Audi A1 - should I expect a discount on the old model?

Audi have this week announced a facelifted version of the A1 and their website has now been updated to show the new version. What discount could I realistically expect to get on a new 'pre-facelifted'...

Honda Civic - keep or sell?

We need two cars in our household. We currently have a 2002 Volkswagen Polo and a 2003 Honda Civic Type-S with 80k and 150k miles respectively. Our intended strategy is to have a city run around and a...

How reliable is the auto box in the Volvo V60?

I have been offered a friend's Volvo V60 D5 automatic. The car has covered 45,000 miles and is used to tow a caravan. Am I buying into problems for te near future with the auto box?

Faulty used Range Rover - am I entitled to a refund?

I have bought Range Rover Sport (2009) from a car dealer. Within one day of owning the car, the "brake pad light" and "engine maintenance light" came on. I went back to the dealer and they diagnosed that...

Jaguar XF - can I remove the DPF?

I keep getting a DPF warning light on my 2008 Jaguar XF. Can I have it removed and have the ECU remapped? I've found lots of websites offing this service.

Increasing oil levels - what's the fault?

The oil level in my 2009 Ford Focus 1.6 diesel is increasing and I have to change the oil every two weeks to save the engine. The coolant level doesn't change and the oil isn't murky when I change it,...

Does the Mk1 Honda Jazz have a CVT gearbox?

I'm thinking of buying a 2008 Honda Jazz. Can you tell me if it has a CVT gearbox?

Why is my Ford Focus using so much fuel?

I have purchased a 2005 Ford Focus 1.6 automatic. However, it uses lots of fuel and I'm getting about 21mpg. Is this normal? And if not, what could be causing it?

Is it illegal to put blue lights on your vehicle?

I’ve noticed that lots of cars, vans and lorries are displaying bright blue lights. Often this is quite concerning especially at night if the vehicle moving through trees it then looks like an emergency...

Classic car crash claim - how can I prevent a write-off?

My neighbour has been involved in a car crash (not responsible). Someone hit the side of her Fiat X1/9 sports car. It was in excellent condition, but she now fears that they may write off her car. What...

Which tyres should I fit to my Fiat 500?

I need new front tyres for my Fiat 500 TwinAir, what would you suggest? Secondly, due to becoming grand parents, we need a new car to replace my partner's Toyota Aygo. She will be taking over my Fiat...

Leaving a car for 1 month - is there anything I need to do?

My 2013 petrol engined KIA Carens will be left on our drive from 6 January to 4 February, whilst we are on a cruise. Are there any procedures I should be carry out on the car before we leave it. Is it...

Jeep Cherokee recall has disabled my towbar - what are my options?

I recently took my Jeep Cherokee to the dealer for its safety recall and, after the inspection, a cross-car beam had to be fitted. To do this Jeep have removed the towbar and told me that the vehicle cannot...

How can I prove my Evo 9 is not a grey import?

I am finding my Mitsubishi Evo 9 Special Edition difficult to value. I bought it from a main dealer in 2006 (new) but the registration can not be found on any website. The V5 registration document does...

Cooling issue with Toyota MR2

I've recently bought a Toyota MR2, but am having problems with air appearing in the coolant. I've changed for new the following: Radiator Major cooling hoses Water pump Thermostat Rad cap I've also...

Audi A3 rattle on start up

I have an Audi A3 diesel automatic (2007). It has done 84,000 miles and there is a rattle on start up, which makes it difficult to pull away smoothly. However, there's no untoward noises or vibrations...

Where's the coolant sensor on the Ford Ka?

I can't find location of coolant sensor on my 2001 Ford Ka. I've replaced all the coolant system apart from this, can you help?

Why is my Vauxhall Vectra so noisy?

I recently bought a 2002 Vauxhall Vecta diesel. The car drives fine, but the engine is really noisy. Is this normal for this type of car?

Selling an Australian car in the UK

Around 18 months ago I brought my Australian car over to England (where I am now living) and felt that now would be the right time to sell so I could buy an English car. It is a 2007 Force Six Turbo...

Automatic headlights won't switch off

I own a 2013 Ford Fiesta with automatic headlights. For most of the time, I drive the car with the auto setting switched on, but have noticed that the lights are always on, even in bright sunny weather....

Which tyres are best - Michelin or Continental?

I needed to replace two tyres on my 2009 Citroen C3 Picasso. I placed an order with my local stockist, but have been waiting four weeks for delivery. As a result. I have been offered equivalent Continentals...

Daewoo Matiz suffering from faulty fuel gauge

My girlfriend has a 2004 Daewoo Matiz. It's a great little car for what we paid and is in pretty good condition with lowish miles and has been reliable so far. The only problem is the fuel gauge rarely...

Panoramic sunroof damaged in accident, but insurers won't pay

My 2009 Fiat Grande Punto was hit in a rear end collision. The car has a panoramic sunroof, which was fully opened at the time of the shunt. Prior to the incident it worked perfectly. Immediately after...

Saab 9-3 turbo problems

I own a Saab 9-3 1.9 TDI (2006) and recently the engine management light came on, with lots of black smoke coming out of the exhaust. The EGR was replaced, along with the mass air flow and the ECU light...

Where's the best place to buy winter wheels and tyres?

Which places can you recommend to buy complete set of winter wheels and tyres (probably Alpin 4s) for a Ford Fiesta Titanium X 2013. And how much do they cost? Do i get standard alloys or Steel wheels?...

Ford Fiesta won't start.

