Safety

I recently signed up a contract to purchase a 2016 Lexus RX350 Sport Luxury and the car is to arrive to Australia in August. There are three models within the RX350 range, the Luxury, F Sport and Sport Luxury, but it seems the top-of-the-range is actually missing the Vehicle Dynamics Integrated Management setup. My understating is that it links the traction control, electronic stability and brakes and helps the car regain control when it loses traction. I can't see why Lexus, after charging an extra $6000 for the top-range model, has decided not to include this seemingly important safety feature. Can you please tell me whether the sport luxury model is missing this or not?

I have been on to Ford Australia for advice about the poor, bordering on pathetic, high-beam lights on my 2013 Kuga. Talking to the dealer, I only got vacant looks and no response. Ford Australia only offered the usual gobbledygook of complying to Australian Standards — what I wanted was advice as to what was the best way to improve the high beam. I was thinking high-intensity discharge or LED driving lights. Is this feasible and where would I be able to get genuine advice on this? The low-beam lights are adequate but high-beam is bordering on dangerous for open road and freeway driving.

An old saying is, "Learn by your mistakes." It's much smarter to "Learn by others' mistakes". There have been couples starting a family who try to solve their coming transport problems by buying a small SUV, only to find a baby capsule or child seat will not fit on the rear seat with the front seats set back to accommodate tall front passengers. The problem gets bigger when you have two or more children to accommodate.

When I purchased my 2013 Subaru I requested a reversing camera, and they agreed to fit one, but I have had nothing but trouble with it. When I first complained about it shortly after the purchase they came out and cleaned it and it worked well, but at night it's so foggy it's hard to see anything. Now they say it's not a genuine part they fitted, but they never told me it was not a genuine part. That's very deceptive.

My daughter has a 2014 VW Golf, which at times fails to proceed. The engine remains running, but the accelerator pedal has no response until it's pushed hard to the floor when all at once it accelerates at great speed. This is a very dangerous situation in any car. I have returned it to the dealer, who could find no fault. Are you aware of this problem?

My partner owns a 2003 Mazda 323 SP20 that has always been serviced by Mazda. It still looks and feels great for its age, but I have a massive problem with it. The accelerator pedal is really sticky when you first start the engine and take off. So much so that I once thought the accelerator wasn't working, until I applied quite some force with my foot and it 'clicked' out of its sticky position and began accelerating. My partner has learned to live with the problem, but I don't think I can. Is this a known problem? And if so, do you suggest taking it back to Mazda or to a specialized mechanic?

Are parking lights needed by law these days? I cannot leave the park lights on my 2014 C12 Nissan Pulsar on and lock my car. When I lock it they go out. I have tried other Pulsars and they are all the same, but other makes I have tried do allow the park lights to stay on. I know park lights aren't needed much these days, but I feel they should work when you need them, and still be able to lock your car at the same time. Or are park lights a thing of the past?