Is there a short answer to upgrading from an E-Class?

DOES Mercedes offer a short-wheelbase S-Class in the UK? I would like to trade up from the E-Class I currently own, but I’m worried a LWB S-Class would be far too big and make me look like a bit like a chauffeur. Keith Hayward, E-mail

YES, Mercedes offers the current S-Class in both standard and long-wheelbase forms; the shorter of the two models measures 5,141mm in length. For comparison, the E-Class is 4,940mm long, so the difference between the two isn’t too drastic. It’s worth noting there is a new S-Class on the way, and some reports have suggested it will only be offered with one wheelbase, but there are no official details yet from Mercedes, so this is unconfirmed for now.

Can I disconnect battery on a hybrid that’s not being used?

MY father-in-law isn’t driving his Toyota Auris Hybrid at the moment for obvious reasons. Can I disconnect the 12V battery, which has already gone flat once, until he is back on the road, or does the fact it’s a hybrid car make matters more complicated? Mark Fitzpatrick, E-mail

WE checked with Toyota, and the answer is yes, you can disconnect the 12V battery on your father-in-law’s Auris. The catch, though, is that when you reconnect the battery, some systems – such as powered windows with one-touch functionality – may need to be reinitialised at a Toyota dealership. The company has further advice online (blog.toyota.co.uk) about what to do with its hybrids when they’re not in use.

Dealer can’t find a cure for my car’s worrying hiccup

MY car sometimes suffers from a hiccup when accelerating, and the engine provides no power. This only used to happen on the motorway, but now it’s doing it more often. Neither my dealer nor local garage can find anything wrong. What do you advise?

Noel Davis, E-mail

THE issue could relate to a number of areas, including the fuel and electronic systems. Your best course of action is to phone around a few local independent specialists, describing the problem; one may well have come across it before. It’s also worth searching or asking in owners’ forums online, highlighting the precise engine and gearbox you have; it’s likely you’re not the first person to have had this fault.

In association with