Trending topics in March 2011
Questions from March 2011
Just purchased a 2001 Renault Scenic 1.6 auto sport. What's the difference between this and the non sport model?
I currently have an 02 Citroen Berlingo Multispace 2.0 HDi which has blown turbo.
I need to replace it quickly but I only have £7000 to spend. My annual mileage is 20,000.
Most important requirements...
Looking for two vehicles, one small and in the lowest insurance category, to add 18-year-old provisional driver. I also need to replace Honda CR-V executive at end of year with a 4x4.
I'm not badge conscious...
I currently have a Skoda Octavia 1.9 Tdi Elegance which will soon need four new tyres and timing belt change, so decision time looms.
Should I keep it for years and run it until repairs become uneconomical...
I tow a horse trailer with my 51 plate Nissan X-Ttrail diesel Sport. The clutch recently burnt out and I had it replaced.
I'm still getting a burning smell and its struggling when I tow. I went back to...
Do I have to pay a fine when I only made a wrong turn and quickly reversed back and went in the correct entrance? The fine is from the company apcoa.
Looking for a car to replace our Astra Convertible AND Peugeot Partner! In other words looking for a car that is comfortable to drive, easy to deal with in town centers, BUT can be used to get rid of garden...
I am in dispute with a dealer.
I returned a used Mazda to them on the grounds that on three occasions the engine management light came on, the car lost power on acceleration and downchanges on the auto...
I should very much like a used Nissan X-trail 173 diesel, but I only cover a few thousand miles a year, so the DPF problems mean I should have to go for the 2 litre petrol Trek; sadly, the Trek is very...
Ford recommend the cam belt be changed at 100,000 miles. As this seemed alot, I had it done today at 81,109 miles. I asked for the cambelt, tensioners, auxiliary belt and water pump to be changed as it...
Please advise on a nearly new second hand hatchback, must be auto, chain cam engine, width incl mirrors maximum 1.9m, reliable, quiet, with air con, to replace an 8 year old VW Polo. Can pay up to £12,000.
I have somehow got some pretty bad scraches on the rear window of my C-Max.
Is this a stick-on film or is it darkened glass? Is there anything I can do to make them less obvious?
Where would be the best way place to sell an as new Hyundai i30 1.4 classic 2010 with only 53 miles on the clock?
My wife has been a named driver on my car insurance for 15 years. She has been driving for 35 years.
She had full no claims discount on her previous car 15 years ago. This has now lapsed, will any insurance...
I have a March 2010 320i coupe (new shape) I ordered BMW Sat Nav Professional which is fitted.
The problem is that this will only accept five digit postcodes, after reading one of your replies in the...
Hi. We bought a car from a dealer 19 Oct 09. The dealer did a HPI on the car 11 Sept 09 and it was totally clear. Now we have gone to part ex the car and it is appearing as a Cat D. It had the accident...
We have a BMW 318 (2003 model) that drives really well but is getting a bit tight for us with 2 small children in the back. We are keen to get a 4x4 that would accommodate a possible 3rd child.
I like...
I am replacing a 2003 Mondeo Ghia diesel estate with over eleven months MoT and 175,000 miles on the clock which has been an excellent car, owned by myself since it was three months old.
Motorpoint are...
After 13 trouble-free years of owning a Mazda 323, my wife has decided she needs a new car.
She went for a test drive in a Mini One 1.6 (Chilli Red) at a main dealer on Saturday and liked it very much.
After...
I purchased a 2003 (03 plate) Ford Fusion semi-auto from a small dealer (working from home) in Oxfordshire last October with just over 31K on the clock.
I declined an extended warranty because of where...
I am thinking of buying a Skoda but I'm aware from reading Honest John's column regularly that the issue of timing belts/cams is important. Before I buy, does the model I prefer have a chain cam engine?
My uncle has died leaving his owned from new, garaged, low mileage 84 Escort 1.3 5-dr Hatch. Tax'd and MOT'd.
What is the best way of selling it please, ideally he would have wanted a real enthusiast...
I want to buy a 4/5 door, 4/5 seat automatic (hybrid?). I have about £12,000, and like the look of the Honda Insight. Is this a good option? I do not want a diesel.
I have a Nissan X-trail 2005 (05 reg).
It has done £40k miles and is in good condition with FNSH and will have new MOT.
