ROADSIDE ASSIST LUXURY CHOICE

I’d appreciate your advice on a new car for short journeys. I’m down to two: the Toyota Corolla Cross Atmos Hybrid or Volvo XC40 T4 mild hybrid. I’m 70 years old and need child seats in the back. I think I’d prefer the Volvo. Anastasia Sprekos, email

You only live once, so get the Volvo. The Corolla Cross is in high demand and the flagship Atmos isn’t cheap at more than $50,000 drive-away. That said, its hybrid powertrain is incredibly efficient, using just 4.3L/100km. The XC40 thumps the Toyota style-wise, although it is quite a bit more expensive – $58,000 – with fewer features than the Corolla. The Volvo’s just been updated, drives beautifully and its cabin feels far more premium than the Corolla’s. But fuel (6.9L/100km) and ownership costs are substantial next to Toyota’s. If you can afford it, your grandkids will appreciate Granny’s fancy Swedish SUV.

NEW DIMENSION

What are your thoughts on 3D printing car parts? I’m after a VS Commodore windscreen washer bottle and while I understand why they’re expensive from car wreckers, it’s hard to purchase something old which will probably fail in the short term.

Gerard Ferguson, email

I love the idea of 3D printed classic car parts, especially as a replacement for expensive and scarce genuine parts that are potentially old and brittle. Join a Holden or Commodore forum and see if others would join you to employ a 3D printing company to make the bottle – it’ll be cheaper in bulk buy. An original part needs to be scanned (unless it’s already uploaded to a site like thingverse.com) before printing but it’s been done for trim clips right up to body panels. Porsche has successfully tested highly stressed 3D printed pistons in its 911 GT2 RS, showing the potential. But for a VS’S water bottle, I’d fork out $250 and try to get old new stock.

JOIN THE CLUB

I have a 1997 Ford Fairmont Ghia, owned by my father from new. Trying to find parts is a mission. Ford says they’re obsolete. Any thoughts where I can find spares? Malcolm Richardson, Townsville

In my almost three decades owning classic cars, I’ve had most spare parts success by joining owner’s clubs or groups locally and online. Members either have spares, parts cars or knowledge of who has rare bits. Often these parts aren’t listed for sale, so you can ask the groups: “Anyone got a passenger side headlamp for a ’97 Fairmont?” for example. For you, I’d try the Fairmont, Fairlane, Ghia Parts and Advice Facebook group and EF/EL Owners Clubs on Facebook. Brilliant resources.

INCREASED PRESSURE

Re: early tyre wear, I’ve only just replaced our 78,000km 2016 Hyundai Tucson’s original Kumhos. I think the secret is to keep pressures 2 or 3 psi higher than recommended pressures.

Lionel Tringham, email

That’s excellent longevity: the Tucson’s not a small car. Clearly, you’ve also been driving sensibly. Tyre pressure is a polarising issue. Your “manufacturer recommended” pressures are found on a sticker usually inside the driver’s door but these vary depending on the car’s load and intended driving speed. Are the tyres hot or cold? That also brings different pressure readings. Most of the experts I’ve discussed the issue with suggest a few extra pounds of pressure.

Re: Allan Barnes’s Kia Seltos Gt-line tyre life, I own the same model. My 22,000km-old tyres look almost new. Its steering was a bit righthand-down from new, showing factory settings aren’t always trustworthy. A tyre specialist’s computer alignment remedied it. If it’s not alignment, has Mr Barnes inadvertently left the diff-lock on for lengthy periods, hastening tyre wear? The Gt-line has ondemand AWD, but keeping it on full-time is only recommended when it’s slippery. Pete Bradley, Bribie Island

Good point. And it’s a lesson for all drivers who own vehicles with on-demand AWD. It should really only be used on loose surfaces such as sand. As soon as you’re on sealed road, get back into 2WD or you can damage vital components over time.

CHEAP FOR A REASON?

Your article “Smart Daily Discount Driving” was factual regarding the price of “bargain” brands next to established players but some do not have the safety features, reliability or performance that may be expected. A universal truth applies: do your own research. Jim Kefaloukos, email

More than that, do your own extended test drive before buying. After, of course, exhaustively researching newspaper and online reviews. Cheaper brands – MG, Haval, BYD, Ssangyong and LDV for example – in many cases equal or trump established brands for safety features and specification. Some have longer warranties, too, mitigating some reliability and resale concerns. In these financially tough times their appeal is obvious, reflected in increasing sales. But, with a few rare exceptions, if you love driving there are reasons to pay more for established brands.

SUN BLOCK

Re: car lighting being heavily regulated: maybe, but in my experience, not indicators. Some don’t appear to have been checked. They can’t be seen in sunshine unless you’re directly in front of the vehicle.

Bob Mayes, email

I agree. As a cyclist I’ve noticed many new car indicators are hard to make out on sunny days, especially when the orange is built in to the headlight cluster. Some DRLS (daytime running lights) turn off when the indicator’s on, adding to the light show confusion. Has light functionality been compromised for light style? Quite possibly and maybe the current regulations aren’t as strict as they should be.