Which £20k SUV provides the best ride comfort?

Having been a Honda Jazz owner for 12 years, I recently travelled in an eight year old SUV and realised that I have been missing out on comfort. I hope to have about £20K to spend in the new year and could...

Why is my Peugeot 208 using so much coolant?

My Peugeot 208 1.4 petrol runs at around 96-98 degrees and the engine is using a lot of coolant every week. I've called out the AA, but they say this operating temperature is normal. The temp doesn't go...

Can I fit Sachs dampers to my BMW 320d Touring?

While swapping over to winter tyres on my 2011 BMW 320d Touring I noticed that the rubber bellows on one of the rear shock absorbers was damp and disintegrating. The main dealer wants over £600 for the...

Skoda Yeti diesel performance after emissions fix

Our Skoda Yeti 140PS diesel 4WD six-gear manual was tested on a dynamometer to provide the power and torque output graphs before and after the 'cheat' software upgrade. The Yeti had the same grade supermarket...

Ford Fiesta won't go into reverse - is the gearbox on the way out?

Five months ago I bought a 2013 Ford Fiesta 1.25 petrol. I'm only 18 years old and the car was sold with 33,000 miles on the clock and a six month dealer warranty. I have noticed reverse is difficult to...

Do I need to declare new steel wheels to my insurance company?

I recently bought a second hand car with alloy wheels. I am thinking of changing these to steel wheels to move from low-profile tyres to regular tyres. I have two questions about this: - Is it just a...

Is my paper driving licence still valid?

My wife has not applied for a photo licence and still has a paper one. I have been told that this is no longer legal - is that true?

Why is my automatic transmission sluggish in the winter months?

I drive a 1998 W208 series Mercedes-Benz 320 CLK that's had oil changes every 9000 miles and has been utterly reliable since new. The 3200cc M112 series engine is as smooth now as when I first got it;...

Will my BMW's repair kit ruin the tyre?

I have a BMW 530i (2004 model) with no spare tyre. It does have a repair kit though, will this ruin the tyre?

Honda CR-V petrol alternatives?

I'm considering a nearly new family car after the birth of my son. I recently test drove the Honda CR-V 1.6 i-DTEC nine-speed auto. It was great, but due to my small mileage of 10k per year I wanted to...

How many owners has my MX5 had?

I have just bought a used Mazda MX5 and it shows as having one registered keeper prior to me owning it. However, it now transpires that the staff at Mazda used it from August 2015 to August 2016, adding...

Why doesn't my car's heater work?

My car's heater only works when I put it the fan on full. However, while the interior heats up, the engine temperature warning light comes on and I notice a burning smell. Any idea what the problem could...

Why are some manufacturers not producing petrol automatics?

Why are some manufacturers not producing petrol automatics? The motoring press have raved about the SEAT Ateca and Mazda CX-5, neither of which are available as petrol automatics. I have also read great...

Buying a family car for low mileage driving - Kia Niro or Toyota Prius?

I drive about 8000 to 11,000 miles per year and want a reliable and high MPG car, priced around £25k. Majority of the travel is less than three miles, occasionally about 17 miles and two or three times...

Where can I get replacement keys for my Peugeot 407 SW?

Can you please recommend companies who can provide replacement remote keys for my Peugeot 407 SW?

Best used car for motorway driving - Honda Civic or BMW 3 Series?

I need to change my car and have a choice between a 2013 Honda Civic 1.6 i-DTEC Sport (41,000 miles) or a 2012 BMW 316d with 46,300 miles on the clock. I cover 35,000 miles a year on motorways and need...

I only drive 7000 miles a year - should I buy a petrol or diesel?

A friend is considering buying a nearly new small Mercedes-Benz or BMW, but is confused whether to go for a petrol or diesel. She will probably only be driving 6000-7000 miles per year. What do you suggest...

Is it possible to convert a diesel to run on LPG?

I need a car to tow a 1500kg caravan and have always thought a diesel was the answer. However due to the current anti-diesel climate, what car will be best for the next few years? Would converting a diesel...

Best all season tyre for Suzuki Vitara?

I would like to know which all weather tyre you would recommend for a new Suzuki Vitara? I had a set of winter tyres for my previous vehicle (Ford Focus) but want to avoid having to store winter tyres...

Fuel Lines

Where can I get Injector Fuel Lines made for an Audi 100 Quattro 2226cc 1988?

Should I restore my Jaguar XJ6 or sell it for parts?

I was restoring a 1974 4.2 Jaguar XJ6 - then its engine was stolen. Is it worth carrying on, or should I sell it for parts?

Can you recommend a Good Garage to restore my Ford Cortina?

Can you name of a good garage in Hampshire for a Ford Cortina 1600e restoration?

Should an extended warranty cover clutch failure?

I bought my 2011 Qashqai from a local Nissan dealer. We were concerned about our previous second hand car and clutch problems, so were offered the extended warranty for an additional £400. A couple of...

Buying a used MINI Cooper S convertible - what should I check?

I am thinking of buying a MINI Cooper S convertible. Can you tell me if there are any major issues with these cars? What should I look out for when buying used?

Electric parking brake accident – can I hold the rental company liable for not telling me how to use it?

I recently hired a Vauxhall Zafira from a national chain. I am 68 years old and have been driving 50 years, but have never driven a car with an electronic hand brake and no one at the hire firm explained...

Why are indicators on the non-intuitive side?