I have asked about trading in for a new VW Eos and the dealer has given an indicative...
What does Honest John think of a Peugeot 407 1.6 HDI 2005? Would the 1.6 lack in power? What would it be like on fuel? Any particular problems to look out for?
We are considering replacing an 8-year-old Skoda Octavia 1.9 TDI estate but will also consider taking out an extended warranty to cover future repairs. Would you recommend this?
I have about £5000 to spend on a new car. I was originally looking at a Ford Fiesta 1.4 diesel, but have recently become interested in the Toyota Aygo 1.4 Diesel. However, someone recently suggested to...
My Fiesta 1.4 TDCi (05 plate) has started to make a whooshing noise when accelerating hard from about 1700rpm upwards. This has just started happening since all four injectors seals were replaced.
I...
I need to replace my Jeep Cherokee 2.5td - we use as a second car mainly for our small holding.
We want a vehicle with very good fuel economy, which can pull a medium sized trailer a couple of times...
I just took a Skoda Fabia to 'webuyanycar' in Newhaven and the dealer made a check on the NMR website which showed the following discrepancies in the mileage.
DVLC Feb 2008 44000
NMR 31st July 2008...
I'm looking to purchase a small car for my short, 6 miles each way, commute each day, some motorway driving, looking to spend around £6k plus part-ex for 51 Plate Renault Scenic Privelege Plus with 80k...
My son has at 31 just taken and passed his driving test and is proceeding to take Pass Plus. He needs to buy a car for use in city centre (Birmingham) with motorway driving at weekends to London and Cambridgeshire.
Safety,...
My daughter has been rear shunted twice in the last few days. On each occasion she banged her head on the steering wheel resulting in two black eyes. She does not sit near the steering wheel, so I am concerned...
Daihatsu will stop selling cars in the UK next year. If I buy a new Sirion now will it be covered for the years after they stop selling in the UK and will the spares be available?
We have two cars, Audi A4 and Corolla Verso, both 2004 and both Automatics.
We are considering consolidating to one car between us.
We would prefer automatic with cruise control and ease of access...
Apologies if this comes across as a rather long winded one... The decision isn't an easy one, hence a simple bit of advice would be most gratefully received!
My growing family, currently myself, wife,...
I have a 2004, 54 plate, Peugeot Partner Combi 2.0 HDi which has done 45,000 miles.
What is the recommended mileage or vehicle age at which the timing belt should be replaced, and should anything else...
I bought a car in June 2010, found a problem with the inlet swirl flaps, took it back to garage and they apparently repaired it over the course of a month. I got it back in August 2010 and in December...
Thanks to your suggestion, my wife bought a new Mazda 2 last November, which is the best small car either of us has ever driven, and she was a Yaris convert until then. I totally agree with you that not...
My local ATS is offering to inflate my tyres with nitrogen as an alternative to air. What are the benefits of doing this, as the cost is not very much?
My Volvo V40 2001 is due for insurance renewal and like any wise fellow I checked first on price comparison websites. But as I had reversed over a Caterham last June in a petrol station (easily done) I...
My neighbour reversed out of his driveway on Saturday and hit my car, which was parked on the highway. He is full of remorse, admits full liability and is going to submit a claim through his insurance...
When buying vehicles from private sellers, there are two methods of payment not involving cash that I have used. Both require the seller to accompany me to a branch of my bank or building society. One...
My neighbour (now in Dubai) has asked me to dispose of her 1997 Mercedes-Benz 2-litre SLK manual car which has sat unused on her car space for 15 months. I have the key, paperwork and her letter giving...
I met with a colleague at Cambridge Services (A14) today, enjoying a leisurely chat over coffee, purchased from the onsite facilities. After a while we decided to extend our discussion over a bite of lunch,...
I have just spoken to two insurers concerning my motor renewal premium. As I own two cars and my wife never drives the car I am about to renew, it seemed to me that it would be worthwhile limiting driving...
I have run my Volkswagen Golf Mark III 1.4 into the ground and am looking to replace it with a Golf mark VI. What model should I go for and where could I get a good deal on the internet for a new model?
Our other car is a 2010 Mercedes-Benz C220CDI Estate Auto (CO2 emissions 154 g/km). It is brilliant. For the test drive, Mercedes-Benz produced a car with sport suspension and 19-inch wheels. I found that...
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