Since I Have My Workshop

Since I have my workshop, it has been easy to work on my cars. There is a lot of room to move around. I have no worries of anyone having issues with me making noise or fumes or anything that goes with working on cars of any kind. With that I put my Touareg on jack stands to check the brakes. I have had the "check the brake pads" message on my dash for some time now. So I wanted to check them to see which is the culprit for the message. So here is the Egg up on the jack stands. After inspecting the brakes at all corners, I determined that the rear driver side was the brake that was causing the message. I found the wire broken on the inside pad. The outside was not broken but starting to wear through the insulation of the wire. You can see the exposed wire of the outside pad sensor in the picture below. Once I reconnected the broken wire from the inside pad, the message did not return. I am assuming that grounding the wire does not prompt the message but an open circuit does. Anyway, since the outside pad sensor was wearing through the insulation and it was a matter of a little time before it would trip the worn pad warning message, I did not reinstall the sensor. You can see that I zip tied it to the brake line to keep it out of the way. There is still plenty of pad left on that side even though it tripped the sensor. Also the rear brakes wear slower than the front. I also have new rear brakes already in the shop. So I will wait until the brakes are all the way worn out then replace to maximize the money.

Breadth of talent is critical so offering good tech, a satisfying driving experience and comfort are necessities in this category. The executive car field might be limited in size compared to some but with strong contenders from Volvo, Audi, BMW, Mercedes, Jaguar and Tesla, it is going to be extremely tough to pick a winner. Refinement, quality and a composed yet engaging driving experience are on the wishlist. Estate cars are all about everyday practicality - largely thanks to boot capacities that can swallow a small elephant. This year sees two contenders from Skoda, but also the new and hugely popular Volvo V60. The first of our SUV-specific categories, the best small SUVs are finding homes with customers who would previously have bought a small hatchback or supermini. Off-road capabilities are not really important in this class but sharp looks and competitive equipment levels are both essential. The Peugeot 3008 returns again after winning last year, but with the Skoda Karoq, Mazda CX-5 and others snapping at its heels, the judges will have a tough decision on their hands. Comfort, practicality and equipment are key here, but styling also plays a big role.

Large SUVs are getting further and further away from their hardcore 4x4 roots, meaning off-road ability is less of a priority than infotainment and innovative interior features. That said, a mix of capabilities both on the Tarmac and off it is desirable. The small premium SUV sector is a relatively new one, but it’s expanding quickly. Volvo appears to be on an incredible run of form recently, but the XC40 will have to trump the likes of the MINI Countryman, Jaguar E-Pace and Audi Q2 if it wants to emerge victorious. The mid-sized premium SUV shortlist is largely made up of the big brothers and sisters of the small premium SUV contenders. The exceptions being the Mercedes GLC and the Alfa Romeo Stelvio. With judges looking for style, quality and high-end technology, FCA’s first SUV could be set to topple the favourites. Large premium SUVs have been becoming ever more opulent lately - the recently revealed £230,000 Rolls-Royce Cullinan being a case in point.

The cars on our list more than justify their places thanks to exceptional performance across a range of areas, particularly interior quality. Even though the popularity of MPVs seems to be coming under threat from the growth of SUVs, the models on offer are great options for families. Last year’s winner, the Citroen C4 Picasso, is once again in the mix but under the new name C4 SpaceTourer. Will have enough to fend off the Mercedes V-Class, the SUV-inspired Renault Grand Scenic and the rest? Despite a regular dearth of sunshine, roadsters remain popular in the UK. The spread of contenders is huge, with the recently revealed BMW i8 Roadster going up against the brilliant McLaren 570S and last year’s winner - the Mazda MX-5 RF. Coupes tend to offer drivers a bit more fun behind the wheel than most other body styles, which is one of the things our judges will be looking for. The Audi A5 returns to defend its title, but the competition is strong with a mix of luxury, sports and performance coupes. Hot hatches are loved by UK motorists, which could possibly explain why there is such an excellent range currently on offer.

The Honda Civic Type R stole the crown last year, but with a new Ford Fiesta ST and stonking Hyundai i30 N now in the mix, this one is anything but certain. Performance cars are all about the driving experience. Every car on our shortlist is ferociously fast, but they need to do more than that to win - sharp handling, incredible noise and, of course, fantastic looks are needed to seal to win. The best luxury cars exude refined elegance. From the King of opulence, the Rolls-Royce Phantom, to the tech heavy Audi A8, all the cars on this list put a convincing case forward - including the previous winner, the Mercedes S-Class. Electric cars are still growing in popularity, with more and more manufacturers offering fully battery-driven models. However, that doesn’t mean last year’s winner (the BMW i3) hasn’t made the cut in 2018. As you would expect, range and charge times are important factors here. Hybrid cars are often thought of as the stepping stone to a full-fat all-electric car but the category has far more to offer than that and it’s growing with amazing speed. There’s a varied mix including SUVs, hatchbacks and even a saloon but the judges will want to see impressive economy figures from the winner. Pick-up tracks have come a long way since the days of the high torque, low comfort utility vehicles that they once were. Now, you can get the same levels of refinement as you would in an family car. That said, our winner will also need impressive carrying and towing capabilities if it wants to be top of the pile. After winning in this category last year, the VW Crafter is back yet again. While the vans shortlisted here are of different sizes, they will all need to boast strong carrying capabilities and offer great value for money. Which car do you think will be named our 2018 Car of the Year?