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Questions from November 2013
I recently had new tyres fitted but the garage was unwilling to adjust the tracking as the tie rods were loose/worn. What are tie rods, should I be concerned and should I get these replaced soonest?
My 2009 SEAT Ibiza is coming up for its service and I have been informed a cam belt change is required. Is this right? I’ve only driven 25,000 miles and the books says it doesn’t have to be changed until...
I’m in the process of buying a used car and have been offered a 2013 BMW 320d for £26,850, with leather, sat nav and 6000 miles on the clock. Do you think this is a good deal, or should I buy a Audi A3...
I need to buy new tyres for my 2011 BMW 116i Sport, with 17-inch wheels. It currently has runflats, but I’m not sure whether to go for steel wheels and new tyres or just buy a good all weather tyre for...
I’m in the process of replacing my 2005 BMW 330D E91 with a new F31 edition. Can I swap the wheels and winter tyres to the new car?
I am looking for a new/nearly new car, budget up to £25,000. I do not transport, children, dogs or surfboards, therefore, have a very wide choice. I do about 10,000 miles a year, minimum journey 15 miles....
We have a 1948 Alvis TA14 with the registration ‘TA 14’. It has had two owners from new, full history and has lots of extras like Hooper Brothers paintwork. Fully restored a few years ago, it's now time...
I am still looking for a 4wd pickup and have been impressed by the ‘Extra-cab’ versions of the Isuzu and Ford because they have a rear hinged doors into the space behind the front seats. I have driven...
Can I have your advice about SORN please? There is an old wrecked BMW parked outside the owner's mum's garage and it is really in a state, you'd have to literally shovel it up. It appears that as long...
Last month, after a minor speed limit infringement, I elected to attend a Driver Awareness Course instead of getting the points (and I must say it was far better than I thought it would be). So far, so...
I own November 2005 Honda Civic Type R (original shape) in good condition with just 30,000 miles. I love it but I am reluctantly considering selling it as, for various reasons, I need a car with five doors...
Last June I asked for your advice about replacing the ‘bling’ wheels and low profile tyres on my Skoda Superb. Thank you for your confirmation that I was doing the right thing, and also for steering me...
Thank you for your recent good advice on a replacement for my Jaguar XFS. However, being realistic, advancing years and stiffer joints tell me I should consider a car that I get up into and down out of....
Are modern turbochargers more reliable and longer lasting than they used to be? Or, if I bought a car with a turbo for long-term ownership could the turbo become an expensive part to replace?
I retired in 2010 and, having driven company cars for most of my working life averaging 40,000 miles per year, I never changed to winter tyres. Having read many items in your columns, when I bought my...
I own a 1990-registration Metro 1.1-litre car, which is in immaculate condition, and has only done 38,000 miles. It has just passed its MoT test, and I now plan to sell it. I wonder if you could suggest...
I heartily agree with your reply concerning the lack of spare wheels. I have a fantastic 2-year-old Astra 2.0 CTDI and insisted on a full matching road wheel as a spare (essential in my opinion, especially...
Please could you help me? I am looking for a used 7-seater MPV for around £6000 - £7000. I will be trading in my 2007 Golf and would like to know if it's worth me buying a newer MPV or can I get just as...
We have a next-door neighbour who backs his Ford Transit Connect diesel up to his house. In the morning at about 6:30am to 7:00am he wakes us up starting the engine and then leaves it running for half...
In a past life I have owned a Saab 9000 LPT and an early 9-3 LPT, both of which I enjoyed. For the past year I have been running my late wife’s Skoda Fabia. I am tempted to look for an older Saab at around...
I am looking to upgrade from my BMW E46 330i to either a BMW 645i (E63 - 2004) or a BMW 325i coupe (E92 - 2007). You rate the 3 Series with five stars yet it has a lot wrong under "What's Bad" whereas...
There has been much in the press recently about the Centre Lane Owners Group on motorways. The 1999 edition of the Highway Code stated in Rule 238 on Lane Discipline: "If you are overtaking a number of...
My wife and I own a 2003 Honda Jazz manual in which we driven about 50,000 miles without trouble. Our granddaughter will be old enough to drive in two years and we were planning to pass it on to her. In...
I followed your advice and took my Subaru to API Engines who turned out to be excellent. Although Subaru (IM Motors) eventually (and too late) offered 60 per cent off the cost of parts as long as I had...
After an enjoyable test drive, I am considering the purchase of a Toyota Prius plug-in hybrid to replace my trusty Honda Civic Hybrid which is no longer is entitled to Congestion Charge exemption. I drive...
