Ask the Guide

I agree that the police should stop drivers when they see the brake lights aren't working and demand they be fixed, but they seem reluctant to do it. In any case, checking the brake lights should be a regular thing as it only takes a few seconds and you might avoid a nasty crash. I also believe carmakers should have a warning light on the dash to alert a driver when a stop light goes out.

The 1983 Cressida was designed to run on leaded Super when new, so should be run on LRP lead replacement fuel now. LRP has an octane rating of 96 which is slightly lower than the 98 octane Super available before 1986, but should still be the best bet for your car. If you hear the engine pinging on LRP, it's a sign it needs a fuel with a higher octane rating. If this happens you could then add a commercially available octane booster which will fix the problem.

The reality is that your car is worth what someone else is willing to pay for it. The trade puts the value of an XD Fairmont ESP at between $1700 and $3800, depending on its condition. A car such as yours, however, may be worth more on the collectable car market -- if you are prepared to wait for the right person to come along. A one-owner, low-mileage XD Fairmont Ghia ESP in tiptop condition could make as much as $5000-$8000 -- but don't bank on it. People who own cars that are potential collectables often speculate that they will get a price higher than the market value. Some will, but most are disappointed when the phone fails to ring. If you want to go down that road, try advertising in one of the specialist classic car magazines.