Questions from May 2011
I need an estate car. I play around with old cars such as Rover P4s, Triumph Spitfires and the Land Rover series. I considered that a Rover 75 (except the 1.8) would be a good fit, however the ones I have...
Our 53-plate V70 with 133,000 miles needs replacing with something similar, but I cannot decide what. I have read reviews on many sites, but especially yours and every car has major drawbacks. So far the...
I recently had an accident where I was reversing out of a parking space and, as I did so, another driver reversed across my path and we collided. There was damage to his passenger side rear panel and initially...
We have a 2009 Toyota Yaris with a mileage of only 2,400 on the clock after two years. The car received its first service at 1,023 miles. Although it would normally be due for a full service (quoted at...
I'm changing my car for one first registered in September 2010 and have a cherished plate that I intend to transfer. I surfed and found a firm that would supply with no documents required and with the...
I think you may be wrong about illegal transmitters stopping car keys from working. I believe that the keys work on a frequency of 433.92MHz and use a super-regenerative receiver. The general use of super-regens...
I just wondered whether you could give me some advice on replacing our second car. We've only got about £1,500 to spend and need something that can seat two adults and three children. It also needs to...
I am about to renew the insurance for my 2002 Rover 75 2.0 CDT. Having read in your column about various tales of hire car scams, accident management companies etc. jumping on the bandwagon of innocent...
I am looking for a Porsche Cayman around £17,000 for my wife. We really like the car and I think we could afford one for doing around 6,000 miles a year. I am happy with a slightly higher mileage car if...
Could you please advise me as to the benefit of larger wheels on the Golf TDI Match demonstrator which I am thinking of buying? The dealer is wanting an extra £500 for these.
My wife's 1.4 CVT silver Jazz, bought on your recommendation, will be five next month, having done 23,000 miles. She's ready for a change to another automatic. You are still recommending them, but have...
I'm thinking about buying a Mitsubishi Colt convertible, two years old, 6,000 on the clock, £8,500. Are they any good? What do you think?
My girlfriend (not a good start) had the 2 front tyres changed on her 04 plate base model Ka a few months ago.
Whilst she was at the Ford garage getting a quote for the heater to be fixed (functioning...
Kia Sedona TS 2007/57 plate, Front heater blower not working, back works fine. Everthing looks good on dash but blower not blowing. Can hear low humming noise when turned on.
I have a BMW 330d Touring, March 2010.
The car is a superb drive, but the combination of 18in wheels, run flats and potholed roads is driving me crazy. The recommended pressure for the run flats when...
With regard to your reply to the problem with the keyless entry system on the Toyota RAV4. This problem is because the car manufactures install these keyless systems which have key fobs that have virtually...
I have a 2008 BMW 320d saloon and have found water in the boot. It has gathered in the plastic tray sunk in the floor on the left side. I took the tray out to empty it and found more water under boot floor....
I only occasionally drive in Europe, but I propose driving to south-west France in August with my family. I hold an old style paper UK driving licence. I understand that the DVLA website does not suggest...
I drive a Skoda Fabia 3 which has cruise control. My husband says that it is uneconomic to use. Is he right?
For once I have to write in praise of Nottinghamshire County Council. If you Google Nottinghamshire Potholes you'll find a map-based reporting system. You identify where the hole is and leave your contact...
How can I stop the bumpers of my standard BMW 330ci from being stolen? I was thinking of putting a note in the window "parts marked". I notice a lot of these bumpers on eBay.
I found the UK too hard on drivers with constantly rising costs, so I have moved to France. Yesterday I was offered a car by a French neighbour. He tells me the cam belt jumped the pulley, and he can't...
My Audi A5 used four litres of oil for the first 4,000 miles driven. I have been advised to ask for a replacement car and to try to get the Audi dealer to take mine back. How would you advise that I progress...
I'm looking at getting a Zafira as I'm a childminder and we need the extra seats. However I'd quite like an automatic but apparently they only come in 1.9 diesel, 2.2 petrol or 1.8 Easytronic. I don't...
My 2002 Volvo S60 2.0T was serviced by a Volvo dealership earlier this week and I asked them to look at the front passenger door, which will not open immediately on unlocking the car. There is a clicking...
Does the 1.6 e-HDi 112 stop and start engine with electronically controlled manual gearbox (ECG) have a diesel particulate filter? As I do 90% short trips I need to be certain it does not have a filter.
