Consumer news

News in brief

Touching and feeling cars before buying and VW recall the Polo

Auto Express Car Reviews

17th May 2007

ONLINE forecourts are a popular way to buy a new car, yet 80 per cent of drivers say you still can’t beat a dealer visit. The RAC Foundation found that shoppers wanted to “touch and feel” vehicles before they handed over any money.

DID you want to add sporty stickers to your new Honda Civic Type R? Auto Express reported they’d be a no-cost option. But the maker says that applying them involves removing the grille, so owners should expect to pay £130.

A RESPRAY on your motor may cost more than paint alone. Vehicle sprayers are 96 times more likely than the average worker to get occupational asthma, according to the Health and Safety Executive, due to the harmful chemicals in the paint mist.

VW has issued a safety recall on Polos with heated cloth seats. It says a sewn-in tension wire strap could short circuit, leading to a fire in the front chairs. The fault affects 433 cars, whose owners
will be contacted directly, adds the firm.

A NEW Halfords leaflet offers advice on how to fix car scratches and dents. The step-by-step guide is in a new range by the accessory chain, developed with motor manual expert Haynes.