The DVLA has three functions: driver licensing, vehicle licensing and collecting VED. I assume that the driver licensing function is self-financing from the fees charged for new licences, changes of names/addresses,...
I’m looking to purchase a wheelchair mobility vehicle. As my partner is now over 65 she is no longer eligible under the Mobility scheme.
Now that we have better quality sensors and electronics, is it not possible for car manufacturers to fit accurate speedometers? On a section of road works where the speeds are closely monitored, most drivers...
I have been considering the possible merit of using TyrePal. My concern is that the device that fits to the tyre valve and must hold the valve open to be able to see the pressure. Without TyrePal there...
My Jaguar X-Type 2.2d Sport is a pleasure to drive, but a hard drive and harsh. With the low profile tyres on 18-inch alloys the wear on the rubber is a little costly. Is moving to a higher profile tyre...
My 2009 Lexus 220D went into limp mode 100 miles from home when I was on my way to France on holiday. It was the DPF filter. This was after a major service a few days before and I wonder if the filter...
I currently have a pre-DPF Skoda Octavia TDI Estate and am very pleased with it. I would like to buy a new one early next year but want to check a few facts about the DPF. The sales brochure says it should...
I have taken off some of the black surface of the car radio antiglare screen in my Mercedes-Benz C-Class by using a contaminated cloth. Any recommended source for replenishing the coating on the antiglare...
I am sending this to you purely for information as I am not telling you anything you do not know and as you have told us so many times as a warning about companies like the AA. Last year our AA "subscription"...
A friend who, due to the onset of Parkinson’s Disease, can no longer drive, has asked me to sell his car, a Honda Jazz 5 door ES i-Shift, metallic paintwork, first registered in March, 2010 with 7200 miles...
I am running a 105,000 mile 2001 Saab 9-3 convertible, worth about £2500, I guess. I fancy an XK8 Coupe. But can I get one with a sunroof? Or do I get another 4-seater convertible, which would be more...
I am considering buying a Ford Focus with a 1.0 EcoBoost engine, which has been engine of the year for two years running. However, the fuel consumption figures on your website and various road tests show...
We bought a year old Corsa from a Vauxhall dealer. My wife and I were in the showroom when I asked the salesman (a modern, very pushy one): “who was the first owner of this vehicle?” We accepted the answer,...
I am thinking of buying a Peugeot 308 SW. Would you recommend the Peugeot 308 SW, or is there another car that would give better value? I have been offered, by a Peugeot dealer, a new Peugeot 308SW – Access...
My wife has a 7-year-old Nissan Note automatic, bought from new, with which she is entirely happy. Being short (5-feet) she likes the ease of access to the driver's seat and the good all-round visibility...
I have been a customer of BMW garage for approximately 35 years, purchasing in the main 1 to 3-year-old cars. I have now decided to buy a new model X3 and would like your advice on the following. On the...
I have been driving Honda Civics for about the last 15 years or so and have loved them. My current Civic is well overdue for a change. But what has Honda done to the rear window? I positively hate it and...
Our neighbours are moving abroad and are offering us their 2004 Porsche Cayenne Turbo S (4.5-litre V8) with 104,000 miles plus their 1997 Mercedes-Benz SLK 230 Kompressor with 78,000 miles for £8000 (for...
I have had my 29,000 mile 2009 Volkswagen Scirocco 1.4TFSI since new. It has been regularly serviced by Volkswagen. Eight weeks ago the engine warning light came on. It was recovered to Volkswagen (a shocking...
My daughter has completed her studies and will hopefully soon be starting work as a midwife. She currently has an ageing Fiat Punto, but with a salary on the horizon is looking to upgrade and is keen on...
For the last three or so years I have dieseled up my Subaru Forester at our local Jet station. Recently, I had to do it at a Waitrose where I filled up with Shell. My average mpg on Jet had been around...
I have a 2011 Toyota Verso which I love. I also own a rather battered 2001 Honda CR-V that we use to take two Labradors (usually wet). I am thinking of selling both these & buying one car - what would...
My contract hired 2011 Polo GTI has had excessive oil consumption from new, it's currently on the second engine and today has gone back to the dealership to be set up for another round of oil consumption...
A general email is circulating advising that cruise control should not be engaged when there is rain or snow/ice. It explains that when hydroplaning occurs the cruise control accelerates - causing a potential...
I have purchased a brand new Mk7 Golf GTI (Sept 2013). All fine except the suspension creaks and groans at low speed (<20mph) over uneven surfaces, speed bumps etc. Sounds as if the car is 10+ years old...
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