A full-size matching road wheel (I paid extra as I tow a caravan) does not fit in the well of the boot of my fantastic new Astra SRi 2.0 CTDI. The ‘spacesaver’ is two inches smaller in diameter and the tread width is half of that of the proper wheel. Surely using this wheel would adversely affect the handling and safety of the car?

I have written to Vauxhall and had a telephone acknowledgement from them and a promise that, as requested, my letter is passed on to the design and engineering team. Also, the designated eye on the Vauxhall detachable tow bar for the breakaway cable is not big enough for the standard clip to pass through in order for it to correctly double back on itself. I wrote a second letter to Vauxhall concerning this fact. Obviously the design team has never hitched up a caravan to an Astra.