I've just picked up a Hyundai Accent hire car and am gobsmacked to discover that the indicators are on the right-hand stalk. I thought that they had standardised this decades ago. The way things are going...

What's the best method for removing Mondeo heater plugs?

I have a big problem with my Ford Mondeo diesel. The car is now at my local mechanic's workshop for heater plug replacement. Two of the plugs will not come out and my mechanic is concerned they will snap....

How good is the Renault Laguna?

How good is the Renault Laguna and what should I look for when buying one?

What should I lookout for when buying a used Polo 1.2 TSI?

Could you please let me know if there are any common faults or issues with the Volkswagen Polo 1.2 TSI? I am thinking of buying a 2011 model, but am a bit on edge due to the horror stories of timing chains...

Should Volkswagen replace my Golf's faulty EGR valves?

I have a 2010 Volkswagen Golf 1.6 diesel DSG and the EGR valves need replacing. Is this something I should try to claim is caused by the emissions problems or am I just unlucky? My car is one of those...

Need a used family car for £2k - any suggestions?

My friend bought a Honda Civic on your recommendation and has been very pleased with it. Now her husband's 1.5 diesel Renault Megane needs replacing with something of a similar size. He likes the economy...

Astra collecting water in the rear doors - is this a design fault?

I bought a Vauxhall Astra from my local dealer 12 months ago. I have taken it back to the garage three times over water leaks. The main problem is the rear doors, with water getting into the door panels....

BMW 5 Series gearbox whine - does the DMF need replacing?

I would like to ask for advice concerning a drivetrain issue I've been having with a BMW F10 520d manual. The car was purchased as an approved used from a BMW dealer with a two year warranty with 35k miles...

Audi A3 TDI problems following emissions update

My Audi A3 TDI was recalled two months ago for emission modification work. Since then it has only done 400 miles and developed problems with the engine management light flashing on and off. The diagnostic...

Is a dealer legally obliged to declare a car as an import?

We bought a new Porsche Macan through an independent dealer 12 months ago and later found out that the car was an import from Cyprus. We are not happy with this as the information was not given to us at...

Should I buy an ex-press demo car?

I have found a very nice upmarket car for sale at my local BMW dealer at a good price. When I got home I thought I would seek Honest John's views on it and it turns out it is the same model you tested....

Why is my Hyundai i20's fuel economy so bad?

My previous Hyundai i20 - four-cylinder 1.2 petrol - was capable of 50mpg with careful driving. I've since replaced it with a newer model - three-cylinder 1.0 petrol - and it should be capable of 60mpg,...

Should I buy a 2005 Toyota RAV4?

Should I buy a 2005 Toyota RAV4?

How reliable is the Kia Picanto?

My daughter is interested in buying a Kia Picanto (2006 plate). It's got 46,000 miles on the clock and 11 months left on the MoT. Would you recommend buying this car?

Mis-sold paintwork protection – what are my rights?

Two months ago my wife and I bought a second hand Skoda Citigo from a main dealership. They talked us into buying a coating for the car (inside and out) called GardX. We went for it at the quoted price...

Need a comfortable car with a high seating position

We are a retired couple in need of a vehicle with raised front seats so we can get in and out easily. Can you recommend some cars we should consider?

Is my Tiguan’s engine failure related to the emissions fix?

We bought a 62 plate Volkswagen Tiguan 2.0 TDI 4Motion 10 months ago with 32k on the clock. It had the emissions fix in August and has been a bit lumpy and not as refined ever since. This week it stopped...

Dealer won't fix my broken Range Rover - what are my rights?

I've just spent £15,400 on a 2009 Range Rover from a trader. Within hours the car developed faults that I assumed would be covered in the change to the consumer goods act, 2015. I phoned the dealer, but...

Why is my MINI Cooper S so poor on icy roads?

I have a 12 month old MINI Cooper S which is absolutely dreadful to drive on winter roads. Why is this? I was always led to believe that MINIs were good in snow and ice. Is there something wrong with my...

Where have all the small pick-ups gone?

Since the demise of the car sized pick-up truck in the UK - in favour of huge double cab versions which are far too big for my needs - I've been looking to see if any manufacturer still offer a small pick...

Santa Fe is rusting away - do I have any recourse with Hyundai?

I have just MoT'd my 60 plate Hyundai Santa Fe with 45k on the clock. I have been told that the engine sub frame is badly corroded and needs replacing at a cost of £1700. The mechanic said this should...

Buying a used sports car - Mazda MX5 or Porsche Boxster?

I’m looking for a fun weekend sports car that will only do a few thousand miles a year and not be used over the winter months. I have narrowed my choices down to a nearly new Mazda MX5 Sport for £20K or...

What's causing my brakes to make a hissing noise?

My 2007 Audi A3 2.0 TDI quattro has started making a hissing noise when the brake pedal is depressed. It recently had a service, with new discs and pads all round. The brakes seem to be as efficient as...

Where can I get a styrofoam boot insert for my Audi TT?

Having just purchased a space saver spare wheel for my 2016 Audi TT, I would like to know where I can purchase the styrofoam insert that fits beneath the load area that will contain the 19-inch spare wheel...

Buying a seven-seater - what would you recommend?

My daughter has four children, a dog and a husband. What do you suggest she buys to replace her Volkswagen Caddy Maxi Life? Priority is reliability, low running and maintenance costs. Value for money is...