95-99 Eclipse/talon Dsm 2g Aluminum Front Tower+rear Upper Racing Strut Bar/arm on 2040-parts.com

Will your next new car stop itself?

Last week in Park City, Utah, a group of us were discussing the chutzpah that some manufacturers have in charging hundreds of dollars for outboard mirrors that dip downward when the vehicle's placed in reverse. The consensus was, “Since the electric motors in the mirrors are already there, and the computers know the car's set to back up, it's only a line of code. A very expensive line of code.” The European Union seems to be thinking along the same lines.

Missing oil changes is false economy

TRYING TO SAVE money on motoring costs by not changing a car’s oil is risking a false economy as it could lead to more wear and fuel consumption, according to Two-thirds (65%) of British drivers admitted they have not changed the oil in their car in the last 12 months, with the same number admitting they buy oil for their car based solely on price. The same study by Mobil 1 also showed only 45% of drivers knew when their car’s scheduled service intervals were, while 15% said they would cut back on servicing to save money. Dan McGoldrick, of Mobil 1, said: ‘Choosing the right oil for your car is vital as it means both the lubricant and the engine will last longer, so you’re saving in the long term.’ Tim Shallcross, Head of Technical Policy at the Institute of Advanced Motorists, added: ‘Apart from lubricating the engine, oil has the important job of absorbing harmful by-products given off by the burning fuel.

Citroen C5: news and pics of 2011 facelift

It’s facelift time for the Citroen C5. The Gallic family car gets a cosmetic fillip, new safety toys and a range of engine revisions to keep it fresh in the face of new competition from the new VW Passat and pepped-up Ford Mondeo. The 153bhp turbocharged 1.6-litre petrol nets lower CO2 emissions, down 14g/km to 153, and economy is also improved, up to 42.2mpg from 39.8.