Does my Chrysler Voyager have a cam belt or a cam chain?

Can you please tell me whether my 2001 (51-reg) Chrysler Voyager 2.5 CRD has a timing belt or chain? I was told it has chain - I also found the same info on this model on several internet sites. However...

When should I sell my old car?

I bought this car in 2001 with 18 miles on it, now it has 132K on the clock. It’s almost bomb proof, it’s a 1.8 SE Auto, with Recaros I had fitted because of my back injury. It will cost me £600 to run...

Small car for all uses?

I'm looking for a cheap new car to do all things... it'll be a compromise and your HJ review points me towards a Fiat Nemo. A Panda is just too small with only 4 seats. It's got to be cheap to buy/run/insure,...

Petrol or diesel?

I drive about 10000 miles a year. Is it worth getting a diesel and I mean a 10 year old diesel, or stick to petrol? I've been offered a nice MG ZS + 1.8 with low mileage.

Avoiding a steering motor problems in a Panda

I was perturbed to read your answer regarding the burning out of the electric motor on the Fiat Panda steering, as my wife owns a 1 year old Panda. Can you please explain further what you mean by holding...

Buying an automatic MPV

We are looking to buy a new car for our expanding family. We need an Automatic model and think we like either the new Zafria Tourer or the Ford S-MAX. Any advice on which is the best car to buy

Honda Accord v Volkswagen Passat

I am thinking of changing my 2009 diesel automatic Accord. It has been very reliable, and comes with all the goodies but it is only averaging 35mpg. Would I be better changing it for a petrol version,...

Car Accident Assistance

Two months ago I bought a new Volvo. Now I have a "Car Accident Assistance" policy, from Volvo provided by "OOPS". It says it will provide a replacement vehicle & £100,000 legal expenses cover. You have...

Buying a high mileage MINI

I'm thinking of buying a 2005 MINI Cooper used for £3,990. It's done 103,000 miles. Is this too much to spend? Am I going to have lots of problems with it? I want it to last me 1-2years (approximately...

Peugeot Boxer water ingress problem

I purchased a year-old Compass Avantgarde motorhome, based on the Peugeot Boxer, in 2008. I recently sold this vehicle, but had to drop the price due to water ingress having caused rust on the engine....

Unresolved long term problem

My wife has a 2007/57 plate Fiesta owned from new and with full dealer service history. Mileage is only 11600. From new it has "jumped out" of second gear on the overrun - usually using engine braking...

Garage wants extra cash for a car we part exchanged.

We recently part exchanged our car with £500 for a car at a garage. The deal had been done but two days later they have phoned up wanting an extra £500 saying our old car had been an insurance write off...

Volkswagen Eos cam belt or chain?

Could you please let me know whether a 2008 2.0 TSI Eos has a belt or chain driven cam?

Fiesta diesel or petrol?

I am looking to buy a nearly new Fiesta. For around 20 weeks of the year I will be doing a school run that will amount to 350 miles a week. The majority of my other miles will be fairly local with my work...

Parking charges

I have received a parking charge notice from Flash Park for unauthorised parking in Norwich. I stopped for 5 minutes with a small problem with my car, the offence happened inadvertently when I drove on...

Need a new car for a new baby

I currently don't drive to work but a new job means that I will have a 15 mile commute. We also have a second child on the way. We currently have an 05 Focus 1.6 Zetec with approximately 90,000 miles....

Selling Audi A4 at auction

My friend has approached British Car Auctions to sell her 11 year old Audi A4 2.0 petrol. They have valued it at about £2700. However, they are un-prepared to allow a reserve to be put on. Was it unrealistic...

Buying a car that's stood for a year

I have seen a 61 plate Jetta Mark 1 advertised at a VW dealer. Should I be concerned that this car was manufactured almost 12 months before first registration? The later model has a smaller boot which...

Buying a Mazda Bongo

I have a budget of £7-8k and am interested in buying a converted Mazda Bongo - there are petrol/diesel and manual and automatic versions. I seem to be able to get an N or P reg with a nice looking conversion....

Problems with my second hand Zafira

I bought a Zafira 1.6 from my local garage and after three months I have been told that the engine is going to pack in by the RAC, due to severe oil usage. I bought the car 'sold has seen' but the next...

Which engine is best in the Ford C-MAX?

I have to update our Mondeo estate (2002 petrol) and am considering a C-Max, perhaps 1 or 2 yrs old. I am attracted to the 1.6 diesel because of low VED, and good economy. Your review has very little...

Can I get a B-MAX/ Focus with Powershift?

I'd like a B max (1st) or a Focus (2nd) with the new 1.0 eco boost - but with the Powershift dual clutch auto box. Do you know when they will be out? Dont want the old 1.6.

Buying an old diesel

I only have a grand to spend. Is it worth buying a diesel, eg fiesta, with 100000 on the clock and for sale, privately for £900? I want a car that is cheap to run. I do about 12000-15000 miles a year....

Rough running Corsa

I recently purchased the above car from a Vauxhall dealer. Having read your columns and back room all the negative press about DMF's has got me thinking. I notice that when I accelarate through the gears...

Release of data from DVLA

Two months ago I was knocked off my bicycle by a car driver who gave me a false name and address. I applied to DVLA to find out who owned the vehicle but the reply came back "DVLA does not have a record...

Volkswagen Passat injectors

I have a 2007 Volkswagen Passat and have just had my third injector go in three years, is this right?

