Britain’s Toy Car Wars
Giles Chapman (History Press, thehistorypress.co.uk) Price: £20 Rating:
WHETHER or not you remember the days of fierce competition between toy car makers Dinky, Matchbox and Corgi, this is a really interesting book. The battle raged through the seventies, with each manufacturer trying to outdo the others on ‘play value’. In an age when CGI and virtual reality rule the roost, it’s nice to slow down and remember the days when die-cast models were coveted by kids everywhere.
Best price: £27.97 Adaptors: One Contact: 01299 251130, www.wiperblades.co.uk Rating:
BEST BUY ANOTHER victory for Bosch, as the Aerotwin continues to impress with its sleek design and effectiveness. It’s one of the easiest to fit, and comes with just one adaptor that easily clicks into place. The blade performed well in the noise test – although the Michelin had it beaten – but its ability to displace water on the screen couldn’t be topped. It has a clean, effective stroke that leaves no smears and stands out as a test winner here.
A KEY benchmark was a clean wipe that didn’t leave smears across the screen of our 2007 SEAT Leon test car. Wiper blades can also be irritatingly loud, so we looked for the quietest designs, which we rated on a dry screen. Good, clear instructions were essential, so you don’t waste time, as was simple fitting. Price was the final factor; our figures are for a 65cm set, taken from online sources as we went to press.
Best price: £21.50 Adaptors: One Rating: Contact: 01299 251130, www.wiperblades.co.uk
WE liked how easy the Clearvision is to install. It comes with just one adaptor that slots easily in place. On the noise test, we found it slightly louder than the Easyvision, which could be down to its bulky size. It left lines of water at the very top of the wipe, and a smear across the centre of the screen.
Which oil for Ka top-up?
MY Ford Ka is in between services, but the oil needs topping up. Trouble is, I don’t know what oil is already in there. Do I need to use a specific brand to make sure it’s compatible?