It saddens me somewhat to say that I'm giving The Backroom a break - for an as-yet unknown period of time.

Not that my leaving is in any way important, but I just wanted to mention that it's down to what I perceive to be a 'sea change' in the tone of many contributions to this previously excellent forum.

Clearly, forum members come and go all the time - but I feel that the 'cream of arrogance' has floated to the surface at the moment. Maybe I'm just getting sensitive in my old age......

So thanks, everyone, for the many stimulating discussions over the years - and adieu.

LHM Read more

Hi

Just collected my CRV back from the dealers because of a non-working rear washer. The lovely lady told me it was because whatever screen wash had been used, this was reacting and 'gunging' up the washers and pipes. I've only had the car a few weeks and hadn't put any new in since picking it up from the dealers.

She recommended not using any screen wash whatsoever as Honda now don't put any in when they service cars.

Not wanting to face winter and the crappy roads without some sort of screen wash in the car, and in particular to keep it the runny side of frozen does anyone have any suggestions as to which screen washes to avoid as they are known to gunge or which ones are recommended not to gunge?

many thanks Read more

It seems that 85% of Telegraph readers who have voted in today's poll think that the driving age ought to be raised to 18. Does this forum agree? Read more

My Audi 80TDI has suddenly started smoking when the engine is ticking over after a run.

The car has covered 120K mostly local miles and has a full VW service history. My VW specialist has treated the engine with injector cleaner and recommended a long run to clear the exhaust out.

But after changing the air filter which involved disconnecting the pipe to the EGR valve I noticed clouds of smoke intially out of the exhaust on tick over. This eventually subsided and the fumes are no worse than nomal.

Oil consumption is negligible. but the fumes have a really acrid smell which is particularly noticible on a damp day.

I am treating the fuel with Millers Diesel clean.

Are there any othetr checks i can make to help reduce the fumes?

Cheers, Read more

The Outback went in for service yesterday. I also had to go to Glasgow for a funeral, so I got a courtesy car from the dealer (a Micra- combined nissan subaru dealer) and a Pug 207 for Avis. In both cars I did about 35 miles of motorway driving. Impressions....

Externally - couldn't care less!

Internally - the 207 was much smarter, but the dials were harder to read and looked as though they had been shunted up the casing by 1cm. I was much more comfortable in the 207 as I couldn't move the tilt of the Micra seat (it was the basic model I think). Overall, I would have preferred to spend more time in the Micra, had it not been for the seats.

Driving - The 207 is cleary a slightly larger car and to that end, has a larger and more confortable feel. Both had very light steering (almost too light). My main gripe with both was the gearing - too low. They are both geared at about 21mpg per 1000rpm in fifth. At that ratio, 70mph is noisy and also the cars can acclerate too quickly in top gear. If you want a great deal of acceleration, drop down a cog. Both cars were very lively and I would have been very happy with 10% longer gears overall. This would surely have improved the rear world fuel economy.

For what it is worth, I put in less than a gallon of fuel in the Pug for 37 miles (90 motorway driving- rest city centre).

Would I have bought either of them to replace the Outback - no, but I could be tempted by a high class high quality smaller car. The Nissan Note looks the kind of thing, but I found the seat too uncomfortable in the showroom. Whilst waiting for my car to be cleaned, I sat in a Cashcow as well - I like it! - but thought that the rear seat room and boot space sparse given I was in a 2wd car. Read more