I am a part-time driver for a charity. One of the vehicles is a Fiat Ulysse. Last year some of us had a problem with our feet slipping off the clutch pedal. Eventually we realised that the sound insulation beneath the carpet was saturated with fluid which was coming through a hole in the carpet and getting on to the sole of our shoes. This fluid had a strange smell and it was assumed that it must be water leaking from the heater. The matrix was replaced, although it showed no sign of leaking, the floor dried out and the problem seemed to go away. Until this winter, that is, when it reappeared. Again, the matrix has been replaced. This time mats have been placed over the carpet so we ought to see if anything drips from above. I feel uneasy, however, and wonder if something could have been missed. Any suggestions? Read more

Twice in two months, HJ publishes a road test and then within a few days somebody chucks me a set of keys for the same model with a cheery "Sithee Fif tell us what you make of this one then."

Happened with the Golf V with a test of a 1.6FSH followed by a 140PS GTD. Now the same thing with the Focus C-Max, though as might be expected the example I've been given to try was a base Studio spec and not the higher spec levels that HJ and other motor-noters get to drive.

Well I wasn't looking forward to it to be honest. Although trying very hard to maintain objectivity after 15 minutes in the car and found that I preferred the driving position in a 70's Transit to that of the C-max and that the CD player sounded very iffy in quality. Not that much later, with steering not all that communicative and the fuel gauge plunging rapidly from full towards the 3/4 mark after only about 30 miles then my initial impressions seemed to be confirmed, I really was determined not to like this car.

Somewhat later, having in the meantime, just got on with driving it and found it just seemed to do the job in that uncomplicated simple way that base level Fords tend to do, found myself confronted with a couple of suicidal deer hinds running across the road immediately in front and then freezing in the headlights. Yikes!

ABS pumping furiously, EBD distributing whatever electronic brake distribution does in its mysterious way, your reporter sawed away at the wheel and the Focus C-Max just...... well went "Certainly Oh master!" and drove round Bambi and sister who were left with however many remaining lives they need intact until the hunting season. No drama, no fuss, just like the Focus advert.

So started pushing things on a bit more and the C-Max does hang on well, nice and pointy with a very clear message that things are getting on the edge when the slip angle of the real wheels increases all in a very controllable way. Well done Ford.

That got me thinking, maybe I hadn't given the Focus C-max a fair shot after all.

OK so the cabin equipment as with all base spec Fords is fairly basic, but by now with a bit of effort the driving position had been adjusted to something quite OK. Even that CD player was sort of OK, setting a bit of fade to the rear sorted it in some strange way.

It went OK, engine not as flat as the Golf 1.6 FSH, and the gearbox was nothing special but never got into that unnerving situation of hunting for a gear, any gear! that one got in the Golf GTD when making a block change from 6 to 4 or 5 to 3.

Speaking of the gear change the C-max has one of these levers which looks like it sprouts out of the dashboard as has been seen on some Hondas but without the advantage of clearing floor space in the passenger compartment.

Another terrible design fault is the Galaxy like arrangment of the front screen pillars which have that triangle of glass at the bottom. This makes the driver pillar very wide indeed and you can be in another vehicles blind spot and they in yours. Plus when driving round housing estates small kids are completely hidden on bends unless you really make a conscious effort and lean forwards and sideways. On the positive side of the visibility front the passenger wiper has a sort of trapezoidal mechanism which allows it to sweep very effectively into the upper corner of the windscreen. Furthermore visibility rearwards is ace for a mini MPV with full headrest complement.

What else didn't I like, seeing as I was determined not to like this car. Well accepting that one journey in particular was in quite mucky weather I'm not sure that a washer bottle that is emptied in around 200 miles is big enough and errr what else? Well I'd agree with HJ about the dopey rear seat system and that's about it.

On a final minor plus point liked the heated seats. First time I've seen a Ford with adjustable heating levels as opposed to the usual two settings, i.e. off and bum about to frazzle. Able to select a heating level which is just about right without any complication or drama.

That comment about the heated seats sums up the Focus C-max for me. One finds oneself warming to it nicely, but it'll never set your pants on fire.

FiF


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The distributor on my Golf Mk 2 has seized in the block, and I can\'t get the timing right. Can anyone suggest how to free it without getting penetrating oil into places it shouldn\'t be? Or would it be OK to use penetrating oil then do an oil change afterwards?

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Does anyone know how to get the radio out of a friend's 1996 Citroen AX. She has a new cd/radio but we cannot figure out how to get the old radio/cassette out! Its the last of the AX series with the newer moulded dash. Thanks in anticipation. Read more

My partner has her SAAB 9/3 Tdi insured for £320 a year, 3 drivers over 35 and protected no-claims. The renewal came up on Monday and the quote was £400 for the same car and same risk with the same insurer. Did a bit of shopping around, including confused.com who had some keen quotes. Among the higher quotes was £420 from Liverpool Victoria but thru the CSMA, Liverpool Victoria quoted £280 which she took up. £140 is an amazing reduction just for going thru a motoring club. I do recommend CSMA to anyone who is eligible to join; no connection other than as a satisfied CSMA member! Read more