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Questions from November 2013
Can you suggest what might improve the 33 miles per gallon I'm getting with my '06 Honda Jazz, 1.4, purchased 12 months ago. True I only do fairly local journeys in the main but would like to get a better...
Pulling my hair out trying to find a reasonably priced source to buy winter wheels (steel will do) and tyre sets for my BMW 7 Series 2008 diesel. BMW want nearly £2000 for a set! Any ideas very much appreciated!
My car was left in the Port of Dover’s official car-park during a recent storm. Unlike other cars in the same car-park, which suffered major wave damage, my vehicle only appears to have suffered salt water...
I need a large, economical and low tax group six seater. The car must have a low tail gate with the possibility of having three child-car seats across the back and feature sliding doors. Any ideas?
The engine on my Hyundai i30 diesel has started going into a limiter mode and will stick at 40mph. It is only rectified by stopping and restarting. No warning lights show and I can only fix the issue by...
I’m in the process of buying a 2005 Volkswagen Golf with 115,000 miles on the clock. Can you tell me if this model has any known faults or issues?
My 2006 Volkswagen 1.4 diesel Polo has been causing me varying degrees of grief for the past six months, with the warning lights flashing up intermittently and the engine refusing to start. I am also having...
My 2013 BMW 33-D Touring was delivered in August. Upon delivery, I noticed that the car had bodywork damage, which the supplying dealer has repaired. I have now noticed that the on the nearside, the front...
How would you recommend running-in a car with a CVT gearbox, such as the new Subaru Forester XT?
Access to my house is via steep single track lane which does not get gritted. In the past I would avoid going out if I woke to a fresh fall of snow but now commitments mean I am going to have to go out....
My son, who lives in Switzerland, has recently swapped a UK registered Mercedes-Benz R-Class to a locally registered diesel Range Rover. He is now having DPF problems, with the warning message displaying...
I need to replace my 2008 Volkswagen Polo BlueMotion with something bigger to carry my grandchildren and the occasional set of golf clubs. I am considering the Volkswagen Tiguan, Mazda CX-5, Suzuki SX4...
I’m in the market for a new car and my search has come down to a nearly new Volkswagen Golf 1.4 petrol (140PS) with DSG ‘box or for similar money (£2,1500) a brand new Skoda Octavia with the same engine....
We are looking to replace our old Volkswagen Golf Plus, which we love to drive. The problem is we need a bigger boot and better fuel economy. We'd prefer chain driven as opposed to cambelt.
We have £12,000...
I own a Mercedes-Benz CLS, which was broken into by thieves and had sports equipment stolen from the boot. The problem I have is there’s no physical evidence of a break in, which means the insurer will...
Can I appeal against a Category B decision, which my insurer has issued on my Daihatsu Fourtrak after it was stolen and then recovered. The car is fine, but has a broken side window and damaged ignition...
Please advise how to best store wheels with winter or all season tyres when not on vehicle as I am not sure I will have enough suitable space. Or alternatively, if I opt for All Season tyres can I safely...
I am on the verge of buying a 2010 Mazda MX-5 in red with 12,600 miles, full service history but two previous owners. The dealer wants £9995, but won’t negotiate – is this a good deal?
My neighbour (nice gent, mid-seventies) is forever inflating his tyres. I enquired why he had to do it so often and he assures me, that "it is normal for the tyres on this type of car to loose 2psi every...
I bought a 2003 Chrysler Grand Voyager 2.5 manual a few weeks ago, but I am having trouble with the gearbox. I either find it difficult to select 1st gear or it will select but then pop out. Any idea what...
I am considering buying a 2010 Renault Scenic Privilege 1.9 diesel as opposed to a 1.5 diesel model. Can you tell me which would be better for towing a braked trailer, with occasional one ton loads?
Also...
I would like to buy a 1971 Series 111 Land Rover from an established 4x4 motor trader. The garage does not have much in the way of details of the previous owners, but the vehicle looks well turned out...
I'm looking to buy a used seven seater: it must be reliable as well as economical to run (fuel, insurance, road tax). What would you recommend?
Seven years ago I bought a used Honda Jazz 1.4SE on your recommendation and have been very pleased with it. The time has come to replace it (the gearbox is failing), my budget is £7000, with 10,000 annual...
