Does our 2-year-old Nissan Micra really need new wiper blades, new brake fluid and an air con service?

My wife purchased a year old Nissan Micra 1.2 Acenta a year ago. It has just been in for service at the selling dealers, the main Nissan agent in this area. On top of the basic service they have told her...

What could replace my Jaguar SE with a bit of 'go', an automatic gearbox and higher seating?

I am looking to change my 2004 Jaguar 3.0-litre SE auto estate. In order to avoid the constant pothole problems and gain higher seating, I would like something with a little bit of go, preferably an auto....

As a former traffic policeman, I endorse the use of left-foot braking in automatic vehicles.

As an ex-Traffic Policeman (accident investigator) and a person who has left-foot braked for over 30 years (even though I sometimes drive a manual car), I felt I must comment. When left-foot braking an...

Why is the gearshift in my new Toyota Yaris of such poor quality?

I purchased a new Toyota Yaris from a dealer in Bury, Lancs a year ago. I complained at the first service recently about 'poor shift quality' when changing gears - in particular the lower gears. The diagnosis...

Is it true that diesel vehicles don't respond well to repeated short runs from cold?

I have advised my wife that for only about 5,000 miles per year she needs to stick to a petrol automatic SUV because it's cheaper and diesel engines do not like short runs from cold. She has looked for...

Which quality 7-seat vehicle with prestige would you recommend?

I consider myself a car connoisseur but have hit a brick wall. My wife and I decided to buy one family car with plenty of space, additional seats, some prestige and decent running cost. A Mercedes-Benz...

What is this SEAT Alhambra worth?

I have seen a 7-seater SEAT Alhambra. I would like to know what is the face value of the car and how much should I offer if I am interested in the purchase? It has three previous owners. The CD player...

Are there any potential problems that I should look for in a 2002 Rover 45 I've inherited?

I have recently inherited a 2002 Rover 45 with 38,000 miles, mostly short journeys. It has recently had a new cylinder head gasket fitted and new tyres and has a current MOT but no recorded service history...

We've had to delay the part-exchange of our Yaris for a new Jazz by a month - is a £400 price increase excessive?

We recently went to our local Honda dealer, and negotiated the purchase of a Honda Jazz to replace our '08 plate Yaris (5-door, 1.3 petrol, 21,000 miles). We agreed a price, taking into account trading...

Why are the tyres on our SEAT Ibiza wearing so fast?

My daughter-in-law has a SEAT Ibiza Ecomotive 1.4 diesel purchased from new in September 2009. At the first service, after 8,500 careful miles, the (factory fitted) front tyres are worn almost to the legal...

Should I go for this discounted Audi A3 or buy an Audi A1 instead?

My local Audi dealer is offering me an Audi A3 1.6 Technik, black, 3-door for £15,000. He says it's £1,500 under the usual price as this is his last one in stock for a while. Should I be cautious, as I'm...

Why does Heathrow Airport still charge £2.50 to stop briefly to pick up passengers?

A few days ago, I was collecting an arriving passenger at Heathrow Airport, Terminal One. I followed all the signs correctly and found myself in the short stay car park. The person I was collecting was...

I recommend your correspondent EC considers an Audi A3 Sportback for use in wintry conditions.

Your correspondent EC, via email, appears to have identical needs to mine, except that our dog is a Springer Spaniel, not a Lab. I also drive 12,000 miles a year and make frequent trips to the Scottish...

Can old tyres be used efficiently to make rubber speed humps?

A use for all those tyres rendered useless by speed humps? You guessed it: make them into speed humps: www.leics.gov.uk/index/your_council/council_publications/leicestershire_matters/leicestershire_matters_september_2010/leicestershire_matters_september_2010_2.htm....

What's the speed limit on my local A-road, and can you recommend a speed camera warning device?

I do a 70-mile commute to and from work on the A449 between Newport (South Wales) and Ross-on-Wye five days a week. Half the journey is on an A-road and the rest on a dual carriageway. Is the limit 70mph...

We need to buy an automatic - does the Honda Jazz still use the I-Shift technology?

As a result of a recent illness my wife will need to change her car for an automatic. She currently drives a fairly new Honda Jazz manual. We would be happy to stick with a Jazz but are put off by recent...

