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Questions from November 2015
For the last 18 years, I have kept a record of fuel consumption in a spread sheet of the cars I have driven, from 1997 to 2002 when I drove company cars. After I retired I kept the spread sheets going....
I own a 2006 Saab 9-3 1.9 Tid Automatic 150PS model. With only one Saab dealership left in Ireland, should I keep main dealer service? Would other garages have Saab diagnostic equipment. I also seem to...
I am looking at a Mazda CX5 that is a Cat D. I understand I need to ask whether the airbags have been deployed but not sure what else I should be doing. We won't be p/x as we keep our cars for a good 10...
Since buying my Golf I immediately had an oil change done and have continued with a 5-6k oil change interval. My driving style is a mix of motorway and the urban London. Should I continue with the 5k...
Last year my B-MAX 1.6 auto was in and out of a dealership while they tried to find the cause of juddering when accelerating out of corners or up hills. Eventually a new clutch was installed under warranty....
It is reported that Volkswagen will buy back cars where the CO2 in "correct" testing is 10% or more different to the published values. Does it mean therefore if the CO2 figure is actually 10% higher in...
Honda do not have a spare wheel yet. I want to buy a steel rim as spare. Original wheel is 7J x 17 et46 5 x 114.3 PCD. Are there other makers compatible wheels to buy?
The engine turns over but won't start and if it does start, then the revs hang up at 500rpm. Using the throttle the engine accelerates to about 1200rpm then cuts back to 800rpm. When the engine is warm...
I own an X-Type 2.0d SE saloon which was bought 3 years ago (£2700) with 130,000 miles. I have recently noticed that sometimes on lift-off of throttle engine revs take a couple of seconds to drop. I wonder...
I have a leased Mini Cooper 2012 and have been advised there is "critical" brake disc corrosion on the rear brakes. Is this normal for a car that is driven daily with 30,000 miles on the clock? The dealer...
I recently bought a Volkswagen Up having been promised/assured it was congestion exempt. Since purchasing it became clear that my model hasn’t been exempt since June 2013. While not having anything in...
I am considering buying a new Passat Estate especially given the new loyalty discount of £1000. However, I am confused. Presumably a new Passat Estate would have a Euro 6 compliant diesel engine which...
I live in France and own a Nissan Note (older model) diesel bought new in 2013. I am being offered an extended 2 year warrant for 410€. Would you consider this to be good value. I do just over 20000kms...
I rather stupidly filled up my 2004 Mercedes ML 270 CDI with petrol. Yes, and I drove it before it cut out and wouldn't start. What can I expect the damage to be and what will MB rush me for this, as the...
I'm considering changing my A3 Sportback 1.4 ACT for a Q3. I only do 8k miles pa so assume petrol is best. I've driven the Q3 with the 1.4 ACT engine with auto and it drives very well. Is there any benefit...
I've allways had my Freelander serviced at main dealer. Just had 90k service at local garage and found probably air filter not been previously replaced and oil filter impossible to remove without damaging...
I have a Peugeot 3008 hybrid which has been excellent. The car is three years old and I have noticed both front door seals are completely perished and there are now gaps. I have spoken to other owners...
I need a diagnostic scanner to read/erase fault codes on my Volvo V50. I have seen some scanners that list most Volvo models but not the V50. Can you help?
In August I ordered an Audi A3 Sportback 1.4 TFSI cylinder on demand 150 through a car broker. I have been quite "smug" in my decision to choose this petrol "advanced cylinder on demand technology"as...
My son has passed his test and we are looking at insurances. A policy on my Mitsubishi Colt without him costs £170 but when I add him as a named driver it goes up to £1200. He lives at home (student)...
I recently bought this van and the windscreen wash/wipe packed up. I tested the washer motor and it's okay. The other window wiper functions are okay. When I press the switch I get no power to the washer...
I'm looking for a used Ford Focus-sized petrol (or petrol-hybrid) automatic. Can you assist with a short list that would take into consideration cost to purchase (max of say £13,000), cost of servicing/parts,...
I bought a 2010 Renault Grand Scenic in June of this year from a well know dealership. The car had full service history (last service April 2015). It had covered 39k miles when bought for £7000 (plus p/x).
I...
I am very close to buying a second hand Audi A6 63 plate for £18k. It is a 2.0 TDI with 15k on the clock. The dealer has informed me that it is due for a recall. I suspect a 'wait and see' policy is probably...
I have recently purchased a Kangoo 2004 automatic petrol. Within a few days of purchase the car started losing oil with lots of smoke. Diagnosed as oil pressure switch and because car had been standing...
