What should I look for in a used Porsche Boxster?

I have seen a 2002 Porsche Boxster 3.2 S for sale at a local garage. It will be a part-ex for my 2007 MX5 with 6000 miles on the clock and a full main dealer service history. The Porsche is £12,000 and...

Which small runabout with seven seats?

With three young grandchildren my beloved BMW 3-Series convertible is becoming less practical. I am reluctant to part with it and so I am considering a used inexpensive runabout with seven seats for when...

We only need one car - should we keep the BMW 320i or the Toyota Yaris?

My 2001 BMW 320i is a joy to drive and has only done 56,000 miles. It is used mainly for longer runs and can return almost 40mpg. My wife's car is a 2003 Yaris and is used as a runabout and was, until...

Mystery bleep from my Mercedes-Benz C220's dash - what is it?

I have a 2009 Mercedes-Benz C220 CDI. Over the last week a single bleep has started emit from the centre console area every four to five minutes. This happens both with the radio/CD player on and off....

Is the interior light in our Nissan Qashqai flattening the battery?

I have a problem with the self-dimming interior light in my 2007 Nissan Qashqai 1.5dci. On numerous occasions we have discovered the battery flat after a weekend, and the dealer says diagnostic scans find...

What is the ABS fault on my 2007 Skoda Octavia?

My 2007 Skoda Octavia diesel, which has covered under 40,000 miles, recently developed a fault involving the steering, speedometer and ABS. The car was taken to a Skoda garage and the ECU had a replacement...

Can I expect DPF and dual mass flywheel problems on my Subaru Outback?

I have a 2010 Subaru Outback Boxer diesel which has covered 23,000 miles. I had planned to keep it for a further two years but due to the possibility of problems with the DPF, dual mass flywheel and the...

I'm using Twitter to complain after my car was damaged in a Tesco car park.

My car was damaged in a Tesco car park. On Friday I tweeted the link to my blog about this to Tesco's customer service Twitter channel. I received a reply saying that they want to help. On Friday and Saturday...

I'd like to recommend Airbagman for excellent customer service.

The airbag light came on in my Subaru Forester about one month ago and stayed on. I contacted Airbagman because of Honestjohn's recommendation in Saturday Motoring. They called me back within two days....

Can I recommend the IAM's driver training for older drivers?

I hope this may be useful to older readers who are still driving. To help older drivers to maintain confidence in their driving, the Institute of Advanced Motorists offers a refresher session. It is an...

My BMW X3 was supplied with the wrong tyres - is the dealer liable?

I recently bought a 2007 BMW X3 M Sport from a BMW dealer. The car was sold to me with non-BMW approved tyres fitted, although they were of correct size and profile. There were knocks and clunks when pulling...

Does the Peugeot 3008 hybrid concept really work?

I'm looking for a new SUV and am attracted to something environmentally friendly. I'm finding it difficult to ignore the Peugeot 3008 diesel hybrid. Is the FWD diesel, RWD electric and 4WD combined concept...

Ford B-Max or C-max for ease of access?

I intend to replace my Motability Ford Focus with the 1.4-litre B-Max. But my Ford salesman tells me that Ford is currently doing a special deal on the C-Max 1.6. Which do you feel is the better car? I...

My BMW needs a new timing chain - is this normal?

I just bought a secondhand BMW and the timing chain needs replacing. I wondered if you have ever looked into this at all?

What evidence do you use to recommend premium fuels?

What evidence enables you to recommend certain fuels to your readers who are worried about supermarket fuels?

Why don't fuel companies try to prevent people using the wrong fuel?

There is not a month goes by without someone telling me how they have inadvertently filled their vehicle with the incorrect fuel, and the resultant eye-watering costs to fix. Why couldn't the fuel companies...

Why was there no local venue where I could take a speed awareness course?

I am relating this experience in the hope it will reach a wider audience and serve as a warning of what they can expect when taking up the police offer, as a first time offender, of taking a speed awareness...

My premium has gone up after failing to disclose an offence.

Failed to tell the insurance company about a TS10 'Failing to stop at traffic lights.' Now I have had an accident and they are trying to void my insurance. I was not trying to avoid paying a higher premium...

Hybrid or diesel?

I am considering the Toyota Yaris Hybrid, but now I have just seen the New Clio (Wow) in dCI mode, which is the better car

New vs nearly new - what should I do?

I've e-mailed you a few times about buying my next car and narrowed it down to a nearly new (6k miles, 1yr old) BMW 118d SE, a Hyundai i30 Style (126 hp), Kia Cee'd 4 (same engine as the Hyundai). After...

Do I have to pay a French speeding fine?

I have just received a speeding fine from France whilst driving a hire car. 80kph in a 70kph zone apparently. I thought I was generally driving very carefully but this is only 6mph over the limit. The...

Do red paints used on cars from 2009 still suffer from paint-fade?

Do red paints used on cars from say 2009, still suffer from fade over time, as seen on many old cars? If yes, what's the best treatment to prevent fade?

APCOA – PCN - City Council Parking Ticket

I have as the owner been served with the above notice with a demand for the full amount £50 as it was not paid within 14 days. Reason - Not displaying a valid ticket, Time of Contravention – 19:09pm....

Buying a Peugeot 306 for just under £2000 - would you go for this?

I want to buy this used Peugeot: Special Eds £1,795 1999 (S reg), Hatchback Trade seller, distance: 34 miles 62,000 miles Manual 1.9L Diesel, only 62,000 miles with full Peugeot service history 12 stamps...

Can I do this with Winter Tyres?

My Tyre Size is: Front 215/40/R18 Rear 245/35/R18 I put Vredestein Wintrac Xtreme 225/40/R18 on the rear last year but want to put some of the same tyre on the front this year (because it's OK getting...

