Trending topics in September 2012
Questions from September 2012
I would like to part exchange my eight-year-old Citroen C3 Sensodrive for a six-month-old, 3500 mile Citroen C3 16v Exclusive diesel hatchback from my local Citroen dealer. He allowed £1700 on my C3. Is...
I have just come across some emails concerning problems with DSG transmissions. We have a Volkswagen Golf Estate 2.0TDi DSG. It is just over three years old and therefore out of warranty, in spite of doing...
With my road tax renewal letter came a DoT leaflet on petrol saving. I was surprised by one of the tips: "Don't coast downhill or towards lights in neutral as this uses more fuel. Stay in gear and ease...
I have just heard on Radio 5 a very interesting fact about Ken Livingstone’s London Congestion Charge. The programme alleged that the whole scheme is now running at a loss, and even the amount of fines...
We own a 2008 Volkswagen Eos. It has done just 14,000 miles and is a super car. My husband thinks that perhaps we should think about changing it for another new car as now, after four years, things will...
Every week you manage to puff LV car insurance. This grates in our household because LV is quite the worst and most unhelpful insurer we have ever had dealings with. A year ago my wife was involved in...
I own a 2003 BMW Z3 3.0i Sports Roadster. I have been told that not many of this particular car were built. Is there a way of finding out how many were built, and how many of this type are registered in...
My TomTom Go 700 won't Go. I bought it about five years ago and have used it very little, maybe three or four times a year, but I've found it an invaluable aid (and safety feature) for detailed navigation...
After a short test drive on the A3 I bought a BMW X1 Crossover with a load of extras from the local BMW dealer. I soon realised that the ride was very hard on the much cambered and pot holed side roads...
I got rid of my Rover 45 because it let me down so many times when the battery went flat for no particular reason. I changed the car for a Kia cee’d which is now giving me the same trouble. Everything...
I note on occasions your correspondents refer to the approaching 'Danger Zone' for expensive repairs to their (diesel) vehicles. I have owned a Toyota Avensis 2.0 D-4D for some six years, and - credit...
I recently parked in a hotel for a meeting and, in the absence of seeing any signage (albeit it was going dark and I was a few minutes late) went straight into the hotel. Last week I was horrified to receive...
It looks as if KIA engines are chain cam, which I believe you recommend. Do you have any brief comments re petrol/diesel and or manual/automatic?
Would you rather buy an older Toyota Prius with low mileage or a newer one with high mileage? Would you go for the Prius or a Honda Insight or a Citroen C1? My insurance for the Prius is very high, also...
I am looking at buying a Rover 75, and have seen a 2.0 ltr diesel Connoisseur for sale, as you can imagine it is fully loaded with equipment so quite appealing, the bodywork appears in good condition with...
Considering purchasing a 5 door CMax. Can you recommend an engine? We do no more than 10k a year and not overly fussed about massive speed. Car is to cater for a growing family with new baby on board.
Nissan Qashqai 1.5dci - is it a Renault diesel engine and how good or dependable is it?
I require a replacement workhorse. While Land Rovers have served me well something a little more frugal on service and running costs is preferable.
You bang on about new diesel engines requiring a cycle...
Unfortunately your Kia Ceed video was spoilt by bad weather. How about videos on the i30 and the Ceed to see how they compare? I read that they both have problems with road noise.
I very much value...
In September 2010 we bought a new Skoda Yeti diesel. All was well for a few months, then the diesel particulate filter light started coming on. We had the filter cleared professionally but it happened...
Is there any benefit in using Shell V-Power diesel in my new Octavia 1.6 DSG or is it intended more for high performance cars? I only do about 6000 miles a year.
Erin Baker recently gave a fascinating review of the options on an Audi A6 Avant. I have engaged myself with a similar quest. I look carefully at options prior to spending my hard-earned on what is essentially...
The local Renault garage is recommending that we change the cam belt on our five-year-old Renault Clio at the next service, at a cost of £430. We have only done 15,000 miles. The car is used daily. Is...
I am trying to buy my first car and have come across an ideal Toyota Yaris 1.0 VVT-I T2, priced at £3850. It looks great inside, is five years old and has only done 33,000 miles. My only concern is the...
My husband and I moved to Paris recently and, because of this, our much-loved black 2003 Volkswagen Passat needs to be replaced as it is prohibitively expensive to register on French plates. We would like...
