Questions from November 2011
Can you suggest something frivolous for an old geezer to use for pottering around the Sussex lanes when the sun's out?
I fancied a W107 Benz but you say it's "too soft a drive to appeal to enthusiasts...
BBC Radio 4 ‘In Business’ drew attention to postcode loading by insurance companies, due to huge increases in "crash for cash" insurance fraud scams, very popular in some areas. As you have previously...
Sitting behind the wheel of my stationary car, I watched in my mirror, with less than eager anticipation, a car sliding downhill on an icy, ungritted, side road towards me. Luckily, he slid across the...
I wrote the following letter to: The RT Honourable Phillip HAMMOND MP, Norman BAKER MP, Mike PENNING MP, Theresa VILLIERS MP and Tim LOUGHTON MP: “I am writing to you as I understand that the British Parking...
I am a long-term expat, and recently drove a hired car in England for the first time for a number of years.
Not only was there no handbook or even minimal instructions in the unfamiliar car, there was...
For years we have been a 2-car family - currently with a 6 yr old Toyota Verso and a Honda Civic that is 9 yrs old. My husband died in August and I need a car that can carry small grandchildren, a large...
My September 2010 Citroen C5 Tourer was recalled by Citroen and VOSA, in November for rectification of handbrake problem. I was instructed to take it to any authorised dealer. The work involved removing...
I wrote to you several weeks ago regarding trading in my 5 year old X-Type Jaguar 2.0 diesel estate for a smaller car. You helpfully suggested a Mazda and I am currently looking at a Mazda 3. Doing a...
Clause 56 of the Protection of Freedoms Bill states: "Recovery of unpaid parking charges Schedule 4 (which makes provision for the recovery of unpaid parking charges from the keeper of a vehicle in cases...
I have an 09 reg Subaru Legacy Boxer Diesel Estate. From new, every Winter, I get really bad condensation inside the vehicle. Last Winter, I had to de-ice the inside of the vehicle before I could drive...
I bought a 3 month old Ford Kuga Titanium recently and decided to take out gap insurance with the dealer which I subsequently cancelled having found I could get the same policy online for half the price......
On 27/10/11 we shopped at Urban Exchange, Manchester.
On arrival we looked for mother and baby parking spaces but none were available.
Went into Marks and Spencer with 4 month old baby, who after about...
I am considering buying a 08-plate Nissan Qashqai 2.0 dCi Tekna with 86,000 recorded miles. The high mileage is not a negative, as I only cover 5-6,000 miles annually, and I have read that this is a strong...
Changing down from Volkswagen T4 Transporter and I will be doing fewer than 9,000 miles a year - would I be better off with petrol if you take the cost of fuel at the pump in to consideration?
I have an 08 plate Audi A3, owned from new, which has done 48,500 miles.
The differential has broken, requiring a new gearbox. Audi UK have washed their hands of it and the dealer are reluctant to pay...
My wife was recently hit from behind and her 1999 Micra 1.3 Inspiration has damage to the rear bumper and tailgate.
Bearing in mind the age of the car, what would be the current market value? It has done...
I need a car that will cope with winter - 4WD or winter tyres OK. Budget up to 60K.
Need spacious boot and 4 doors. I don't like the interior of the Jaguar XF.
Tried Mercedes-Benz CLS, but not ideal...
I commute to work - do about 25,000 miles per annum, all motorway(M3).
Currently I have a Toyota iQ with 50k on the clock, which is on finance - can change anytime and will come out with 2k to put towards...
I purchased a Fiat Grande Punto 3 weeks ago from a used car dealer. I have noticed a whine in 1st and 2nd gear, and upon visiting a local garage they have diagnosed the issue to be worn bearings, and a...
The economy light has gone out in the dash of my Toyota Carina E. Does this mean I new bulb? If yes, can I get to it from the back of the dash?
Can I, so to speak, kill two birds with one stone? Is there a smallish car with gearbox type that would satisfy my wife's need for an automatic with my son's need to learn to drive a manual. Our 4 year...
I'm downsizing from an Almera 1.5, and I was wondering what was better to get.
I want to spend less than £1000 as it is just for a short period, and have narrowed it down to a Renault Clio 1.2 16v petrol,...
I had a rear end no fault accident. I paid £2750 for the car and only had it for 3 weeks. The insurers have written the car off as a class C and offered me £2250 in settlement.
I have complained and not...
I recently recieved a parking ticket by ParkingEye, I have followed your legal letter and sent them a cheque for £5 and they sent it back with another threatening letter, I am really concerned where I...
I've had a 1.0-litre VW Polo for 12 years and it is sadly coming to the end of its life.
