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Car Clinic

The Sunday Times Driving Placeholder

Five fast, affordable estate cars for under £10,000

A family estate car doesn't have to be dull to drive, and neither does a fast estate have to be small. Here, we at Driving scratch our collective...
Published 05 December 2014
The Sunday Times Driving Placeholder

Is there a cheap way to change the rear light cluster...

Q. I recently clipped and cracked the rear light cluster on my 2009 (but 2004-8 model) Mazda3 Sport saloon. I have been quoted £400 for a replacement...
Published 02 December 2014
The Sunday Times Driving Placeholder

How should you drive a rear-wheel-drive car in snow...

Q. I recently bought a new BMW and am a little concerned about how to handle a rear-wheel-drive car as the wintry weather approaches. Any advice?...
Published 02 December 2014
The Sunday Times Driving Placeholder

What's the most cost-effective way to change the cloth...

Q. I’d like to change the cloth seats in my 2003 VW Golf for leather, but the cheapest ones I can find cost £1,000 for a set. Any money-saving...
Published 02 December 2014
The Sunday Times Driving Placeholder

I am looking for a used convertible with a big boot?...

Q. I am looking to replace my six-year-old BMW Z4 roadster, which has a convertible fabric roof. The current model has a solid roof that, when lowered...
Published 02 December 2014
The Sunday Times Driving Placeholder

Letters of the week, November 23, 2014

This week: the Kia Soul EV, electronic handbrakes, bad backs and older drivers
Published 24 November 2014
The Sunday Times Driving Placeholder

What used 4x4 petrol car will cope with winter weather...

Q. I need a car for short-distance drives that can cope with hills and winter weather. I’d prefer a petrol model with four-wheel drive. It does...
Published 17 November 2014
The Sunday Times Driving Placeholder

The five best Audi quattros money can buy

Audi may be a household name known for cars packed with technology and innovations, but back in the 1970s it was the poor relation of the German car...
Published 14 November 2014
The Sunday Times Driving Placeholder

I polish my car and use "Extra Gloss"... do I need...

Q. I use a polish on my car, which comes complete with another product called Extra Gloss. Do I need to use a wax as well as these two treatments?
Published 12 November 2014
The Sunday Times Driving Placeholder

Do breakdown services carry tyre sealant for roadside...

Q. I have heard that the AA and other breakdown cover providers will not use tyre sealant if you call them out to fix a puncture. Is this true? I...
Published 12 November 2014
The Sunday Times Driving Placeholder

Letters of the week, November 9, 2014

This week: Land Cruiser Amazon love, keyless car hate, parking rules and blinding brake light bother.
Published 11 November 2014
The Sunday Times Driving Placeholder

What's the best petrol-powered car with respectable...

Since retiring I drive so much less that it’s no longer efficient for me to run my Mercedes-Benz C 220 CDI rather than a petrol-powered model. Given...
Published 10 November 2014