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Questions from May 2013
After 50 years driving, I have yet to find a tyre pressure gauge that is satisfactory to use. Often I find that I let so much air out trying to get the gauge to sit on the valve that I need to pump the...
What is the max boot size tor the new Kuga. Various sites give 400 to 500 litres. Is it practical for a family with baby and dog?
What 4x4 would you recommend for a couple with a baby and dog. Our budget is up to £25k for new or nearly new.
I have a 2001 Defender van which has side facing rear seats. I'm considering buying a 2008 Defender van - can I transfer the side facing seats across? Normally they are supplied now with forward facing...
I have just had to part with my much loved 911 SC 1983 cabriolet because it needs thousands of pounds of bodywork. I am considering what convertible to replace it with; my budget is £5,000+. I was considering...
I currently own a Mitsubishi L200 Animal covering 25K a year, mostly motorway miles. It is also used for towing a rally car and some weight in the rear.
Had fantastic reliability, though found the seats...
I can buy a new 3008 for £16,500 but I have test driven the same model used with 18,000 miles on the clock. The forecourt price for the used car is £12,400.
I have never bought a second-hand car before...
I have driven my Laguna DCI GT for 12 months now and never seen the DPF regenerate. I have been told by my local Renault dealer that it only regenerates when the sensors detect it has become 50% blocked....
I'm after an estate car for my family - 2 adults and a child. I'm specifically looking for a reliable car, big boot space, roof bars, ISOfix seat anchors and I have a maximum of £5k to spend. We'll only...
Buying a small to medium hatchback for £5000. What would you recommend for reliability?
I have just purchased a Mercedes-Benz B180SE petrol automatic and expect delivery next month. I understand that the service interval is every two years. I expect to drive 6000 miles a year, mostly on local...
After many years reading your column and "asking HJ" once and receiving a handwritten reply (back in the day, thanks), may I now contribute and agree with you about premium car discounts?
A year ago...
My partner is due to replace her 12 year old VW Beetle which will cost more to put right for the next mot than it is worth. She would like a small petrol engined car that is economical with good reliability....
In March 2013 I purchased a new BMW 5 Series from a local BMW dealer. The car was delivered to the correct specification and all was well until I had travelled about 1200 miles (mostly on motorways) when...
I have a budget of about £2000 to spend on a used car, I possibly stretch to £2500.
This is about the limit when one can easily buy a heap of scrap. If I had over £3000 I could probably get something...
I am hoping you can help me. I am trying to reset the service indicator "flashing spanner" on my 11 plate Nissan Note, 1.5 dCi. I had it serviced at a local garage who said that they couldn't work out...
I recently bought a BMW 330 for £4800. On way home the engine management light came on. The dealer was informed and he more or less said its how you drove it away!?
On inspection the next day we found...
We are thinking of buying a car with a Ford Ecoboost engine. This, I understand, is a petrol engine with a Turbo.
In the past you have recommended that people driving diesel turbos should allow the car...
I've owned a Suzuki Grand Vitara since Oct 2012 - It is now out of warranty. I live in the Yorkshire Dales and I'd had enough of getting stuck the wrong side of snow, ice and floodwater so bought a 4x4....
I have had a Mazda garage examine a noisy central locking deadlock. Mazda changed solenoids but the noise remains. Mazda won't do any more. I have been stranded once, when the RAC managed to free the door....
I have just bought a car with a MOT valid until 10/11/13. It was carried out at a Halfords Autocentre.It showed a mileage 88,348 It had some advisories and I have a reciept from the same Halfords Autocentre...
At a rural crossroads with operating traffic lights there are workmen with manual stop/go boards. I have a red light but the workman is holding a green Go sign. Reluctant to proceed the manual operator...
After 2 years and 40,000 miles, time has come to replace the Volkswagen (with new). I have no complaints with the current car but like to shop around. I require a medium-sized estate/hatchback. Must have...
I have a 2009 BMW X3 2.0 diesel which is 3 years 10 mths old. It has covered 57,000 miles and the turbo has failed. Is there anyway I can claim from BMW as this may be a design fault. It is our of warranty...
My wife's X Type Estate loses air from all four tyres at a fairly rapid rate 10PSI in 3 weeks on one of them.
I could understand a slow puncture in one tyre, or possibly two, but all four deflating at...
I have fitted replacement MSW 16" alloys on my Skoda Roomster with 55x16 tyres in place of the original 45x17s to get a better ride over Herefordshire potholes! (This is a Skoda approved alternative size.)
