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Questions from September 2020
What is the going rate for a solid but not perfect MGB with rubber bumpers? Car in question has solid sills, no rust and decent paintwork. Interior is decent with new full leather seat covers. Engine...
When my neighbour fires up his Porsche, it sounds as though an explosion has taken place. Is this noise standard or can it be 'tweaked' in some way? Is there a legal limit to the noise that cars can produce?
I've been fobbed off by Volkswagen saying my new car had a software fault, then apparently it's a characteristic of the vehicle. VW refused rejection after having my car for three weeks without a fix....
Which automatic small cars come with a full-size spare wheel, please?
I'm considering buying a secondhand Fiat 500X. I don't want to spend more than £8,500, however, I'm not sure if it's foolish to buy a petrol over, say, a second hand Toyota Yaris hybrid. I like the interior/exterior...
Our friend has a 2012 1.0-litre petrol Toyota Aygo. She wants to know if the car has a cam chain or a cam belt, as it has just reached 70,000 miles on the clock. Can you help?
I currently own a 2013 BMW 520d Touring (but have £8k left on credit). It has 87,000 on the clock. Would you advise I sell my BMW now, considering the market is turning against diesels, and move back to...
I have a Skoda Fabia 1.0-litre 110PS - which is great for my school run and occasional longer trips, but due to growing kids and a dog, I need a bigger car. I'm not a fan of SUVs so fancy an estate car....
I recently bought a 2011 Ford Fiesta 1.25 petrol and it has pretty sensitive brakes - they suddenly grab and it's hard to avoid stopping far more quickly than intended. Is this a common issue? Can you...
I've currently got a 2014 Citroen C4 Picasso which I love for the spacious interior but it has proven unreliable, with five major mechanical issues in the past two years. I've been looking at the Kia...
What is Ford doing about the fire issue on the new Kuga PHEV? I can't charge my car so what is the point in having it? Ford has not contacted me even though I've rung their customer relationship centre....
We are both in our 70s with some knee and hip issues but generally quite mobile. My wife has a Suzuki Splash which she is happy with but I find it too low and I have an old Honda CR-V that I love but she...
My car was written-off a few weeks ago. The other person has admitted liability and their insurer has agreed to payout. Can you tell me how they will calculate the pay-out price?
My two-week-old Audi Q3 has a start-stop system fault with a message appearing in the dash. Upon diagnosis, the dealer says the alternator needs to be replaced and this part is on back-order. It will take...
I have a 2017 Volkswagen Tiguan fitted with Pirelli summer tyres. I would like to fit some all-season tyres to give better grip in winter conditions. What would you recommend?
I'm considering buying a brand new Volkswagen T-Roc 1.5 Evo petrol manual, but upon reading about the kangarooing when the engine is cold, it's got me nervous. Has this problem really been solved as regards...
I will be 70 on October 8th and will need to renew my licence. I have been told that the licence renewal time has been extended because of Covid (as was the case with MOTs ). Is this correct?
I bought a Skoda Yeti SE Greenline II TDI 1600cc diesel last year. It's due for a service now at 75,000 miles. In neither the manual nor the service booklet can I see when the timing belt should be replaced....
Can you advise a small automatic car with sat nav? Budget is about £15,000.
I've just had the cam belt changed on my (2015) Audi Q3 2.0 TDI quattro S tronic. Should the water pump have been replaced at the same time? My local garage has told me that this Audi model uses an electrical...
I need to replace the Continental tyres on my Audi Q5. What would you recommend? I find the road noise is quite high with my current tyres, although that might be just the car.
I bought a diesel BMW from a dealer in November 2019. It came with a 3-month warranty. Within the 3 months, I had the car back with the dealer because the filter and airbag lights were coming on. The car...
I think the retractable door guards fitted to the Skoda Kamiq are a great idea. Do you know if this is Skoda's own invention or are there similar products available to retrofit to other cars?
Can you suggest a tyre to replace Good Year Efficient Grip, which are noisy and give a harsh ride, on my Audi A1? Many thanks.
