Articles by Graham Smith

Make the effort to get your car ready for sale and you could reap the reward of a higher price. It doesn't take much and you could be surprised by the result.

So, you're going away for an extended period and can't bring yourself to part with your car; instead you want to put it into storage until you return.

Carmakers spend millions of dollars squeezing every last little bit of fuel consumption out of the cars we buy, but all of that hard work can be for nothing

Shorter days mean more time driving in the dark of night or the semi-darkness of dawn or dusk, which limits visibility. Throw in rain, hail, snow and fog, and it's even harder to see.To combat it we need to do everything we can within our power to enhance our visibility.The first barrier to good visibility is the windscreen and windows through which we view the road ahead and what is around us.It's fundamentally important to regularly clean the windscreen as well as the side and rear windows to enhance our visibility in all directions.Don't just clean them on the outside; also clean them on the inside to remove the accumulation of plasticisers and cigarette smoke and other airborne contaminants that clouds our view of the outside world.Using hot water on a cold windscreen will almost certainly crack itOn really cold winter mornings we often wake to find our windows covered with ice and in our rush to get on the road we're tempted to clear it away using hot water.Using hot water on a cold windscreen will almost certainly crack it. Use cold water straight from the tap, it's warm enough to melt the ice and you won't damage your windscreen.Make sure your wipers are operating correctly, that's on low speed, high speed, and intermittent settings.Also check the wiper blades and replace them if they're showing signs of wear. Consider replacing them even if they're not, they're cheap and can be replaced in a matter of minutes.Also make sure the windscreen washers are working, that there are no blockages in the nozzles, and they're aimed correctly at the wiped area of the windscreen.Make it a routine to check the windscreen washer reservoir and keep it topped up with a mix of water and anti-freeze as per the carmaker's recommendations. If you're not sure check your owner's manual.Don't forget to check the wipers and washers on the headlights.We rely even more on our lights in the winter months, so it's a good time to check they're all working.Switch on the lights and walk around the car checking the headlights – on low and high beam – the parking lights, tail lights and turn indicators, including the side repeater lamps.With the engine turned off, but the ignition switched on, place the transmission into reverse and check that the reversing lamps are operating.Check the emergency warning flashers are all operating, they will be of vital importance if you're stuck on the side of the road.Finally, check that all brake lights are working. You might need someone else to check the lights for you while you apply the brakes from the driver's seat, but if you can't find anyone to help out the reflection in a shop window can be useful.Repair any lights that are not working, replacing a globe is a simple job that only takes a few minutes.Keeping the windscreen and other windows clear of mist is the job of the heater/demister or air-conditioner so make sure they're working and efficiently demisting the windows.The air-conditioning system is more effective at demisting the windows than the heater/demister because it removes the moisture from the air that actually causes the misting.While you're at it check the rear window wiper, washer and demister to make sure they are all in good working order.Batteries come under extra strain during winter when they have to power the lights, wipers and washers, heaters and air-conditioners, and have enough left over to turn over a cranky engine on cold mornings.It's usually on those freezing cold mornings deep in winter when batteries call it quits.Before it gets to that check the battery. Remove any build-up on the battery posts terminals to ensure there is good contact.If you need to replace the battery do it with one that has sufficient cold cranking power to handle the load in your car.The tread on our tyres plays a vital role when the roads are wet. The function of the tread is to pump water away from the contact patch where the tyre contacts the road.As the tread wears down its efficiency to remove water from the contact patch is reduced, and beyond the legal tread depth limit it's virtually useless.Before winter takes hold inspect your tyres for tread wear and measure the depth of the tread. If they're heavily worn replace them.Don't forget the spare.It's also important to maintain the correct inflation pressure in the tyres. By doing that you'll ensure that the tread area in contact with the road is at its most effective.

