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Trending topics in September 2016
Questions from September 2016
I bought a new Nissan Qashqai in 2013. After 30,000 miles and three years, the CVT gearbox needed replacing. Do all CVT auto 'boxes suffer with such unreliability? Can you recommend a replacement car...
We have a 2004 BMW saloon 2.0 diesel which we are passing on to our son. We are looking at buying a Skoda Yeti to replace it. My husband wants another 2.0 diesel. I want a 1.4 petrol as we only do 6000...
My mum wants a new car; it needs to be practical enough to get a large dog and 4-5 adults in it and comfortable enough for long journeys. The issue is deposits and monthly payments; mum thinks she can...
I am 18 and have just started on an apprenticeship course. I currently have a 2001 Renault Clio 1.2 petrol and am looking to upgrade. Ideally I'd like something that's relatively powerful and can sit on...
I bought my 2005 Honda CR-V about six months ago and it has 85k on the clock. When the engine is hot, the gearbox is very difficult to engage gears when changing down. When engine cold, not much of a problem,...
My Lexus LS460 has just passed its MOT but the main dealer has told me all the tyres need replacing soon as well as all the tyre pressure sensor valves at an extra cost of over £300 because the existing...
The speed sensor on my Ford Fiesta ST needs replacing and I've been told its within the ABS Module. Would you recommend a new one and getting it coded or a refurb?
I'm considering buying a used car. I would like something from 2012 onwards and have seen a V40 and a Mazda 3. Both would be a petrol engine. In your opinion, which is the better all round car?
Sometimes my 2001 Vauxhall Vectra wont start. The engine turns over, but there is a ticking sound, like a relay going on and off. The battery is fully charged and, after some time, the ticking stops and...
I have just retired and would like your advice please on the best value for money small executive car. As I would only consider a petrol engine your view on the best engine and gearbox would be appreciated...
I'm looking at a few used Porsche 911s. Namely the 997 Carrera 2 S, all PDK. My question is, 993s are getting silly price wise, 996s have reliability issues and I don't like them particularly so I'm plumping...
I need to upgrade from my Smart Fortwo to transport me and my three year old. The car must be small as parking is a nightmare where I live, but as safe as possible. I have around £5000 to spend. What should...
I am giving some car advice to a friend who is looking at the possibility of a small SUV/crossover. The trouble is the ones that are popular appear to limited to the use of an automated handbrake. I like...
My daughter has driven a classic Mini since she passed her test seven months ago. However, with the Mini proving unreliable so we have changed to a Volkswagen Polo. We found that changing insurance was...
Having retired, I no longer do the miles I used to to justify a diesel. I'm probably down to 10,000, with a 70 mile round trip on motorways twice a month.
Technically, I'm into petrol territory now,...
I received a notice of intended prosecution recently regarding my vehicle speeding. On this particular day I am 100 per cent certain I was not driving my car and as other people do have regular access...
I have a new BMW 530d arriving shortly on the standard 225/55/r17 tyres. Should I have gone for the larger wheels with lower profile tyres?
I'm about to order a new company car. My business mileage is negligible and my daily commute is 12 miles of country roads. The only long journeys are 2-3 family breaks (with two small children) per year....
I am looking for a used mid-size estate. I have been reading your answers to similar questions, and it seems you recommend the following:
* Ford Mondeo
* Mazda 6
* Skoda Superb
* Toyota Avensis
* Huyndai...
I have just bought a Volkswagen Beetle 1.4 TSI. The car is a 2012 model and has started making a loud noise from under the bonnet. It seems to go when I put the clutch in, sometimes it stops doing it if...
Does the Nissan Qashqai Visia grade have air con as standard?
I have Honda Civic 2.2 diesel (2006 model). It starts when cold but refuses to start up when warm. My local mechanic has looked at it and changed four injectors and the crank shaft sensor, but it has not...
My wife received a PCN two weeks ago as her car had apparently been captured in a bus lane in London. Thing is, we live over 250 miles away from London and have never visited Lambeth (where the offence...
My wife owns a 2010 Kia Picanto. The car has done 40,000 miles, but her local dealer in insisting that it needs a new timing belt. They claim this must be done after 72 months (or 60,000 miles) to validate...
I am looking for a good sized family car with three proper seats in the back. I've got roughly £6k to spend and am not fussed if it's petrol or diesel. What do you recommend?
I need a new parcel shelf for my Ford Fiesta (2000-2002 model), will a parcel shelf from a Fiesta 2002-2008 fit?
