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Trending topics in September 2013
Questions from September 2013
Having had three new 195/45R16 tyres fitted to my 1.6 diesel Fiesta I was interested to find that they had all been inflated to a pressure of 37PSI. The car handbook recommends 33 at the front and 26 at...
We have a 2009 Mitsubishi Lancer GS4 diesel with 30,000 miles. We are very pleased with it: well-equipped, economical 55-60 mpg, and comfortable except for the rather hard ride. I have seen that you have...
I own a 2001 BMW 3 Series E46 and there is a strange noise coming from the rear of the car when I drive at through roundabouts or when the weight gets transferred to the left side. Any idea what’s causing...
I’m searching for a car that’s suitable for motorway driving. I will cover around 90 miles each day and have £2000 to spend, plus a 2005 Nissan Micra to part-exchange. What do you suggest?
I need to buy a used car: I’m currently considering a Audi A6 Quattro Avant or a BMW 535d Tourer – both have covered 100,000 miles. Also, as we live in the hills, would four-wheel drive be better than...
I am looking to buy a used SUV. I haven’t owned a car for a number of years, but friends tell me that German-built cars are best. I have looked at Range Rovers and the Lexus RX too. I have up to £5000...
I have agreed a price with a private seller for a 2012 Vauxhall Insignia, but it now transpires that the manufacturer’s warranty has been invalidated as the first service has not been completed on time,...
I have a budget of £6500 to spend, but can’t decide between a Renault Laguna 2009 Estate 2.0 dci Expression (42,000 miles) or a high mileage Ford Mondeo of a similar year. Which car would you choose?
I have a five year old Kia Cee'd estate, with 30,000 miles on the clock. I do around 7000 miles a year and am thinking of replacing the Kia with something similar. I have £5000 to spend, plus whatever...
I am about to retire and currently have a 2009 Mercedes-Benz CLS 320 CDI, which I have owned from new with full Mercedes service history. I absolutely love the CLS, but I am now beginning to consider costs...
We brought a 2001 Volkswagen Polo two months ago from a dealer. After one month it broke down with a clutch problem, we informed the dealer and he said that they could fix it at a price, but we would have...
I’m thinking about fitting winter tyres to my Volvo V50. We live in a rural part of southern England and want to get a good set of tyres to replace the current Pirelli 205/50 R17s. What do you recommend?...
I am interested in buying a Kia Ceed 1.6 GDi. I’ve spotted a 2012 car with 16,600 on the clock and the dealer is asking £13,495. Is this a good price? What kind of trade-in could I expect on a 2009 Volkswagen...
My wife is mildly disabled and drives with hand controls. She currently has a 2004 Ford Fiesta 1.6 with an automatic gearbox. The time has come for a new car and she wants another automatic, no bigger...
I am thinking of buying a 2008 Hyundai Getz 1.4 petrol from a private seller. The car has very low mileage (5500 miles) and comes with a full service history. Is it a problem that it has been used so little...
I’m looking to buy a new car to cover lots of short trips. Overall, I drive 12 times a day, but only cover 20 miles. We have £3000 to spend and the car must be big enough for the family and have a bit...
I’m looking at buying a new Audi A1 Sportback, with a five year service plan included free of charge, if I take out finance on the car. Is this a good deal? What would be the estimated cost of five services?
I’m selling my 2011 Skoda Octavia 1.4TSi SE+, as I'm getting a car through a company run scheme instead. What’s the method for selling it and getting a reasonable price for it?
Secondly, what are your...
I’m looking to buy a used car for £2000. The car will be mostly used for trips in and around London, with the occasional jaunt to the country. Any advice on what would be reliable, economical and entirely...
Whilst driving home, I noticed the indicators on my 1992 Nissan Micra had stopped working. The lights had stopped too and I was forced to pull over and change the fuses. The car worked fine for a day or...
Would you say there are any compelling reasons for NOT buying a 2010 SEAT Ibiza ST (1.4 petrol) with 42,000 miles on the clock? I’ve been offered the car by a dealer for £7075.
I’m putting my car in storage for a few months, should I over-inflate the tyres?
Can you tell me where I can find the colour code sticker on my 2002 Ford Fiesta?
I am looking for a small hatchback for my daughter in-law. She lives in London, but wants something with five doors. What would you recommend with a budget of £6000?
My son has inherited a rather old Jaguar XJ8. Unfortunately the gearbox has now failed, a common fault with this model I am told, and I need to find a specialist or owners’ club to get the car going again....
