Neglected facts/safety issue from main dealer purchase

On the 15/09/2011 I purchased a 57' Nissan X Trail (New Shape) from the main dealer, Cooperative Group, 200 miles from where I live. Before purchase I phoned the garage to make sure it had no towbar fitted...

Is a Yaris suitable for a long winter commute, or should my daughter buy a 4x4 instead?

My daughter has a Toyota Yaris, which she was driving for four years over short to medium distances. Now she is taking up job in Walthamstow (Herts) shortly and needs to commute from home in Chorleywood...

Why is VOSA initiating these changes to the MoT inspection, such as visual inspections only for suspension springs?

I just read a letter sent to Car Mechanics magazine (Oct. page 41). It was sent by an MOT tester who went on a refresher course run by VOSA. One of the things he wrote about was that it seems as though...

Why is our BMW Compact's space saver wheel a different diameter to its 16-inch wheels?

In Honest John in August a reader mentioned that his Astra space saver spare wheel was two inches smaller in diameter than the road wheels. My BMW Compact has 16-inch wheels, while the space saver has...

I'd like to recommend the Road Safety exhibition and test in Torbay for elderly drivers.

Each year the Road Safety team at Torbay Council organise a Seminar and Exhibition for senior drivers. This event has stands that include the Institute of Advanced Motorists, eyesight tests, reaction testing,...

I have fond memories of the Renault 4, a simple, reliable little car.

James May's eulogistic comments about the late-lamented Renault 4 in July 9 Telegraph Motoring raised many nostalgic memories about this excellent little car, of which we owned five different examples...

Why aren't modern cars fitted with freewheeling devices like that found on the Rover P4?

Rover fitted a selectable free wheel device to its ‘Aunty’ models in the 1960s. I recollect my father using it for most of his driving. Why has something like it not been resurrected as fuel prices have...

Do you find bright daytime running lights to be a distraction?

I am concerned that BMW, Audi, Mercedes and Ford appear to compete with each other to see who has the biggest and brightest daylight running lights. I find this very distracting at the moment when there...

Is it safe for my four-year-old niece to sit in the front seat of my car, where there is an airbag?

I'm a little confused by the information out there about whether a child can sit in the front seat of a car with an airbag. My niece is four. I have twin babies who go in the back in their car seats. My...

Are there any performance benefits from using H-rated tyres over V-rated tyres on my Saab 9000?

I always fit replacement Michelin Energy 195/65 R15 Tyres on my old Saab 9000 CSE and have been asked whether I require H or V rated tyres. I do understand that 'V' is geared to higher speeds and, although...