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Questions from October 2013
I am looking to buy a sports car to use at weekends. I have up to £22,000 to spend, but don’t want a car that will cost me an arm and a leg to maintain. At present, I’m thinking Morgan or Porsche. What...
I own a 2009 Seat Altea 1.9 diesel, with a DSG gearbox. Recently the car has started to judder at low speeds. Can you tell me what’s causing this and how I can fix it?
I am approaching 60 and am considering semi-retirement. I want to purchase a convertible sports car for weekends and touring into Europe – I have £5000 to spend.
I have my eye on a 1975 Triumph Stag with...
My 2005 Volkswagen Sharan sometimes vibrates on idle. What’s causing it?
I own a 2003 Porsche 911 C2, with 18 inch wheels. I want to run the car in the winter and fit winter rims and tyres. Can I reduce the diameter and width of the rim for winter tyres?
I own a 2003 Seat Leon 1.4 petrol and the engine is beginning to sound like a knackered cement mixer. I think that I've tracked the problem to the EVAP purge valve - part number PA66-6F30, 2580033B, 1J0906517F...
We are a small garage operating at the end of a small cul-de-sac along with one other garage next to us. We have a problem with a trader who sells cars from their MoT garage with 6 cars on their forecourt...
A few weeks ago I bought a nearly new Volkswagen Golf from a private owner. I carried out a full check on the car before the purchase and everything came back fine. However, within a few days of ownership,...
I need to buy a used SUV to tow my caravan. I only cover 6000 miles a year, on short journeys, but would prefer an automatic. I like the Honda CR-V (2010) due to reliability, but read mixed reports on...
I am downsizing my 2007 Ford S-Max and am thinking of replacing it with a Focus or Hyundai i30. My budget is around £9500, which car would be best for comfort and reliability? Or is it worth stretching...
I am in the processing of buying a car for the first time under the Motability Scheme. I am looking for a small hatchback, but it must be an automatic. So far I feel I have narrowed down my list to the...
My 2007 Citroen C5 estate sits very low to ground, but opening the door makes it goes back to normal height and it drives fine. Do you think something serious is wrong with the car?
I am considering buying a Mercedes-Benz CLK of some description (hard top or convertible) and will be trading in a Peugeot RCZ, expecting to spend about £20,000. Which model would you recommend?
The lights on my Ford Mondeo’s dashboard have gone out. The car's stereo system has also gone very quiet. I have checked the fuses and they are ok, I have also changed the speakers and stereo, but no joy....
I need to replace my old Volkswagen Passat diesel estate with something comfortable and reliable. I do less than average mileage and am happy with either a petrol or diesel. Ideally, I want something used...
My daughter’s 2009 Hyundai i30 developed a gearbox noise, which she reported at the main dealer 12 months ago. At the time the mechanic told her it was nothing and to ignore it. I drove the car today and...
I need a car which will take three child seats in the back. It must have a minimum kerb weight of 1400kg and engine power of at least 140ps. I’m happy with either a petrol or diesel and can spend up to...
We have just ordered a new BMW X3 2.0 auto. I understand that it has a flexible servicing schedule, but I was wondering if it would be advantageous to have its oil changed after around 1500 miles to clear...
I’m in the process of replacing my Ford Transit and really like the Volkswagen Transporter. Can you tell me which engine is best?
I am about to replace my 2009 Jaguar XJ's 20-inch factory fitted alloys with 18-inch wheels for a better ride. Which tyres would you recommend? Annual mileage is less than 5000 a year on local roads.
My hazard lights aren't working. I want to check the fuse before calling the garage, but it's not clear from the manual which fuse it is though - can you help?
I am looking to replace my 2007 Vauxhall Zafira. I love the space of the car, but find it to be unreliable. Any replacement needs to have space to accommodate someone over six foot, with a comfortable...
My son has been issued with a parking fine, despite the fact he owns a valid permit for the space. On the day in question, my son parked up and displayed his permit, but it fell to the floor and wasn’t...
I own a 2010 Nissan Pathfinder 2.5DCi Tekna with 41,000 miles on the clock. Recently I've had an intermittent engine light come on - this has been diagnosed as P0744 Code. My local Nissan dealer has told...