My Mazda CX-3 tyres are coming close to replacement time. Would you know of a tyre that protects against kerbing the wheel?
Is it best to keep a classic car under a proprietary, breathable, car cover in a well-ventilated garage or just a cotton dust sheet? I have been told these covers cause the paint to bister eventually....
By next February, I will not have had a car insured in my name as a policyholder for two years - even though I drive my wife's car. Is there any way I can still keep my nine year's+ No Claims Discount...
Someone hit my car from behind and have taken responsibility for it with no problems. Their insurance contacted me before I phoned mine. They've said as I'm going through them, I do not have to let my...
I bought a Volvo V40 in December after selling my Jeep Cherokee. I have just driven to Italy in it and discovered it's giving me serious amounts of back pain (something I never had in my Jeep). Can you...
I've taken my 19-plate Mercedes-Benz C-Class Convertible to be looked at because the passenger door rattles a lot. I was told it was just the sound that convertibles make. What is your opinion, I think...
Which SUV for under £40,000 has the lowest emissions for the lowest VED upfront cost and annual cost? We are looking for a Hybrid SUV and the shortlist is Hyundai Tucson or Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV. We...
My son wishes to store Land Rover Freelander for several weeks in a barn. The local garage has told him to disconnect his fully charged battery but I have advised against this as this procedure could upset...
Can you suggest a car that can tow a 2000kg caravan? I only commute 10 miles a day so diesel is not an option. Thanks.
I turned 70 in 2017 and renewed my driving licence by post as I wanted to retain my C1 category to drive a 7.5-tonne horsebox. However, for some reason, I no longer have the C1 on my licence. Can I have...
How much does it cost when an electric car battery goes bad or fails?
We were due to buy a used car and sold our car in readiness to buy and, therefore, just transfer the insurance. However, we were unable to come to a deal so walked away. We've got 6 weeks left on the current...
In an auto, is it best to select neutral and apply the handbrake at traffic lights or keep it in drive?
We currently have a BMW 5 Series on a lease. We drive around town and do a 60-minute motorway commute (roundtrip) each day. We’re moving to a rural cottage down narrow country lanes, but will still be...
I own a Mk6 Volkswagen Golf Estate. I want my next car to have a flat floor too. However, after viewing a few new estates, I see that many don't offer a completely flat boot with the seat folded down....
I'm looking to buy a Golf GTI 2017-2018 at a Volkswagen dealer soon. I know about the DSG servicing at 40,000 miles, but what other problems do I need to be wary of? What is regarded at being high mileage...
I was led to believe the kangarooing problem in 1.5-litre Volkswagen Group engines had been fixed. My Skoda Karoq 1.5-litre still stutters in first gear. It's a one-month-old car. What now?
Has Volkswagen Group sorted out the problem with their 1.5 petrol engines?
My Skoda Karoq 1.5-litre shudders in first gear. Is Skoda issuing a fix?
I need to buy new tyres soon. The tyres fitted are Michelin Energy but Michelin seem pricey on the sites I have researched so far. I intend to keep the car for the foreseeable future - are they a good...
My husband has died. I'm a named driver on his insurance. Can I still drive the car?
I'm looking to change my 2010 Hyundai Santa Fe to a newer car. I'd like something that has seven seats and the same interior space as the Hyundai. I've looked at a Land Rover Discovery Sport, but it's...
Is it worth having my car treated with the paint protection offered by car dealers?
I'm looking to buy a used Hyundai i10 but am confused by the differing mpg and emissions data for the 2017 - 2019 1.0-litre models. I did not think that the i10 had been changed during this period. Is...
I’m looking to buy a petrol hybrid car, under 1 year old for £25k. Essentials include comfortable seats, sunroof, tow bar (to carry bike rack) and reliability. We prefer a reasonably high driving position....
I'm about to be made redundant, which means handing back the company car. I'll be using the redundancy cash to pick up a sub £3000 car until I find another job. This price point is awash with cars, from...