I have owned my Mitsubishi FTO MIVEC for three years and have had nothing but pleasure and delight out of it. The only problem is with getting the spare parts needed to keep it maintained. I have used three pairs of Wiper Blades and I am still not happy with the present version that I have on. I got the high performance Silicone Wiper Blades from a local garage but they do not curve to the correct angle of the windscreen.

The concerns that I have with ordering parts for the FTO is that everything has to be imported from Japan to get the correct fit and style. I did recognise this when I bought the car but I didn’t realise the cost of importing such things as Wiper Blades direct from the factory in Japan. This is because they do not make the present version of the car anymore and therefore everything is by order and demand.

There are a couple of specialist companies that can help with high performance parts, such as Wiper Blades, and I have used them in the past when the car failed it’s MOT and I needed a new seatbelt, mirror and locking catch. These specialist dealers are extensively cheaper and you actually get to talk someone who will give you exact prices and delivery times. I used SMC who are a specialist FTO parts dealer, I purchased the above parts and ordered the new high performance Wiper Blades which were a perfect fit, unfortunately they were too high performance and a local kid decided to treat himself to them the following week!

I have resigned myself to using local garage or store for Wiper Blades in case of the same occurring again. I went down to a local store and bought a set of standard Wiper Blades which I thought would fit the windscreen, they were sizes 20” and 21”, they didn’t fit although the FTO name was on the packaging. I took the pair of Wiper Blades back and exchanged them for the stiff 19” version. The Wiper Blades fit the actual windscreen but did not curve around to fit the passenger side. I left these Wiper Blades on for at least six months but I noticed that during the winter months the rubber was breaking and I decided to go back to the Silicone Wiper Blades. As I have already commented on, I am still not happy with the appearance of my Wiper Blades but they are the best that I can find without paying for an import from Japan and paying a small fortune.

With the increase in technology and the resultant conveniences in our lives, the aspect of safety too has come to the fore. This is especially true in the case of automobiles. Cars are not built in today’s technical world without safety features and no manufacturer would be granted a license to produce cars if they did not comply with safety standards. A used vauxhall car would definitely pass a safety test.

The safety of a car is no longer down to the driver and their abilities alone. But with the increasing (some would say ever increasing) number of cars on our roads and the heightened speed limits at which they drive along, car safety is not an optional add on. It is a critical aspect of the manufacturing process itself. And mandatory by law to boot!

There are several areas in which cars have to be deemed safe. While the individual driving the car is still responsible for a host of safe driving practices, increasingly, small computers and micro processors are taking on the role of the car safety keepers. Cars would be breaking laws today if they did not come with the automated safety functions that technology has produced. The auto-pilot function available in some hi-tech cars is one such feature. By enabling the car to drive itself on open stretches, it ensures that drivers don’t feel the need to take their eyes off the road. Driving will be safer should when the driver is rested and able to concentrate on the road.

The very basics like seat belts and air bags are standard in cars even in the poorest countries. In many countries drivers and passengers can be heavily fined and even arrested for driving dangerously without a seatbelt on, especially if it leads to an accident.

Safety features in cars are much more than cosmetic. Manufacturers of cars nowadays have to test the car in a variety of possible scenarios in order to ensure that factors like crash zone, damage control and the like are minimized. The roads are safer with all of these safety features, that is for sure.

I’ve had my Mitsubishi FTO MIVEC for 3 years and have had nothing but happiness and enjoyment out of it. The only problem is with getting the parts needed to keep it maintained. I have used 3 sets of Wiper Blades and I am still not happy with the current version that I have on. I purchased the high performance Silicone Wiper Blades from a local garage but they do not curve to the correct angle of the windscreen.

The concerns that I have with ordering parts for the FTO is that everything has to be imported from Japan to get the correct fit and style. I did recognise this when I bought the car but I didn’t realise the cost of importing such things as Wiper Blades direct from the factory in Japan. This is because they do not make the current version of the car anymore and therefore everything is by order and demand.

There are a couple of specialist companies that can help with high performance parts, such as Wiper Blades, and I have used them in the past when the car failed it’s MOT and I needed a new seatbelt, mirror and locking catch. These specialist dealers are comprehensively cheaper and you actually get to talk someone who will give you exact prices and delivery times. I used SMC who are a specialist FTO parts dealer, I purchased the above parts and ordered the new high performance Wiper Blades which were a perfect fit, unfortunately they were too high performance and a local kid decided to treat himself to them the following week!

I have resigned myself to using local garage or store for Wiper Blades in case of the same occurring again. I went down to a local store and purchased a set of regular Wiper Blades which I thought would fit the windscreen, they were sizes 20” and 21”, they didn’t fit although the FTO name was on the packaging. I took the pair of Wiper Blades back and exchanged them for the rigid 19” version. The Wiper Blades fit the actual windscreen but did not curve around to fit the passenger side. I left these Wiper Blades on for at least six months but I noticed that during the winter months the rubber was wearing and I decided to go back to the Silicone Wiper Blades. As I have already commented on, I am still not happy with the look of my Wiper Blades but they are the best that I can find without paying for an import from Japan and paying a huge amount.