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Trending topics in September 2013
Questions from September 2013
I want to buy a new 4x4; however, it must be economical and capable of pulling a 2000kg horse trailer. What do you recommend?
I bought a 2007 Toyota Auris last year from an approved dealer, with extended warranty. I’ve recently had some mechanical issues with the car and have been told by the Toyota dealer that it needs a new...
I have been sent a court summons relating to a parking fine; however, I am somewhat confused as I paid the fine three months ago. What are my legal rights in this situation?
I received a charge notice for being recorded as 'parked' in Norton Canes Services on the M6 toll for in excess of the permitted two hours. I am somewhat confused as I spent one hour at the petrol garage...
Can you tell me if it’s worth buying winter tyres on my Volvo V60? I do about 10,000 miles during the winter month, but only drive on motorways.
Please advise if it is possible to find the owner of a vehicle. Unfortunately I scraped a parked and empty car whilst parking and wish to admit blame. When I returned to try and find the owner the car...
My partner wishes to change her car and is rather taken with the Meriva (very practical, right size, high driving position, etc.) However, she would like an automatic and it appears that automatics are...
My 2011 Hyundai Santa Fe has been main dealer maintained from new and has been exceptional in every respect. It is now coming up for its next service at 70,000 miles and the cambelt has never been changed....
I have a 2006 Volkswagen Golf with an auto gearbox. I was planning on updating this to a new Golf with the DSG gearbox. However, I have heard that there have been a number of problems with these gearboxes....
I am 68 years old with two hip replacements. At present I am driving a 12-year-old Vauxhall Vectra 2.2 auto. I am now looking for a smaller car. My mileage is only about 2000 miles per year, with no long...
I have a 2006 Volkswagen Golf Plus TDI. When in Harrogate last Thursday the car was parked on the street. At about 11:00pm the hotel manager called me to say all the windows on the car were down although...
We want to buy a used 2-seater convertible for under £4000 for three/four long trips every year, so we need some luggage space, comfort for distances, low wind noise with top up for motorways, reasonable...
I have a 2004 Volkswagen Passat 1.9 TDI Estate that has done 105,000 miles, that I've owned for three years and am planning on keeping for the foreseeable future. The dual mass flywheel failed last year...
I run a 1996 Ford Escort Ghia 1.8i Cabriolet. It's done 73,000 miles and is in excellent condition. Recently, I took it to a local garage for its MoT. I was told my car needed new sills to pass and I was...
How can I get rid of green mould stains on the soft-top of my SAAB 9-3. I'm reluctant to use bleach but scrubbing with ordinary detergent doesn't shift them.
I shall be out of the country for three months from early January next year. I shall park my 2012 KIA Cee’d 1.6 Diesel in our unheated garage and would appreciate advice on what actions to take to ensure...
I own a Mercedes-Benz A180 CDI Auto. The car will be three years old at the end of July 2013, and will be out of warranty after this. I am very concerned about the automatic transmission that produces...
I have an 88,000 mile 2007 Mercedes-Benz C-Class diesel automatic estate, a lovely car. I normally follow the fuel filler flap advice and keep to 32F/33R tyre pressures for my lightly loaded lifestyle,...
I own a 2006 Audi A4. I have paid £670 to have a service and cambelt change. I suspected the car’s brakes were in need of some attention so was surprised that the service report stated nothing was required....
I have a 2007 BMW 325i M Sport cabriolet with 24,213 miles on the clock and a full BMW service history. The Dynamic Stability Control has failed and BMW has quoted me £2002 to replace it. I understand...
I am a little confused. I know that removing a Diesel Particulate Filter is a modification and would have to be declared to my insurance, but as it is not legal to have a DPF it is the converse that it...
I am on my second Land Rover Defender after owning many saloon cars and two SUVs. The Defender is an excellent, simple vehicle, which was the main reason for purchase. I find that the second Defender has...
I am the very proud owner of a 2008 Fiat 500 Lounge with low mileage of just over 11,000. Last Friday I took her for an MoT. To cut a long story short, three of the tyres had "exposed cords" and the fourth...
I have just returned from a holiday in Italy and couldn’t help notice the number of locals driving Lancia vehicles. There appears to be a full range of up to date and quite smart models and was wondering...
My daughter has a 2006 Ford Ka, bought new and with full service history by Ford. Driving recently, the "high coolant temperature" warning light came on. On her May 2013 MOT there was an "advisory" that...