I have a 2001 Ford Fiesta which sometimes doesn't start. The battery is fine, but when I leave it for a few days it will refuse to get going. Any idea what's going wrong?

Is there a method for testing xenon headlamp aim?

I am ordering a new BMW M235i convertible. It is fitted as standard with xenon headlamps. As the car will be used extensively abroad, I need to ensure the headlamps will not dazzle other drivers when driving...

Am I being ripped off?

I own a Peugeot 307cc, which broken down recently. The car was towed to a local garage, who told me it needed a new water pump and casing. They also said the engine was damaged, with nine out of 16 valves...

Golf returning poor fuel economy - are the new tyres to blame?

I recently replaced old "Event" tyres with new Michelin ones on my wife's 2006 Volkswagen Golf diesel. On a regular round trip of 120 miles, her on-board fuel consumption has gone from over 60mpg to below...

First car for 18 yr old - lease new or buy?

My 18 year old son has just passed his driving test and is looking to purchase his first car. Likes the idea of new, something like a Ford Fiesta 1.0 Ecoboost. What are his best options, to buy or lease?...

Buying a used estate car for £10-12k

My partner is changing job in January and will need a car to replace her company 3 Series Estate. She's got £10-12k to spend, is looking for something around Focus up to Mondeo size that will accommodate...

Rusty Ford C-Max - should I have any redress?

I bought a 2006 Ford focus C-MAX from a main dealer in 2007. In 2008, rust bubbles appeared under the paintwork and the dealer sent me to its paint shop, who found out by measuring the paint thickness...

Buying a Fiat 500 - which engine is best?

I want to buy a Fiat 500 for my wife's 60th birthday. She does short trips, with occasional longer journeys and motorway driving. Which is the best engine? It mustn't be too dull.

Van damaged by contaminated fuel -can I sue

Last week I filled my Mercedes-Benz Vito van, but 24 hours later the entire injection system was destroyed, with repair cost amounting to £4500. The dealer who carried out the repair confirmed that the...

Buying a modern classic convertible

I am nearing retirement and would like a reliable and economical soft top. The Mazda MX5 just seems too popular, I like the idea of a MK1 or MK2 Volkswagen Golf, but rust scares seem to be rife. Living...

Faulty MINI One - should the dealer pay for repairs?

I recently bought a 2007 MINI Hatch One from a dealer for £3300. The car had 104,000 miles on the clock, full service history, one month’s MoT. Twenty miles into the journey home (I live 80 miles from...

Ford Focus auto stuck in park

I have a 2006 Ford Focus automatic; however, it won't disengage from park. The engine starts fine, and everything else works, but the car won't move. Any ideas?

When did Honda return to CVT transmissions?

When did Honda return to CVT transmissions in respect to the Honda Jazz from the I-shift? Also how reliable is the new CVT auto against the Mk1 version?

Two DPF failures in 12 months - can I take legal action?

I own a Vauxhall Corsavan 1.3 CDTI, which has suffered its second DPF failure in 12 months. Vauxhall informed me that the first failure was down to me driving it wrongly. I had argued but was unsuccessful...

Electrical problems with Renault Espace

Last week, I was driving home in my 2009 Renault Espace and decided to stop off at a shop. When I got back into the car, it would not start. There appeared to be a ticking noise from the engine when I...

Will a missing oil cap cause engine damage?

A garage serviced my Honda Civic (2006) recently, but when I got home (30 minute drive) I noticed the oil cap was missing. There was oil covering the inside of the engine and smoke/oil on the floor. I'm...

What insurance covers a delivery driver?

Can you tell me what's the correct business insurance for a delivery driver? I’ve had a few quotes, but nobody can tell me what policy I need. I work as a driver for a local restaurant and have heard horror...

Can you recommend a dog friendly car?

I’m looking at purchasing a new car to suit all my needs rather than having two separate cars for different needs. My main requirement is to have the 'winder down rear tailgate window' option that the...

Can I use five year old oil in my car?

I've got a 5-litre unopened container of engine oil, which is about five years old. Does oil deteriorate simply with age if kept in an unopened container with the seal intact and not exposed to air?

Need winter tyres for my Ford Fiesta

I own a 2013 Ford Fiesta and live in the country, with narrow unsalted lanes near my home but no really steep hills. What wheels and tyres would you recommend for winter use?

Peugeot RCZ - carbon build up in cylinders

I have a four year old Peugeot RCZ with roughly 20,000 miles on the clock. Five months ago the engine warning light came on and after a diagnostic test I was told that the problem was a carbon build up...

Why does my Rover 75 keep cutting out?

My Rover 75 broke down recently. I had the alternator replaced and it ran for a few days, but cut out and would not restart. I was told the fault was a fuel starved sensor, which I replaced. The car then...

What's the best car for a 19 year old driver?

My son will soon be in the market for a car. He will need it to cover long motorway distances (south England to Yorkshire and Cumbria on a regular basis) and it must be comfortable, as he's 6 ft 4. A...

What are the best winter tyres for the Ford Fiesta?

I have a Ford Fiesta Titanium X (bought secondhand) Ecoboost 125, 2013 model. It has Continental 195/50/R16 Premium Contact 2 tyres on. What winter tyres would you recommend? Is it ok for them to be...

BMW 730 head gasket failure

I have a BMW 730 petrol manual. A few weeks ago the engine warning light came on, relating to the MAF sensor. The car seemed to drive fine, so I ignored it. Just under a 1000 miles later the car struggled...