Can you explain why the concept of supply and demand in terms of diesel and petrol prices is turned on its head in continental Europe, where the price of petrol exceeds that of diesel? The situation seems...
I have been thinking of changing my Octavia vRS (petrol) due to my high mileage of 25,000 per year, and I am very wary of buying a manual due to DMF failure. I am lucky enough to have some money available...
I recently bought a 2.0-litre Peugeot 206 and am delighted with its performance. I also own a 1955 Morris Minor. On a local section of dual carriageway there is an irritating average speed restriction...
I am thinking about swapping my 50,000 mile 1999 Jaguar S-Type V8 for a 2008 Peugeot 407 Coupe 2.7 V6 HDi Sport with 29,000 miles. I am trying to get the dealer to accept part exchange of the S-Type, but...
I read with interest your comment about fuel economy and that no car will match the published figures. I bought a RAV4 (our third) in December 2011 from new. One of the reasons I purchased another RAV4...
I had the AA out to fix my rear lights - they then realised that the parking lights weren't working and the bonnet catch wouldn't close, they fixed this and disconnected the battery to reset the ECU so...
At 63,000 miles with a full BMW service history and bought from a BMW dealer, my 2007 model year car has a timing chain failure as diagnosed by my local BMW dealer. Am I correct in understanding there's...
Even though alternator and battery have been changed and replaced the alternator light is showing intermittently and don't know what else this could be causing the problem.
Please can you advise me of the best car to use to tow a swift challenger 550 touring caravan with laden weight of 1700 kg
I've been told by my VW mechanic that my 51 plate Golf mk 5 is making a whirling noise that is coming from the main shaft bearing, and would need a gearbox remove and strip. Is the noise something serious...
Out of all the current cheap to run diesels (e.g Ford Econetic, Skoda Greenline, SEAT Ecomotive, etc) which ones are now proving to be the most reliable beyond 50K miles?
I'm thinking of buying a Fiat Panda 1.3 multijet. Do they have either a DMF or DPF?
I have a 9 month old Kia Sportage Platinum here in Australia which I've owned from new, and absolutely love. Potentially moving back to the UK in 6 months time and am keen to keep the car (i.e. ship it...
I recently had an accident, a minicab came at me round a bend on a private road into our Estate in the middle of the road and in my opinion too fast, I swerved to avoid and hit a small tree.
My car is...
Could you please advise on pros and cons of following two options (future resale, reliability etc)
A - Del miles 1.2 Fiat 500 Pop as advertised in your new car deals section - £8995
B - Nearly new 1.2...
Need to buy a medium sized car for the wife she only travels 4 miles a day to work so diesel no use. was thinking of a toyota prius but am worried that the low miles wont charge the batteries and cause...
I am coming up to the 3 year service and MOT on the S80 1.6D Drive, with a mileage of 22K. The main dealer is quoting £600 including the MOT, saying that £120 of the total is for replacing the diesel...
I have a titanium petrol 1.6 fiesta (10 plate).
It is a great car to drive but the front seats give me really bad back ache.
Is it possible to swap them for another make (eg Vauxhall Astra or BMW)?
If...
I need to find a 'good' second hand automatic car, no more than 2L, that has low tax band/ CO2 emissions, can you recommend any please?
Have already had Ford Escort, Vauxhall Cavalier & Astra (Currently...
Had a new cam belt fitted to my Xantia two weeks ago, and a water pump. Today, I have noticed a rattle coming from the engine. I have been told that there are no adjustments which cam be made by the timing,...
I have a problem with my Mondeo when the temp reaches halfway the engine starts cutting out as if no fuel is getting through, it eventually stalls, but if I leave it for twenty minutes it starts as normal....
A friend is part exchanging a 54 plate Mondeo Zetec 2.0 (petrol) for a new Focus 1.0. He has been offered £700 in the p/e deal. It has FSH, 104k miles, everything works and it is in good condition. Should...
Given all you have said about diesels/particulate filters etc and their expense - if driving mostly short haul, stop start etc - what is a VW Touran 1.6 auto deisel like?
We have to renew insurance on a lease car, SEAT Ibiza 1.2 Copa SW Ecomotive. It is being driven by a 30 year old male, no convictions, had his own car for 10 years with no-claims. The best quote we have...
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