HONEST JOHN EXPERT ADVICE

The dealer you can trust is on hand to answer your questions on car problems and consumer issues

DATA PROTECTION FACT

Is it possible to find out if my Mini, RE61 AVG, is on a forecourt somewhere or if it has been sold? I would like to buy it back. ST

The DVLA website shows it is taxed and has a valid MoT until June 2019, but GDPR means that unless the current owner emails me, this is all that I or anyone else can tell you.

MISSION IMPRACTICAL

Is the transmission in my 2016 Audi A3 1.4 TFSI S-Tronic likely to develop any faults? And how often should the fluid and filter be changed? DL

Your car has the DQ200 seven-speed dry clutch DSG/s-tronic, in which the transmission oil is not shared with the clutch pack. It is crucial not to sit in Drive on the brakes with the engine running, which promotes clutch pack wear.

Although more reliable, Lexus don’t have BMW dynamics. The young car enthusiasts who write for magazines have little consumer contact and don’t know the value of reliability.

WALK THIS WAY

My daughter’s fiancé is considering buying a 2010 Volvo XC90 2.4 diesel Geartronic AWD five-door auto with 109,000 miles on the clock. It has no service history, was a lease car, one lady driver, no warranty, reduced by £1,000 to £6,999. My instinct is to walk away, but perhaps I’m missing something? MS

Your instincts are correct. Too much could be wrong; it needs a timing belt, tensioner and water pump, but the list could go on and on and on.

POLLUTION SOLUTION

I’ve read that cars bought before 2015 will fall foul of the emissions limits within the London ultra-low emissions zone (ULEZ). Will my 2014 Vauxhall Meriva Life be OK? AT

Type your registration number into tfl.gov.uk/modes/driving/ultra-lowemission-zone/vrm-checker-ulez. If it’s a petrol it’s at least EU4, probably EU5, and will be fine. If it’s a diesel it needs to be EU6, which it might be.

GRIM AND TRONIC

My wife is test driving a Peugeot 108, but I had never heard of its 2-Tronic gearbox, which the dealer says is automatic. Is there any reason for caution? FH

It isn’t automatic, it’s an automated manual – a cheap way to provide a two-pedal car. Best avoided, as it’s not nice to drive and prone to problems. The only very small cars with a decent four-speed torque converter auto are the Kia Picanto and Hyundai i10.