I shall be emigrating to Thailand in the next two years and would like to export my 2005 Ford Mustang GT that I have owned since new. I have tried to research the legalities and tax implications but cannot...
I enjoy driving my 2003 Rover 75 and like its handling and general driving feel. It has just over 90,000 on the clock and I would like to keep it for a year or two more but I am beginning to spend serious...
I have a 2010 BMW 1.8 diesel automatic and was interested in having it remapped/chipped to improve torque and hopefully mpg, which is 48mpg at the moment. The BMW dealer told me that they did not do it,...
My 28-year-old daughter is about to inherit a 2000W Fiesta 1.2 Zetec with 60,000 miles. What value would you say it is for insurance? I imagine it would be £500 - £1000, in which case is it worth insuring...
I recently bought Nissan Qashqai Tekna CVT 2-litre petrol with 2500 miles on the clock. Unfortunately I made the grave error of testing it only on the flat level surface of a dual carriageway. I have a...
I have a Mercedes A180 CDI. I am considering replacing the tyres, size 195/55 R16. What would you recommend as an all-purpose, all-weather tyre? I have always been drawn to Michelin.
My wife and I regularly do house swaps for the whole summer. This year we are off to the States and as part of the deal we are swapping cars. However, our insurer would not add the American visitors to...
I have been driving a company-funded Renault Grand Espace 7-seater, which is replaced every three years. I am due for a replacement in the Autumn and would have purchased the same model but this is no...
I am a 69-year-old reasonably active female who has recently retired. I have done circa 8000 miles pa but this will now drop considerably. I have driven a 2009 1.6-litre Mazda 3 Saloon (which I love) from...
I have just bought a 2008 Mazda MX-5 2.0 Sport RC from a franchised dealer, the car was serviced in April by the dealer and has 45,000 on the clock. After running it for a few days, and filling the tank...
The inlet camshaft sensor has failed on my wife's MINI Cooper Automatic. It is three years and five months old and has covered only 6,419 miles from new. We currently own two MINIs and this is our fourth...
We bought a new Skoda Citigo last September from a Skoda dealer. From the first day until now we have a serious problem engaging first and reverse gears. We reported this immediately but were told it would...
I recently had to call out the RAC for a breakdown (snapped clutch cable), which could not be repaired at the roadside. As I was local to where I lived, I nominated a garage that has serviced the car for...
What exactly is a no-claims bonus? My wife has recently bought a small car and applied for insurance quoting a full no-claims bonus. For the last four years she has been a named driver on my Motability...
I bought a 1999 Nissan Primera 2.0i automatic two years ago. It had 9000 genuine miles on the clock. The previous owner had ongoing health issues and the car was mostly off the road and stored in a garage....
I have a 2000X (2001 model year) Volvo V70 2.4 (170bhp) SE petrol automatic. It has 16-inch wheels with Pirelli P6000 (summer) tyres, 205/55. The ride, while not uncomfortable, is somewhat hard, and you...
I am a mere amateur in these matters, but the following extract of your Toyota Yaris 1.33 (non hybrid) automatic (ie Multidrive S) review seems to me to be completely incorrect and misleading as the gearbox...
I have a BMW 3 Series automatic. Presently, the car misfired on the first start of the day, but clears after five minutes. I’ve replaced two coil packs, injectors, plugs and the high pressure fuel pump,...
Can you tell me how to set the timing chain on 2002 Ford Mondeo?
I want to buy a new Dacia, but want to get the best possible deal. I went to my local dealer and they said the list price (which is the same as their website) is the best they can do. Is this right, or...
Is there an effective DIY recipe for non-freezing windscreen washer fluid? I was thinking of mixing water, washing up liquid and methylated spirit. Will this work?
I have made up my mind to buy a new Jaguar F-Type. Which model would you recommend and what added features do you consider worth paying for?
Bought a 2007 207 on finance in May. Already the garage has had to replace the thrust bearing. Today whilst sat in traffic the message 'brake system fault' appeared and then twenty minutes later, still...
My 55 Ford Ka's gearbox has just given up the ghost; can you recommend a suitable economical hatchback for my 100 mile a day commute?
My budget is the lower end of, £5000 - £8000. Is the Toyota Yaris...
I am hunting for a used estate car for under £4000. Would a diesel be a good choice, or should we opt for petrol?
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