Focus slips out of gear

My Focus auto slips out of gear when, say, between 2nd and 3rd, and as i still have my foot on the accelerator it over revs and then kicks into gear again. Any ideas would be much appreciated.

Automatic car, cheap to insure and safe

Following being involved in a collision deemed as my fault my insurance is about to rocket. I am still within my first year of driving and am so worried about what to get. I drive a lot and really...

EGS or DSG?

I drove a Citroen C4 Picasso (2007reg) with the EGS gearbox and subsequently an Octavia (2008reg) with the 6-speed DSG - The DSG wins by a country mile! But a recent conversation with a salesperson suggests...

Aircon problems in Accord

Had aircon problems not cooling, checked gas by specialist aircon company but was full to capacity. Centre vents, cool. Nearside vents warmer. Offside vents warmer still. On a hot day setting on "lo"...

Confusing NCD

Back in 2009 I took out car insurance with 6 years of NCD. That year I then had an accident which was my fault. I am now ending my second year with that company (no accidents in this last year) and they...

Wandering E-Class steering

I recently purchased a used E280 with 45k on the clock , the steering does not feel right. It is not very precise and I have to work at keeping the car in a straight line (I understand it will not be as...

Do I need new insurance?

I took an insurance policy with eCar for myself and two sons. I was asked to provide copies of driving licences (both parts) for all named drivers. I have provided everything except elder son's photocard,...

Do I have to have my car repaired where I'm told?

Can an insurance company stipulate a garage for accidental repairs? I have used my garage (Honest John recommended) for years.

Jaguar or Lexus?

Recently retired and want to buy a used car that has a very comfortable ride. I have considered a Jaguar XF or Lexus IS250 but would welcome your opinion and/or further recommendations. Budget £25-28K,...

Cheap car for beginner

My 24 year old daughter needs to pass her driving test to enable her to progress her career. In order that she might get additional experience we are thinking of getting a small car for her to practice...

Good cheap used car for rough roads

I own a Mercedes ML 2004 and I want something smaller, preferably an estate or hatch back as I have 2 small dogs. I live down an unmade road with 2 cattle grids, so something with a bit more ground clearance...

Retrieving broken glow plug

One of my glow plug tips has broken off inside the engine, how do i get it out?

Ride quality problrms

I have a Volvo S80 auto 2006 model with 84,000 miles. It may be imagination, but I find that the ride quality is worse than it used to be. Also, the car feels unsteady when breaking downhill. (Not much,...

E-Class trade in price

What is the trade in value for privately owned May 2005 Mercedes 320CDI Avantgarde 4 dr saloon, 7 speed autobox. 85,000 miles, paintwork A1, full main dealer service history, top spec low profile tyres...

Price for an Alfa Romeo 147 (Y reg)

Hi, I am trying to find out what is a fair value for a Y Reg metallic Black 2.0 Selespeed 3 Door Alfa Romeo 147. The car has done 64,000 miles, had the cam belt changed, and got a FSH up to last year....

Volvo S60 - 8 year service

My 2003 (53) Volvo S60 is due for its 8-year service shortly. I have owned the car since new and it has covered only 8,045 miles (not short runs!). The car has a FSH with my local Volvo main dealership. I...

Economical car wanted

I need a large capacity, very economical car/estate to replace my Vectra lpg conversion. I do 30-35K miles a year with a lot of motorway driving, and need space to carry equipment. I've been looking at...

SEAT Ibiza warning light

I have a 2006 SEAT Ibiza 1.4 Sport, the little spanner symbol has just appeared next to the mileage clock along with the word "oil" flashing. I have checked the oil level and it is fine. The car was only...

Buying a used Ford Galaxy from Addison Lee

I am interested in buying one of the Addison Lee Ford Galaxy 2.0 TDCI 6-speed automatics that the cab firm disposes of at 3 years old. However, i am wary of how much mileage these cars have done in such...

MPG reading on Honda

I wonder whether it's a general rule or Honda specific that the MPG indicator reading in the car is a little on the generous side. After a trip of 397 mainly motorway miles, the car indicator registered...

Newish SEAT or older Audi

I have an Audi A4 Avant and am looking to replace it. Would you go for an 12 - 8 month SEAT Exeo or a three year old Audi which seem to be similiar cost. Any other suggestions welcome but must be front...

Car hire insurance rip-off

My daughter hired a car in Portugal last week. After only a few miles the exhaust dropped off. She called the rental company who came out to get the car ,and charged her €900 for excess before they would...

Different tyres front rear

I have a Skoda Octavia 1.4 TSI DSG (18 months old/16k mls) which needs suspension modification to rectify noise. Skoda will fit new tyres to rear only and of a different make but will not renew front tyres....

Ford Fiesta gearbox crunch

I have been looking at a 2003 Ford Fiesta 1.4 for sale by a private seller. It has 59,000 miles and hasn't had anything go wrong with it, still has original timing belt etc. I took it for a test drive...

4x4 estate car

I am looking to buy an estate car that is 4x4 and diesel, I have somewhere between £10000 and £13000 to spend. I seem to be looking at either a Subaru Legacy Sports Tourer or Outback or Skoda Octavia Estate...

Leasing a new car - what would you recommend?

I am due a change of car in September/October as my PCP on my Mazda 3 is up and I don't want to buy it outright. I've had it 3 years. I live in Scotland, we've had harsh cold winters and it was absolutely...

Replacing stolen BMW

I've recently had my 2008 BMW 335 d M sport saloon stolen after theives broke into out house and stole the keys. My wife is now paranoid that a direct replacement could lead to the same happening but...