Could you suggest an economical, reliable 4-door car which offers a bit of fun?

I have been running a Ford Focus 53-reg 1.8 Zetec diesel for the last seven years. The car has been very reliable except for water in the passenger foot well, about three times in all, and I have just...

Why won't Hyundai replace our i20's key which has broken under warranty?

At the end of January last year I purchased a new i20 from my local Hyundai dealer. All was going great until about a week ago when my wife noticed the key (it’s the jacknife type that flicks out when...

Why is the Audi A3 more common than the Volvo S40?

My wife and I are planning to exchange her Peugeot 207 for something bigger and more comfortable for long journeys. We have more or less decided on either an Audi A3 or the Volvo S40. I have done a bit...

Is there a vehicle with a powered tailgate that will lift my electric buggy inside?

I am disabled. I use an electric buggy that my wife finds very hard to lift into our car. Do you know a model that has a 2-part powered tailgate that will be able to lift electrically my buggy to the same...

Will we need to apply for an international driving licence if living in France for six months per year?

We are planning to buy a property in France with a view to spending perhaps half the year there and the rest in the UK. I envisage that we shall be travelling between the two countries two or three times...

I've been left-foot braking since I first drove a go-kart.

When I first drove a go-kart, I discovered that the brake pedal was on the left and the accelerator on the right. It struck me what excellent control this arrangement offered and I immediately started...

Please recommend an automatic for an elderly couple capable of carrying golf bags and electric trolleys?

Can you please recommend an economic automatic car, not van, to accommodate at least a husband of 82 and a wife of 77 with arthritis, two golf bags and two electric trolleys. We currently have one car...

Would you suggest the Land Rover Discovery 4 or the Audi A7 to replace my Range Rover Vogue?

I currently have a 2007 Range Rover TDV8 Vogue but it’s due for change. I'm afraid my budget won't allow me to get another, this is my second and I've loved them both. I'm looking at an new Audi A7 3.0...

Why aren't overhead gantries used to tell drivers to keep to the inside lane on motorways?

The sheer arrogance of NH beggars belief. He seems to believe that he and his CLOG members have a divine right to force other motorway users to undertake (potentially dangerous) or overtake him in lane...

Can private buyers take advantage of the VAT Qualifying scheme when buying a car?

My colleagues and I are having a debate about what the term 'VAT Qualifying' means when applied to a car that is obviously not 'new'. The car in question is BMW 325i M Sport Highline Convertible. The car...

Which make and brand of winter tyre would you recommend for my Honda Jazz SE?

I drive a Honda Jazz SE on a 69-mile round-trip to work every day and, due to the repeated cold winters we now seem to be getting (due to global warming, apparently) I'm considering getting a set of winter...

Thanks to SEAT for contributing to an ABS pump repair to my 2006 Leon.

Reading the letter and your reply in Motoring Lifestyle, I thought you may be interested in my current problem, which hopefully will be resolved on Friday. I have 2006 SEAT Leon that has covered just 26,000...

Are dealers liable for repairs necessary to a car for the first six months after sale?

Some time back you reported a legal precedent where a dealer was held liable for repairs to a car that developed faults in the first six months from the date of sale. I have searched your website but cannot...

Is the SEAT Ibiza ST Sport a good replacement for my Altea?

I am recently retired and now only doing short journeys around town with the occasional long motorway trip. I am following your advice by changing from diesel to petrol. I am trading in my SEAT Altea 1.9TDI...

Could you recommend a company for Motor Legal Protection?

You recently recommended a company for Motor Legal Protection. Would you let me have the web address again, please?

Thanks for recommending Event Tyres - I'm very pleased with their service.

I’m sure you have recommended Event Tyres before. If not, they are great. I needed two new tyres for my Golf and they were the cheapest, the quickest and in my view the best. They came to my work and sorted...

I've experienced transmission failure in my Range Rover Vogue auto - will Land Rover contribute to repairs?

I have a 2005 Range Rover Vogue auto, bought second hand from Stratstones, Woburn Green, High Wycombe, just over two years ago. A week ago I stopped at a set of traffic lights, then, when they turned to...

Does my Mercedes-Benz A-Class' belt-driven automatic system require maintenance?

