Michael McAleeranswers your questions
From Des Byrne:
I was thinking of buying a Nissan Qashqai 1.5 diesel two-wheel-drive. The ESP system is €800 extra. Would you please explain what ESP really is, and if I should buy it? Would it help with grip on a two-wheel drive vehicle?
Electronic Stability Programmes (ESP) or whatever abbreviation you care to offer for such systems (ASR/ESC etc) monitor the steering and braking inputs to work out where the driver intends to go, and then matches that against the individual wheel speeds, the sideways - or lateral acceleration - and the way the car is leaning.
If it senses the car is unlikely to make the desired turn or direction, it uses individual braking of the wheels and a reduction of the engine power to correct the speed. It usually matches up with other programmes like traction control to prevent a car sliding because one of the wheels has lost grip.
Numerous international studies have confirmed the effectiveness of ESC in helping the driver maintain control of the car, help save lives and reduce the severity of crashes. If you want more support, take the engineers at EuroNCAP, who "strongly recommend" that people buy cars fitted with stability controls.
That's not to say that ESC is the ultimate safety feature. It has its limitations and it will not always be able to get you out of trouble if you do something really stupid. With that warning in mind, I think that €800 is a price worth paying for the system. In reality, if such systems were fitted as standard on most cars in Ireland there would be a lot fewer crashes.
Unfortunately when it's put on the options list most buyers pass over it in favour of metallic paint or a six-CD changer in the boot.
As for your intended purchase, the new Qashqai is a very interesting proposition. The 1.5-litre engine impressed my colleague Donal Byrne when he first drove it some weeks back. It would seem to be a good buy and given its two-wheel-drive nature and its relatively high stance, ESP would be a very useful feature to have. It's a pity Nissan don't feel it necessary to make it standard across the range.
From Mary T:
I read in your column about a reader who was concerned about the production date of her car, compared to the date of registration.
I have similar concerns, though your answer to her was that she had little to worry about as most cars don't suffer from sitting in a yard.
Is there any way of telling the real age of a car?
There are some telltale signs in a car. For a start, there is normally a date stamp in the ashtray and also there can be production dates listed on the seatbelts. That should give you some indication of the production year for your car.
It's something worth checking as well, in case you believe the car has been re-registered illegally.
From D McArdle:
I was recently stopped by a garda who threatened to prosecute me unless I removed the dark tint on the rear windows of my car.
What about the women who drive around with sunshades on their windows? Surely they are acting just as dangerously?
While these sunshades are used for protecting babies from direct sunlight, technically they must allow 70 per cent light transmission. I am not aware of their ability to do that, but there is a case to be made and there shouldn't be one law for mothers and another for others. If it inhibits a clear view of the rest of the traffic then it is just as illegal as tinted glass.
From JQ:
I purchased a BMW 523i in August 2005. It seems to require a litre of oil between service intervals, which are dictated by the on-board computer.
The main dealer/vendor passes this off as acceptable on the basis that it has a powerful engine and the service intervals are longer than previous models. My previous model 523i did not have this issue. My next service is mid-March. I would welcome your comments.
The engine in your new car is more powerful and the direct result is that it will consume more oil. Although the old engine had 170bhp, the new one has 187bhp. That may not seem like a lot when it comes to everyday motoring.
However, given the longer service intervals, it's not surprising that the computer - which is set to err on the side of caution - will advise an oil top-up more regularly.
The computer takes a lot of factors into account, from the driving conditions such as increased traffic idling, through to the higher tolerances with which the more powerful engine must cope.
While it may seem odd, you have to weigh the extra cost of a litre of oil against the cost of more frequent servicing. I think that given the cost of your car and the importance of maintaining it in top condition - particularly for the potential resale value it may have - you are best to follow the on-board computer and err on the side of caution. I would certainly bring it to the attention of the service staff at the dealership, but if they are happy with the consumption levels, then I would not feel too put out.
From D Malone:
I've been driving people carriers for the past eight years or so, but the time has finally come where I no longer need seven seats. I want to get back to more reasonable driving - less taxi runs - but I do like the high seating position and I've not been impressed with the saloons I've tried. Any suggestions?
There are several smaller five-seater models with high-seating styles. Try the Ford Focus C-Max, the upcoming five-seater Citroën C4 Picasso or the Mercedes B-Class if you want some premium branding.
All have the practicality of a hatchback with the seating of a people carrier. The Ford is perhaps the most enjoyable drive of this lot and that may be what you are after at this stage of your motoring life.
Send your queries to Motors Helpdesk, The Irish Times, Tara St, Dublin 2, or e-mail motorshelp@irish-times.ie