I stupidly forgot to pay tax on my vehicle, I had moved premises and forgot to change my address so as a result my car wasn't taxed. It ended up being clamped.
I paid the tax and backdated it and also...
I have had bad experiences of buying poor quality cars or buying from wrong places. I would like to take a safer bet from now on but I do realise cars are not 100% reliable as they are generally mass produced....
My son purchased an Audi A4 Estate in November, 2014 from Car Giant. He did so on a HP agreement financed through Car Giant. He also purchased an RAC Warranty and GAP Insurance at the time of buying. The...
For a few months I have occasionally heard a high pitched alarm (not the usual horn alarm) being set off when I start the car - apparently this is the power sounder which is a back up to the main alarm....
Having bought a 2012 Audi 1.4 TFSI from a main dealer just over two years ago should I be worried about it holding value when I come to change the vehicle in view of the recent scandal at VWG?
My wife's Mazda 323 1.5 79k car is due for MOT and will require welding to get through MOT, plus wings are badly rusting and wheel arches. What sort of money do we pay up to to get through MOT or say over...
I recently purchased a 2006 Jaguar XK from an independent dealer. One of the front sensors was faulty which the dealer agreed to repair via an approved Jaguar dealership who subsequently discovered extensive...
Sitting at red traffic light today, in drive with foot on brake. Stop start feature kicked in and engine turned off, then suddenly everything switched off. Gear knob lowered, all lights and display blank....
I was caught by a portable camera on a short, 175 metre stretch of bus lane, turning left into a side road, obstructing nobody, and actually relieving the jammed traffic in the outside lane. It was a busy...
My daughter had her Volkswagen Polo serviced in August and reported to the service manager that her 6 month old car had juddering steering under braking. She was told that it was not a warranty issue...
I'm looking for a spacious family car which will be used mainly for short journeys. I've seen a petrol 2012 Honda Accord Tourer with manual transmission. It's advertised at £7000 and has done over 110,000...
I own a Volkswagen Golf Match 1.4 TSI from 2012. In recent months I have experienced a very heavy suspension problem. The suspension is not responding to the road surface and it is rather like driving...
I was going to change my Citroen C5 Estate for a new Skoda Superb Estate, an Audi A4/A6 Avant or a Volvo Estate. After test driving all the options I have concluded that the comfort of the C5 suspension...
I brought a 2007 BMW X3 in June from a dealer in Lymington, Hants. The car seemed to be in good condition and I was assured of the reliability of BMW's. Last month I had to have a new turbo fitted costing...
I recently bought a 2005 6 Series. I realise this is quite old but it was clearly advertised on the dealers website as having Bluetooth. However I could not get this to activate (I could get to "activate...
I am looking to buy a small car that is reliable for £3000 to £4000. I currently have a Ford Fusion 1.4 petrol which I have had for 4 years and 40,000 miles and its been reliable.
My wife has a Volkswagen Golf 1.4 which recently developed a fault. The EPC and catalytic converter warning lights came on. We booked the car in to Peter Cooper in Chichester and was told that they would...
I am looking at replacing my current car and need something that will give me enough room for 2 children and bikes but is also suitable for work (mainly motorway miles). I do around 24k a year. I'd also...
I am looking to buy a new, or nearly new Ford Focus, specifically the EcoBoost 125 model. Having searched your site I found many issues being reported with the clutch/slave cylinder/DMF on the 2011 model,...
My BMW X5 is equiped with an AdBlue tank. I have only done 5000 miles in three months and the indication message has come on to refill the AdBlue tank. This seems like a very high usage ? Can you refill...
You only have two 1958 Bond Minicars listed as surviving. Does this include mine? reg 808PME. I know of at least 4 other Mk Ds but I am not sure of their exact years.
I have owned mine since late 60's...
A Volkswagen franchised used car dealer (Inchcape ) says I will be asked to sign an emissions disclaimer when purchasing a used Volkswagen TDI car. Do I have to sign it in order to buy the car? If possible...
Due to my car written off by floods I have found a private seller with a 2002 Toyota RAV4 2.0 VX diesel, 5 door, 99000 miles, with new clutch, tyres, MOT. Is this a possible buy or might there be a lot...
Please will you give me a view on CVTs for petrol engined cars. I drive a diesel automatic and want to change to petrol. I have seen your 2014 review of the Qashqai where you mentioned that the CVT didn't...
I just bought a used 57 plate Ford Focus 1.8 TDCi. I had it serviced and the guy said that the injector has a bit of a leak and the seals need to be replaced in 2/3 months otherwise the car is fine.
After...
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