Scirocco 1.4 TSI engine fault - should Volkswagen replace FOC?

I am looking for some advice. My 1.4 TSI petrol Scirocco has an engine issue. The issue is with low compression in cylinder one, a further check has identified that the engine may have been running too...

Rejecting a new car - am I entitled to a replacement?

I purchased a new car from a dealership within the last 28 days. There was faults on the car and I have therefore rejected the vehicle and requested a replacement. The dealership is amenable to a full...

Why do new cars not have spare wheels anymore?

Why do new cars not have spare wheels anymore? I thought all cars had to have a spare wheel as standard?

Discovered my Jaguar's engine is not original - what are my rights?

I bought a Jaguar S-Type (2006 model) from a car dealer approximately seven months ago. It was advertised as an original low-mileage car. But I have been made aware that the engine in the car is not the...

Volkswagen Golf engine failure - do I have grounds to make a legal claim?

I have a 2009 Volkswagen Golf 1.4 TSI. It has always been serviced at the main dealer (who I also bought it from) and covered 64,000 miles. A coolant leak developed a few months ago but the dealer couldn't...

Which diesel car is least likely to give DPF problems?

I do about 12,000 miles a year, mostly short runs with occasional motorway long hauls. I know most (if not all) modern diesels have DPFs which can give problems. But I like diesels because of the relaxed...

What's the best sports coupe for £30k?

I'm thinking of trading in my Volkswagen Scirocco soon and am considering what to get next. The shortlist is another Scirocco, Toyota GT86, BMW 2 Series coupe, or Audi TT. The budget is £30k or so. Which...

Can I make my own premium fuel with washing up liquid?

Premium diesel is about 70p more per gallon and one of the additives used to formulate it is detergent. Would it be a good idea to add washing up liquid to standard diesel?

Does the Vauxhall Corsa 1199cc engine use a belt or a chain?

I am thinking of buying a Vauxhall Corsa wth the 1199cc engine. Are these belt driven or chain driven engines?

Volkswagen Passat CC engine problems - what's the fault?

I have a seven year old Volkswagen Passat CC. It has covered 140,000 miles and had no issues until now. The last two journeys, of approx 200 miles, the engine has 'missed', only for about 20 seconds each...

Garage dispute over faulty camper van - what are my rights?

I bought an engine for my camper van a few months ago. It has now broken down. I took it to a garage who claimed that they could fix it. However, within a few weeks, it broke down again. The garage now...

Can you recommend a reputable turbo supplier or repairer?

The inlet hose came off my 2008 Toyota Avensis 2.2 diesel (106,000 miles) and unfortunately it sucked in some debris which has damaged the air compressor blades causing a loss in turbo pressure. I have...

Can I return a brand new car under the Consumer Rights Act 2015?

I am writing on behalf of a friend. He took delivery of a brand new Peugeot just six days ago. Nothing wrong with the car, he simply doesn't like it. Does he have any rights to return it?

Car won't steer straight after kerb strike - what damage have I done?

I clipped a kerb on the offside wheel of my 2009 BMW 320i M Sport Convertible, running on 19s. Since then the steering wheel has been off centre. What might I have damaged if it isn't just an alignment...

When is the best time to buy a used car?

I want to buy a three year old car. Should I get one in December or wait until January? Is there a big drop in prices from month to month?

Best wheel size for winter tyres for Audi A3?

I want to buy a set of steel wheels with winter tyres for my 2005 Audi A3 2.0 TFSI Sportback quattro, which currently has 18-inch rims on. Will 16-inch wheels with winter tyres fit my car?

How reliable is the Nissan Qashqai 1.2 DIG?

I was thinking of getting a Nissan Qashqai 1.2 DIG to replace my old Mk1 SEAT Leon TDI. I cover 10,000 miles a year; however, the reliability issues of the 1.2 engines have put me off, is that rational?

Buying a Porsche Macan - petrol or diesel?

I've order a Porsche Macan and need to spec it soon. All reviews seem to go with the diesel version. However, I will only cover about 8000 miles a year and am drawn to the 2.0 petrol version which costs...

How much should I pay for a used Volvo S80?

How much does a 2007 Volvo S80 sell for these days?

What do you think of the Audi Q7?

Have you reviewed the Audi Q7? Do you think it is a good car?

Best new or used family car for £13,000?

My wife unfortunately managed to write off her Volkswagen Golf today. We need to buy a new family car quickly and can spend up to about £13,000. We know very little about cars. We live near a Motorpoint...

Which executive car has the lowest motorway road noise?

Can you tell me which executive car is the quietest to be in when cruising on the motorway?

When is the best time to buy a new car - March or September?

Will we get a good deal on a used car if we purchase in March or September, when registration numbers change?

What's the Chevrolet Captiva like?

I am thinking of buying a Chevrolet Captiva. It's got 81,000 miles on the clock and the trader is asking £3995.. It's got service history and MoT until April 2017. Plus three months warranty. Inside and...

Should Ford's warranty cover my Kuga's leaky roof?

I have a 2014 Ford Kuga which has developed a leak on the passenger's side of the roof. My local dealership says they will look at it but the leak may not be covered under the three year warranty. They...

Can a failed DPF regen cause oil contamination in the engine?

My 2013 Mazda 6 diesel recently had a low oil pressure warning light come on. I stopped driving immediately and got towed to my Mazda dealer. They changed the oil and said it was contaminated (they didn't...

Why does my Mercedes-Benz C180 Estate need a new timing chain?