Poor power and judder when changing gear

I brought a Vauxhall Corsa on friday for my wife. Its a 2010 vauxhall Corsa 1.0 EcoFlex 3 cylinder. When she changes gear (or me) it judders and sometimes lack power. Went back to the dealer on wednesday....

Cambelt failure on Volvo XC90

My Volvo XC90 had a cambelt tensioner fault which resulted in the cambelt breaking and the engine being wrecked. I need a new cylinder head etc. The garage quoted £4,582.50 and said that the car was...

Buy a family car

My daughter has three children under 6 and needs a new people carrier/5-7 seater for 10,000 miles/year, shortish journeys and would prefer to lease. What would be your recommendation?

Renault Modus cambelt

I have a Renault Modus dCi 106 purchased new May 2006. It has done 22000 miles, how urgently should I book it in for cam belt & waterpump change, immediately or can I wait until later in the year.

Small economical car with good rear leg room

I need to buy a small to medium used car that is less than 3.5 years old for less than £10k and I want something that is all singing and dancing i.e. it needs to have leg room in the back for 2 adults....

Tyre punctured badly after forced to hit kerb by oncoming truck

I was driving along a village high street, with cars parked on the other side of the road, and I saw a very large lorry travelling quite fast towards me. I slowed, from 30mph to just under 20mph, as I...

Fiat 500 stop start failure

I bought a new Fiat 500 twin air on the 18 June. With 327 miles on the clock, the car broke down, was recovered after a 2 hour wait & the stop/start sensor was duly found to be the cause of the problem...

Replacement small car - diesel or petrol?

I do 36,000 miles a year commuting (95% motorway) and have been running a 2007 1.4 diesel Fiesta to keep fuel costs low. I've already had to replace the EGR valve and there are signs of further trouble...

Wrong wheel and tyre

I have just bought a 07 Renault Laguna, when I got home I noticed that one of the wheels {OE alloy} had been swaped for one that is corroded and has been kerbed in 3 places. The original was in pristine...

Why is fuel more expensive at motorway service stations than at high street supermarkets?

I recently purchased diesel fuel from Messrs Road Chef via their Strensham North outlet located upon the M5 at £1.439 per litre. Incidentally the fuel purchased was 10.01 litres, which at £1.439 should...

Is there anything to be careful of when renting a hire vehicle in California?

Having read the letters on car hire in Europe and having been stung good and proper by Hertz at Toulouse airport, we have a son about to go to California on his own where he will be renting a camper van....

Which petrol Jaguar XF would you recommend for low annual mileages?

I rather fancy an XF Jag. All the information on your site and elsewhere seems to concentrate on the diesel version. As I only potter around doing, say, 5000 miles a year, a diesel seems a bit problematic....

When should I fit and then remove winter tyres? Should I keep them on even in a mild winter?

What's the drill with winter tyres? Do I put them on the car on the first of October, and then take them off at the end of March? Supposing we have a very mild winter? Do I keep them on regardless? I was...

Is there an additional driving test our 18-year-old granddaughter can take to reduce her insurance premium?

Our 18-year-old granddaughter recently passed her driving test. The family's second car is a basic MINI but when her parents tried to add her to their insurance the premiums quoted were prohibitive ranging...

I have written to my MP regarding the proposed Protection of Freedoms Bill and received a response.

Having had someone in my family caught out by parking on a private land with poor signage I wrote to my MP voicing my concern about Clause 56 in the proposed Freedoms Bill (pages 38/39) and got a response....

Why won't our insurance company provide a courtesy car whilst our Peugeot 407 is repaired?

I had a fire in my Peugeot 407 which is now 13 months old. We bought it in February 2011 from the garage secondhand. We have a warranty that still has two years on it. The fire was caused by cross contamination...

What has happened to the steering lock on my Morgan 4/4?

The steering lock of my Morgan 4/4 has never been brilliant but it is now almost non-existent on right hand lock. On left hand lock it is good. Can you tell me what has gone wrong?

Here are the bodies where you can report attempts to involve you in fraudulent or spurious accident claims.

When reporting attempts to embroil people in spurious accident claims, the best bodies seem to be: By email: ICO.gsi.gov.uk . By letter to Insurance Data Base Services Limited: 6-12 Capital Drive, Linford...

How can I dispute a parking charge I received despite being registered disabled and with limited mobility?

I am 73 years old and would be grateful to receive your advice in order to reply to a parking charge which I have received from the operators of a private car park. Four months ago I had a major spinal...

Thanks to my local Toyota dealer for repairing the windscreen cheaply on my RAV4.

I attend hospital five days a week, Monday through Friday for essential radiography treatment, a round trip of some 75 miles. I drive a Toyota RAV4 D-CAT 4x4 that is just six weeks old. A few days ago,...

Can we buy the Mazda BT-50 pick-up truck here in the UK?

My wife and I have just returned from a wonderful trip to Thailand, Cambodia and Vietnam. Most ordinary folk in those countries drive pick-up trucks as a family vehicle. I think this is eminently sensible....

I much prefer my Honda Jazz EX CVT to the i-shift I had before.

A Honda Jazz update for you. After owning my ES I-Shift for two years, I have changed it for an EX CVT. I didn't find the I-Shift as bad as some obviously did, but I have to say that the new EX CVT is...

Thanks to BMW for helping out with the steering repairs on my wife's Mini One.

My wife's MINI One suffered a serious steering problem, estimate for repair £1200. The car was well out of warranty and also out of goodwill warranty. Nonetheless, in view of the low mileage of 24,500,...