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Questions from May 2013
Thanks very much for your recommendation, in the end we found a 2010/59 KIA cee’d 1.6 EcoDynamics CRDi estate for £8500 (with £4500 p/e for our 2005 Sportage). We are very pleased with it and it seems...
Have you or your readers come across instances of motoring age discrimination? I telephoned a local vehicle rental company recently to ask about van hire. When I told them my age (I’m 80) was told no hiring...
I am seriously considering buying an American police Interceptor Ford Crown Victoria. They are available in plain colours without all the police regalia. One reason for considering it, apart from its innate...
I purchased a new Mazda 3 Auto last year. It drives very well but it has a hard and uncomfortable ride on 195/65R15 91V tyres. I’m thinking of changing to a similar size auto with a more comfortable ride....
I would value your opinion on which would be the best automatic for me. At present I own and run a 2010 Volkswagen Golf 1.4TSI Match DSG. I have had the all the previously mentioned problems with hesitancy...
Would somebody from the government or EU kindly explain in what way a car with a faulty warning light for a door ajar is unroadworthy? How can an airbag be tested without deploying it? Properly trained...
At present I drive a 2008 Honda CR-V 2.2i CTDi EX. I am considering changing for the equivalent new model. I should really appreciate your opinion of the latest version. I live in the country and cart...
The warranty on my Skoda runs out in June this year. In December the rear windscreen wiper packed up. My Skoda dealer confirmed I needed a new windscreen motor, which was ordered. I gather these motors...
My wife's 2005 Corsa 1.2 developed a water leak into the passenger footwell. This was diagnosed by the local Vauxhall dealer as a faulty body control module housing, which they replaced. This has corrected...
About three weeks ago a friend was returning home, mid afternoon on a dry day and was probably doing between 30 and 40mph. She was coming round a gentle right-hand bend when she saw, some 250 yards away,...
I am collecting my new Mercedes-Benz this weekend, and when signing the papers, the salesman brought up the option of buying GardX paint and upholstery insurance. The price was discounted but still substantial....
My 8-month-old Citroen DS3 e-HDI 110 stopped at the side of the road with the engine management light on after I had lost all power and the car refused to go above 1500 rpm. As it is the DSport version,...
I love my 2002 Honda Jazz, which has been perfect for island life, accommodating four people and a cello. However, we are looking to replace it with a more robust diesel touring car (the cello won't be...
Last October a Frenchman bought my car as seen. It is now March and he is considering taking legal action against me relative to the condition of the car. Would this case be heard under English law or...
I recently had a lift in a Mercedes-Benz saloon and was impressed at the silence inside the car so that a normal conversation was possible even between front and back seats. Is it possible to get an equivalent...
I recently noticed that the right-hand indicator in the drivers mirror of my 2011 Renault Megane Cabrio had stopped working, and closer inspection revealed that the outside edge of the mirror housing had...
My niece’s 18-month-old Vauxhall Corsa engine started to knock. This was due to low engine oil. I know that oil should be checked on a regular basis, but with today’s technology the engine oil light should...
I thought diesels were good for short runs. Is that not so? My daily commute is five miles each way. I ask because I am tempted by a Freelander 2. There’s one at a local reputable non-Land Rover dealer:...
For eight years I have had a 1997 Mercury left-hand drive station wagon, 3-litre V6 with automatic 3-speed gearbox plus overdrive, which is also automatic. I have been meticulous with services. All of...
My daughter and son-in-law currently run an 8-seater Ford Transit minibus to ferry around their four children (and us when we visit). It is ageing quite badly and, unbeknown to them, I am considering funding...
I've just bought a 2006 Mazda RX-8 with only 32,000 miles from a local independent dealer. The alternator on the car has failed after only owning the car for three weeks, resulting in a recovery by the...
After much deliberation and, endless reading of specifications, I have more or less made my mind up to buy a car some might seem strange. What do you think? I wanted a sporting, high performance, enjoyable...
I have purchased a 2009 Saab 9-3X 2.0T Station Wagon and it has 235/45/ZR18 tyres, Pirelli on the rear and Hankooks on the front. The rears need replacing now and the fronts soon. I am thinking of getting...
A few weeks ago I was hit from behind whilst stationary at a junction. The impact was low speed, and the damage to my car (a 2011 BMW 5 Series) was light (a scratched/scuffed bumper). We exchanged details...
My wife and I, respectively 85 and 80, have been carried away by the Juke and have just put a deposit down for one without taking a test drive. In the clear light of day we wonder if we made the right...
