Andrew Hamilton's Weekly Motoring Clinic
Parking security
Is your car safe in a supervised car park? Clearly not, according to the experience of Damien McIntyre from Dublin city centre who e-mailed us. "I had been parking on the streets in the evenings. Twice my car has been broken into: it's a very modest 1995 Toyota Corolla and there was a terrible mess each time."
He decided the only alternative was to use the Drury Street car park, operated by Park Rite. Just over a week ago, parked in the Drury St car park, which is closed overnight, he discovered his car had once again been broken into and this time items in the glove box, like a mobile phone charger, were taken.
"I complained, of course, but at Drury Street they told me curtly that I parked there at my own risk and they pointed to a notice at the entry, beside the tariff of charges, saying that very thing.
"There's building work going on at the car park at present. On a previous occasion when I used this park, the machines which take cash and credit cards were out of action. We had to pay manually at an office and the man there said there had been a break-in and the thieves tried to get the money out of the machines."
Drury Street is one of the best known and most used car parks in Dublin city centre. Mark Feeney for Park Rite says the building work is the cause. "It has exposed the car park to some degree. But the work is now finishing and we expect it to be totally secure from this week."
But there's no compensation for Damien McIntyre. "He is renting space, not security," says Mark Feeney.
Young bikers
Aubrey Flood from Dundrum, Dubiln, writes to us wondering why our My Bike and I column seems to acknowledge the existence of only middle-aged to elderly motorists who spend about €12,000 on a motor cycle. "What about younger guys who ride smaller machines. It is not necessary to spend €16,500 and have 1,500cc between your legs. There are smaller, narrower and lighter bikes still available." Point taken. We have passed your comments on to our two wheels team and hopefully our coverage will be representative of all ages and bike types.
Number plates
Tony Rodgers from Limerick has taken delivery of a new Alfa 147 and is "absolutely disgusted" by the relative size of the standard Irish number plate - at 52 cms long - on the front. He says it ruins the beautiful lines of the bonnet and grille.
"All the dealer could offer was that this is the standard plate, and anything else would be illegal."
Tony says he has seen photographs of the 147 with Continental plates, which are smaller and designed to fit the car. "I am sure the Italian design team would be appalled at how the Irish plate intrudes on their masterpiece."
Tony has our sympathy. He could flout the law and fit a smaller Continental-sized plate. There's no legal solution. Maybe the EU with its enthusiasm for harmonisation will get round to see that "small is beautiful".
Europe trip
Robert Byrne from Cork and his partner are planning to travel around Europe for three months in a 1993 Renault 5 Campus. The car, he says, has done 35,000 miles and had been regularly serviced.
What sort of preparatory work or precautions? Make sure it has had a complete service, replacing engine oil and filter, coolant, brake fluid, brake pads and worn or old tyres.
It would be wise to also have a right-hand-drive clutch cable with you, because that is one part Continental European Renault garages will not stock.
3-point belts
Edith Hamill from Co Meath is searching for a seven-seater that provides three-point belts for all passengers. "I need to carry five children under the age of seven and am reluctant to place any in a seat with only a lap strap."
The new Peugeot 307SW is a good-looking seven-seater with a full set of proper three-point seatbelts. Prices here start at €22,550 ex-works for the 1.6 litre GTX.