Ask The Guide

As I understand it it's not a straight fit. The headlights on your car can be adjusted so have your dealer do it at the next service and see if that improves it for you.

I agree, they've issued the recalls and as far as I can see it is Mitsubishi's responsibility to see they are actioned. Their attitude would suggest they aren't terribly interested in safety. Go back to Mitsubishi and suggest to them they need to take more interest in what is a safety issue serious enough for them to issue a recall. If that gets you nowhere write to the company's headquarters in Adelaide and address the letter to the CEO, Mutsuhiro Oshikiri.

This is typical of a problem with the Prado blowing engines at high mileage. It was due to carbon buildup on the oil pickup in the sump, the carbon resulting from a leaking fuel-injector seal that allowed fuel into the oil and contaminate it. The dealer's report would suggest that this is not the case, as they appear to have checked the fuel and oil systems for contamination and carbon buildup. You could have an independent mechanic check the engine for you to see if they could find a cause that contradicts the dealer's findings.

I would not be considering any European cars of that age if you want reliability with no expensive surprises along the way. As a rule European cars become more and more unreliable as the years pass and the kilometres climb, and they are expensive to repair. Your best bet is to go for an Asian brand, Toyota, Honda, Mazda, Kia.

No, we haven't had this reported to us before, and being so random it's unlikely to be a common problem for Commodore owners. It sounds like a computer glitch, perhaps a faulty signal from a sender, or a poor connection. Unfortunately, until it happens regularly your mechanic will have trouble finding the cause.

The fact is we don't have the same clout as Americans do, that's because our consumer laws are weak. Your best course of action in the short term is to talk to your dealer about the problem, and have them do an oil consumption test to establish the actual oil usage. If the test proves your assertion that it's using too much oil you will then have good grounds on which to ask Subaru to do something about it.

Condensation is normal but not dripping into the cabin. It's quite possible there is a blockage somewhere, which can happen if leaves and debris lodge in the plumbing. It's under warranty so get the dealership to investigate and fix it properly.

The dealership has now sharpened the quote but most companies now only sell headlamps as complete units. Yours is among the highest of the hi-tech, including a set-up to turn the lights for corners, so it's costly.

The test figures are done in a laboratory, with the car on a rolling road, like a dynamometer. Real-world test numbers are coming but there is no international standard yet for testing. Our road tests cars are driven as realistically as possible, which often even means bicycles and scooters in the back and three youngsters on the back seat.

There is nothing sinister or underhand here. Car companies rotate their plates on to their newest models to make life a little easier for their fleet administrators.