Trending topics in December 2010
Questions from December 2010
I drive to and from Southern Spain twice a year in November and February and regularly experience snow. The Spanish authorities have built lorry parks along the motorway and the police direct lorries into...
Unsurprisingly, I am again finding that summer tyres and ice don't mix. However, I am too lazy to want to swap between summer and winter tyres twice a year. If I were in North America, I would have options...
I have been around and measured the loading bay height of just about every estate there is, comparing them with my present Vauxhall Vectra's size, which is 79cm high x 108cm wide x 177cm to rear of back...
I have recently received a Parking Contravention Enforcement notice through the post due to overstaying 10 mins in a 1-hour car park. The fine is £45 within 14 days and £90 thereafter and the last day...
I have a budget of around £17,500 and I'm looking at the Audi A5 or BMW M Sport 3 Series coupe. Fuel economy and cost of insurance is important as well as looks. Which would you recommend?
I bought a 2-year-old BMW 118d last May from the local BMW dealer. It is a fantastic car, but the stop-start function didn't work from day one. I reported it and waited until now to make sure there were...
I have had winter tyres fitted to my Honda Civic (four years old) and I would like to know if it is a good idea to reduce the pressure during snowy weather? If so what would you recommend? Normal pressures...
Now that a nice lady has written off my Mercedes-Benz SLK I am looking to replace it with a diesel convertible. Due to the weather I haven't been able to test-drive yet, but I like the MINI and Audi A3....
Thanks for your advice regarding winter tyres. However, the Bridgestone A001 in 195/50 R15 which I need for my car do not seem to be available. Have you any thoughts on another equivalent?
Thanks for...
The BMW warranty is due to expire at the end of this month on my E91 estate which has done 29,000 miles and will be four years old.
Is it worth renewing the warranty?
I have a 2005 MG ZT-T Diesel fitted with 225/45/R18 wheels. I wish to purchase a set of steel wheels fitted with Winter Tyres. However, I wish to fit 17-inch steel wheels and would like to know what tyre...
I have a BMW 320d SE Touring which is two years old and has covered 13,500 miles on largely A & B roads.
As it is driven quite sedately I was horrified to find the run flat Continental tyres worn to 2.5mm...
I've been reading quite a bit about these winter tyres and I'm pretty convinced from what I've read, that they are worth having - particularly if we keep getting more snow in the winters ahead. However,...
Would fitting winter tyres affect the validity of my car insurance, as I will have changed the original specification?
I've just purchased a nice 1988 BMW 318 Baur Targa, but the white paint is dull, the car has stood in West London, and there are some tiny black spots in the paint. Any ideas on how I can get the paint...
My brother has a '10 van that has been running rough, loss of power etc. He returned it to the dealers and they have told him the roughness is due to him using Supermarket diesel (in this case from Tesco's),...
I have a set of winter tyres 165/70/R13/79T on a Peugeot 106 and want to know what other makes and models of cars they will fit.
After begin rear-ended (twice in the same acccident by the same person), I now have to buy another car quickly. I was thinking about a Volvo S40 or S60, as they have lumbar support (bad back!) and I believe...
Following the horror-story reports of insurers charging extra premiums when notified that people fit winter tyres and wheels, thought I'd just add a bit of good news.
When I rang Mercedes' insurers (Aviva)...
In the second paragraph of your advice concerning Winter Tyres, you have given the temperature at which one should consider using these tyres as 70C. Shum mishtake here shurley?
How much is my Peugeot 307 SW SE 90 bhp 2004, 69000 miles, MoT July 2011 worth?
We have just managed to buy a Hyundai iX35, which are in very short supply, and as you have stated in your review it’s a great vehicle as well as providing us with the four wheel drive capability which...
Looking to buy Skoda Roomster auto, 3 spec on oct 2008 plate - model not the facelifted one.
If buying pre-Christmas, does car depreciate from Jan 1st of New years as car, for example, becomes closer...
I am thinking that to have a spare set of winter wheels and tyres would be a good idea, as I have heard they are much better for grip and braking at temperatuires below 5 degrees.
My S-Max 2.2 Diesel...
We live in London but holiday mainly in Europe driving there with our dogs. We drive quite infrequently in London so do most of our driving in Europe. We are about ot change our car in April 2011. A left...