I need some advice on my 2007 Mercedes-Benz A180 CDi Auto with 25,000 miles on the clock. Yes, some people like them. It is annually serviced by the Mercedes-Benz local dealer. We love the car as it fits...

Is the 85ps FIAT 500 TwinAir a real alternative to the 500 1.4?

I want to buy a FIAT 500 and decided that the 100PS 1.4 engine should provide the kind of performance I am looking for. FIAT has now produced the 85PS 'TwinAir'. Should I consider this, as FIAT claim,...

Which cars are in a low or exempt road tax bracket?

I want to change my big old car for something small and economical. There are so many to choose from, but what do you recommend? I want low tax group, low VED and good mpg. I do mostly rural driving, occasional...

What should I look for when buying a 1.4-litre Volkswagen Polo?

I am thinking about buying a new 1,400cc Volkswagen Polo. I know they have had good reviews in the press but could you tell me what you think and whether you know of any pitfalls?

I sent a cheque for £10 to Parking Eye adding disabled appeal, but they've rejected it. What now?

Since my last email to you I sent a cheque for £10 to Parking Eye as you advised adding disabled appeal, my age (80), 13 mins over time limit etc. I've received today a Final Notice with the charge upped...

How do different wheel sizes affect a car?

I am a recent convert to your Q&As in the Telegraph. I have, on several occasions noted you commenting on alternative wheel sizes for specific cars. What factors are affected by the wheel size of a car?

Why won't Volkswagen contribute to the cost of an ESP/ABS repair on my four-year-old Eos?

I have just had to pay £1,365.46 to replace the ABS/ESP pump of my 4-year-old Volkswagen Eos, which has covered 27,500 miles only. The car was bought from a Volkswagen dealer in Cheshire and was just four...

Huge thanks to South Lakes Mercedes-Benz for their help when my E350CDI ran low on oil.

Driving my Mercedes-Benz E350CDI estate to Barrow in Furness on Thursday, the car told me it was low on oil. I checked and it was. Because I was unsure what the problem was I phoned South Lakes Mercedes-Benz...

Do you have an opinion on the CVT automatic gearbox used in the Nissan Juke?

I took your advice some time ago and purchased a Hyundai i10, and have since upgraded to the i20. Both cars I have been very pleased with. I am thinking about changing my i20 for a Nissan Juke with CVT...

Thanks for your help with my Auto Protect warranty - the company has agreed to deal with my claim.

I promised I would let you know the outcome of a warranty issue I had with Auto Protect after being mis-sold the wrong level of warranty by the supplying car dealer. I wrote to Auto Protect to get the...

Why won't KIA continue to repair my Carens diesel's repeated engine management fault?

I have a KIA Carens diesel that has shown the same engine management fault on five occasions. So far this has been rectified four times at no cost under warranty, but now both the dealer and Kia are claiming...

Why are councils abandoning the use of speed cameras?

If speed cameras are such a milch cow for local councils, how come many councils in East Anglia are now abandoning them completely and will this not result in less safe roads?

Can you recommend a small, comfortable replacement for our Volkswagen Passat?

Being a little older and having driven Volkswagen Passats over the last 10 years, we now want a slightly smaller car but with the same comfortable ride; however, the distributors I have spoken to tell...

Using left-foot braking in an automatic is much more efficient in traffic, and faster away from the lights.

I passed my IAM test in 1985. I had arranged a test at short notice and was tested by the chief examiner who remarked that he had never seen anyone braking an automatic with the left foot before. I still...

What has caused our 2009 Volkswagen Polo's tyres to wear out in just 8,000 miles?

A relative owns a 2009 Volkswagen Polo with an 'auto' box. At just 8,000 miles all four tyres are worn to such an extent as to need replacing. Most of the mileage has been on motorways. Any ideas?

Is the SEAT Ibiza ST a good replacement for my 2008 Honda Civic?

I currently own a 2008 Honda Civic 2.2i CTDi with 25,000 miles on the clock. I love the drive, but find the rear window spoiler and lack of a wiper frustrating, especially when it is wet and frosty. A...

Recommend a reliable, good quality car for comfortable motorway cruising?

I'm getting ready for retirement and want to change my car. We do a lot of European touring so want something spacious, comfortable, reliable and a good motorway cruiser. As it will probably be the last...