I purchased a a used Auris HSD in 2013 from a Toyota dealer with a full service history and three years Toyota warranty remaining. I have had the car fully serviced with a Toyota main dealer last November...
One of my relatives bought a 14 month old Nissan Note three weeks ago from a Ford dealer. The vehicle was a previous fleet car, and had 14,000 mile on the clock. After driving less than 300 miles the clutch...
My local dealer has fitted the emission fix to my Volkswagen Passat without my consent. I am not happy about this, as I didn't want this work carried out. The dealer tells me that this cannot be undone,...
I want to buy a new Nissan Qashqai in Tekna trim with a petrol engine. It comes as standard with 19-inch wheels but Nissan offer an option to specify 17s which I would prefer. However this option is not...
I purchased a used 2013 Renault Twingo from a Ford main dealer many miles away. It was purchased over the phone and came with a three month warranty including mechanical, electrical and multimedia.
The...
I bought a BMW 118d in June 2014. The last MoT (June 2016) needed two rear tyres and I was told by the garage that the front tyres would soon need changing. I was also informed that they're not run flats,...
I've decided that my next car will be an SUV and have up to £12,000 to spend. I've narrowed my choice down to either the Nissan Quashqai or the Hyundai ix35 Premium. I'd hope to get a 2011/2012 or 2013...
I'm having an issue with my 2009 Volkwagen Golf Plus 1.9 TDI. After driving the car between 20 - 40 minutes, there is a sudden loss of power, a lot of smoke, a burning smell and a crunching sound from...
I might need a replacement ECU on my 2009 Jaguar XF diesel. My local garage tells me that if my current ECU is not repairable I would have to get
a new one from Jaguar direct and they would need to program...
I currently own a 2009 Volkswagen Golf 1.9 TDI BlueMotion. The CAN unit has just been replaced and I am worried about future reliability issues. Work travel is 24 miles per day and I have £5500 to spend...
I have a 2011 Vauxhall Meriva 1.3 diesel. When driving I get a serious rattling sound from the engine. It is a tinney sound like loose tappets or timing chain. It doesn't do it all the time but usually...
I have a 2008 Skoda Octavia diesel with a DSG gearbox and 40k on the clock. The car starts first thing, when the engine is cold, but doesn't start very well when warm. I've taken it to my local garage,...
I have just purchased a Toyota Aygo with an automated manual gearbox. The salesman has told me to get the oil changed after a month. I have never heard of this before. Is it a good idea?
I am also thinking...
I'm looking for a small car (ideally secondhand), preferably Volkswagen as I've had a Polo for 10 years. I'd therefore like to consider a UP! or its SEAT or Skoda equivalents. I just wondered what your...
I own a 2010 VW Golf Estate 1.6 BlueMotion. Already EGR valve has been replaced. Daughter also recently bought 2009 1.9 Golf TDI on my recommendation and CAN unit just needed to be replaced.
I have now...
I've just had two Avon tyres fitted to the rear of my BMW 330ci. The first time I drove on a motorway in excess of 60mph I experienced a terrible vibration coming from the rear of the car. I went back...
My son has had his 2005 Ford Focus written off in a multiple knock on the M5 and is considering what car to replace it with. He is thinking of selling his wife's truck (L200 type) as it is very rarely...
Five months ago I brought a used Mazda 6 diesel - 2010 model. When I bought the car there was 59,000 miles on the clock and it was in good condition. Two days ago as I was driving home from work when the...
I just bought a SEAT Leon diesel with 52k on the clock. Within 2 weeks the DPF yellow light came on. The car had a couple of hundred motorway miles in that time as well as some city driving.
The car...
I own a petrol Hyundai Trajet. It starts and drives fine but when you put your foot down seems very sluggish a bit like its being held back any idea what would cause this
A friend requires a reliable car to replace her Citroen Picasso which is no more. She has £3500-£4000 to spend on an estate or small MPV and has previously enjoyed a Renault Scenic as well as the Picasso....
Do you know where I can find the equipment spec for the Kia Cee'd 4 Tech 2012-2014 model?
We are on the verge of buying one and amazingly none of the Kia dealerships we have asked have kept any copies...
My son is looking at the following cars to use around the narrow lanes etc in East Devon, Honda CR-V and Mitsubishi Outlander (both diesel) he has limited funds up to £6K, which would be the most reliable...
You have recommended Michelin Cross Climate tyrs in the past. Unfortunately my Toyota Yaris runs 165/60 r15 and Michelin does not make this size. Have you any other suggestions that work as well or can...
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