I have a Fiesta 1.25 V reg and the heaters will not turn off. I've changed the heater valve and flushed and renewed the coolant but this seems to have made things worse. Please help?
I got someone to plug a reader into my wife's car at the weekend, and got some fault codes which are as follows; P0560/P0380/P0603 and lastly P1517. What would your second opinion be? I think it could...
I own a 2008 Mercedes E220 automatic. I plan to keep it for the next 4 years. Current mileage is 33000 and I expect to do 10-15k per annum, so in 4 years time it will be in the 80-100k miles range.
I...
Should a Honda Jazz CVT be in neutral or drive when stopped at traffic lights.
Which is better for the car and its fuel economy?
I have a 12-year old 5-door Rover 420Gsi and my wife has a 10-year old 3-door RAV4.
We want to sell both cars and get one new petrol 5-door medium-size hatchback, eg Golf or similar size. We are both...
I apparently need new front brake pads and discs and the Peugeot dealership have quoted me rather a lot(!)
I was wondering if it is best to cough up and fit genuine Peugeot parts or whether I could get...
I need some advice on what car (probably second hand) to buy.
My priorities are:
MOST IMPORTANT:
1. Low *overall* cost motoring
2. Quiet & comfortable with good ride on motorways (long journeys & making...
The turbo on my Astra van 2002 diesel has gone. Do I need exact part number as I have been told there is only one turbo for this model? Trying to access second hand.
I have just had the clutch replaced in my Peugeot 206, 1.6 XS, but the problem is that now the new clutch has been fitted it now jumps when trying to move it. The clutch jumps and then the car stalls....
I have a 2003 Volvo XC70 diesel auto estate which I have owned from new and which has a little over 60K miles on the clock.
It has generally been reliable, but has recently required both front coil springs...
My stepson recently purchased a 2007 Ford Focus that had been advertised on eBay by a private dealer (trading from home, but with trade plates, VAT registered etc). When I asked what warranty came with...
Do you think the new Golf Cabriolet with 2.0 diesel will be a good long term car to own? This would be my 'retirement' car. My other choice is a Scirrocco.
I'm after a small hatchback with a low entry hatch (so that the old dog doesn't have to jump up too high).
Recently when I change gear (any) it makes a kind of clicking (well makes some sort of noise which is hard to explain) noise everytime i change gear.
The car seems to be running fine, but I am worried...
I bought in November a Ford Fiesta Zetec. 58-reg, with 6,780 miles. I have now driven another 1,200 miles in the car.
Going down steep hills the gear lever kept coming out of 2nd gear and sitting in...
I've come into some money and want to buy a great used car, but I hate depreciation.
What cars would you recommend that are less than 10 years old, cost less than £50,000, and are likely to be future...
I'm looking to sell my 05 C-Max TDI with 105,000 miles on the clock. I would like a new or nearly new alternative to replace this car. I went to Ford and they wanted the earth.
Wondering about alternatives;...
My car is 13-months-old and has done 11,000 miles. I noticed what I thought to be excessive scoring on the nearside rear brake discs and to a lesser extent on the offside. I took it in to the dealer to...
Do I have a transmission problem or a "dual mass flywheel" problem if the engine over revs when shifting from 2nd to 3rd?
It's also noticable once and awhile from 3rd to 4th? Seems to stick in 2nd and...
My bad back makes driving my current Honda S2000 painful and I now need more space, an auto box and ideally a metal folding roof. I rarely use the huge power available.
Vauxhall Twin-top is cheapest but...
I have a 2005-plate (manufactured 2004) Ford Focus Estate, 1.8 petrol.
It has just passed its MOT but with a note to the effect that it is rusted underneath - I presume the part of the car closest to...
I tow a 1500kg caravan with an 2008 E280 CDI Estate. I want to replace this car with a 4x4 for better traction in mud/snow. I need a car which has a large boot for two dogs and a pushchair.
The E-class...
I would value your advice as to which car to buy - we have a Toyota Prius and a VW Touran, and are looking to replace the Touran with another MPV. Our current favourites are the Honda FR-V and the Toyota...
I bought a used Honda Civic with a full service history in January of this year for £7500. The car recently (whilst on holiday) developed a fault which required the vehicle to be abandoned and towed to...
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