I need to replace it with a 4x4 that can also pull a horse box. I recently moved to a house at the bottom of a...
I went to see a car from a dealer. I test drove it and liked it - was prepared to buy.
He asked for £300 deposit and I offered £500. I signed what I thought was a receipt for the deposit.
The next...
An enlarging tribe of grandchildren means I need to change my 3yr old 2-litre diesel Vauxhall Antara for a seven-seater.
I have good offers on new Zafiras (e.g. loyalty bonus) but don't like the inflexibility...
Could you please tell me during which periods of manufacture Volkswagen Golf estates and Skoda Octavia estates were likely to have the Teves Mk60 ABS ESP ECU module fault? Is the fault still to be found...
I need to change my 02 Passat 1.9 tdi PD (airbag warning on, advised new control unit at £575). I tow a caravan (1200kg) and drive approx 15,000 miles per year, to work in the week and longer at weekends,...
My MINI's wipers only operate at 'fast' speed. Do we have a motor component failure?
I'm looking to buy a nearly new (or new) mk6 Golf GTI and trade-in my BMW 120d SE 3 door, metallic black, leather, with 42k miles. I have got it down to a couple of options:
1. Car supermarket supplied...
I'm having trouble starting my Ford Focus in the mornings. I've changed the battery, but it sounds like the engine is struggling to turn over. However, once it has started (jump leads), it will start every...
According to the manual, the tyres on this car (GTD) cannot be fitted with snow chains. We are driving to the French Alps where snow chains must be carried. The car has winter tyres, although these are...
You recently referred to modern fuel being hygroscopic (absorbs moisture) and the problems this can cause with emulsified fuel blocking fuel lines.
My wife owns a Kia Picanto with a 1.25 petrol engine...
I mainly do short school run journeys with the odd summer hoilday/weekend break during the year. We want to buy a used Grand Piccasso as it has low CO2 emmissions for a 7 seater.
1) What would be more...
Where can I source steel wheels for a Mini Cooper so that I can fit winter tyres? If I do fit them will I need to carry some sort of emergency repair device as I understand that it is not possible to obtain...
I bought a car on Saturday and it was described at 57,000 miles and that it had had ‘very light rear end damage.' It was obvious when I got there that it was fixed to a high standard!
I got it home and...
I want to buy a new MINI Clubman Cooper S with leather seats and Chili pack. Paying cash. What sort of discount should I expect or negotiate for? Currently BMW does 50/50 deal - pay half now and nothing...
My i10 needs new front tyres. I am thinking of using Goodyear Vector 4 Seasons 'all seasons' tyres. Will they be OK with the original Hankook Optimos still on the back wheels?
I'm interested in a young-ish used Ford S-Max with Powershift gearbox to replace my 2006 Skoda Octavia 2.0 TDi DSG estate.
I would choose the S-Max 2.0 diesel but I'm worried about DPF issues; we live...
I have a T reg Peugeot 206. The left indicators, front, side and back, are staying on all the time, even when the battery is disconnected. Mechanic has checked wiring but nothing found.
I have been told...
I am deciding on a Company Car and have narrowed the choices down to a Toyota Prius and a Golf Bluemotion.
The Golf costs slightly more in relation to BIK, but both fit my budget. I feel that the Golf's...
I've had my Grande Punto for a week now, bought used from a dealer.
Something i've noticed, mainly in 1st and 5th gears, but a little in all of them is that the gear stick shifts forward when accelerating,...
In January of 2011 a driver was observed having bumped my car. The witness to this incident failed to leave his name however did leave the details.
My insurance broker, the AA, put me on to Claimfast...
Following your advice I usually use Shell Diesel (I know you recommend some other varieties), I pass on this advice to others. However I usually get a response along the lines of 'all the diesel comes...
I have a budget of £20k and would like to buy a car that may appreciate or at least hold its value.
A classic car from the 60's or 70's as a second car for weekend and dry day use. I would like to have...
We have an 09 reg Corsa 1.2 that has 62k on the clock. We have had it since new and it has a full Vauxhall service history.
At the weekend the breather pipe from the cyl head looked mis-shapen so I removed...
I have an Audi A3 sportback FSI currently with 225/45 R17 94W tyres. My local garage is able to obtain some 16-inch alloys fairly reasonably. What winter tyres would you recommend for these?
I have just purchased a 2003 Ford Fiesta Zetec 1.4 petrol 3 door and the rear heated demister isn't working
The light switch comes on. I lifted the rear seat and there is a thick red electrical cable...
I would appreciate your advice on the use of snow chains as the season to be miserable approaches. If the tyre treads become filled with compacted snow why don't the chains become likewise affected?
In...
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