Car Servicing

I'm in the habit of using the up/down manual mode when driving my 2010 Subaru Forester auto. I do it mainly in hilly areas, but also in everyday commuting. I've heard that this may shorten the life of the transmission. I've heard the saying "brakes are cheaper to replace than transmissions" more than once. Could you please advise?

My 2010 Holden Epica diesel is coming due for its 6-year annual service in May. The book specifies changing the timing belt at 6 years/90,000 km but my car has only done 63,000 km. It has been trouble-free, so should I worry about changing the belt at the next service, or should I wait until it's done 90,000 km?

My 2005 VW Golf has 155,000 km on the clock and I have just found out that the auto transmission needs to be replaced. I have been quoted $7000 to put in a new transmission. Is this worthwhile considering the age of the car?

As a retired motor industry employee I follow the issues and quirks about different models. But I'm irked when I read your comments about constantly variable transmissions. My 2008 Nissan X-Trail Ti has done 110,000km trouble-free. It is fitted with such a transmission and I have absolutely no problems. On recommendation I had the CVT oil changed at 50,000km and 100,000km — not cheap as I used genuine Nissan CVT oil, and it seemed to rejuvenate the trans. It is a lot quieter and does not flare when it has to work a bit. I would recommend that the oil change be considered. It is worth the cost.

I bought a new VW Golf Comfortline on the last day of 2015 and it's given me absolute hell. The ignition key got stuck and wouldn't come out, so back to the dealer after only two weeks. Then the entertainment system stuffed up. I took it back and twice they said they fixed it. Then the whole car just died while driving home from work. No display on any screen, no entertainment unit, no speed display, no engine. In the four months I've had it, it's been in the shop for about two months. To date, it's still there.

Never keep both car keys in the same location or together — and if you lose one get another cut immediately. My son bought a new Subaru Impreza in 2015 and, on an overseas trip, he put both keys in his bag, which was subsequently stolen. The vehicle was in a basement garage at his unit block and it should have been no problem to call a specialist locksmith to get one cut on the site. But no. Tried two locksmiths and one could unlock the car and steering but could not cut or program a key. It had to be dragged out on dolly wheels, then taken to a dealership. In the end we had to replace door locks and keys, a combination meter, a key kit, an integrated unit plus labour. The cost was $3471 and we will never buy another Subaru.

Soon after I purchased my new 2016 Ford Ranger PX Mk2 I noticed that it does not sit level; it had a lean to the left. I measured it and it sits 15 mm lower on the LHS. I contacted Ford who said it was within specifications, but I am not happy that a $60,000 car aesthetically looks wrong, not withstanding possibly causing more wear and tear on the left. Have you heard of this problem with the Ranger and can you offer some advice?

We are having problems with the automatic transmission in our 2013 Ford Focus and Ford has admitted that it is a safety hazard. We bought the car new in 2013 and since then it has four upgrades, two new clutches and a transmission control module. We are angry that Ford is not co-operating; we want a full refund but they have offered only $20,000. We were having trouble with the transmission in the first year and they assigned us a case manager but to date we have been handballed to three different people. Is it fair for us to expect a full refund of $26,000?

My Ford Focus is nearly two years old, it's had the clutch replaced twice and the shudder problem is still there. I've been in negotiation with Ford since early February with no joy whatsoever. The dealership has offered me an upgrade to a 2015 Kuga, but they aren't taking into consideration the two years of payments I've made so far. All they want me is to get me into a new car so that I can just start paying them from the beginning all over again. No one seems care to about my warranty, which is being disregarded. Could you give me some advice in this matter, I feel like I'm being intimidated as they're saying I have "no other option".