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Dear Harry
I’m often reading about NCAP safety tests and results, what are they please?
Dear Joan
’EuroNCAP’ stands for European New Car Assessment Programme and is made up of 25 consumer organisations from E.U. member states. Its job is to assess the crash-worthiness of new cars, a process of putting each model through a series of controlled crash tests.
The results are published periodically, the latest in July. If you want a really safe car, look at the EuroNCAP results and choose one with the highest star rating you can afford. Apart from the national motoring press the results can also be found on-line at:
http://www.euroncap.com/results.htm
The tests cannot exactly replicate what happens on the public road but insofar as the tests are tough and all new cars are put through the same procedure, their conclusions are valid and give a strong indication as to the relative risks of injury to occupants and pedestrians. The organisation also has the backing of several European governments, including our own, the European Commission and major motoring organisations across the Continent.
Dear Harry
I have had my car serviced before a long motoring holiday later this month but they have failed to check the cooling system as I asked. It is a long way to the service agents and I don’t want to lose the use of my car for another day, is there anything I can do myself at home?
Dear John
In a word - Yes. Cooling systems rarely come under greater stress than when sitting still in heavy traffic with no overflow over the radiator and these are conditions you can simply replicate at home. Make sure the engine is fully warm and then leave it running. Within 10 minutes the water temperature should have risen enough for you to be able to see and hear the cooling fan cutting in. If it doesn’t, get it straight back to the garage. Look also at the hoses leading to and from the radiator or engine; if they’re wet or stained you have a coolant leak that needs fixing, again, point this out to your garage.
Dear Harry
I am a disabled driver and the holder of a Blue Badge. I notice that on-street ’disabled bays seem to be kept free for badge holders by enforcement through the Police and Traffic Wardens, the same cannot be said for my local supermarket. The bays are constantly full of able-bodied drivers, I have asked the local police if they have any powers to limit use, they say it is the responsibility of the supermarket. The supermarket 'customer help(?) desk' says they don't have enough resources to monitor parking, who else can I turn to?
Dear John
Designated bays provided on the highway by local authorities are fully enforceable by law (32 & 35(1) of the Road Traffic Act 1984). Unfortunately, in privately operated parks, like your local supermarket, where bays are not backed by an order, the providers are only ’advised’ to ensure specially marked bays are used only by those displaying the appropriate permit. May I suggest a quiet word in the manager’s ear, if this does not help, write to the local newspaper - Customer power usually wins out in the end!
Dear Harry
My wife and I are emigrating (in retirement) to France at the end of the year.
Our car, a 2-year old Xantia would be just right for our use, could we have it converted to LHD?
Dear John
You could, but it really wouldn’t make any financial sense whatsoever - Sell the car here before you leave and buy the same model much cheaper in France when you arrive. HAPPY RETIREMENT!
Dear Harry
I am thinking about buying a Renault Cleo; as I have no part-exchange I am free to buy anywhere. The dearest prices seem to come from the official Renault garages in this area and the cheapest, personal import dealers. Is the warranty provided by a U.K. purchase really worth the extra money?
Dear Joy
One of the benefits of buying a brand new car from a dealership is obviously the 3-year warranty but remember the warranty will only be valid if you have kept strictly to the terms of the agreement. This is particularly so where servicing is concerned, this must only be carried out by a franchised dealer and at the recommended times and/ or mileages. The manufacturer has pledged to put right any faults that are not connected to normal wear and tear.
If you have a transferable warranty to sell with your car it will be worth more should you wish to dispose of it. An import may only have a 12-month non-transferable guarantee. Remember, no matter where you buy a car in the U.K. whether it be in a garage or on-line you have basic consumer rights as well, usually under The Sale of Goods Act 1979. Your local Trading Standard Office will be there to help you in the event of dispute or, indeed, just for consumer advice.
Finally, when choosing a dealer, find a well established frim with a good local reputation, the terms of the warranty and the service are likely to match a good reputation for fair trading practice.
Dear Harry
I have recently watched a car film in which many remarks are made about NOS, apparently it makes your car go a lot faster, can you tell me more on this please.
Dear Mark
Mark, I take it you’ve seen ’The Fast and the Furious’ then, good film. Nitrous Oxide, better known as NOS does make your car go faster but it’s not that simple. The way it works is as follows, when you heat nitrous oxide to about 570 oF, it splits into oxygen and nitrogen. The injection of nitrous oxide into an engine therefore means more oxygen is available for combustion. Because you have more oxygen, you can also inject more gasoline, and that means more energy, power and speed. As you will have seen in the film, NOS is fitted to all the high performance cars (Misubishi Evolutions) etc. NOS should only be fitted by a specialist, and it is recommended to be used by one. Enjoy The Fast and the Furious 2, Harry. WARNING Nitrous fitted to smaller engines without modified pistons can blow the engine to pieces!!
Dear harry
My son has recently passed his driving test, could you please settle our argument and tell me if the green P plates are compulsory as he is refusing to use them.
Dear Matthew
You probably don’t want to hear this but your son is not legally required to use the green P plates. Some people like to use them after they’ve passed until they are fully confident on the road but they are not compulsory, sorry!
Dear Harry
I have been sharing a car with my mother for about a year now but I have saved up some money (£1300.00) and I’m looking to buy. Can you recommend a good car for that money? Preferably something small & girly but reliable.
Dear Michelle
For £1300.00 I could recommend a few, first there is the Fiat Putno, you should be able to pick up a N reg for your money, (private sale).The Fiat Cinquento seems to fit your preferences, again you could pick up a P reg for the same money. If you don’t want a Fiat then there is always the Ford Fiesta, not as ’girly’ but it’s reliable, cheap to run and you make it your own. Let me know what you end up buying, hope I’ve helped, Harry.
Dear Harry
I am thinking about buying a car direct from Europe, using a car importer. Do you have any tips please?
Dear Mike
This is becoming an increasingly popular way of buying new cars, often at prices much lower than in the U.K. However, it can have its pitfalls, and it is essential to take precautions. Remember that you might have to wait several months for the car to be delivered; you might not get the same guarantees or warranties that you would get from a U.K. dealer. If there is a major fault with the car, it might be difficult to take action against a dealer in another country - check whether the importer will take legal responsibility; check whether there are any risks of surcharges for differences in exchange rates; take steps to protect any advance payments, using a credit card if possible. Finally, shop around and make sure you get EVERYTHING in writing. Please let us know how you get on - We can then pass on any tips to other prospective purchasers!
Dear Harry
I have bought a second-hand Volvo S40 from a main dealer but have found it fitted with a smaller size spare with all sorts of restrictions as to use. Have I the right to insist they fit an original spare wheel, I thought it was illegal to mix tyres of different types on the same axle.
Dear Michelle
The smaller ’space-saver’ spare was actually fitted new to your car and they are exempt from the normal rules as long as their use is for emergencies only, you cannot therefore ask for a ’standard’ replacement. Though the tyres look smaller, they have the same rolling circumference as the standard tyre. They are at much higher pressure and do not dissipate heat as well as standard tyres, which is why there are restrictions on speed and length of journey. They also don’t brake as well as standard tyres, so always leave extra room in front of you and be prepared for a much longer ’emergency stop’.
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