Shortly after I bought my Toyota Yaris I found that the side window bottom seal mouldings were not scraping the rain off the side windows when the windows were lowered. The seals were changed but there...
Many thanks for your kind reply with the link to all of the recent background on parking penalties. It’s all clearly a minefield and I took the view that to avoid any likelihood of future legal action,...
I am a 56-year-old mum with full no-claims. I am planning to buy a smallish Fiesta-size car either new or used, which my 17 year old son can practise on while learning, and can drive as an occasional user...
My 2007 Toyota RAV4 T180 D-4D is sitting in the Toyota garage whilst they scratch their heads trying to work out why all the warning lights come on saying there is a fuel leak - but they can't find one....
I have a lovely 2010 BMW 318i SE Touring which is perfect. However, I am 63 yrs old and feeling the need for some serious performance with comfort. I am looking at all of these: Porsche Boxster, BMW Z4,...
I am thinking of buying a Mini Countryman SD ALL4, I'm downsizing from a Range Rover Sport. Do you know of or had you heard of any problems with this vehicle? I know it will not be as capable in the snow...
I have recently taken delivery of a new Jaguar XF 2.2d and find it a very comfortable motorway cruiser, if a little underpowered but manage 45mpg at a push. One feature that I am having difficulty with...
I can endorse DH of Copthorne’s comments about LV. My 2002 BMW 316 TI SE was covered by LV last year for £241 and I have just renewed it with them for £195 (both final premiums including legal expenses...
I have a Jaguar XF 2.7 Diesel and probably do too many short runs for the diesel particulate filter, averaging only 8000 miles a year. So far the light has not come on and I have encountered no problems...
There appear to be a number of drivers who do not feel comfortable overtaking and it is not unusual to find yourself in a line of cars behind a slow moving vehicle up front, many of who appear content...
My Dad recently bought an automatic Fiat 500 petrol which he likes. I've driven it this weekend and when switching it off I found I could only put it into neutral. There seemed to be no (P) park selection...
I bought a VW van T4 approx 2010. It was burning a lot of oil and a little rough. I was recommended a local garage and they advised on the work to be carried out including a reconditioning of the engine....
I recently put 0.4 litres of petrol into my Audi A3 Sportback TDI 170 Quattro. I then put over 50 litres of diesel in. After 220 miles, I filled up with diesel again. There have been no obvious effects...
My main dealer serviced Qashqai+2 2L diesel automatic has a rear transmission fault requiring replacement. It was noticed two-months after the three-year warranty expired (37,000 miles no towing). The...
I currently drive a Skoda Octavia 2.0 TDI DSG hatchback. It has plenty of performance and the area behind the front seats is ideal for carrying quite bulky loads.
I am looking to change for a petrol auto...
My engine managment light as come on in my car and it says on my dash "antipollution fault." It's a Peugeot 307.
After 20 years, I am finally downshifting from a company car, currently Honda Accord diesel. A used late 2010 or early 2011 1.6 Ford Focus would seem to do the trick for mostly country driving, with 500...
I have over 40 incident-free years of driving behind me, and for the past six and a half years I've been driving a small campervan, no larger than some mpv's. I have now moved onto a caravan, albeit a...
Not a terrible position to be in but I have the option of a new Freelander 2 XS as a company car (£270-80 per month tax at 40%) or a 5-6yr old Discovery 3 for 15-18k which would be paid for by the company...
The exhaust makes a rattle noise when on tick over. Quite rattly. I have been told I need a new exhaust at £ 400 + Any way of dealing with this without spending all that money?
I like the X-Type but hate DPFs. Do any early X-Types come without them? I don't expect any estates are free from them.
I currently have Dunlop SP Sport Maxx GT tyres (245/45 R18 96Y) fitted on my Audi A4 Allroad 3.0 Quattro - they will soon need replacing so I would appreciate your comments/recommendations on replacements.
I'm looking for a hatch-back that's one size smaller than my current Toyota Avensis D4D, is petrol or hybrid (less than 10k pa mileage), has a large boot (for my golf clubs), is good build quality plus...
My depollution system faulty light is coming on however car is driving okay with no loss of power. I took it to the garage and they advise the camshaft sensor requires to be replaced which I am happy to...
Very recently in the Daily Telegraph I seem to recall that you answered a letter regarding metal registration plates causing MoT failures?
I have just taken delivery of a 1978 Honda CB400F2 (400/4 Supersport),...
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