Is mis-selling car finance really as bad as the PPI scandal?
There have been rumours for a long time that car finance was the new payment protection insurance (PPI). Mis-selling, it was said, was rife around borrowing to buy used cars.…
Author: James Foxall
I’ve been writing about cars and motoring for more than 25 years. My career started on a long-departed classic car weekly magazine called AutoClassic. I’ve since pitched up at Autosport, Auto Express, the News of the World, Sunday Times and most recently the Daily Telegraph. When I’m not writing about cars and motoring, I’m probably doing some kind of sport or working in my garden.
I bought a car and later found out I had been mis-sold car finance. Can I claim any compensation? If so, how?
Our reader bought a car in 2019. He later found that he was paying an unreasonably high APR on the PCP. He eventually had to return the car before the…
My Audi dealer says company standards insist on replacement brake pads at 10mm of wear. What is the legal minimum for brake pads?
Our reader was horrified when he took his Audi A5 into a dealer and it said he needed replacement brake pads. It then revealed that his brake pads had 10mm…
What is a keyless car? If you have to press the keyfob to open it, is it a keyless car?
This question came about because our reader wanted to know whether they should buy a Faraday pouch. These block the signals emitted by keyfobs to keep cars safer. The reader…
I’m considering switching to an EV but I’m worried about how long EV batteries last
One of the biggest concerns among buyers is how long EV batteries last. It’s a fair point because EVs are a relatively new technology and all we have to fall…
Is it best to change winter for budget summer tyres? Or use winter tyres in summer?
It’s a common conundrum: you’ve fitted winter tyres for the cold months but what do you do with them when the weather warms up? Can you use winter tyres in…
How do I stop an engine overheating?
Back in the day it was common to see cars stopped roadside, bonnet up, steam pouring from an overly hot engine. Overheating is less common now but it does still…
How do I get car finance with bad credit history?
You’re not alone in having a bad credit history. But don’t give up hope: you can get car finance with bad credit history. If one finance company has turned you…
Can the next-door neighbour extend a dropped kerb across our property?
Our reader’s neighbour wants to extend a dropped kerb. Their proposal is for the new lower kerb to go in front of the next door house’s garden. The neighbour wouldn’t…
Can you cross a solid white line on a motorbike if you’re passing stationary cars and it’s safe to do so?
Our reader is talking about a very specific set of circumstances. He’s on a motorbike, riding up to a level crossing at a railway. The gates are down, lights red…