My daughter in law has a 2012 Vauxhall Corsa, which has been suffering with a dodgy handbrake for a few weeks. Yesterday, the car rolled into the vehicle in front and caused damage. The main dealer claims...
I was driving through a town recently when I unwittingly drove through a bus lane. I have now been sent two PCN, as I was caught by two bus lane cameras at exactly the same time - 10:07AM. Can they charge...
We have a small farm and need to buy a used 4x4. It must to be reliable, versatile and able to cope with deeply rutted tracks in winter weather. We’d prefer a diesel, but fuel economy is not important....
Can you tell me if there is van available that does not have a DPF? I drive 10 miles per day, with the odd run of 35 to 60 miles every six weeks.
I am replacing my 2007 Honda CR-V. I like the Honda and feel it has a high specification, especially when compared to BMW/Audi. I find the BMW X3 to be too small, while the X5 and Audi Q7 are too big....
I currently drive a diesel Smart Passion car which is now approaching three years old and I wish to replace it with a second hand car of about six months old. I do not necessarily require a four seater,...
I'm looking at buying a used Mazda. I’ve looked on the company’s used car finder and found a good Mazda 6 that meets the spec and price I want – the catch is it’s in the other side of the country. If this...
I have just acquired a 2006 Ford Fiesta 1.2 petrol with 60,000 miles on the clock. When should the cambelt be changed? I will only cover 3000-5000 miles a year.
I bought a new KIA Rio recently and ordered a spare wheel to go with it. The spare cost £250 and I was expecting a 17-inch alloy wheel, but on delivery I found a 15-inch steel wheel instead.
I am very...
Can you tell me if the brakes and steering will work without the engine running on a Vauxhall Zafira? My car has run out of petrol and my friend has suggested free-wheeling it down a hill to the local...
I have just bought a new Mercedes A-Class and discovered it hasn’t got a spare wheel – just a repair kit. Can you tell me where I can buy a new space saver wheel? I also need a jack and brace.
I'm looking at buying/leasing a new crossover. I play drums in a band so a small car is not an option. I work from home four days a week and drive a short urban journey once a week. Overall I cover 80...
My 65 year old mother needs to change her Peugeot 306 2.0 HDI estate. Can you recommend a replacement for £4000? It must be reliable and cheap to run, with reasonable storage. We like the Nissan Note,...
I have a Volkswagen Golf estate that’s covered 88,000 miles. The car is a diesel, with a DPF, but I haven’t had any problems bar a hole in the engine block. The question is, is it worth replacing the engine...
I’m having some problems with my Volkswagen T25 camper van. It has started misfiring and losing power; the RAC cleaned the jets and things improved, but it’s still not running right. I’ve drained some...
Is there any way to speed up the process of getting a new logbook? I'm on holiday soon and want to get the DVLA to sort it out as soon as possible.
I’m having problems with the alarm on my Peugeot Partner van. I think someone pressed the central locking button on the dash (the one with the padlock) and now every time I open the door or start it the...
I have a Mark V Golf GTi and need to replace two front tyres. The current tyres on the front are Dunlop SP Sport MAXX 225/40ZR18s, while on the rear they are Continental ContiSportContact 225/40 ZR18s....
I own a 2009 Renault Twingo with 26,000 miles on the clock. A few weeks ago it developed a problem with the refuelling system and discovered it had a problem with the anti-splash valve. I took it to a...
A few months ago I bought a 2011 Ford S-Max from a well-known car supermarket. After less than a month of ownership the car started rusting. I took it to my local Ford dealer to find out if it was covered...
What are the best winter tyres for the Mercedes-Benz C-Class, wheel size 195-60-R16?
I spoke to a Honda dealer recently who claimed that they were limited to a maximum of four per cent discount on a new CR-V, is this true?
My 2007 Honda CRV diesel has started slowing and hesitating when putting my foot down on the accelerator. I took it to my local garage, who temporarily fixed it by running the car at high revs for half...
A few weeks ago I paid a deposit for a used Ford Focus ST. The car had a private registration, but the dealer said the paperwork was with the DVLA for the issue of a new plate. After a few days I grew...
The manufacturer fitted Pirelli Scorpion Zero M + S tyres on my Land Rover Freelander 2 will need replacing soon. The car is predominantly used on road, a mix of long and local journeys, with occasional...
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