I’m thinking of buying a Vauxhall Movano, but can’t work out if I need front-wheel or rear-wheel drive? Also, which engine is best?
Yesterday, on the motorway my Renault Megane started puffing blue smoke out of the exhaust. About a mile later the on-board computer appeared with the warning 'injector fault'. I pulled over onto the hard...
I have been told by one independent tyre supplier that I can fit ordinary winter/cold weather tyres to my BMW Series. However, another has said that I need run flats. Can you tell me what I should do?
I was about to place an order for the current mk 2 MIni Cooper when I learned that a new mark 3 model was shortly to be released. My dealer has advised that the new model will not be available until March...
I've noticed a light ticking noise coming from the engine of my Vauxhall Zafira that increases in noise and speed with the throttle. I've also noticed that there is gradual increase in speed from low gear...
Does a 2002 diesel car need a catalytic converter to pass the MoT?
I am looking to purchase a new BMW 1 Series or Audi A3 Sportback for my daily commute of 40 miles to London. I’d prefer an automatic, with a petrol engine. What do you suggest?
We live on top of a hill and our house is difficult to access in winter weather. I am considering the purchase of a cheap 4x4 for £2000, which would be an additional car rather than one of our main vehicles....
Can you recommend a space saver tyre for Ford S-max? If so, what size and where could I buy one? I plan to carry it in the boot.
Does the Nissan GT-R have an NCAP rating or an equivalent from Japan? I'm thinking of getting one, but Internet searches have yielded a blank.
I'd like a recommendation for a car to be used predominantly for the school run (1.3 miles each way) for three child passengers. Also, this car will be used for the weekly shop, so needs decent boot space....
My 2007 Peugeot Expert van is running very sluggish. The problem is at its worse when running at a constant speed, with the van backing off then speeding up when accelerator is same pressure. I’ve had...
My daughter is looking at purchasing either a Ford Mondeo or SEAT Toledo as a family car. I would value your opinion on which would be the best overall car?
The air conditioning on my 2011 Volkswagen Golf has failed. My local dealer has found the gas level to be low, but couldn't source the leak and will recharge the system with a dye to try to find it. They...
I have two in-car cameras, but have been told that it’s illegal to drive if the LCD screen is visible. Is this correct? I’ve been told that if the camera is '50mm into wiper sweep' an endorsement will...
I’m looking to replace my Lexus RX300. I’ve had the cars for eight years and have found it to be very reliable and comfortable. I'm looking to purchase a new/nearly new car and I am looking at the Lexus...
A terrible ride quality is spoiling life with my otherwise excellent 2006 Mercedes Viano 2.2 Ambiente. It's running on 225/60/16 tyres on standard 16-inch alloys and I’ve had a mechanic check the suspension,...
My Audi A3 1.6 TDI has been off the road for two weeks, pending an investigation into a breakdown where injector failure was cited as the reason. The dealer has drained the tank and says visual inspection...
I am an elderly driver looking for a new car and am considering either a Volkswagen Beetle Cabrio or Eos. I have £11,000 to spend, but not much else if things go wrong. Which would you say is the most...
I purchased a used 2006 Kia Sorento 2006 a few months ago. The car cost £10,995 from a Kia dealer and had 70,000 miles on the clock. We took out a HP agreement as the dealer gave six months warranty on...
Can you please advise me where I could get a best price deal on a new Audi Q3?
What are the rules for using foreign cars in the UK? A car owned by a European family now living near me shows a foreign number plate and has done so for at least five years. Will their car be subject...
The gearbox is making a grinding noise on my Peugeot 206 1.4 HDi. It only happens in 1st and 2nd gears, any idea what could be wrong?
Last year I bought a 2003 Suzuki Ignis, which was supplied with new brake discs. Six months later the car started to judder under braking and I took it back to the garage, who told me the discs were warped....
I have just bought a 2005 Volkswagen Golf with a 1.6 FSI engine. After a couple of miles I noticed the car judders, which could be the clutch or dual mass flywheel. If either are found to be defective,...
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