Letters of the week, November 23, 2014
The issues that got you talking this week
Tanks a lot
Good to read an informative and positive review of the new Kia Soul EV (“Assault and battery on your wallet”, last week). However, where it shows a summary of the Nissan Leaf and Vauxhall Ampera, it states that the Ampera has a “limp home” petrol engine to eliminate range anxiety.
I have owned an Ampera for two years, and the whole point of the car is that when it switches to petrol, it has a sensibly sized fuel tank (35 litres) and an engine that gives about 45-50mpg, meaning you can drive as far as you would on petrol as in a conventional car, and at full performance.
Mike Ball, Waterlooville, Hampshire
Our friend electric
I must reply to David Mills, who claims we all despise the electronic handbrake (“Technology drive”, Points, last week). He certainly doesn’t speak for me, or most of my friends. Electronic handbrakes are more efficient and easier to use, save weight, increase fuel economy and make hill starts redundant. If he wishes to drive in the 20th century, he can. I will drive in the 21st, thanks.
Steve Ingles, Rugby
You’re winding me up
Possibly David Mills also pines for the days of wind-up windows, no power steering and an eight-track cassette?
Martin Garvey, Wollaton, Nottingham
Bootiful engineering
It may not be obvious to the perfect physical specimen that is Jeremy Clarkson, but the adjustable boot floor in the Volkswagen Golf SV is a godsend to people such as me with a bad back who can’t cope with a high boot lip (“Oh look, it’s the pride and joy of the daft ideas department”, last week). Mind you, please keep the Luger for the meeting that decided to introduce the electronic handbrake to the Golf range.
Duncan Craig, Nottingham
Freewheelin’ days
Is nothing safe from EU interference (“C’mon, you young daredevils, leap through those Brussels hoops”, Biking, last week)? The only limits to my bikes were (a) could my feet touch the ground and (b) could I pick it up again if it fell over?
Hazel Prowse, Camberley, Surrey
Testing times
The headline “Experienced drivers would fail the theory test now” said it all (News, last week ). I watched a hazard perception DVD and I was confused, as most were not hazards — they were part of the everyday driving experience, which you should expect and negotiate safely, as most do.
Rodney Hooker, Huntingdon, Cambridgeshire