Replacement for Megane Estate

I wish to replace my five year old Renault Megane Estate (1.5 dci) with another medium sized estate. I can afford approx £8000 plus what I can get in part exchange for the Renault. What do you recommend...

Zafira reliability

As I slow down to pull up at a set of trafic lights the engine just dies, it starts again with no probems and it drives ok. I have taken it to 2 garages and nothing found to be wrong lucky there was no...

Buying an Octavia

I am considering buying a new Octavia Estate and wonder whether there have been any problems. Also please confirm that the 1.2 and 1.4 petrol engines have chain cams.

Wanted - small to medium petrol engined car with sunroof

Wanted a used small to medium, petrol engined car with a sun roof. Well made and reliable. Any suggestions?

My BMW's injectors needed replacing - is this common?

I have a BMW 118i SE three-door auto which I purchased new on 1 March 2007. The mileage is 41,438, mostly on long runs and the car is seldom used on short trips. It's always fully serviced and MoT’d by...

Do all insurance companies give discounts for fitting winter tyres?

I renewed my car insurance automatically in mid-October without speaking to my insurance company, Toyota Insurance. I phoned them three weeks later to say that I would be fitting winter tyres again this...

Should I call for assistance if I need to change a wheel on the motorway?

I was advised by someone in the motor trade not to change a wheel on the hard shoulder of a motorway, but to call the RAC/AA to do it because their van with its flashing lights will offer some protection...

Can you clarify whether parking enforcement on private land is a civil matter?

I am somewhat confused by the advice you gave to RJ of Stockport in November ('Space Invader'). You stated that the owner of the land was quite entitled to charge a penalty if the terms of the parking...

I bought a Nissan Cube after reading your review, and am really pleased with it.

I heeded you and, having read your review, bought a year-old Nissan Cube 1.6 Kaizen at £7,801. It is hugely practical, loaded with extras, comfortable and I do not mind that it looks like a baby seal....

Should I change the transmission oil in my Volvo V70 automatic?

I have a 2003 Volvo V70 2.4 auto which has done 110,000 miles. Apart from being a little clunky in the morning the auto box is fine and smooth. However, the Volvo forum is emphatically of the view that...

Which luxury sedan should I pick?

I am planning to buy my sixth car, which must be a premium sedan. I have shortlisted the F10 BMW 530d, W212 Mercedes-Benz E350CDI, new Jaguar XF diesel S and Audi A6 3.0 TDI Quattro. My priorities are...

Are quoted mpg figures really accurate?

You often say manufacturers mpg figures are unreliable. When I bought my 2.0L petrol Ford Mondeo in 2003 the brochure gave the combined mpg as 35.3. The ongoing average mpg I get is 35.6. This seems about...

My Renault Scenic automatic won't change up when cold - why is this?

I purchased a Renault Scenic 1.5DCI EDC from a Renault dealer at six months old and was informed that the previous owner could not get on with the auto gearbox. I have found the vehicle has performed superbly...

Why does our Mini Clubman Cooper SD's fan continue after the engine is switched off?

Earlier this year, I replaced my wife's Mini Clubman Cooper S with the new Clubman Cooper SD. I am delighted with car, although it has a rather noisy engine, it goes well and the torque excellent. I do...

What car do you recommend for use in hilly terrain?

I am a 57-year old female and I need to change the family car in the very near future. At present I drive a 56-reg Nissan Micra C+C, which I like driving and I have enjoyed having a convertible. The new...

Why are some over-50s insurance policies more expensive than normal policies?

People over 50 should be very careful when dealing with insurance companies who purport to offer a special service to them. My wife, with an impeccable driving record, recently went to renew her insurance...

Which tyres for our Mercedes-Benz SUV?

We have a 2003 Mercedes-Benz ML 270 CDI 4x4 auto showing 52,000 miles, mainly on motorways but a little off-road, and also a 2007 Mercedes-Benz B200 CDI Auto showing 17,000 miles, mainly around town and...

Do 'snow socks' work?

I would like to ask if you have any experience of 'Snow Socks' for winter driving, that fit over the two driving wheels of front or rear drive vehicles as an alternative to snow chains? My vehicle was...

Do automatic cars lurch forwards without warning?

We are buying a Honda Jazz shortly, but we have been advised by friends that we should go for an automatic as they say "once you have driven an automatic you will never go back to a manual". We have heard...

Why does my daughter's TwinAir Fiat 500 return the same mpg as my Volvo XC60?

Just to add to the debate about the 500 TwinAir, my daughter has been running one in London for a year now, and has done 5000 miles. Average fuel consumption is 33.3mpg according to the computer - and...

Skoda Superb, Peugeot 508 or Toyota Avensis?

I want to ask for comparison about three gasoline-engined cars. Skoda Superb 1.4 122hp, Peugeot 508 1.6 120hp or Toyota Avensis 1.6 132hp. Which car is the best for comfort, reliability, price/performance...

How would you recommend I go about polishing my Mazda MX-5?

Many thanks for your recent advice on the best paintwork clay cleaner and wax products for my MX-5. Could you now advise on the best polishing method and products?

Workshop damaged my car's jacking point - should they repair the damage?

Am I being over fussy by complaining to my local Kwik-Fit depot for the damage to a jacking point on my Peugeot 407? Before I realised what he was doing, the fitter used a large trolley jack under the...

Should I have the timing belt changed on my Volvo S80?

My Volvo S80 D5 was delivered in Dec 2003 and has done 80,000 miles without a problem. The Volvo service book says after 96,000 miles or eight years I should change the timing belt. Should I have the belt...