My car is a Mercedes-Benz C180 estate. It was first registered in 2010, but I bought it in 2014 as an approved used car from a main dealer. The car ran fine until recently when I took it to my local dealer...

Peugeot 308 SW anti-pollution warning light - what does it mean?

I own a Peugeot 308 SW. Today the anti-pollution warning light has come on. Am I still able to drive the car?

Which small automatic is best - Fiesta or Fabia?

My wife is after a small petrol car with an automatic gear box. She test drove the Ford Fiesta with the PowerShift gearbox. She also drove the Skoda Fabia with the DSG 'box. Please advise if they are good...

Ford Fiesta service - should I pay extra for an engine flush?

My 65 reg Ford Fiesta EcoBoost has just had its first service at 11,000 miles. The invoice states that gas treatment and motor flush have been used at a cost of just over £20. Is there any real benefit...

How reliable is the Kia Carens automatic?

I'm looking to buy a Kia Carens automatic (2009-2010 reg) however I'm not sure what kind of automatic gearbox it has? I'm looking for something reliable as I don't want any additional costs. Would you...

Is my 2005 Fiesta worth repairing?

We have a 2005 Ford Fiesta which we noticed one day had no coolant. I took it to the garage and they pressure tested it and diagnosed a cracked expansion tank, which was replaced. A few days later I found...

What are the pitfalls of buying an imported Porsche?

I have seen a used right hand drive SUV for sale at a private dealer. It is a 2012 Porsche Cayenne petrol and it has been imported from Germany. It appears to be considerably cheaper compared to any equivalent...

Why is the 1.6 TDI EA189 more susceptible to EGR problems than the 2.0 TDI?

I have been told that the Volkswagen 1.6 TDI EA189 has a common fault with the EGR valves, but the 2.0 TDI EA189 doesn't seem to be as bad. Why does the 1.6 have this problem more frequently than the 2.0?

What should I check when buying a diesel Renault Megane?

I have a 2002 Renault Megane 1.9 dCi. The car has around 83,000 miles and has been owned from new by a family friend. Over the past 10 or so years the car has had oil changes every 5000 miles. Should this...

Timing chain rattle – do I need to replace it?

The timing chain on my 2002 BMW 318i has begun to make a rattling noise. It has 146,000 miles on the clock and I rely on it for my daily travel. Should I replace the chain?

Best seven-seater for £30k?

My son has a growing family and needs a bigger car. Mostly short journeys and he would like a car/SUV with occasional seven-seats and lots of space. An automatic would be useful, but not essential. Maximum...

Seat belt warning light stuck on - how can I fix it?

My 2012 Mazda MX5 has developed a problem with the driver's seat belt warning light staying on. My local dealer says this is a known fault, but is not a recall issue. He is suggesting a new under seat...

Best used car for fuel economy?

I'm looking at possibly getting a new(er) car to replace my Mk2 Volkswagen Golf that averages at about 25mpg. I'm looking for an automatic that gets better mpg (at least 40+) for £2500 or less. Any suggestions?...

Need a reliable used family car - any suggestions?

We have a 2012 Ford Focus estate that my wife wants to get rid of and replace with something with a higher seating position. We have shortlisted two cars: 2013 Scenic XMod 1.6 diesel with 60,000 miles...

Why is my Volkswagen Passat losing coolant?

I purchased a 2012 Passat 1.6 diesel in May 2015 from a Volkswagen dealership. In January 2015, the low coolant warning light came up on the dashboard. The coolant was topped up, the whole system was checked...

Can the Volkswagen Emissions Fix be reversed?

I have had the corrective emissions work done on my SEAT Exeo and found the fuel economy to be worse by 5-10 per cent. Can the procedure be reversed?

Buying a second hand estate for £10k - any recommendations?

My wife and I are in the market for a second hand estate; we want a car that's three to five years old and costs up to £10k. We are happy to have a fairly high mileage car (up to circa 100k). We've just...

Volkswagen Tiguan is really noisy since emissions fix - what should I do?

My Volkswagen Tigaun has just had its emissions fix. However, since getting the car back, I've noticed that the engine is much nosier. It used to be nice and smooth, but now it is making a growling noise,...

Why won't my Jaguar F-Pace change gear?

My Jaguar F-Pace is just two months old. Today, I was totally unable to select second gear from third. On restarting the engine the problem solved itself, although at times it is difficult to get it into...

Peugeot 3008 - diesel or hybrid?

I am considering a used (2013 model) Peugeot 3008. I have found two locally: one a 2.0 diesel and the other a diesel hybrid. I quite like the idea of the hybrid, with four-wheel drive, low VED and better...

Comfortable small car - Mito with active suspension?

I've been doing masses of research on comfortable cars and came upon an article you wrote for a national newspaper...In it you wrote about the Alfa Romeo Mito Cloverleaf - with SDC suspension - that I'm...

Need an SUV for short runs - what should we get?

My wife is selling her Hyundai ix35 and is looking to buy a new, similar-sized petrol automatic SUV with four-wheel drive. Which ones would you suggest? Her annual mileage is about 8000 miles per year,...

Why does my Skoda Superb DSG judder at low speeds?

I've noticed an occasional 'judder' when moving off in my 2012 Skoda Superb automatic petrol estate. It has the seven-speed DSG gearbox. Am I right in thinking that this is a sealed gearbox with fluid...

What should I check when buying a used Vauxhall Corsa?

I am looking to buy a Vauxhall Corsa that is 10 years old. It has a full service history, two owners and only 27,000 on the clock. A friend has advised that I should avoid the car if it hasn't had a cam...