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Questions from April 2014
I am thinking of buying a new car, can you tell me if semi-automatic transmission systems are reliable?
How can I tell if a vehicle has been flooded in the recent floods?
What do you know about turbocharger re-conditioners?
Last week in the Daily Telegraph you replied to a letter from someone who had encountered an engine warning light on his 2005 Honda CR-V2.2 CDTi while...
My X-Trail originally came with 225/60/17 tyres and can I replace all four tyres with 225/65/17??
If possible will there be any difference??
I am looking to buy a SEAT Leon ST FR. I like the looks and equipment but am not convinced a 1.4l engine can really perform, though the dealer says it is more than capable and 1.8l TSI is not necessary....
I was involved in an accident when driving out of my drive. I pulled out and a car came around the corner and hit my front. We live on a rat-run notorious for cars speeding through the village. The insurance...
My Citroen C5 1.8 petrol will not start. I pulled up last night and it then refused to start. This is the first time I’ve had any issues with it, what’s the cause?
I am looking for a mid-sized SUV with a petrol engine and auto ‘box. My wife already has a 2011 Suzuki SX4, but this is a tad too small for all our camping gear and the seats are painful on long trips....
It has taken 11 weeks to transfer my car personal registration plate, it used to take an hour at the local DVLA office until it was closed. Is this typical of DVLA "service" nowadays or have I been unlucky?...
A friend is thinking of buying an Audi A5 (2010 onwards). He does around 6000 miles per year in a mix of urban and longer runs. He is leaning towards the 3.0TDI for the fuel economy even though he is aware...
Stopped for 5 mins in private land car park thinking it was a post office car park. On return an envelope with penalty charge notice on it inside a parking charge notice for £100,or £60 if paid in 14 days....
The interior lights on my Alhambra have started to stay on after the ignition has been turned on, and also after getting out of the car and locking with the remote fob. The lights go out eventually. Is...
I have been browsing your answers to questions about the egs gearbox used by Citroen and note that you said on 17 July 2011 they had been improved. The car salesman tells me that improvements have been...
I have bought a 1996 Ford Mondeo. Can you tell me how I can work out the fuel consumption?
My wife's 2006 Renault Clio 1.5 diesel has covered 80,000 miles and recently suffered fuel pump failure. A new fuel pump and sensor, plus reconditioned injectors have cost us about £1500. We had been hoping...
Should I use cheap supermarket petrol or better quality branded fuel?
I am looking to buy an estate or SUV, budget around £7500. I do a daily commute of four miles each way and the regular trips of 500 miles round trip to see family.
Can you recommend something which is...
My car insurer has recorded a no fault accident against me when there was no accident. I have asked them to correct their information, but they are refusing. While this is in dispute it is also preventing...
Seven months ago I bought a new Land Rover Freelander 2. After about four months the electronic dash display (trip computer, fuel gauge, temperature, clock) intermittently did not light up when starting...
Having been a 'not at fault' victim of a drunk driver on February 1st, my car was taken to a garage for insurance assessment.
It appeared to me to be body work damage only, and the car was still driveable,...
I'm looking to try buy a small/medium van to use as a electrician diesel £750-£2000 budget
What van is likely to be fairly cheap to run and maintain? Two seats is fine,
an option with three seats would...
If as you have stated, there is nothing to worry about when buying an Ex Hire vehicle then why don't car dealers state the fact that they are ex hire when selling a car?
I can only think that they are...
After a pretty disastrous experience with my Hyundai i10 and the main dealers, I'm sick to death of it after 19 months and want to trade it for something around the £6k mark.
I'm not too fussed about...
Thinking of buying 1.4 diesel Yaris 2010 52000 miles - does this have timing belt or chain?
I am looking for a new family car, with size (boot and rear), practicality, comfort and reliability in mind, to keep for 5-7 years (budget 15-20k). With this in mind, the Skoda Octavia seems to offer the...
I am retiring in 6 weeks.
I want a vehicle to transport wife, grandchildren, dogs and lots of luggage on holiday.
I may also want to tow a small caravan.
