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• BRAKE DISCS AND PADS: Why do brake discs as well as pads need replacing so often? (FAQs)
  Ever since asbestos was banned from brake pad material, and also to keep pace with the increased performance of modern cars, manufacturers have had to add metal to pad material and to make brake discs softer and sacrificial. Rear disc brakes pose an additional problem.
• STORING A CAR: How should I prepare my car for long term storage? (FAQs)
  Pushing it in one direction will help prevent flat-spotting of tyres. Pushing it backwards and forwards will help keep brakes freed off. Nothing you can do about the a/c unless you take the car for a run. You might preserve the a/c seals by starting the engine, but will create a lot of condensation and lube oil dilution.
• OIL CHANGES: How often should I change the oil in my car? (FAQs)
  Change the coolant every 3 years if it is an MEG coolant, or every 4 years if it is an MPG coolant. Change the brake fluid every 2 years unless it is Dot 5 silicon brake fluid (unlikely on a mass-produced car). If the engine has a timing belt, change that every 4 years or every 40,000 miles, whichever comes first, unless the engine has no history of premature timing belt failures (Ford Zetec E and Zetec S engine timing belts generally exceed their design life of 80,000 miles, so can be changed at 6 years or 80,000 miles, whichever comes first.)
• WINTER TYRES: Should I use different tyres for the winter? (FAQs)
  On hard packed snow, frozen snow or ice, ABS might actually prevent the car from stopping because it automatically releases the brakes on wheels that are skidding. If all four wheels are skidding it will release the brakes on all of them. So on snow and ice, think ahead and start braking gently a lot earlier than you would in normal conditions.
• GARAGE SERVICING: How can I find a reputable garage  to service or repair my car? (FAQs)
  They usually fall for it, but watch out for the bloke who has a handy mate with a ramp who can spot that all that's needed is to tighten a few nuts. The Brake Blag During a routine service, 'discover' that the front brake discs are wearing thin and are in need of replacement. Punters are getting used to having to replace discs every 30,000 miles, so even if the discs are still in good condition you will probably get away with selling the parts and a nice fat labour charge.
• TOWING LAWS: What is the new tachograph law about towing?  (FAQs)
  "Any manufacturer unable to accept the encrypted sender unit faces considerable re-engineering work so we are expecting extra business as a result." The best-selling Rodeo Denver 3.0 litre diesel turbo offers a braked, 3,000 kg towing limit and a 1,000 kg-plus payload. More at www.isuzu.co.uk Also more at www.transportoffice.gov.uk (use the site seach)  
• ELECTRIC CARS: Is an EV right for me? (FAQs)
  NK city is designed to meet the strict safety requirements of both Europe and the US, as a highway-safe road car. The car is equipped with ABS brakes, airbags and three-point safety belts with pretensioners and it meets all European and US requirements with good margins. “Unlike the lower-range, electric quadricycles that have had limited success in the UK, TH!
• SPEEDING OFFENCE CODES: What do the various endorsement codes mean? (FAQs)
  CodeOffencePenalty points CU10Using a vehicle with defective brakes3 CU20Causing or likely to cause danger by reason of use of unsuitable vehicle or using a vehicle with parts or accessories (excluding brakes, steering or tyres) in a dangerous condition3 CU30Using a vehicle with defective tyre(s)3 CU40Using a vehicle with defective steering3 CU50Causing or likely to cause danger by reason of load or passengers3 CU80Using a mobile phone while driving a motor vehicle3 Reckless/dangerous driving   Offence codes DD40 to DD80 must stay on a driving licence for four years from date of conviction.
• HIRING A CAR: Where can I hire a car in the UK and abroad? (FAQs)
  The car is fitted with several items of optional equipment to enhance safety and driving pleasure. This includes uprated brakes, sports exhaust, heated seats, 6-point safety harnesses, anodised short-shift gear lever and ‘get home’ storable hood. Based in Shrewsbury, Shropshire, Sportscarhire is now the exclusive road hire partner of Zenos for England and Wales.
• INSURANCE WRITE OFFS: What do different insurance write off categories mean? (FAQs)
  Don’t assume such vehicles are drivable, however; non-structural faults may include brakes, steering or other safety-related parts. Think of Cat D / Cat N like this example: A car is worth £6,000, but sustains some minor cosmetic damage. The damage will cost £2,500 for an insurance repair that includes the cost of a courtesy car for the owner while the repair takes place.