I've an 06 Jag diesel which won't start. TRYS it little best and fires but cuts out after a second or maybe two. Constant trying brings up the flashing glowplug on the dash/ engine problem.Enough fuel...
Last year I bought two 12 month old Vauxhall Vectra 1.8 petrol cars for a total cost of £15,250. One for my wife and one for myself.
Good value I think for a much under-rated car. We live at the bottom...
I would very much appreciate your opinion on Snow Socks, particularly in relation to a Honda CR-V on the rear wheels in snow and ice.
Your advice on winter tyres... when you say putting just two winter tyres on a vehicle is dangerous, has worried me somewhat, as a couple of months ago I needed two new front tyres on my Mondeo. I have...
I'm thinking about buying a set of winter tyres and wheels. Should I buy narrow wheels and tyres (to dig into the snow) or wider ones (to have more rubber gripping on the snow). I recall that rally drivers...
Unbelievably,my insurance company told me that I would not be insured if I changed my normal tyres (rated 91W) for winter tyres (rated 91H). H rating is, I believe, up to 130mph so improving my roadholding...
It is apparent that the dual mass flywheel and clutch is known to give problems with some drivers (including myself) with the Jaguar X-Type 2.2D, but this would not appear to be the case with the 2.0D...
My 88-year-old father was towing his caravan when the automatic gearbox of his 10-year-old Rover 75 2.0-litre turbodiesel failed. His Rover agent in Grantham has quoted him £2,800, which seems very high...
On 2nd Nov 2010 my local garage car wash ripped the rear wiper off my 2002 Volkswagen Passat, breaking the arm at the spindle. The cost of repairs will be £273. I reported this to the manageress of the...
When traffic planners started to suggest speed tables, cushions and pinch points be constructed on our street network 30 years ago, Highway Engineers objected on a number of grounds. Some have been covered...
I bought a 2008-registered BMW 520D from a showroom and asked if it had the 177bhp engine fitted from September 2007. The sales manager confirmed that it did, but now we have owned it for three months...
I have been offered a Jaguar E-Type FHC 1961 Series 1 in good condition by a friend. What would be a fair price to offer him please?
I booked my car into www.cophallfarm.co.uk parking near Gatwick. They had offered the lowest price for 10 days parking that I could find. All staff were courteous and efficient. Then I got stranded in...
I refer to your comments regarding the need to have BMW cars wax treated, and would like to know the relative merits of the two 'Autoglym' products mentioned, one at some £20 and another £40. I ordered...
I note your advice to avoid flat batteries by switching off lights and removing the boot light bulb. It may be worth mentioning the bulb in the glove box, if there is one. In 2008, I had a flat battery...
You responded to a cry for help from GP of Tolleshunt Major in respect of an accident in which his (her) daughter had received a County Court Summons. Here are some thoughts that may be helpful. The accident...
Another aspect of heating battery driven cars (apart from battery capacity mentioned in your column) is that it is energy that would have to be generated somewhere whereas in a petrol/diesel car it is...
I have found a disintegrating rubber speed cushion on a road local to me, which has been partially 'bodged up' by the County Council using some asphalt. There are two securing studs that have been left...
I'm in the process of privately buying a 2001 1.7i Ford Puma - one of the last they made. Mileage is 73,000. General chat says the cam belt change (typical Ford) is 100,000 miles or 10 years; the 'experts'...
I have a 2006 Audi A3 2.0TDI 170 with the DSG gearbox bought from an Audi dealer nearly a year ago. I have had continual dissatisfaction with very jerky and uncomfortable pickup in stop start traffic....
Could you please expand on your statement that "modern cars have a design life of about seven years ". This will be of concern to many of your readers.
Some time ago I wrote to you about the arbitrary way that the authorities closed motorways without any regard for the appalling consequences to the motoring public. A critical reply was received from a...
On 7 December, DVLA launched its series 11 plates. Two days previously I received an unsolicited text from Regtransfers offering to sell me a personalised number plate using the new 11 series. For interest...
I got a ticket for being caught in a bus lane in London, because I stopped to let an ambulance with its siren on pass, accompanied by a police escort. I am appealing. Did you happen to read of the policeman...
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