I have been looking at a Berlingo and a Dacia...
I read sometime ago that Peugeot were developing a new small turbo petrol engine and that it would be fitted to the 2008. Are you able to find out from your contacts whether this is true, please and, if...
I live in the UK and plan to buy an Italian registered 1967 classic car.
Where can I get temporary UK or EU insurance to drive the car back to the UK?
Ford Focus 61 Reg, bought from my local Ford Dealer last October with 7000 mls).
Car taken to the Dealer to have my winter tyres removed (sold by dealer) and my Goodyear tyres refitted (stored by Ford...
I bought a BMW 520d from Halliwell-Jones and have found the front seats do not have lumbar support. The BMW and dealer websites describe the car as having part electric seats as standard. The handbook...
I have a 2006 Jaguar S-Type [manual] on a 55 plate with 32,000 long distance miles on it (no short trips).
It has the sport interior, heated windscreen, CD Autochanger plus all the other nice standard...
Should I buy a Fiat Doblo or a Citroen Berlingo Multispace seven seater for short trips around town?
I have a January 2014 registered Cee'd 3. I have found that it will cost 169 euros to bring the maps up to date. Is this a common cost among new car sat navs?
I am looking to buy an economical and reliable estate with good rear leg room, but only looking to spend up to £8000. I travel around 20,000 miles a year with a mixture of motorway, A & B roads and town...
I'm looking at a 2010 2.0 PD diesel Skoda Octavia L&K with 122,000 miles for £6750 or a 2008 1.8-litre L&K petrol Skoda Octavia with 22,000 miles for £5950.
Normally you would advise the newer car with...
I can buy a Honda Civic hybrid for less money than an Insight and it appears to be better finished but you seem to say the Insight drives better. I can afford a pre 2009 1.5 Prius or a 2010 Insight, which...
I have been charged £409 plus labour for a replacement n/s drive shaft in my 2008 Toyota Verso. Is this reasonable?
I have a bad back and need a car that has plenty of head room (for a 6ft person) and a seat that adjusts. Ideally a car that you don't lower down into.
I currently have two cars - a 4x4 Isuzu that does...
My 2004 Honda Jazz is suffering frmo water ingress and the spare wheel well is filling with water. Do you know what's causing this and how it can be fixed?
Am considering a new Audi A3, but need an automatic. I was dissatisfied by the hesitancy from a standing start of the auto 'box in the Audi Q5 I owned previously, can you tell me if Audi has managed to...
I have an extremely reliable 1997 Mercedes-Benz C180 estate that has done 410,000 mile. I am now thinking of changing it for a Lexus. My son has a IS250 with the high quality sound system and sensible...
I am in the process of buying a two year old used Audi Q3 from an authorised dealer. However, I noticed the garage has fitted it with four new Landsail Trailblazer tyres, which I understand are manufactured...
If a named driver(of my car) has a crash in his own car, do I need to let my insurance know?
I am considering a 2008 Boxster S manual with one owner and full Porsche history. The car has 23000 miles and looks brand new. It will be a second car doing 5000 miles p.a. Should I have any major concerns...
I have owned my present Jaguar Sovereign (auto) from new in 1995 and it is now coming to the end of its useful life as an everyday car. I find it extremely quiet and comfortable, with magic carpet ride...
I have just purchased a full sized tyre to replace the silly space saver tyre for my Volvo V50.
The wheel and tyre are good but I think I may have made a mistake as I realise the tyre is directional....
In September 2012 I had a 10 day holiday in Italy. I had a rented Audi A3 from Hertz. I have just received (after 18 months) a notice of a speeding fine (approx. £200).
There was no notice at the time,...
I'd like to be 100% sure whether my Kia has a DPF or not. The details are:
Kia Ceed Hatchback (07-12)
1.6 CRDi LS (113bhp) 5d
Date of Registration: 17 Aug 2007
Fuel Type: Diesel
I bought a SEAT Ibiza Cupra 1.4TSI on finance in June 2013 for my wife. It has a seven-speed DSG automatic gearbox. Within a couple of weeks the car would jump out of gear when she was pulling away or...
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