The...
I have a 2 month old Ford Ranger. Paint work is faulty over half of the truck. Ford has said there is a few which have this problem and we have a e-mail to verify this.
Told to fetch it back for a paint...
Last year my Nissan Micra had a problem with ABS and corroded wiring. Estimate £2000. After much to-ing and fro-ing Nissan agreed to authorise a fix on goodwill. Eight months later the car developed the...
I have a £10k (maybe a bit more) inheritance to spend on a nearly new car. Reliability, & fuel efficiency are most important. Sportiness/decent handling would be good, but not essential.
Electric windows...
I have a VW T4, 1993, with auto gearbox. It has irritating problems - will not change into 3 on demand (moving the gearshift) for instance, though it changes correctly when driven.
The main dealer said...
I need an all-wheel-drive estate car to transport a dog and luggage. We have a 2011 Mercedes-Benz C220 CDI in part exchange. We need reliability, economy and comfort. We have a budget of £15,000 - £20,000...
I have a Fiat Stilo 1.9 JTD that will start OK but will not rev up. I have changed the EGR valve and throttle pedal to no effect. Can anyone help me?
My wife sold her Volvo C30 Diesel 1.4 after 4 years and 3000miles and bought a new Volvo C30 petrol 1999cc R Lux. A spare was purchased for the old diesel car.
On car change over the spare was changed...
I received a PCN at what I thought was a car park, but turns out to be a piece of private land adjacent to it separated by a few bits of broken fence. I bought a ticket from the pay and display machine...
My wife's Evoque is sitting outside our house with a flat tyre. There's no spare and the repair kit provided has failed to re-inflate the tyre (too damaged), so I can't drive it to the local Kwik Fit....
I took my 2012 Range Rover Vogue into the local dealership for its first oil change/service. A week later, the car was losing a significant amount of oil and was taken back to the dealer.
I was told...
I am currently running a Hyundai ix35 diesel and am considering going to petrol as I only do approx 12-14K per year. I had Audis for 18 years and wonder how good the new A3 is and what is the most reliable...
I bought a used 2012 Volkswagen Golf GTI from the dealer in Southend (part of Inchcape) in November 2012. It was owned from new by another Inchcape dealership and they must have lost the service manual....
I have put a £100 depost on a Volvo S40 2.0D S 4dr with Arnold Clark Motorstore, Oldbury branch. I was impressed by Volvo's safety features and the combined mpg of 48.8 for this 2.0ltr car.
I am also...
My wife's Mazda 3 bought new in March 2007 sheds small black particles down the rear hatchback when washed. Car is garaged at home, not parked in all Scottish weathers, and car is always hand washed at...
What other car matches the Mercedes-Benz E-class in terms of quality and reliability for less money?
I have a three and a half year old Range Rover Sport 3.0 TDV6. Do I buy the manufacturer's own extended warranty or the luxury care one with Warranty Direct?
I would like advice on replacing a BMW 530D Tourer. The car has had everything replaced but still fails - it is presently being repaired for lost steering (crankshaft damper), so it is time to change....
Everyone seems to offer 2.2 diesel engines.
Honda, Nissan, Lexus, Ford.
Should any of these engines be avoided?
X-trail comes with 2.2 or 2.0 diesel engines, which is best?
A friend recently needed a...
I have a Mondeo Mk4 TDCI which has more than 110K miles on the clock.
Although the majority of my driving is on the motorway, I’m conscious that I’m likely to be having DPF problems before long.
Is there...
We have a Volvo V70 automatic diesel and while it is very comfortable and economical, it is now getting more difficult to get in and out of it as the seats are quite low.
Can you suggest a good replacement...
I'm looking for a recommendation for a company car choice that will keep my cost down, suite a family and that will suit 25k - 30k miles motorway driving a year...
My question is whether I need to be...
You helped me before and we took your advice which turned out well. My son having now sold his business has around £55k to spend on a luxury saloon/estate. He has a 3.0D Jaguar XF-S which you advised and...
There seems to be a problem with the locking system. Battery was bought new 10/09/12. Alternator belt 'went' and battery dead as a dodo 03/03/13. Alternator drive/serpentine belt replaced, power steering...
I have just read your newsletter containing the new VED rates, but I am a bit puzzled about my car. A couple of weeks ago I purchased a new Audi A4 Avant 1.8 TFSI 170, 5-door manual, but am not sure if...
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