Best fuel for Volkswagen Up - what would you recommend?

I have recently ordered a Volkswagen Up (your review was very informative) and was wondering what fuel (brand, RON etc) would you recommend? The model is a Take Up with the petrol 60PS engine.

Speeding offence code SP04 - does it exist?

Please could you give me your opinion on the following: I was given a fixed penalty speeding ticket last week by Cambridgeshire Constabulary for doing 93 on a dual carriageway (70). On reading the ticket...

Can Leeds City Council really have mistaken my moped for a truck?

I recently received a penalty notice for driving my 49cc moped, disguised as a Mitsubishi Cantor truck, in a bus lane, from Leeds City Council. I don't really have to say any more. Suffice to say I have...

A Labour MP has spoken in the Commons about misleading parking charges.

Nick Smith, Labour MP for Blaenau Gwent, made a speech in the House of Commons on 28th September 2012 asking that leave be given to bring in a Bill to make provisions relating to signage and ticketing...

Are you aware of this case in which a man was jailed for making fraudulent claims after an accident?

You have mentioned that little, if any, actions seems to be taken against persons who make fraudulent or exaggerated claims following minor collisions. Although your opinion that the CPS shows little interest...

Is there a way I can tax my car early?

I am going to the United States this week and will be out of the UK when my car tax expires at the end of next month. The DVLA website details a procedure to get a tax disc early - write a letter, complete...

My Peugeot 807 diesel loses power and belches smoke - is this a DPF fault?

I have a 2003 Peugeot 807 2.0 HDI. Every 400 miles or so, the car will suddenly lose power when driving and stutter intermittently for the next ten miles. When idling the engine will hunt between 600 and...

Which small car for all my daughters?

I am looking for a car for my family to drive with three essentials; safety, economy and reliability. I am thinking of solid SAAB-like safety rather than gizmos, and the economy should come from an optimised...

I hired a Vauxhall Insignia diesel which developed a fault - who is liable?

I recently hired a Vauxhall Insignia diesel. I drove about half a mile and then parked the car for about an hour. When I came back to the car, I started it up again and drove about 50 yards before I noticed...

My SEAT Toledo is leaking badly - is there an easy fix?

I have had a 2003 SEAT Toledo TDI Sport for most of its 75,000-mile life and recently it has started to leak quite badly, with the carpets on the driver's floor area and passenger area getting quite wet....

Which 4x4 for winter driving in heavy snow?

My daughter who lives in rural Aberdeenshire is looking to replace her 10-year-old Subaru Forester with a smaller, newer 4x4 with a punchy engine suitable for snowy Scottish hills. She has test driven...

Can I return my used Mercedes-Benz after having various problems?

I recently purchased a 5000 mile 2009 Mercedes-Benz SLK. After a couple of weeks whilst washing the car I noticed that the paintwork, mainly on the bonnet, had started to flake off. I got in touch with...

Tyres perishing after being left in sun - can they be recovered?

I have a BMW X5 in Spain that spends long periods sat in the sun. The car has completed 16,000km over the past four years and the tyres are cracking on the sidewalls. Is there anything I can spray on or...

My friend's automatic Golf accelerated into a restaurant for no reason - can you help?

An friend’s new Golf GTI 2.0 automatic suddenly accelerated whilst being parked and ran into a restaurant. His foot was on the brake at the time it happened but the brakes were unable to hold the car and...

Please see this website for information about daytime running lights.

Readers interested in the facts about daytime running lights (letter "Glaring Error?") should visit www.lightmare.org

Where can I sell some pre-war Autocar magazines?

I have 103 pre-war ‘Autocar’ magazines to sell. They date from 7 January 1938 to 26 December 1939. Can you recommend other than eBay the best way to advertise them or sell them?

Can you advise your readers not to enter flooded fords please?

A couple of weeks ago reader asked the depth to which a car could wade a ford. You mentioned water in the engine but even worse is when the water is too deep. Cars float, even 4x4s, which is why Land Rover,...

Are there any BSA classic cars left?

I was once the proud owner of a BSA four-wheel front wheel drive car (BOA 666) and I was wondering if any such cars still exist, as I have been to an old car rally recently and hoped I might see one. No...

Mice ate my Mercedes' engine insulation! How can I get rid of them?

I garage my Mercedes-Benz SL500 each winter. This spring I noticed, to my horror, that mice had eaten some of the engine compartment insulation. We live in a rural location and, upon the crops being removed,...

Does my Citroen C6 need headlight beam adaptors when driving abroad?

I own a 2007 Citroen C6 that has Xenon dual function directional headlights. My local main dealer assures me that because of this feature, when travelling in France, I do not need to fit headlight beam...

Do British-made breathalysers meet French legal requirements?

Would a reputable British breathalyser, such as the Alcosense Elite, obviate the need to purchase multiple French breathalysers in the light of recently introduced legislation in France?

Van permanently parked outside - how can I get it moved?

For the last eight weeks an old, tatty Ford Transit has been parked outside my next door neighbours' house. It hasn't moved for over eight weeks since the driver, who doesn't live in our road but used...

Why won't APCOA explain after overcharging me for car parking?

I would like to draw attention to my treatment by APCOA at Exeter Airport. Last year I pre-booked airport parking for five days and on return found that I had paid more than for the current offer for seven...

Should I buy my Lexus IS 250 company car from my employer?

I am due to retire soon and my company has offered me the opportunity to buy my 34,000 mile 2009 Lexus IS 250 SE company car at book cost, which is around £7200. It seems like a good deal but I understand...

Could cameras be used to eliminate blind spots?

Would the fitting of cameras to give a view rearwards, down both sides of the vehicle, not eliminate blind spots? I recall many years ago seeing a coach fitted with a rear view screen on the dashboard.