Technology

Thirty new electric vehicles planned for VW's next decade as it realigns its business post-Dieselgate.

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.

What is your opinion on modern cars, especially with all the electronics built into them these days? Once upon a time you could buy and keep a car for 20-plus years, now it seems modern cars will become obsolete every few years just like computer equipment and software. I cannot see a 2016 car still being driven around in 2036, although I possibly see a car built pre-2000's being driven. This may be OK for people who change vehicles every 3-5 years, but what about the rest of us who don't have that option?

A light on the right side of my instrument panel on my E220 Mercedes-Benz comes on and when it does I cannot accelerate the engine. To get it to disappear I have to switch the engine off and restart again. How can I fix this problem?

Some buyers might be pleased to know that at least one car brand has a three-year free update for GPS maps. I just bought a Mercedes-Benz A250 Sport and asked about the map updates, to be told by the sales man, “They cost about $400”. This is a point of concern to many owners with built in GPS as your letters suggest. But, on checking the Mercedes-Benz web pages, I found they are free for three years, as they should be. I guess this is no consolation to some readers but it ought to be standard during the warranty period at least for all car makers.

Battery electric cars will able to run for 500 kilometres between five-minute recharges - and out-perform any petrol-powered car on the road - in less than five years.

Bad bluetooth is becoming a major turn-off in showrooms and Nissan has the numbers to prove it.

For years I have thought how wasteful the car vehicle makers are when they include a rev counter in every vehicle. I have asked several friends including lots of women and they do not have a clue why this instrument is there. Also, for the layman it means nothing. What does it matter to me if I’m doing 4320rpm when I change down or brake into a corner? Most vehicles in Australia are autos and rev counters are window dressing or bling as we say. A useless waste of money. I challenge you to ask all your non-car mates and friends what they perceive the rev counter does for their driving. I'll guarantee you get lots of "I don’t knows". Surely there’s a saving there.

Bluetooth has claimed its first casualty at our house.The shabby connection and reception from the Bluetooth unit has forced brother-in-law Peter to walk away from his dream car. It was a Subaru STI.After many years as a sales representative running in a string of Commodores, he finally walked away from Holden in favour of a Subaru WRX. He was hooked and trade-up time took him, almost inevitably, into the faster STI.He loved the car until he hit the road again to lay the foundations for a new business and discovered the Bluetooth failings of his new Subaru."It's OK around town but as soon as I hit the highway it's awful. Sometimes I have to stop so people can hear me," he says."Concrete freeway surfaces are the worst. But it's never good."His reaction is exactly the same one I experienced recently in a new Hyundai, which had a telephone connection that was more like Blu-toot. The company is promising a quick solution and says I only have to wait for the next tweak on the i30.Peter went looking for solutions and eventually found one in a new Kia Sportage. It's better for the travelling showroom, too.But I will not forget the look on his face as he parked the STI for the last time, a mix of frustration and disappointment with the lingering love of a great — but flawed — car.

I recently left my passenger window open on my 2016 Ford Focus and it rained, and now my driver's display doesn't work and the radio comes on then says battery saver system and turns off. Could you advise me on which fuse is responsible for this, or could you give any advice on how to fix this?