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Questions from January 2017
A week ago I asked about my daughter's 2008 Honda Jazz 1.4. You suggested uneven tyre pressure, which there was, or electric power steering motor wearing out. Apparently the car is still heavier turning...
I would like to buy a new Skoda Kodiaq. You have given it a great review and also elsewhere it comes at the top of review lists. I intend driving less than 10,000 miles a year. A lot around town and when...
I'm buying a second hand Vauxhall Corsa for my son - it's a 1.2 litre on an 02-plate. When should the cam belt be changed?
My mother currently drives a two year old Skoda Yeti 1.2 TSI 2WD. She would like a smaller new automatic hatchback for mainly very low mileage but possibly some motorway driving. Essential are ease of...
I'm about to buy a new Mazda 3 manual which has an electric parking brake which I haven't used before. I park my car facing downwards on a steep 1 in 3 gradient on my driveway. Will the the electronic...
I'm currently in a two year lease contract on a BMW 525d that runs out on June 1st. Have been looking for a new deal on an Audi A4 S line quattro 2.0 TDI 190 Avant. I've had a good offer from Caffyns Audi...
I've got an ESP light on the dashboard of my 2007 Volkswagen Golf TDI. Where can I get this repaired and what will it cost?
We recently changed the tyres on a Nissan Qashqai 1.2 (17" wheels) from Continentals to Michelin Cross Climate tyres. WOW - an obvious all round improvement in the ride quality, noise levels and most noticeably...
I have a 2013 Mazda 3 Venture 1.6d which has done 42,000 miles. I have owned it from new and had it serviced annually at a Mazda main dealer. Last week it lost power and the engine warning light came on....
What is the safest way to pay for a car? Its over £20,000 and I have already paid a deposit by bank transfer. Is it also worth getting an AA check on the car since I am buying from a Porsche specialist...
I tour for a living and my Golf Plus 2.0 TDI is about to die. I need something with more boot space than the Volkswagen Golf, but don't know whether to go German again or do what everyone is telling me...
Should I buy a pre-registered car (66 plate) and save £600 or wait till 1 March 2017 for new car/new plate?
What type of front suspension is fitted to the MG RV8?
I have a 2016 Volkswagen Golf 1.6 Bluemotion with the 7 speed DSG gearbox. It suffers from loss of power when picking up from lower revs, such as entering/leaving roundabouts. The car almost dies and the...
I have read that Citroen has patented a new suspension system that will be introduced this year. I am thinking of changing my C5 Tourer which has the hydro-pneumatic system. Now I have retired we do not...
I would like a small city car with an automatic gearbox and a small turning circle to be able to park in a small, tight corner parking space. I see you have suggested the Toyota Yaris in the past but newer...
I am looking at a Ford Fiesta, DS 3 and a Renault Twingo as I'm after a small to medium car with an economical engine that's about one year old. I would like a sunroof or panoramic view if possible and...
I looked at non-manufacturer approved 5 Series at a BMW dealer. The car was nice apart from a two-inch crack in the front windscreen and worn brake pads (the seller said that it can last for another 6...
I have a 64-reg Hyundai i10 purchased a couple of months ago. It is parked on my drive. Overnight the rear disc brakes stick when the handbrake is on and release with a sharp 'crack' when I drive off....
What car is best for me? I like a high driving position, boot space for camping, good fuel economy, ideally some bodywork protection/trims, good all-round driving visibility, cheap to insure/tax.
Does the new VED tax scheme for cars costing in excess of £40,000 apply to the invoice price, including options, or the list price of the model selected excluding options?
I have been given differing advice on the belt change intervals for my 2011 61-plate Land Rover Discovery 4 TDV6 HSE. It has done 45,000 miles and someone has recommended a change due to the age of the...
I am approaching the end of a PCP agreement on a 2015 BMW 4 Series 2.0d xDrive M Sport (184PS). I think it's a desirable spec in white with black leather and a professional navigation system. My balloon...
Currently looking at used crew cabs. Financial constraints aside, I generally prefer to look at options from a few 'generations' back - as a home mechanic, I prefer the simplicity, plus there's less to...