The battery died on my Ford Fiesta and the radio been reset, asking for the code. It is a 3000 traffic, but I can't find a radio serial number. Can you help?
I'm coming up to picking my next company car and have (probably) narrowed it down to the facelifted Mercedes-Benz E-Class 250CDI (auto box with AMG kit) or BMW 520/525D M Sport. I’ll do 30,000 miles a...
I want to buy a new SUV, but can’t decide between a 2010 Porsche Cayenne V6 diesel or 2011 Volkswagen Touareg V8 TDI. The Cayenne is lovely inside, handles like a car and feels planted on the road, whereas...
I’m after an estate to replace my 1996 Audi A4 Avant 1.9TDI. My priorities for the new car are reliability, low running costs and one or two driver comforts. I am not bothered by what badge it wears, nor...
As a former company car driver, I have for the last six years driven a Mercedes-Benz C-Class. Having left my job, I am now in the market for a used model, but am worried about known mechanical issues....
Following the death of my wife, I want to sell her Toyota Yaris automatic, but have no idea of price to ask. The car is in a reasonable condition with recent MoT and full history. What's the quickest way...
I am a UK resident and my girlfriend is Spanish resident. If she brings her Spanish registered car when visiting me in the summer, can I drive it in the UK?
I am already on her insurance as sometimes...
Recently, the nearside front hub nut on my two year old Hyundai i10 started to work itself loose. I only noticed it when I tracked it down to a non-engine related noise. After jacking the car up I found...
I am thinking of buying a Kia cee’d a Ford Focus or Vauxhall Astra, all on a 2012 plate, 1.6 diesel and all the base model and average 10,000 miles. What would be the best buy?
Do I have to fit four winter tyres to my car? Or can I fit just two tyres to the front?
I'm thinking of buying a set of winter tyres, which makes would you recommend?
I have 2008 Skoda Octavia 1.9 TDI with only 24,000 miles on the clock. The Skoda has been suffering with lots of niggling issues - like the windows going down by themselves and alarm going off – and I...
My friend is selling his Rover 75 and I’m very tempted to buy it. Can you tell me if the model has any known faults?
I have a 2002 Ford Fiesta that’s suffering some electrical problems. Whenever I put on my headlights, the dashboard shows nothing. Any idea what’s going on?
Can you tell me if the Audi A3 has any known mechanical issues? I’m in the market for a used example with high mileage, but don’t want to buy a money pit.
I always put galactic mileages on my cars and intend to keep my next Volvo for a decade or more. The only alternatives on the list are the post-2010 five-cylinder 2.0 version of the Volvo C70 and the Mercedes...
My car was damaged by another driver who immediately admitted liability. His insurers have taken on the claim but the repairs to my car cost more than they say it's worth. I've had the car from new and...
In July I hired a Skoda Yeti from Europcar, Salzburg airport. On returning the vehicle I reported minor scratches on the front right wing. I believe the scratches were made when it was being parked, but...
I am looking to replace my ageing, but reliable and economical, Suzuki Swift 1.5VVT with a Renault Captur TCe 90. I understand that this comes with 4-year or 100,000 mile warranty and four years servicing,...
I saw this story on the BBC News website and thought you should be aware: “Rising deaths in bikers paradise. As figures show a rising number of deaths among bikers in North Yorkshire, BBC News asks how...
I am considering trying Terraclean performance tuning on my BMW 118d, in the hope of improving emissions and improving performance by removing engine carbon deposits. Do you know if such a treatment is...
Could you recommend a reliable small to medium car or SUV for an average of 10,000 miles per year, primarily consisting of short journeys for a couple of OAPs? We wish to avoid expenses associated with...
I was interested to read your recent comments about certain vehicle models appearing to be DPF trouble-free. Is this because they have markedly different systems for regeneration of the filter, or some...
I have two largish dogs that need transporting for their daily walks and an elderly mother who needs taking to the shops. I have managed with my SEAT Ibiza, which is approaching its third birthday early...
My wife backed into the man across the road’s Vauxhall, with slight damage to the n/s wheelarch six inches long. I offered to pay for the repair. He said he “would look into it”. Two days later he returned....
Do you know if there is some sort of mesh guard to fit over the front lower grill of a Renault Modus to protect the aircon condenser from road debris?
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