Being prepared for them before you leave home will help you cope when you're faced with them.Before you leave check that your car will handle the tough challenges it will face in snow areas.Check your tyres, lights, wipers, and washers to make sure everything is in good working order.RELATED: For more information on preparing your car for winter check our handy hints guide here.Temperatures are likely to be well below zero in ski areas, which really tests your car's battery, particularly when you come to start your car first thing in the morning.Make sure the battery terminals are clean and the clamps are tight.A battery typically lasts three to five years, so if yours is getting near that age have it checked by a battery retailer or a tyre store. It's better to spend the money on a new battery rather than risk being stranded in a ski area with a dead one.Carry jumper cables with you to get you going if your battery struggles in the cold.Having jumper cables with you might also help get someone else going.The coolant used in today's cars is a mix of water and anti-freeze. The anti-freeze increases the temperature to boil, enabling our cars to better handle the hot weather, but perhaps more importantly it prevents our engines from freezing in the sort of cold conditions you would expect to find in ski areas.Ensure the coolant in your engine is of the correct mix to cope with the temperatures you are likely to find in ski areas.If you're not sure about it check your car's owner's manual, or ask for advice at your local auto store.While you're at it make sure the windscreen washers also have anti-freeze so they don't freeze up and stop working when you most need them.Before you enter the snowfield plan to stop and fill your car with fuel.If you're driving a diesel fill with alpine-mix diesel fuel so the fuel system doesn't freeze in the cold conditions. It's worth checking ahead of time to find the service stations stocking the winter blend fuel that are closest to the ski fields.A car with a dual-fuel LPG/petrol system should be switched to petrol before you get to the snow area and run on petrol while you're in the ski area.It's a good idea to top up your fuel tank, whether petrol or diesel, with fuel before heading up the mountain in case you have to stop for an extended period for any reason and need to keep your engine running to stay warm.Before doing anything break out the owner’s manual and read the manufacturer’s recommendations for driving in the snow.Snow chains cannot be fitted to every wheel and tyre combination sold here in Australia, so check your owner’s manual to make sure that you can fit chains to the wheel and tyre combination fitted to your car.Many sporty cars are sold in this country with high-performance summer tyres that are not ideal for driving in the snow.If you’re a regular visitor to snow areas consider fitting winter tyres to your car.Drivers entering a snowfield in Victoria must carry snow chains in their cars, and must fit them when directed to do so.The Victorian law applies to all vehicles, whether two-wheel drive or four-wheel drive.In New South Wales, it's only drivers of two-wheel drive vehicles who are required to carry chains.Four-wheel drives are not required to carry chains in New South Wales, but it's highly recommended that they be carried, particularly if the driver is inexperienced in alpine driving conditions.When required chains must be fitted to the drive wheels of the vehicle. That means the front wheels on a front-wheel drive vehicle and the rear wheels on a rear-wheel drive vehicle.Practice fitting the chains so you're familiar with how to do it before you get to the snowfieldIf you drive a vehicle with on-demand all-wheel drive the chains should normally be fitted to the front wheels.On a vehicle with full-time four-wheel drive the chains should be fitted to the front wheels to aid with steering and braking.The chains must be suitable for fitment to the wheel diameter and the size of the tyres on your car. Go to your local tyre retailer for advice.Before you leave home practice fitting the chains so you're familiar with how to do it before you get to the snowfield and have to fit them on the side of the road in the cold and snow.When directed to by an authorised officer or when you see roadside signs instructing you to do so.There are special roadside bays at the entry points of the snowfields where you can pull over and fit chains safely.Driving in snow and on icy roads is challenging and drivers should always be prepared in the case of a breakdown, or worse, an unplanned off-road excursion.It's wise to have an emergency first-aid kit, torch, towrope and a spade in the car to help get you out of trouble.To cope with the cold in the event you have to get out of your car it's wise to have warm clothing, like a jacket, hat and gloves, with you.Driving in alpine conditions demands extra care. Lower your speed, allow more distance to brake, don't accelerate too hard and spin the wheels, and ease your way around bends with minimal throttle.All-wheel drive is a safer bet than two-wheel drive in slippery conditions, particularly for inexperienced drivers, but it still requires caution on the part of the driver.

Holidays should be fun, a time to enjoy a break from our regular work routines, to kick back and relax, but sadly many Australians have their lives touched by the tragedy of road trauma.

Going on a road trip with the family should be a fun adventure enjoyed by everyone, and with a little preparation before you leave home it can be.

Golf owners got away to a good start. Then came gearbox woes. New Volkswagen launched a large range of Golf variants here, with a car for everyone, from basic transport to sizzling sportsters such as the GTi and R models. We'll focus on the most popular versions, the regular hatchbacks. The sixth-generation Golf

The big, booming V8 in the performance Commodores signalled an era of change. New Launching the VE in 2006, Holden claimed the model would save its bacon. It didn’t. As Holden, like Ford and Toyota, plans to abandon local manufacturing in favour of marketing imported cars, so buyers have abandoned the likes

Graham Smith reviews the second generation, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011 Volvo S40 as a used buy.