Is it illegal for an auction house to sell a clocked vehicle?
In September 2016 I bought a new Land Rover Discovery Sport. I test drove the car at one dealer but bought from a different one who offered a better price. I selected the HSE model having been told at...
I have a 2009 Vauxhall Meriva 09-plate 1.4 Active with 38000 miles. The power steering fault has just started on my car and is so scary I got in touch with Vauxhall after reading about other drivers. They...
I have switched jobs which now invoIves travelling 34 miles a day (a pretty straightforward run) so would like to trade-in my Mazda 3 for a more economical car (both mpg and tax band) but one which is...
Is a Lexus IS 200 a good buy at £1999? It is a 2003 model with 93,000 miles and 4 former owners. Very minor bodywork dent on rear bumper but otherwise it looks intact.
I know you advocate to let diesel engines run for a few minutes at the end of a journey with turbos fitted. Will this also apply to petrol engines as there seem to be more of these about now?
My son needs a car and is looking at a Mazda RX-8. He drives for fun rather than efficiency. Would this car be expensive to run?
I am in the process of buying a new car and have narrowed my search down to an Audi S3, Volkswagen Golf R or BMW M140i.The best to drive is the BMW, but given that it is RWD and the other two are 4WD,...
Which manufacturers - if any - are not having issues with DPFs?
I spend eight months each year abroad, and four months in the UK. My wife and I want a vehicle that is comfortable enough to get us from the south of England to Paris (for at least 2 weeks) and around...
We're a retired couple who enjoy long road trips to Europe (Brexit permitting). We take our two springer spaniels with us and plenty of wine on the return journey. What car would you recommend? Wild weather...
Is it better to buy a used 2 year old car which has lost it's depreciation, or buy a new car within a 3 year car finance agreement to either buy at the end or release. Also should I now wait until after...
My Hyundai i20 Active is only doing 44.8mpg. Is there a problem with this 1.0-litre engine in this car? I drive light footed, live in the countryside so most of my journeys are 20 miles plus and mostly...
I've just watched your Volkswagen Polo economy driving video. I recently bought a new Vauxhall Astra ST 1.4 150 T (i.e. same sort of small capacity turbo engine) which I run on Shell Nitro for low end...
How good is the Hyundai Ioniq compared to other hybrids?
I have seen a pre-registered 2016 Subaru Impreza I RC with 11 miles on the clock at a dealership for £16,495. I think the RRP for these cars is about £18,980. Am I correct in thinking that the price the...
A family member has been awarded enhanced motability and would like some advice. They have chosen 4 automatic cars based on what they like (Ford Focus, Mazda 2, Renault Megane and Volkswagen Golf), what...
I own a Volvo 960 and the lambda warning light keeps coming on. My local garage reset the system, but the light came back after 100 miles. Any idea what's causing this?
I am buying a new BMW X1, considering the xDrive xLine spec. I have a 21 mile journey to work each way that is 90% dual carriageway and motorway. Every 6 weeks I will probably be doing a 430 mile round...
I'm purchasing a 2012 Renault Megane that has done 81, 589 miles. Does the timing belt need changed?
I travel 130 miles per day, 5 days a week, and I'm currently in a Honda Jazz getting around 48mpg. I'm looking at getting a new car soon, and had considered getting a Ford Fiesta 1.6 TDCi ECOnetic for...
What Volkswagen Crafter is the same size as a Ford Transit 350 L3 H3?
Please see excerpt below from review of Mercedes-Benz E43 AMG Estate by pistonheads.com. Seems to be in line with the GLC, GLC Coupe 4-Matic full-lock steering issues. Note the final sentence.
"As in...
We have a 2012 Ford S-Max 2.0 CDi Powershift with 45,000 miles on the clock. In last week's CAR section you suggested that the cam belt and associated parts should be replaced after 4 years. This has us...
I've been offered a 2009 automatic Volkswagen Golf 1.4 TSi that has done 20,000 miles. The asking price is £4500 from my local garage. I wondered if you think it's a good buy?
How can I work out the difference in the value of my car before an accident and its value after it has been repaired?