercedes-Benz dealer offer me a new ML at "cost plus £1"?

Following up my interest in a new ML with various Mercedes-Benz main dealers, one has offered me a "sensational" deal, to the end of March only, at "cost plus £1". In the context of a new ML, what does...

Does the new Skoda Octavia Elegance suffer from DPF problems?

My father has been generally very satisfied with his 2005 Skoda Octavia Elegance 1.9 TDI DSG, but it is beginning to show its age, having just required a driveshaft replacement and with a few other little...

Which reliable estate car do you recommend?

I drive about 8000 miles a year in an 8-year-old Astra estate and would like a newer, similar size estate car and since I am in my late seventies, it might be my last. I have a budget of about £12,000...

Which reliable family car offers low maintenance and good safety?

I am considering buying a car, and I haven't owned a car in over 10 years. The last time I owned one was in America before the days of satnav, iPod connections, beep when you reverse, and all the other...